GUTTA PERCHA THE DOWNFALL OF INDIAN RUBBER.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 399, 9 February 1850, Page 3

GUTTA PERCH A THE DOWNFALL OF INDIAN RUBBER.

I Stb^m and caoutchoud were a long 1 time looked upon as ultimate! in the various uses to which they could be applied. The possibility of discoverint, a substitute for either was hardly dreamed of; hut the possibilities of human experience can never be guessed at ; it is just as certain that the next age will surp-m llm pi-o-&»nt in the aidi of progress, ai that the present upassess tho past. In short, progress 13, of uce&siti', infinite ; like a circle it can have no end. Steam has lost one half its consequence by the invention of ths magnetic telegraph, and the universal caoutchouc will be almost entirely superseded by the di-covery of a kindred element of bappinesi, the Gu'ta Percha. As the gutta percha is just coming into use, no one half its appliances can now be surmised, but it has already betn found superior to India-rubber in the majority of purposes for which that material has been used, while it is capable of .being employed in many cases, where India rubber vras inefficient. Gutta pprcha is the gum of a tree which grows on tho island of Borneo, and the entire Malayan Peninsular abounds in extensive forests of this most valuable production of the tropics. The tree is veiy large and bears some resemblance to t'le India-rubber tree, but differs from it in it 3 botanical characteristics. The sap of the tree exudes from itslarcerated surface, but quickly become! hard on being exposed to the air. It it purified by being boiled in hot water when it becomes soft and plaitic ; below the temperature of fifty degrees it is nearly as hard ai wood ; it is extremely tough but becomes plistic when it is cut into thin, strips; at a temperature below boiling water it becomes as soft and yielding aa melted wnx or putty, and may be moulded into any form or itretched out thinner than the finest paj cr. When it cools it becomes hard and tough again and retains its plaiitc shape without the slightest chance by contraction, or wrapping. Its tenacity is wonderful, a thin slip sus« t lined a weight of fifty pound; ; the procesi of melting and cooling seems to have no effect in injuring itt qualities. Ii burns freely and emits an odor when ignited similar to that of caoutchouc 5 it is easily di olvcd in the oil of turpentine, but with difficulty in ether and other solvents of India-rubber. The usei of this valuable material arc almost infinite ; it combines all the valuable properties of the best tanned leather, with the elasticity of caoutchouc, and a durability which neither of them possesses, and for strapping machinery supplies a want that has long been serious'y experienced. It will answer all the purposes to which leather it applied and immensely tupcrior to Ind a-rubher for boots and shoes. Indeed, 'he old phiaie of " nothing like leather," will be deprived of its significance by the gutta percha. A leaf of gutta percha no thicker than bank note paper it as impervious to water as glass; for umbrellai, overcoat", roofi of housei, bottoms of ships, covering! of boxes, and in nil cases were piotection from wet il desired, its vie will be invaluable. It can be formed into ga»-pipes and water-pipes of any »ize, and any degree of itrengtb that may be required ; and vi d for such purposei will never decompose or wear out ; and being ductile and elastic it may be appH. d ins thousand shapei, and for thousands of purposes where iron or lead cannot now bs used. Its u'i itarian uses are endless ; it will supply the place of tin, wood, copper, iron, stone ani even g)ass, for such purposes ai buckets, tubs, vasei, goblets, drinking cups, and all manner of uteneils which are not used over the fire. But its uses for ornamental purposei are even more variety. In England it haa already been used to a very consi lerable extent in bookbinding, and for that purpose alone it must soon, eutirely supersede lea' her. For mouldings of all kinds, from the cornices of a house, the capitals of pillars in architecture, to the most delicate and intricate fancy work, such as snuff boxci, picture frames, knife handles, and the ornamentation of rooms, cartages, fountains, ship's cabins, steamboats, and the innumerable article* which are made to gratify the eye, it must supersede all other materials. Air, acids, and the ordinary chemical agencies havo no effect upon it. It is harder than horn, softer than wax, more tenacious than caoutchouc, more duiable than irjn; nothing can injure it but fire, and even that does not destroy it; and no ordinary rub call deface if. For floor cloths it will supersede the use of all other materials, as it can be made of extreme thickness, perfectly impervious to air or water and of greater durability than any other nVxikle materiel known. In itt hard state it can with dim" ulty be cut with a knife or a saw, but when it is soft, it can be moulded into the most delicate forms by the hand of a child. — From the New York Mirror.

Tub Convict Mitchel. — The lAtAtriclc Examiner has the following statement about John MitchJ, apparently en authority :-—*' The friends and family of John Mi'.chel have, we are informed, received notification from the British Government, to the effect that they (the Government) having taken into considt.-a* tion the condition of John Mi chel's health, bnvo gran'ed him free leave and liberty to go wherescevir he pleases, subject to no rts'raint, with the exception, that he shall not return to or sclle in any portion c r colony of the United Kingdom. The distinguished exile proposes, we are told, to proceed to German o for the purpme of trying the effect of the spas in ih restoration of his health. His wife and family st r remain in this country. The children, who are un i.c the care of the Rev. John Kenyon, P. P., Tt,m;>lederry» !»ill leave to join their father as soon as he shall bo ■ettled iv any eligible locality."