MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 24 June 1881, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

+ The town of Akron. Ohio, was lighted on April 10ih, by two groups of larnpf, one supported by an iron tower rising 208 feet -ibove the street, tl o other by a woodea mask, oo the observatory of Butchel College, about 40 feet higher than the town lamps. Each group consists of four lamps of 4,000 cnndle power eaeb, or an aggregate light of $2,000 candle power. The chief novelty of the system is the tall tower, made of boiler plate in 55 sections, each 50 inches in length. At the bottom the diameter of tfee tower is 3 feet; at the top 8 inches. It is steadied by six wrought iron gays rea* ching to the top. Over the lamp ia a Bye foot copper reflector which serves also as a hood. Thirty feet; from tho street n a wrought iron balcony, to which the lamps are lowered for trimming. The entire electric circuit is 9110 fejt. The total cost of setting up the system, including boilers, eigines} etc., was £2261, snd the cost of working the lights per year is estimated at £$16. The light promised from these two centres is to be equivalent to bright moonlight. From 800 to 500 street gas lamps *?ill be dis» placed by the electric lamps npw iv opera I |p. Most travelers by f rain (says fho Dunedin Herald) between the Deborah Bay tunnel and Bluskin are apt to associate the dangers of the road with the high clifo below the line or rail" way, whereas the danger is really from overhead. The line round the cliff i» now cheek-railed — that is to 6ay, the wheels travel on two rails laid Bide by side such s« may be seen at n crossing so that the possibility of the wheels going off the rails is reduced to the very lowest. The places wbero there is but little room between tha rock and the ledge have been protected by stone walling, and the lino round the cbiffo is more secure than ever it was. The chief danger is however from overhead and many of tho pieces of half ro',ten rock almost over* hanging the railway line are such that in wet weather they wou'd come away easily with the vibration of the tr.iin The line round the cliffs however, is inspected every time prior to a trton passiug, but even this is not sufficient to prevent the possibility of accidents. We are informed that the other day a big log rolled over the cliff*, and was not noticed prior to the passing of tho trnio. Fortunately it fell clear of tho rails but it was so much a care of touch-and-go with the train that tho step of one of the carriages was carried away. A correspondent pends the CoWios the following remarks on the recent depression in New Zealand :— Tho climate here he says is magnificient;, and food is cheap and easily gofc. "Wages are immensely high for yearn, | but for some time past they have boon getting lower and the people call it 1 bad times ;' but if I wished to £et a man at 2s6il. a day just now, not a mm could 1 get They grumble ai; ♦ bad times,' buc they ask 6< a day wages when a sheep can be got for o-s. As to positive poverty only drunkard?, spendthrifts, and their families aro in want. Many a workman has saved £500, and for £500 a man will go! :i good piece of cleared land, all r<\i<ly for the plough, enough cows and sheep, and return him about £!t>;) a year in food of various kind?" (nc' cash ot course). No winter food for cows and horses is required ; they live on the grass quite well and work wvil ;iil winter. Hut careless men get inoro careless hero, and waste eno'.Vy* *° keep a poor family at home. One country girl told me thnt she r.ni her mother were feeding the pig* with foal which before they left Devo'v-iunN they would themselves gladly hnvo eaten. The 120 \%. nugget found at r ! mm m-.t ,vill give£loo per mm to the y :olL: of lucky find.-r*.

— i— — — — M *j*^"*" M * l^^^^^^^^^ — - The Cbriotchurcb Telegraph's cor- j respondent states, ' Parliament was opened with uousui pomp and ceremony by the Governor who created a sentation by appearicg in bia gorgeous robe, chain and star.' 'I bear en tolerably gojd authority that tbe Redistribution of Seata 811 is only likely, to pass and that Government will court defeat on it wilh the object of obtaining a dissolution of Parlia* menfc and appealing to the Country.'