The Inagahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1881.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 23 March 1881, Page 2

The Inagahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1881.

The weather took up yesterday, after one of the most prolonged spells of wet weather experienced for a long time past. In regard to tbe seasons in New Zealand, it is said that every third year brings a more than ordinarily severe winter, and as we are now entering upon the third year since tbe heavy fall of snow in the Inangahun, we may, if the prediction is worth anything, prepare for a "bad time ahead. The County Council did not njeet for tbe special meeting, as appointed, on Monday last, onl a further adjournment was accord* ingly made. & Seefton pedestrians have yet something to learn at the business, as it will be noticed that all the local cracks were beaten off scratch by the Greymoutb talent in the 100 yards maiden race. We muat certainly take the opportunity of complimenting both Greenland and' Stenhouse upon the fairness they displayed in starting. It wuj notieeable that in each race they never moved from their allotted mark until the pistol went off. That many other competitors did not follow their example may be inferred. The sports, were concluded yesterday, and the winner of the handicap proved to be Joseph Stenhouse, of Greymouth; George Handy, of Reefton, taking second place, and Twohill and O.'Kourke dividing third money. Greenland, who at the close of the previous day's running stood well up for third place, withdrew from the handicap yesterday. We regret to learn that by the recent bursting of the Kapifea dim Mr Klempel, whose establishment for woolwashing is situated near the Kapitea bridge has sustained a heavy losi, and, indeed, so suddenly did the water back up into their premises that the family had to be carried from the house, at great risk, to a place of safety. The Government should, at the least, recoup Mr Klempel for his loss, as it occurred through the instability of their public works. — Kumara Times. Chicago continues to increase with the same wonderful rapidity which won for her in ea^y jouth the proud title of the Lightning City of the West. Statistics compiled at the close of last year show that trade in all its branches in the great food emporium of the middle States has never been so prosperous. The grain received in 1880 was 161 million bushels, ngninet 133 millions in 1870 it was thought a great thing to have received sixty millions. 5,375.000 hogs were slaughtered in Chicago last year, and 5,089,000 in 1879. The hog trade in Chicago began in 1856, with a slaughter of 23,000 for the twelve months, frow tlie packing 'iiouses can make away with 100,000 in asingjeday. In addition to the five million odd swine which met with their death in Chicago. 1,380,000 passed through cily en ronts for slaughterhouses elsewhere. The Baldwin Locomotive Works ''have just entered into a contract with Coloniel GK A. L. Roberts, of Titusville, for the construction of a passenger engine which shall be able to run eighty mi'es an hour, and maintain this rate of speed for 100 miles without stopping. The locomotive is to weigh thirty-eight tons, and will comply with standard gauge. The driving wheels will be 6ft. in diameter. The forward truck* arid those of the tender will be made of paper, which, it is said, will en* dure more strain nhd wear than iron or steel. The wheels will be all of the pattern know as the broad tread, which will enable the engine to run on roads of either 4ffc. B£in. or Roberts,- who has visited Europe several times and studied the railway systems of that country, is building bis new engine for us upon tVie European continent. A patent has recently been issued to Daniel Buggies, of Fredevieksborg, Va., for a method of precipating rain stormp, which, judging from a '.veil known precedent, is not entirely cbcmcrcial. Ifc bag frequently been noticed <-li«t heavy cfuinonavlinjr is followed by p. full cf rni'.i. Profiting by Urn <mg-

gestion, Mr Buggies has invented a method of producing a concussion, in the upper regions of the atmosphere, which he believes will induce rain. The invention consists, in brief, of a balloon carrjing torpedoes and cartridges charged with such explosives as nitro-glyeerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, gunpowder or fulminates, and connecting the balloon with an electrical apparatus for exploding the cartridges. The board appointed to inquire into the state of tbe Yan Yean water eat at the labora* tory of the Technological Museum Melbourne recently. Mr Cosmo Newbery submitted the analyses of some of the samples of the water taken from the races and reservoir. It appeared from the examination of the water tested that the strp a:n at the inlet was not good, that immediately inside the Inke was a degree worse, that flowing out of the lake into the channel still more impure, and' that in the middle of the lake worse than all the rest. The mud taken from the bottom of the lake has been found entirely free from contamination. The water of *he reservoir only* w tainted. The presence of albuminoid of ammonia is present to an appreciable extent. This is. in other words an indication of the pretence of decaying WSafTffSdS^i--*^^ what extent this deterioration is an element of danger to the public. It altogether depends on the origin of the pollution. If, for instance, the sheep were suffering from fluke, or the pigs ;jfrom triehine, the water would bo the cause of terrible disaster, but the presence of the germs would not manifest themselves in the analysis in auy distinctive form. The atoms or germs that cause disease are nearly always imponderable, always subtle and at all times difficult, if not impossible, to detect- Inasmuch as no ill(fleets have been reported, the board assume that the water is not tainted in a dangerous manner. But they are careful to refrain from expressing any opinion to the effect that no evil results will ensue from the use of the water. It has deteriorated 100 per cent, since last year. The board will probably recommend the application of lime to the extent of about three grains to the gallon, so that precipitation will take place on its being drawn off aud left at rest. In this operation, the chances are that tainted matter will be carried to the bottom. If the Minister desires it the board will also experiment with the view of ascertaining the best mode of straining the water. They will also urge that Whittlesea and all the area occupied by selectors shall be excised from the watershed, or that the occupants be cleared off. If the area is excised. Mr Foord has pointed out that it will only be equal to giving so much of the watershed to supply the river instead of allowing so much compensation water to overflow. The report of the board will be sent in to the Minister on Wednesday next if n?t before. The Hawke's Bay Herald in a recent issue thus discourses on ' Athletics Bun to Se< d,' and with some show of reason : — ' .Robinson undertakes to do a hundred miles in twentyfour hours,' or. some such useless feat. He straightway ' goes into training/ advertises his intended feat, gets a track carefully pre« pared, and starts on his walk with a.dczen enthusiastic amateurs, two or three friendo, who at interrals squirt gingerbeer over his fane, and a few hundred spectators, who seem to imagrae that "the undertaking is one of singular merit, and worthy of tbe support of their half-crowns. Reports of the progress of the walking match are telegraphed to all the journals in the country, the illustrated papers devote an engraving or two to it, and Robinson becomes the idol of the muscular school. Then a dozen amateurs try to emulate the feat, and perhaps injure themselves for life by their folly. From ' colo« nial' contests Kobinson passes to'intercolonial,' and then to international,' and Beuter faithfully records his performances. The only practical result is the corruption of the English Language by the addition of the vile word* walkist Next, we have scullers roaming the world over, idolised, feted, and caressed if they win, and abused like pick-pockets if they lose. Cricketing is next dragged from the arena of sports and made a commercial speculation. Truly, athletics have run to seed. Sport is not indulged in for sport's sake, or from a healthy love of excelling in athletics, bat it is degraded io a medium for money making. Sport in it3 true sense is elevating, healthy, and necessary, but, as the • professional ' athletes of the day understand it, is none of these, but rather degrading, demoralising, and unhealthy.'