A NEW LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3362, 17 January 1879, Page 4

A NEW LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

A contemporary says : — " The disaster to tho Princess Alice has been v prolific cause oP suggestions for inventions of lifo-eaving apparatus, capable of being easily convoyed, and so formed as to bo useful for othci-3 as well as tho prime object of their construction. Among thoso which have been patented is Roso's life-buoy seat and fire-buckots combined, which is made of block tin, in the form of an hour glass, aud is capable of being unscrewed in the centre, so as to form two buoya if necessary ; or one end can be filled with fresh water, flour, biscuits, ship's pupers, or any other valuable property, and tho other will still bo buoyant enough, to sustain a couple of men above water with the utmost security. This was shown at experiments rccoutly intulo. After some bathers had tried to sink it by their accumulated weight in the water, several dead weights in Die shape of 4Glb and 281 b were added, und it was not until 1001 b had been attached to it in tho ehapo of solid metal that the buoy was totally submerged. Tho " Life-buoy" is mado so as to form a seat, and would supply tho pluce of camp stools nil round tho quarter-deck. By simply running a lino through tho brass rods that form the means of grasping tho buoy nt both ends, it would be fast, acd secure from getting adrift in tiny weather. Then there is v corkwood cushion on each life-buoy scut, capable of supporting a single person in the water, so that, in c;iso tho ship wont down suddenly, one cut with a knife of the cord which forms tho lashing would bo sufllciont to set the whole of tho buoys on board free, and as each buoy could sustain tho weight of a half a dozen people, ii' there wore time for boats to be launched, thore could be littlo doubt that all would be picked up. In case an alarm of firo was .raised aboard, in less than two minutes, every buoy could be unscrewed in the middle and formed into two buckets, containing four gallons each. To dip these over the side, by means of a rope that is attached to the centre, und would form a lanyard for such a purpose, every seat could bo brought into immodiate requisition and so a ship having 100 such seats aboard could have at once 200 firo buckets in use."

Tho Mr Rose referred to was, we believe recontly a resident in Christchurch.