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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1008, 4 May 1871, Page 2

No better evidence (says the Evening Mail) of the depressed state of Ballarat can be aiforded than the fact that throughout its entire length and breadth hundreds of houses and shops are ofi'ered to let or for sale. Bents as a consequence have suffered a material decline.

If we mistake not, (says the New York Telegraph Journal) we are in the dawn of a new and economic motive power. Our theories of electro-motive force may require to be re-examined, and perhaps changed. The axiom that a given magnetic force is the exact product of a given consumption of zinc or chemicals, must now be challenged and put to the proof. We confront now the proposition that, although the elec-tro-motive force may be in the battery, yet that the magnetic power which follows i(s application is capable of indefi nite enlargement without increase of the initiative agent. We are bi ought face to face also with the fact that, when a magnet is performing its maximum work, the battery which started the magnetic power is most at rest—in other words, that the magnetic power is not proportioned to the size or consumption of the elements of a battery, although dependent upon it as an initial force. We do not pretend to explain this problem, but we can tell what we have seen. It seems to corroborate the recent position taken by Mr Highton, of England, another of whose articles we reproduce to-day from that excellent paper the London Chemical News, and to prove that we aie on the borderland of a new and wonderful series of developments of an economic, safe, and efficient motive power. A few days ago we accompanied, on invitation, several gentlemen to the works of Mr H. M Payne, of Newark, N.Y. [The editor here gives a description of a powerful magnetic sawmill which he saw in action ] This rapid and effective action has been watched nine consecutive hours by in vestiajating parties, without any perceptible decline of power, and with a consumption of less than half a-pound of zinc—a co?t of less than half-a-cent an hour. The power developed was rated at two-horse, and «ean be maintained for twenty four hours without intermission, at a maximum cost often cents. Such, at least, is the statement made to us by Mr Payne, and confirmed by well-known gentlemen, who tho roughly examined it. By increase of diameter and width, or by multiplication of wheek and the number of magnets, the power can be largely increased, so we are assured, with the same number of cells. The four cells we saw were stated to be capable of maintaining the speed and power produced in our presence for sixty hours without renewal, at the cost of about a single stage fare on Broadway per day. In this machine, so utterly simple as to challenge the scrutiny of the most ordinary mind, we see the dawn of a new power, capable of endless application at a minimum cost, and destitute of the usual element of danger. It occurs to us as very strange that what is just being proposed as a possible status of facts by a learned divine in England should prove the selfsame theory which an American citizen has been privatelj and persistently developing in actual practice for years. We may yet see the Atlantic crossed by huge vessels, propelled with out an ounce of coal, by a power the initiative of which the captain may place beside his writing desk in his cabin, which a child can apply, and the littlest finger may stop. The begrimed furnace-man may then come out from these low er hells, and walk the deck as clean as the passenger, and the blazing fires be.put out.

We learn from the Australian papers of a rather singular occurrence in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the Colonies. When he was in Tasmania jhe was toadied and fawned upon to any extent, and the usual route of balls, laying of foundations, addresses, &c, having become stale, th© committee of the Launceston Mechanics 8 Institute waited upon the Duke, and requested that when he reached London he would favor Mr Dowling (ah artist connected with Tasmania) with the requisite sittings to enable him *o paint a portrait of his Royal Highness, which would be hung up in the Institute as a perpetual memento of his illustrious visit. The Duke acceded to the request, and what was more kept his promise with strict punctuality, giving Mr Dowling the necessary sittings. .In the course of time the picture was completed, and forwarded to Mr Dowling'a agent in Tasmania; but, sad to say, by the time it arrived the loyalty of those who ordered it. had evaporated, and they flatly refused to pay the price asked by Mr Dowling. The artist then offered to make a considerable reduction in the amount of his charge, but it was no use, the committee would have nothing to do with it. Under these circumstances Mr Dowling is endeavoring to dispo.se of the picture thus left on his hands, but hitherto he has been unsuccessful. He has ottered it for £IBO to the Corporation of Melbourne, who show an inclination to purchase, hut they require that it should be seen by one on whom they can depend, and pronounced to be worth the money. It is probable that an agreement will be come. The Victorian Press strongly condemns the discreditable conduct ot* the Launceston committee, which is, in effect, offering a direct insult to the Duke, and says that when the «tory is told in England, the disgrace attaching to the proceeding will involve the whole of the Colonies indiscriminately, owing to that fatal ignorance of our geographical divisions which so many people labor under.

The Government and their friends never lose an opportunity of assuring the public that there will be no difficulty experienced in raking the proposed gigantic loan; in fact, that English, money-lenders will jump at the investment ; but there would seem to be two sides to the story, to judge from the English papers. The Anglo-Australian in London writes as follows in the European Mail : —" The mutilated and incorrect foim in which telegrams of Australian news so often reach London is becoming a subject of serious complaint. For instance, we were informed the other day that New South Walea had started a new loan of .£4,000,000, the intended borrower being, of course, New Zealand ; but the mistake was by no means obvious to the general public. There is, I may remark, some >light apprehension created in certain circles by the amount of debt the latter Colony is creating for herself."

