A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 25 February 1880, Page 2

A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.

— + A correspondent, says the Athenaeum, has sent us a startling letter from Miss M. Betham-Edwards, from wbich 'we give an extract : ' I send you tbe follow* ing particulars of a recent scientific invention, just patented, and destined without doubt to play a very important part in our history. I think it must be regarded as a solution for once and for all of the great coal question, or other fuel question not only among ourselves but abroad, M. Bourbonnel, of Dijon, tbe celebrated lion and panther slayer, lighted upon the following discovery at hazard, and after six years' persistent investigation brought it to entire ' workable ' perfection. He discovered by means of two natural substances inexhaustible in nature, tbe means of light- j ing and maintaining a fire without wood or coal ; a fire instantaneously lighted and extinguished ; a fire causing no dust, smoke or trouble ; a fi e costing onetenth at least of. ordinary fuel ; and what is more wonderful still, a fire the portion of which answering to our fuel is ever* lasting, that is to say would last a lifetime. M. Bourbonnel's invention comprehends both stove and fuel. Tbe fires could be on tbe minutest scale or the largest. They could be used for heating a baby's food or roasting an ox. Being lighted instantaneously they will be a great economy of time. M. Bourbonnel at once patented his invention, and a body of engineers and savants from Paris visited him and pronounced his discovery one of the most remarkable of tbe age. He has bad several offers for the purchase of the patent in France, but wants to sell it in England, his own occupation being in another line. Any English gentleman or firm wishing to see his fires or stoves could do so by writing to him a day or two beforehand. His address is M. Bourbonnel, Dijon. . . I have seen these fires and stoves. There is no mistake about the matter. It is as clear as possible tbat here we have a perpetual and economical source of fuel. Two hundred years ago the discoverer would surely have been burnt as a wizard.