Sirty Years Ago

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21624, 9 April 1940, Page 6

Sirty Years Ago

“ The Timaru Herald ” April 9, 1880

British Politics Leading Article.—The victory’ of the Whig party in England is now assured, and the resignation of Lord Beaconsfield’s Ministry must speedily follow. The result of the General Election is satisfactory to British subjects all over the world, whatever their politics may be. in one respect, namely, that the issue is not doubtful. If the two great parties which for two centuries have alternately held the reins of power in England, had come out of the contest evenly divided, the consequences could hardly but have been disastrous. The Home Rule party and all who have an interest in disorder would have been practically ; asters of the situation, and an opportunity would have been afforded for turbulence, such as has not occurred for 50 years. The decided majority gained by the Whigs, removes all fear of that. Waimate Bush Fire Cases We learn by a telegram received from Dunedin last evening, that all the remaining cases against Mr Studholme. arising out of the Waimate bush fires, have been withdrawn Water Pipes The testing of the mains for the Timaru Waterworks is now going on in the Market Reserve. Mr Huggins is suoerintending for the makers, and Mr Young, of Waitohi Flat, for the Timaru Borough Council. Professor Faber’s Talking Machine Recently some gentlemen assembled by invitation at Professor Faber’s residence in Hanover Street. Hanover Square, and had explained to the working c the “Talking Machine.” which the profe.ssor has now perfected. This machine, by the successive improvements it has undergone, is now capable f imitating the human voice in a very extraordinary’ manner. The mechanical arrangements are necessarily very complex, but they are likewise most ingenious, and Professor Faber may certainly be congratulated upon the success which he has achieved in producing a machine interesting to scientific men. and at the .same time calculated to afford amuseir nt and instruction to the public. It is understood that Professor Faber would not be disinclined to listen to any reasonab’' proposition on the part of a scientific society to secure posses-

sion of this curious machine, and in the interest of the p ’ lie perhaps some such society may be induced to come to an arrangement with that object.