The Thames Star. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1897. THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8612, 17 March 1897, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1897. THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY.

Electricity as a motive force promises to revolutionise the world ; and a discovery towards which, the world is now fast progressing promises to revolutionise electricity. The secret to bo discovered is, in technical language: "to find the electrical equivalent of the union of carbon and oxygen." It will be remembered that in a speech at the School of Mines j last month Capt. W. Blanch Brain made a lengthy reference to the importance of a practical solution of this problem. He introduced the subject by referring to the diamond—which is pure hydro-carl^n—as " the crystallised form of the motive power of the universe." Ihe simplest but most effective form of carbon oxidisation is the human lungs; and scientists consider that if they could, devise an artificial apparatus on a working scale to perform the same function, the electrical milennium would be with us. But it is aot the discoveries which seem most within reach that always come first. Years ago it was thought that the obstacles to aerial flight were within a short distance of being overcome, but since then the locomotive—previously unheard of—and many other inven-

of the two elements represented the electric value, the two valuables being measured by the same unit, and when they measured the heat or thernio value they had its electrical equivalent. Taking the case of carbon in the form of coal, thfc very best en >mo could not utiliee more than 20 per cent, of the real thermo value of the coal it consumed. On the other hand, in oxidising zinc the electricity obtained represented 97 per cent, of the real thermo value; and the result of a proper method of oxidising carbon would be that an electrical value,

repi'esenting 97 per cent, of tho real | value would be obtained instead of tho 20 per cent, recovered by the steam; engine. Since he had been in Auck- , land he had personally succeeded in : constructing a small electric battery of carbon and oxygen alone,which gave an E.M.F., electro-motive force, of 2i volts, measured by the condenser and Thompson's reflecting galvanometer. Every day he expected tosolvethe problem in a practical manner, or to hear that itssolutionhad been accomplished. At the time when be penned the paper of 1882, Capt. Brain beJieved he was close upon the great discovery, and he still believes that the electrical world is fast approaching a practical solution. The accomplishment of the task means a certain revolution im the methods of geneiating energy—somewhat the same influence as Stevenson's locomotive exerted upon the old high roads and stage coaches. It will be the obtaining of the power direct from the fuel without the aid of either steam engine or dynamo and their accompanying loss.

