ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 176, 27 May 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC NEWS.

(From the Nelson Examiner's own Correspondent.) London, Feb. 2G. In the competition between the rival gunmakers, instituted by the National Rifle Association, and which came off at Woolwich—at the 500yds. range, Henry took the lead, being closely followed by Whitworth and Storm. The Whitworth regulation bore rifle (a new rifle), seems destined to play an inportant part in the future history of military weapons. Its figure of merit has been nearly twice that of the ordinary regulation Enfield. If other trials with this weapon bear out the character it has thus gained, it will be a most important matter, as no obstacle exists to its being immediately introduced as a military weapon. The ordinary Enfield ammunition can be used with it, with a better result than with the ordinary Enfield arm. To bring out its full merits, however, it is necessary to use Mr. Whitworth’s ammunition, consisting of 85 grains of powder, and a bullet of a peculiar construction. This bullet, which has just been patented by Mr. Whitworth, is of the usual hexagonal, or rather “ dodecagonal” form, and differs from the ordinary bullet in having a hole made in its conical end, of such a size as to throw the centre of gravity into the exact centre of the bullet, a wooden plug being inserted in the front cavity, and trimmed off carefully so as to afford no resistance to the atmosphere. The performances of the Storm breach-loaders were good. The manufacture of steel tubes by hydraulic pressure is now being carried on at some London works. The steel is drawn over a mandril, and, according to the strength of the press, any size can be done The patentees aver that tubes 8 or lOin. in diameter can be done. Bearing in mind that my friends give 600 tons on a cotton bale by the hydraulic, at Bombay, I have no doubt of the value of this invention. Steel tubes are now urgently wanted for Artillery, for lining the Enfield and other rifles, for boiler tubes, and other manifest uses. Indeed, the demand would be enormous. The getting rid of the weld is most important. The steel drawn down in tube on the hydraulic system, is diminished a sixteenth of an inch at each draw. By altering the shape of the dies, hexagonal and other shapes can be drawn. Experiments have been made in England on the steep inclines of the Cromford and High Peak railway, the object of which is to prove the practicability of working locomotive engines and trains on a proposed railway over the pass of the Mount Cenis. These trials were made in presence of the Chevalier Biglia, delegate of the Italian Government, and many Englishmen and foreigners of distinction. The experimental line is about half-a-mile, on ascents of one in twelve and one in thirteen, and curves of two and a half and three

and a half chains radius. The adhesion for obtaining ascents is caused by the pressure of horizontal wheels ou a central fail, these wheels being worked by separate cylinders. The experimental engine took loads up these inclines and curves, of twenty-four to thirty tons at a speed of seven to eight miles an hour. The central rail serves also as a guide, and gives safety to the train. It is estimated that it may take eleven and a half years to complete the Mount Cenis tunnel, so here is an invention which will serve to connect France and Italy, as well as the North and West of Europe, and in time may prove valuable in other parts of the world. It is to be hoped the French Emperor will sanction the project. An impression has been created in the minds of the public, that the use of the oil of petroleum, now so largely prepared for purposes of illumination, is attended with danger. Such an impression rests on insufficient ground, as regards most of the oil made from petroleum in this country, supposing it to be used with ordinary care, which it must be confessed many servants lack in English and doubtless in colonial households. Mr. James Young, of Bathgate, declares that the bulk of the oil of commerce is quite unsafe. Petroleum, and the coal oil which Mr. Young was first to call Paraffin, are essentially identical in .every respect save that of origin. They both contain paraffin, and are both mixtures of oils which possess many of the general characters of paraffin. Coal oil, as well as petroleum, contains a verv volatile and very inflammable oil which, at a moderate temperature, evolves a valour that becomes explosive in the open air. It is to the presence of this volatile oil in the material used domestically for burning, that is to be ascribed any danger which may attend the use of either coal oil or petroleum for that purpose. During the last two years, the most respectable manufacturers and dealers in this country have regarded it as an indispensible condition of (his commodity, that, when heated to ISO degress Fahrenheit, it should not give off vapour, which becomes explosive when mixed with air. The subject is of much importance, as the trade is increasing at a rate almost unprecedented in the annals of commerce. 4s Dr. Marcet, F.K.S., last night gave a lecture on Petroleum, at the Society of Arts, 1 may add that he stated, that it gives off loss carbonic acid than any other illuminating material. Dr. Marcet gives a decided preference to the lamp with a flat wick of six eighths in width. The experiments with petroleum on board the Warrior frigate (worth £180,000), were severely condemned, and justly so. Dr. Bachoffner thinks all volatile oils, such as petroleum, coal oil, &c. are dangerous to a certain extent.

M. Bardoux, a manufacturer of Poitiers, is said to have made a discovery which will “effect a revolution” in the manufacture of paper. Ho lias succeeded is manufacturing paper from various descriptions of timber, such as oak, walnut, pine, chesnut, and from other vegetable productions not hitherto used, and this without the addition of rags. Samples of various kinds of paper are exhibited at the office of the Journal des Aventeurs. M. Bardoux asserts that his invention will cause a reduction of from sixty to eighty per cent in the price of paper. I mention this, because some interest has been created in the scientific world, as well as commercial circles, by the establishment of a firm at Christchurch, New Zealand, tor the manufacture of paper from New Zealand flax, the phonniitm ten ax. Mr. Riddle, C.E., has patented improvements in fire-proof buildings, and it is understood that the improvements are under the consideration of a warehouse Company iu India. All the columns are fire proofed on the Milner-safe principle. All the doors and windows can bo shuttered up from outside in ease of fire. On this being done, the lloor on fire can be flooded with carbonic acid gas from simple but effectual apparatus built up to the building.