KITE VIEWS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 18 August 1904, Page 2

KITE VIEWS.

The kite, which used to be regarded |as a | mere toy, is now in constant use for majuing meteorological observations in the vippcr regions of the atmosphere. But thokitc used for scientific purposes is a very different instrument from the fiat iinot'i arrangement which is often such a source of sorrow to over-expectant boyhood, j The modern kite will sail at a distance froni the earth of a mile or more, and requires a small engine to coil up its metal string and bring it back to tcrra-firma. A number of kites have been ordered by the Admiralty for use during the summer manoeuvres, 1 and it is the intention, we understand, to arm these kites with cameras, so that views 'may be taken from great heights. Photography for purposes of warfare is not a new idea. As long ago as the year 1877, the late Mr Woodbury patented an aerial camera which he constructed for the purpose. It was carried up in the air by ft small balloon, and the necessary uncovering of the lens of the camera was operated by electricity through the medium of wires woven into the string which held the balloon captive. Kites as now made are capable of bearing considerable weights, and they are obviously more convenient in use than balloons.

However good you may be, you have faults ; however dull you may be, you can find out what some of them are ; and, however slight they may be, you had better make some effort to get rid of them.

The height of a very tall British woman was, fifty years ago, sft. 7in., while now the height averages sft. 6in. to sft. lOin.

The output of the largest paper factory in the world is 30,000 tons of writing-paper a year and 150 miles a day of wall-paper,