Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1396, 13 January 1860, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

We hare been requested to intimate that Messrs. Bethune & Hunter's sales advertise! for njxt Tuesday, in Wednesday's papers, will not luke place until Friday the 20th iuslant, having

been postponed in consequence of Mr. J. H Wallace's Book Sale.

I Mr. J. H. Wallace's extensive sale of Books will lake p!ace on Tuesday and Wednesday January 17th nnd 18th — one of the largest collection of law and vuluablo miscellaneous books ever offered for sale in, this colony. On Thursday, January 19, the book sale "will bo resumed till one o'clock, when Mr. Wallace will sellhcveral valuable pieces of land, particulars -of which are advertised. The American Alok. — The Aloe in the Government Gardens is now in bloom, and as itjs a plant thnt is .seldom observed in Haver, we consider it a novelty well worth seeing. The London Journal of the 24th September last, contains the following appropriate remarks, upon this plaut: — "The American Aloe is remarkable for only blooming at long intervals In its native land, Mexico, it blooms once in every 10 years, but in our colder climate (Biitain), only once in a century ! What a subject for contemplation. While its buds and blossoms lie slumbering in its hardy trunk and branches, three generations of mankind pass away, and in the moral and physical world the most astounding resolutions are brought about. When next the Aloe blooms, the majority of us now living will have been long dead and forgotten, and probably the whole face of society changed. Young people by all means should go and see tnis celebrated plant; for the sight can scarcely fail to awaken in the mind impression ofa higher order than those received from ordinary every ay hie.

Imphovjsment in the Harmonium.— Though the harmonium lias now come into general use, and has also been considerably improved in various ways since the period when it was first in traduced to the public, connoisseurs have long been aware that it still laboured under many deficiencies, the supplying of which would add largely t-J its value both as a solcj instrument and as an accompaniment to the voice or piano forte. Hitherto it has lacked variety; for though fitted up with stops of different names, they have all had nearly the same quality of tone, the so called "flutes" &c, being merely bad reeds ; hence has arisen a certain monotony of effect. Moreover, who has not experienced the great disadvantage arising from the circumstance that the bass part of the iustrument overpowers the middle and higher registers whenever forte passages are to te given; what was wanted was some handy Contrivance for enabling the performer to regulate at will the supply of wind to be furnished to any part of the instrument — also some means whereby the effects analogous to those resulting from the use of the Sforzando pedal in the organ might be produced on the harmonium in a more complete and satisfactory manner than by the mere action of the bellows. Some simple mode of obtaining a tremolo sound has likewise been felt to be a desideratum. All these various advantages, together with one or two otheis, which we ueed not here enumerate, are obtained by ail improvement which has been invented and patented by our townsman Mr. Beulham. The contrivance is exceedingly simple, consisting of au apparatus which cannot well get outof order and which is easily worked by the knee of the performer. The tone can be increased or diminished at will, while it also gives much in quality, the roughness often perceptible iv the bass notes heiug quite got rid of. The whole volume of sound can be subdued, increased, and variously modified at pleasure ; the lower, higher or middle portion of the instrument can likewise be rendered predominant, just as cirstahces may require. The tremolo can also be made to^extend juntas far as the player wishes — it may be confined to the upper notes if prominence is to be given to a melody, or it may run through the bass if other effects are sought. These improvements can be added at a comparatively trifling cost to any instrument. They do not at all interfere with its beauty, while they marvellously increase its capabilities and efficiency. The apparatus is so simple that a child may manage it, and the iuventor may fairly be congratulated on the success which has attended his efforts. — Halifax Courier, May 8, 1858.