Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1914, Page 53

Science Siftings

By * Volt*’

S 'v- How Fish are Drowned, v. J* : - &J f**?* ' k it » * jf ? ** "V*«fb .* f “ C"'P' When a fish is taken out of the water, it is drowned by the air. The gills must be wet in order to extract the air, and as soon as they are taken out of the water,: which keeps their numerous fringes apart, they collapse and become useless. It is worthy of notice that the swimming-bladder of the flying-fish is extremely large, so that when it is completely distended it fills up almost the entire abdomen. Beside this provision of nature for lightening the body, there is another in the form of a membranous reservoir within the mouth, which can be inflated through the gills* i , Red as a Warning Signal. American scientists are questioning the value of red as v a -warning signal. According to the official organ of the American Medical Association, many human eyes are -insensitive to red, and color , blindness is apparently becoming more'common. It has 'been experimentally demonstrated that yellow and blue are the only .colors which give rise to normal color sensation as soon as they become visible, and that color-blind persons react normally to them; and it is suggested that these .colors are the best danger signals. /:'.//;/ Stopping Trains Electrically. Experiments have; recently been made on the Bavarian State Railways with a method of stopping trains electrically. The system is referred to as one of wireless telegraph communication between a wire ' strung on the roof of the .baggage car and any telegraph or telephone lines running along the track. Probably induction is used rather than Hertzian waves to convey the signal to the train. The apparatus operates either a bell or v a light signal: in the cab of ; the locomotive, or it will operate directly on the air brakes. The system calls for the installation of a sending station at frequent intervals, so that if it be desired to stop a train because of some accident, this may be effected from almost any point along the track. - - -- - -•• -* -- - « The - First • Lighthouse. ■ -- Ever since man , began to navigate the waters he has endeavored to light them at night. The father of lighthouses, of : course, was the ancient Pharos of Alexandria, ,in Egypt. ,It was built by Ptolemy Philadelphus, about 120 8.C., on a small island at the entrance to the harbor, connected by a causeway with the mainland. | Mr. H. J. Shepstone, says:— The Pharos cost 800 talents; if these were silver talents—as most likely they were—that would be equal to £170,000, the largest sum ever expended upon a single lighthouse. . The structure had a base of. some 400 feet, and towered 450 feet above • sea level. */ As \ the whole was built of white marble, the edifice must have been at once elegant and impressive. At , the summit, fires were kept & burning to direct the mariner through the tortuous entrance to the bay. It is recorded" by some of 11 the ancients that the flame of the Pharos could be discerned 100 miles at sea. This, of course, is an exaggeration, as the most up-to-date light of modern times, with all the latest inventions for increasing its intensity, f is. only : visible thirty/miles out. It is doubtful if the smoky gleams of the ancient * Pharos ; .were/, seen ' twenty /or < twenty-five miles on a clear night. The Romans built many lighthouses, and it is said that several exceeded in splendor and magnificence the famous Pharos.’ But there are none of them now, so we* must take their reported excellency more or less on trust.

Huntly /•/> V ‘W . S (From our own correspondent.) : >^i|iMlfS • January 24../. The advent of the Sisters of the will mark a new era in educational matters in Huhtly, and both Catholics and non-Catholics are eagerly awaiting/the I opening of the convent school; which - takes place on February 2. .. //. I have it on good authority that w© are losing ourworthy and ; highly respected pastor. Rev. / Father Cahill. On coming to this d^rict/some/ eight years ago, Father Cahill took up his residence . at- Ngarua- ; wahia. He labored there for about; five years;v when the rapid growth of Huntly necessitated his removal here. Beloved by all,, irrespective "of creed, he will leave behind him a wide circle of friends. During his residence here lie has seen the marked progress of ? this? district, and I feel sure it must have been very pleasing to him to see the Catholic population of Huntly grow from a mere handful to numbers which will soon require the enlargement of -our church. ■ * The " fortnightly meeting of St. Anthony’s branch of the H.A. Society was held last Tuesday evening, the president (Bro. W. Darby) presiding. The halfyearly election of ; officers resulted as follows;—President, Bro. W. Darby; vice-president, Bro. T. McGill; secretary,. Bro. T. Molloy; treasurer, Bro. F. Farrell; warden, Bro. M. F. McLeod; guardian, Bro. T. Edge; sick visitors, J. Banks and J. Dean; trustees. Rev. Father CahM and Bros. J.' Mohan and J. Robertson. Three candidates were proposed and one member admitted from the Auckland branch. A special meeting was caftv,d to arrange for extending a welcome to the Sisters of the Mission, who are expected here next week. ; V /• Gisborne c *•: **- • -;.r • *. ’ ’ - . ; . / s;. (From our own correspondent.) -. I" : H- : "'■■ •,//■.-•//■•'// : January 25. - The ladies’ committees, appointed to make the arrangements for the bazaar to be held later in the year, are determined to make it the biggest of its kind ever attempted in -Gisborne. Stallholders N have : been appointed, and the collectors, who are canvassing the district, i are meeting with gratifying success in their mission. The Opera House, a new and up-to-date building, with its first-class orchestra, has been secured for the occasion. **///’’ -///// The St. Patrick’s Sports’ Association have elected a strong committee to carry out the annual gathering. The prize money has been increased, and an even better result than that of last year may be anticipated. Rev. Brother George, of the Marist Brothers’ College, Auckland, has been in Gisborne during the vacation, and is the guest of Rev. -Father Lane. //%/ . |r| The Convent Schools, under the Sisters of St. Joseph, secured excellent results at the examination by the Inspector of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. The whole of the Sixth Standard pupils passed with credit,- four pupils presented securing proficiency passes.