AMERICAN SPECIALITIES FOR AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 5, 25 February 1871, Page 15

AMERICAN SPECIALITIES FOR AUSTRALIA.

On a former occasion we alluded to the probabilities of new openings in Australia and New Zealand, in a business point of view, existing for a thousand and one American inventions and specialties. We have in the present issue to call attention to two important inventions of a very dissimilar nature. Giant powder (or “ Dynamiet,” as it is called in Germany by the inventor) has been in successful use on this coast since the summer of 1868. ; For the first year and a-half the company had to contend with many objections from miners, as it inaugurated a new mode of work. On account of the immense strength of the powder, 'very much smaller holes are necessary than when ordinary blasting powder is employed, thus .economizing labor and rendering it profitable to work mining claims which would otherwise not pay. The objections to its use, on the part of the workmen, have been for the most part overcome. It is now acknowledged that in all mines where single hand drilling has been thoroughly introduced, a saving of fifty per cent, is made; besides, about one-third more-work is done in the same time. One man can drill a narrow hole much quicker than two men, using one and a quarter and one and a half steel and a heavy sledge hammer. k A hole can he charged with Giant powder in one-quarter or leSs'of the time than with black powder; Giant powder not requiring any tamping, merely filling the borehole with either loose sand or water. It can be used under water as well as in dry holes, as water does not dissolve it. For all wet mines, therefore, it is invaluable, the cartridges in which it is put up are pushed through the water to the bottom, and the water serves as tamping. It can only he exploded by the Giant powder caps. The application of fire will not explode it,' neither will concussion alone. Concussion and heat together are required Submerged rocks in this harbor have been easily removed with the Giant powder, by simply sinking cases filled with it on the rocks, either setting off by electricity or by putting the cap attached to a water-tight fuse through a small gimlet hole into the powder, closing the hole with some grease, and setting fire to the fuse before dropping the case on the rocks.

Giant powder explodes about twelve times quicker than common powder; this explains the fact that it operates below the bottom of the bore-hole, and directs its force about equally to all sides.

A few inches placed on a three to four inch plank, covered with a little sand, or a rock even of a thickness of from one.to two feet, will crush either to pieces. Herein lies another great advantage over common powder, which works only upward. The agents of the Giant Powder Company have determined to send a gentleman to the colonies shortly, who will be able to demonstrate by practical experiments all that has been said about it.

Through the courtesy of Mr Oscar V. Gersabek, of 363 Market street, we had an opportunity the other day of inspecting the numerous varieties of the celebrated Yale Lock, for the sale of which he is agent. They are of all sizes and shapes, varying from the smallest drawer or box lock to largest bank or prison lock, and are certainly wonderfully ingenious inventions. The keys of all varieties are small. The “ Dial, Bank, and Safe lock,” and the “ Double Dial lock” have two separate combinations, whereby each will open the safe without disturbing the other. It can only be made so that both combinations are required to open it. The ** Prison lock” is so constructed that it can be placed at any desired distance from the door, and, should the keeper forget' his key, leaving it in the lock, the prisoner inside would have no chance £t getting at it. No burglar can pick these locks or open them at all, but with the keys supplied with them. They have been adopted extensively in the East by such houses as Jay, Cooke & Company, the Bank,of Commerce, the Bank of North America August l Belmont & Co, Fish and Hatch, Brown Brothers; and any number of others. The Ocean National Bank adopted the lock, after the occurrence of the great robbery, in preference

to all others. The Boston Post Office has between four and five thousand of these locks on its boxes ; San Francisco is to have fifteen hundred. Since the establishment of the agency here, they have been furnished to the Post Offices of Salt Lake City, Santa Clara and numerous other places. All the varieties of these locks are constructed on the same principle, which is a beautifully simple one. They are comparatively inexpensive, whilst piles of testimonials prove their efficacy in resisting the attempts of the burglar. No American invention can be more honestly recommended, and its great success in this country is due entirely to its intrinsic merits.—“ News of the World.”