CURRENT TOPICS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1903, Page 2

CURRENT TOPICS.

Last century was an age of invention ; the present century bids fair to eclipse the glories of the “ Nineteenth ” in this respect. Already we have wireless telegraphy [a reality and success. Yet another great discovery cr invention is claimed from the same land as Marconi —Italy. For some years we heard of possibilities of submarine boats in warfare, but now an Italian named Pino is applying the under wave ships to submarine researches, and to the recovery of submerged treasure. It is claimed for Signor Pino’s submarine that it can accomplish with great ease every kind of operation for the salvage or recovery cf ships or objects at bottom of the sea. It has been tested to a depth of over 164 yards, and the inventor who has descended in it to the sea bottom at least 140 times, has successfully worked at a depth of about 140 yards. There is room in the submarine for two persons, who can work in it on the sea bed for twelve hours continuously without needing to return to the surface for air. The boat walks on the sea bed, moving freely on an ingenious single wheel, propelled by an electric driven screw,” or if desired it will stop and “ remain perfectly immovable at any depth in perfect equilibrium, and far any length of time.” “Windows of a special crystal are fitted into the boat, by means of which every object lying in the sea

is clearly and distinctly seen from it, at any depth.” Even more remarkable, however, is the instrument called a hydcoscope, which Signor Pino has invented to aid in recovering sunken treasures. By its use a person standing in an ordinary small boat on the surface of the sea will, we are told, be able—(l) To see clearly and distinctly any object in the water down to the bed of the sea, and practically at any di ath ; (2) to take clear photographs of whatever he perceives there ; and thus (3) to recover therefrom with ease and at very small expense anything ho likes, however large and heavy, and at whatever depth it may be. With such an invention, there will be no end of treasure recovered from sunken ships, that long since went, and almost every day, go to the bottom, carrying with them immense wealth.

Yet another of Kruger’s slanders has been thrown back in the face of the oily unreliable man. According to a London paper, Dr Steward, of Lovedale, has been giving the lie to a passage in Kruger’s memoirs, in which the ex-President has some remarks upon Dr Livingstone. The passage refers to the destruction of Livingstone’s station at Kolobeng. It is said that somebody found there a “ complete workshop for the repair of firearms and a multitude of war materials which Livingstone kept stored up for Secheli’s use.” Commandant Scholtz, Kruger adds, “ con fiscated the missionary’s arsenal, and in return the Boars were insulted and

slandered throughout the length and breadth of England.” As one who knew Livingstone, and his real opinions and practice, and who had the opportunity of seeing him at some of the most trying periods of his life, Dr Stewart denies the story. It is, he says, a contradiction to the entire spirit and practice of Livingstone’s whole life. “No such thing as a complete workshop and an arsenal for supplying natives ever existed at Livingstone’s station,” This is definite enough, but Livingstone’s reputation has nothing to feat from anything that Mr Kruger may say about it.