MISCELLANEOUS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 67, 17 June 1843, Page 267

MISCELLANEOUS.

Extraordinary Mechanical Invention.— Although at the late meeting of the British Association in Manchester, there were many very interesting- specimens of mechanism exhibited, there was, nevertheless, one in particular, which threw all other? completely into the shade, when considered either as to the novelty of the invention, or its evident practical applicability to the every day concerns of life — and may with truth be said to have been " the lion of the exhibition," viz., a machine for the working or forging of iron, steel, &c. . This truly surprising machine is quite portable, occupying only a space of 3ft. by 4ft., and cannot be deemed other, even by the most critical judges, than one purely original in principle, as well as practical in its application, as much so perhaps as was the splendid invention of the fluted roller of Arkwright, by which the art and perfection of drawing the fibrous substances became known, or that other still more splendid discovery of Watt, the condensing of steam in a separate vessel ; by which the power of the steam engine of that day may be said to' have been doubled. But now for some explanation of the machine, and its probable general application. It is, then, as has before been said, very portable, not requiring more space .than from 3 to 4 feet, and may be worked by steam or water power, and when moved by the former, as was the case at the exhibition, it makes 650 blows or impressions per minute ; but, from their very quick succession, and the work being effected by an eccentric pressing down, not striking the hammer or swage, not the least noise was heard. There are five or six sets of what may be called anvils ,and swages in the machine, varying in size. The speed and correctness with which the machine completes its work is perfectly astonishing, and must be seen in order that its capabilities in this respect may be duly appreciated ; for instance, when it is put in motion for the purpose of producing what is known as a roller with a coupling square upon it (and which had to be afterwards turned and, fluted), the thing was accomplished in fifty seconds ! of course at one heat, to the astonishment of the bystanders. But what appeared the most extraordinary part of the affair was, that the coupling square was produced direct from the machine, so mathematically correct, that no labour can make it more so ! ! The machine will perform the labour of three men and their assistants or strikers ; and not only so, but complete its work in a vastly superior manner to that executed by manual labour. For engineers, machine makers, smiths in general, file makers, bolt and screw makers, or for any description of work parallel or taper, it is most specially adapted ; and for what is technically known as reducing, it cannot possibly have a successful competitor — in proof of which, it may be stated that a piece of round iron, IS inches in diameter, was reduced to a square of 3 in., 2 ft. 5 in. long, at one heat. The merit of this J nvention belongs, it is said, to a gentleman at Bolton,of thename of Ryder. — Mancheiter Courier.

Just Antipathy to Caps. — The American ladies seem to have an abhorrence (and a very just one, too) of wearing caps. When one considers for a moment that women wear the hair long, which nature has given them both- for an ornament and to keep the head warm, one is apt to wonder by what perversion of taste they can be induced to enclose it in a cap ; a mob cap, a lace cap, a high cap, a low cap, a flat cap, a cap with ribands hanging loose, a cap with ribands tied under the chin, a peak cap, an angular cap, a round cap, and a pyramid cap. How would Caaova's Venus look in a mob cap ? If there be any ornament to the head in wearing a cap, it must surely be a false ornament. The American ladies are persuaded that the head can be ornamented without a cap. A rose-bud or two, a woodbine, or a sprig of eglantine, look well in the braided hair ; and there be raven locks, a lily or a snowdrop may be interwoven witli effect. — Waterton's Wanderings in South America.

A Heathen Hospital. — The Rev. Mr. Allen, an American missionary, in giving details concerning the various public institutions in Bombay, thus notices what every one must regard as a most singular establishment: — "It has been said that heathenism never furnished an hospital. There is at least one exception to the truth of this remark. There is one here, supported at the expense of 16,000 dollars annually. It was founded by a donation of 100,000 dollars, by a native merchant of the Jain sect — the sect which appears to approach nearer than any other to the primitive Hindooism, with which Pythagorus became acquainted at Babylon. Its doctrines strictly forbid the destruction of animal life, in any case whatever. The management of this hospital is wholly in heathen hands, and heathen liberality furnishes all its resources. In it are gratuitously supported from 50 to 100 old horses, which would otherwise be killed as past service ; about 175 cows and oxen, 2GO dogs, for whose destruction the authorities of Bombay offer a bounty twice a year ; and a large number of cats, monkeys, and other animals. Its charities are accessible to living beings of every species except the human race. Men, women, and children, wounded, sick and destitute, are allowed to die unaided within sight of its walls. Such is the character of the only hospital, so far as is known, that heathenism ever built." — Hong Kong Gazette.

Cast Ikon Buildings. — Buildings of cast iron are daily increasing at a prodigious rate in England, and it appears that houses are about to be constructed of this material. As the walls will be hollow, it will be easy to warm the buildings by a single stove placed in the kitchen. A threestory house, containing twelve rooms, will not cost more than .£l,lOO, regard being had to the manner in which it may be ornamented. Houses of this description may be taken to pieces, and transported from one place to another, at an expense of not more than £25. It is said that a large number of cast iron houses are about to be manufactured in Belgium and England, for the citizens of Hamburg whose habitations have been burnt

Loss of the Ship Middlesex. — To the many losses of valuable ships lately imported in our columns, has now to be added the Middlesex, bound from Sydney for London. She wat drtv]pn,on shore near Maceio, to the southward of Pernuqbuco, and soon became a total wreck. The crew and pasiJefcgers were saved. — Time*.