To-day being St. Patrick's day, the Roman Catholic Sunday School children are celebrating their annual fete at Parawai. This morning there was a good muster of members of the Hibernian Society who marched to the St. Francis' Church, Willoughby-street, to attend High Mass. The children, who assembled in great force, then commenced their journey to Mr Killgour's paddock (the racecourse), where a very pleasant day is being spent. Other amusements to-day consist of the horse races at Paeroa —to witmess which a fair number of people have left the Thames, and the amateur athletic meeting at Mr Dodd's paddock, Parawai. Most of the Auckland competitors (along with Mr Speight, Secretary of the Auckland Amateur Club), are present, and the liveliest interest is evinced in the racirg. At time of writing glorious weather is promised. At the Police Court this morning before James Rnlay, Esq., J.P., a first offender, charged with drunkenness, was convicted, cautioned, and discharged. Mb W. Hutchinos, licensee of the Coromandel Hotel, long and familiarly known as Boyd's, has disposed of his lease and goodwill to Mr R. Rolleston, of Hikurangi, who takes possession at an early date. Counting 1 the private banks and the Bank of England, the total of deposits and current accounts held in the United Kingdom is esti. mated by the Economist to have risen from between £730,000,000 and £740,000,000 in June, 1895, to between £780,000,000 and JJ790,000,000 in July, 1896. A country whose deposits increase at the rate of i 550,000,000 a year cannot be in any great danger of a money famine. The assets of the bank have, according to the tables of the same journal, increased in the year by •£58,000,000. The irritation in the United States about the German prohibition of certain Ameiican imports, especially that of meat, is increasing mere and more, and German merchants fear that if this prohibition is not relaxed soon the re-levying of heavy tonnage dues on German ships in American ports will be followed by other highly inconvenient reprisals. For example, the compulsory examination of all German wines, and some serious obstacles to the import of German sugar. The St. James' Gazette says:—lt is suid that Mr Chamberlain will, at an early stage of the coming session, make a statement in the House of Commons on the part which the colonies may be expected to play in the celebrations of the Queen's long reign next year. The Colonial Secretary has been in communication with the Colonial Government on the subject, and, it is further reported, an important agreement has been come to. Some interesting figures concerning the quantity of liquor consumed in London are given in the current Cassell's Magazine. It appears that about 177,000,000 gallons | of British beer are drunk in London yearly, and 485,000 gallons daily. Taking 4-5,000 gallons at 78,000 cubic feet, a barrel 76ft long by 36ft in mean diameter, measured internally between the bung and the head, will hold this quantity. The quantity of Trine consumed in a day is about 5500 gallons, or 84,000 pints, which could be^ stored in a wine vault 52ft square and lft deep. Of spirits—Home and foreign— about 16,000 gallons are drunk daily by Londoners. The tea consumed yearly in the metropolis amounts to 33,000,0001b, or about 90,0001b daily, against 112,0001b daily of coffee beans, and 83001b of cocoa.'"** A somewhat, sensational announcement was made by the Rev. Mr Alexander at the assembly of the Melbourne North Presbytery on March 2nd. It was to the effect that the son of a Jewish Rabbi, Mr Rintel, would be received publicly into the Presbyterian Church, the ceremony of baptism taking place at the Assembly Hall on the 17 th inst. The Moderator, while expressing pleasure at the conversion, wanted to know why he, as president of the missions, had not been informed of the arrangements. He also desired to know why St. Patrick's day had been fixed for the ceremony. The Rev. Mr Alexander explained that he was not aware the Jewish mission should have reported to the Moderator. As to its being St. Patrick's day, well, St. Patrick, he believed, was a very respectable Scotchman—(laughter)—who had baptised many people in his day, and so there was good reason for holding the ceremony that evening.

The Botoinataana will leave for Auckland at 7 o'clock this evening instead of G, in order to allow Auckland visitors at the Amateur Athletic meeting plenty of time to see the sports. The p.s. Patiki will act as tender. Thus Mr R. C. Bruce at a social at Wellington given to the Hon. T. W. Hislop: "Who owns the land?— The people. Who owns the people?— The politicians. Who owns the politicians ?—The devil." In the March issue of the journal of the Labor Department, the statecf the A uckland marketis reported as follows: Building trade, busy; engineering trade, very fair business doing; ,better than same period former years; boot trade, fairly busy for the season; clothing trade, order tailoring is quiet—factories brisk; retail trade, fairly good business. Unskilled labor: the number of applications for employment has been on the increase, owing chiefly to the slackness on the goldfields. During February twenty-three men were sent from the district to Government works, and three others were assisted to private work. Says the Tauranga paper:—" Just before the Rifle Club members commenced their practice yesterday, some of them observed a stoat crossing the range and a short but exciting chase followed, and the animal received a fatal blow. These vermin seem to be increasing in numbers in the district, and it is time that a handsome reward were offered for ' their destruction instead of them being re--1 yarded by the law as privileged animals. Maoriland politics are violent and per" sonal. There is nothing of gentlemanly repose or dignified culchaw about them. Lately a Tory paper, in making mention of : the amount expended in charitable aid to natives during the year, asked quite : casually if Premier Seddon or Minister . Carroll has embezzled any of the money ' for their own private uses. It didn't suggest that anyone suspected them of doing so; it merely asked the question without prejudice, as it were. By-and-Bye someone wili probably rise on the other side and inquire, for absolutely no reason, if Stout or Russell were ever in gaol under some

other name for larceny. These little things keep politics from growing absolutely wearisome.—Exchange. '