The South Australian Advertiser, after giving a summary of a pi'ogress leport on the overland telegraph, says : —lt will be seen from this report that the important undertaking is progressing quite as well as could be desired, and better, perhaps, than could have been anticipated. We have never concealed from our readers our belief that it was a great work, which would tax to the utmost the energies of South Australia. But from the time it was entrusted to Mr Todd he has shown a forethought and a zeal in carrying it out entitled to all praise ; and, according to present appearance, it will be tiiumpnantly completed wiohin the stipulated time. There is every reason to believe that, by the beginning of next year, or very shortly after, the line will be constructed, and we shall be in daily communication with Port Darwin.

Sir Patrick Grant, the late Governor of Malta, has lately recominended a grant of £IOOO a year for ten yeai> for forming plantations in that island. His Excellency admits rhat he has made the recommendation on the suggestion of the Scottish Meteorological Society, which shows that such plantations will increase the water supply and ameliorate its climate, and this, Sir Patrick Grant says, has been confirmed by scientific men resident in Malta.

The "Medical Times and Gazette'' in a recent issue, gives a digest of a paper read before the Association of Medical Officers of Health, showing how typhoid fever had been propagated through an extensive district by means of milk, which, by a remarkable combination of circumstances, had become -infected with sewage poison. The "Times and Gazette" says:—"That typhoid fever should be propagated through the medium of contaminated milk is a horrible idea. It implies unsuspected dangers to the helpless part of the population in the commonest and most innocent article of food ; and what adds to the horror i-< the fact that many physicians are in the habit of ordering milk laigely as the diet of typhoid patients, who might thus be imbibing fre-ih doses of poison in the guise of this blandest and simplest of food. The facts which Dr Ballard made out are shortly these. Typhoid is, as i* now agreed, propagated by sewer poison. Now, there was on the premises of a certain respectable milk-dealer at Islington an underground wooden tank, supplied from the mains of the New River Company. This not been opened or inspected for years. When opened at Dr Ballard's desire, some inches of one side were found decayed or destioyed by rats. This allowed the water to flow over into a hole in the ground, evidently scooped out by rats, and leading to certain underground ratburrows, by which, when the tank was .filling; the water flowed into some old orick drains and water closet drains close by. Through these underground channels there was free communication between the tank and the sewers; not only could water run away into the drains but foul gasses from the drains were sure to pass back into the tank ; and in June last an alteration was made in the drains, during which they were .obstructed, so that there would be a reflux of the overflow water from rhe.se dra*'.ns and rat-burrow.-, back into the tank. It is a significant proof that this did happen, that at least two families shortly afterwards complained that the milk * had a bud taste,' and that the milk when kept became ' not merely sour, but stinking.' It is certain the milk-cans were washed out with water from this tank, and a shrewd suspicion ma^ 7 exiat that some of it was mixed with the milk ; but, if so, it must have

been done without the master's knowledge ; because if ever water was used for this purpose it was taken from another cistern, which also supplied the house, and the tank water was intended only for washing and stable use. Giving, then, milk poisoned with a small do.se of sewage, we find that the

milkman, his family and servants and customers were very soon affected with a peculiarly fatal typhoid er; and the connection between the milk as cause, and the fever as effect, is shown by the fact that the fever was confined virtually to those who drank his milk. The medical practitioners of the neighborhood soon became aware of the existence of an extensive and fatal epidemic in a limited district in the healthiest part of I slington The milk distribution was proved to be ,<co-extensive with the fever. Dr Ballard ascertained that J 42 families, including the milkman's own, formed the 'milk walk' or clientelle of this dairy. Of these it is known that 70 families were invaded by typhoid in the ten weeks during which, time the outbreak lasted. In these 70 families were 175 patients, of whom 30 died—a mortality of more than .17 per cent. It was remarkable to see how the typhoid picked out the families supplied from this one dairy, and avoided all the rest. Wherever it appeared, it did not attack one, but several members of the household. In certain families, where particular members took no milk, thev escaped, whilst others suffered. The women and children who took most milk, suffered in greatest proportion. A lady who had a tumbler of this milk daily, v hilst the house was supplied from another source, was the only victim in the house. The dairyman himself, and his workmen, who, of course, took the miik freely, were amongst the first victims—for this, like othei outbreaks, became milder as time went on, and ceased when the business was given up and the cows sold, some time after the deeth of the proprietor."

The beet sugar prospers in California, That State has 400 acres in beet, and a factory costing 20,000 dollars. A monster petition has been present ed to the New South Wales Government from the citizens of Sydney, advocating the subsidising of the Californian mail.

The Geelong Express, a short time ago gave an account of an amphibious animal captured near the shores of Corio Buy, by some men who were engaged in obtaining ballast for ships, along the eastern beach. The descrip tion given by the men is that it was about a foot and a quarter in length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. The head of the animal was rather flat, and its tail was about the thickness of the second finger. The appearance of the animal at first sight resembled a ferret. Its forelegs were somewhat shorter than the hinder ones, and it was web footed Its coat was of a glossy fur, and was not dissimilar to the beaver, and several gentlen an who saw it have classed the stranger as a species ot beaver. The nose is something like a ferret or rat, and its front teeth overlap each other, and protrude like a rabbit's. The creature is supposed to take shelter at night on land, as, when it was captured, it was making for a nebt in the cliff, just abutting on the water at high tide. In this nest were found a number of stockings, seaweed, and sticks closely stuck together in the form of a beaver's house, and amongst other things found inside the hole was a leather purse, which is presumed to have been dropped on the beach and taken charge of by the unknown quadruped. Unfortunately, the unknown was not preserved, as the men threw it aside, not thinking of what interest it might be to the naturalist.