Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 17 October 1895, Page 3

Notes and Events.

A remarkable invention is that which has been brought into use by Professor Anderson Stuart, of ihe Sydney University, which has enabled a man who by operation in the throat has beon rendered voiceless, to speak for hours with psifect ease. The principle of the invention is that a reed is adjusted in a tube occupying a position in the larynx so that a current of breath over it causes it to vibrate and produce a sound which, governed by the articulating organs and the resonance of the mouth and nose, results in a remarkably good voioe produced. The voice is a monotone, slightly metallic in character, but perfectly intelligible, clear, and pleasant to lisfcju to. In the invention tlure is an ingenious contrivance by which the accumulation of tha natural fluids of the mouth and air passages which would impair the working of the larynx is prevented. One of the features of the invention is that by changing the reed the man who used the apparatus could equip himself with a soprano, a tenor, a

contralto, or a bass voice as he pleased. The medical faculty is much interested in this invention, which is said to be the most perfect appliance yet devised for artificially replacing a larynx that has been removed.

A local is going the round of the papers that "■ Mr John Murray, of Bank of New Zealand fame, returned to the colony by the Hauroto." This announcement causes one to consider what is •' fame ?" Ii hardly seems complimentary as the Century dictionary describes fame to be " the common talk " — public opinion, good or bad fame." One imagines that Mr Murray will be apt to exclaim with Fhtch«e in the •• Humourous Lieutenant " "Do you call this fame ? I have fatn'd it\ I have got immortal fame ; but I'll no more on it." And quite right to. Who is it that say's-— < Aud here of Nature's kindly care Behold a curious proof, As nags are meant to leap, she pins A frog in every hoof ? Among the Sepoys who lately received the Order of Merit for the relief of Chitral is one who bad no fuwer than 81 wounds, probably a good record number. Another man, furnished a splendid example of * pluck and endurance. He was shot in the side at the Koragh defile, when Ross's party was cut up. He could feel the bullet in his body, and worked away at it with both hand?, gradnally pushing it outwards until txtra strvioea. The offenders,

he had extracted it Then he uhonU deved his rifle again, and did a mavch of SO roil«B, in spite of the loss of blood.

The man who bets, no matter how cool and calculating he may be, is a fatalist, many extraordinary wagers have been booked as a result of superstition on the part of tho speculator. We have had an instance locally. A Napier man secured good odds from a local penciller recently upon a New Zealand and Melbourne Cup double, the animals being Irish Twist and Tullamore. The bookmaking firm were naturally anxious to know why this particular double should be chosen, and the sport we have already mentioned, who, it might be said, is of Hibernian cxraction, explained himself thus : ' I myself am an Irishman. The name of Irish Twist attracted me, as also did that of Tullaraore, but I am backing the two, because of a coincidence, Irish Twist is a well known tobacco, and it. is manufactured in the town of Tullamore in Ireland. In addition Irish Twist is owned by a man whose wifo is on Irishwoman, nnd Tulloniove is owned by an Irishman. The sign& point to a double win, and I've backed them. We (News) wish them every success.

It is better to be born lucky than rich ? The question suggests itself from the fact that Alias Ada Crossley, the eolcbrated Australian contralto now starring at Homo, by speculating £10 in mining shares in Western Australia now finds tho little investment worth £-10,000.

A r?ew punishment has been invented in Pensylvania for misbeha viour in chnrch. Two young men playing with a revolver aocidently discharged it. They were offered the alternative of being prosecuted for the offence or pitting in the pulpit with the minister during three though obviously not attentive churchgoer?, cbo?e tha latter. A more humorous pineal po?irion is hardly to bo imagined. It is doubt ful whethpi 1 they thpmselves were apliitnally brnefittecl, -but It is satisfactory to learn that " the usual congregation of the church was largely increased."