AN ERA Of NEW UTILITIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1917, Page 4

AN ERA Of NEW UTILITIES.

For New Zealand After the War. What Other Countries are Doinn(By Dr Alfred K. Newman, M.P.) - Daring my recent trip to England, via Canada, and hack through the United States, I picked up several b ;r s of knowledge which oCßmed to me of use for New Zealand. This war, which ba* killed *o many of the flower of our New Z aland manhood, and has permanently crippled many more, and has loaded the country with a RiloeFal nnreprodnetive debt, will force us to use our brains, to learn what is useful in other countries, aud to make the same gigantic efforts that Great Britain will make to hold our Own in the coming trade war after the war. OIL-ENGINED SAILING SHIPS, Plying in aud out of Auckland for years past have been many small sailing vessels, fitted up with oil engines for use in calms or very light airs. On the Pacific Ooaat of the United S:a»ea there are being built veiy many big sailing ships carrying latge cargoes—many thousand tons each. The big freight-earners are fitted up with oil engines. Many have made long voyages with great success, and the cost of carrying freight by them is much lower than by ordinary tramp iteamers. The oil occupies small space, and the engines are more compact, so there is more space for carg\ Small scows fitted with oil engines have long been plying in and out of Auckland Harbour. The new U.S. ships are of great size, and great freight-carriers. It is confidently asserted that they are such a great success, can be run bo cheaply, that they will run off the ordinary coal steamer, and that this great ooean trade of the world wiil be carried in these vessels. New Zealand is for ever handicapped by long and costly sea freights, these new vessels should greatly cheapen freights, and be of enormous ns9 to New Zealand.

ALFALFA (LCCEKNE) AS FOOD FOR MAN ' In the United States is a factory converting green alfalfa directly into human food. Of all similar plants, alfalfa is the most nutritious. Hitherto farmers have grown lucerne as food for cattle, sheep, and hogs, which are then eaten. The new idea is to cut out the middle inan—sheep, oattle, hogs—and feed the stuff direct to people. Thus the great middleman (the animals) is wasteful expenditure. Quite good meal, as porridge is now made, is obtained, and it is as nice and nutritious as that from oats. Bisouils and pastry are all made out of lucerne. The faotory also extraots a sweet syrnp—like maple syrup. Altogether thirty-three kinds of food are already advertised as being on sale—direct from lucerne. An enor* mons manufacture is confidontally predicted if it takes on with the publie. As alfalfa grows in such enormous quantities per acre, it should materially reduce prices. A very good tea is made by preparing lucerne. I saw this tea. It is the same colour anti is like that of ordinary tealeaves and short, small stalks, A number of us on board smelt this tea, and the aroma is distinetly pleasant. The owner of the parcel said it made a first-rate tea, Enthusiasts say it will oust other teas from the market. Undoubtedly lucerne will presently be largely grown and be eaten in various forms by man, and thus be put to speedy and profitable U3e. It is oonfidentally expected that this production of food will have enormous value to the world. Except that the idea is startlingly new and unexpected, there is no reason why we should not eat this plant, which is so valuable a food for animals. ELECTRIC POWER FROM HOT SPRINGS. Coal is scarce and very dear in Italy, where there are many volcanic springs, so scientific persons have experimented and have discovered that by boring near these hot springs it is possible to get abundant supplies of hoi steam. Wells,3ooft to 500 ft deep are sank and the stßam is used to drive electrical machinery. Several towns in Italy are lighted by electricity, the creative power being this volcanic steam, The supply is constant and steady, and marvellously cheap power is’produced—cheaper than most water plants. When the war is over, and the people have time, there will be a great expansion of this industry, Of course this discovery will prove of great value to New Zealand in parts where hot springs abound. Italian cities are and have for some time past been lit by electrioity derived from these steam wells, and motor power supplied to factories, tramways, etc. What is in work in Italy can be worked in New Zealand, and it seems

certain some of oar towns after the war will be lit by this means. Toe Hot Springs area must become the seat of many manufactories in the noor future. IRON AND CEMENT BUILDINGS, The days of big brick buildiugs is fast pasdug—in a few years none will be built, la the United States big now buildiugs have eteel frames, and skeletons are elctbed with concrete ; so also in Great Britain iron is superseding brick. Really tall buildit gs cannot be made of brick. Again, brick buildings have thick walls —«»y, 2ft 6in—so two walls means sft, An iron wall is, s>y, 7in —l4 n for the outside walls. When land costs £I.OOO for foot, the saving of 4ft is a big consideration. Some brick buildings need thick party walls —more waste cf valuable space. These iron-framed buildings are absolutely earthquake and fireproof, and will last for centuries. The magnificent buildings in San Francisco are absolutely earthquake and fireproof. In Sweden large barge? are made with eteel skeletons, and covered by concrete, and thsre small steamers are to bs built of the same material all such vessels are much cheaper than those made of iron.

It seems to mo that in these three things, large vessels fitted with oil engines—big ocean tramps —in the direct use of alfalfa as food for us, and in the use of the abundant supplies of steam in the region of our Hot Springs there lies ahead of us really great and new forms of wealth for New Zealand.