London's Latest Novelty.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7366, 14 November 1898, Page 4

London's Latest Novelty.

A great deal of curiosity has been manifested in Leicester Square concerning a novellooking street. lamp at the lower corner, opposite the Alhambra. From it (says the London Daily Chronicle) London will be furnished with the first specimen of a public light which a'so heats water for those who require it, and furnishes the comforting cup of coffee or cocoa at all hours of the day or night. This obliging object in Leicester c-quare has had its predecessors in Manchester and Liverpool, and Aldgate, but they have not achieved its full scope of usefulness. They have simply supplied hot water, for those who liked to fetch it, at the rate of Id a gallon ; but their success had led to a development of the system known as " the Pluto patent." What further developments may be in Btore it is hard to say, but a lamp which can supply half a breakfast may perhaps be made to finish the whole, and to supplement the coffee wich the boiled egg or stewed steak. The principle is very simple. The lamp stands some 14ftJ high, and is surmounted by a group of five powerful incandescent gas burners. Through a connection with the main the water comes right in, and generates steam by means of the copper coils underneath the gas jets. This steam, as it descends, heats the water below, and through a little window the customer can satisfy himself by reason of the thermometer that it is really " on the boil." A penny in the slot, a pull at the handle, and a quart of boiling water spurts out of the mouth of a fanciful reproduction of the features of " Pluto." As before intimated, the price elsewhere is one penny for a gallon, but in the aristocratic region of Leicestersquare a higher price is adopted. What, however, will be more appreciated than anything else about the Leicester square lamp is the provision for invigorating but innocent refreshment. For a penny the customer can get a tabloid of beef tea, with appropriate seasoning. He drops it into a chained tin mug, pays another halfpenny for a supply of hot water, and in the course of a few minutes is the proud possesser of a half-pint of fragrant beef tea. To procure cocoa or coffee is a still more simple matter, for it is " on tap," ready made, at the modest price of a halfpenny. The adjuncts for " aftornoon tea" or early morning breakfast are as yet somewhat primitive, but they include butter-scotch, chocolate cream, or, what is likely to be more popular in Leicestersquare, the dainty cigarette. It need only be added that this lamp is of a form approved for erection throughout the country.