MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 488, 6 April 1850, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is we believe, in contemplation to erect at Birkenhead, with the highest sanction in Church and State, an extensive range of buildings as a collegiate establishment, simi'ar in character to, possessed of the same amount of talent in literature, theology, &c, and devoted to the same high and holy purposes, as the time-honoured Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. It is stated that the want of such an institution in the north of England has long been felt and that the heads of the Church consider this locality peculiarly adapted to promote the success of the project, It is further stated, that- the Rev. Joseph Baylee is the originator or furtherer, or both, of the excellent design. Rumor informs us, in addition, that the precise locus in quo will be a tract of land, about ten acres in extent, situate between the New Park and Mr. Jackson's mansion, the property of Mr. Brassey, and which itis hoped that enterprising and benevolent gentleman will present for the purpose. It is added that the Archbishop of Canterbuiy, the Marquis of Westminster, and Lord Robert Grosvenor, have each contributed £1000 for this magnificent scheme. — Liverpool Standard. According to the Patent Journal, a solution of gun-cotton, in a caustic alkaline ley, possesses in a high degree the property of precipitating silver from its solution in the met-. allic form, and is, consequently, highly useful in silvering looking-glasses. So vast is the consumption o r gold in the civilised world at present, betwixt tear and wear of coin, and in the Arts, that it requires nearly 45,0001bs to keep up the stock on hand, say three millions sterling, or equal to the entire produce of the Russian mines, a few years ago ! Professor Dick recommends farmers to wash all roots before giving them to cattle, stating that he has seen one hundred weight of earth taken out of a horse which had been destroyed by it. Responsibility of Ship-Masters. — By ihe following resolutions it will be seen thar the desertion of his ship by a master, has ca'led for a stringent remedy by the Board of Underwriters of New York. In ordinary times such a measure would have a powerful effect in preventing the evil alluded to ; but we doubt if such vj ill be the result now in California, where the excitement of money making has become an absolute mania with almost the whole population. We learn from good authority that hundreds of vessels are now lying deserted in the California waters, and of course will be greatly injured or absolutely destroyed in a few months' time. At a meeting of the Board of Underwriters of New Yi-rk, held at their office, in the Merchants' Exchange, on 21st August, 1849, the following preamble and resolutions were passed — Whereas it has been: represented to this Board, that officers and men have wholly deserted their vessels on the coast of California, thereby violating binding contracts, and committing a high commercial crime, subjecting merchants and others to heavy losses and severe disappointments : and whereas such crimes deserve the strongest disapprobation and severe censure of this Board — therefore, resolved, that the Secretary of this Board be, aud hereby is directed, upon receiving reliable inforn,ation of the voluntary desertion of a ship by a ship-master, for more lucrative employment, to place the name of such master on the list of suspended ship-masters, there to remain until his conduct is satisfactorily explained. Resolved, further, that during such suspension, no insurance whatever will be made by any of the Companies composing this Board on any vessel or other property in charge of such deserting ship-master. Ellwood Walter, Secretary Board of Underwriters."

Centrifugal Pump. — A model is said to have recently been made of a pump for draining marshes, &c. in which the principle of the turbine appears to have been adopted — or modified — so as to hare led to a hope of its doing wonde.s. A small box water* wheel, made of tin, a little thicker, but no larger, than a half-penny, is fitted at the bottom of a square tube in a small cistern of water, and the wheel being made to rotate with great velocity, throws up water rapidly into the tube above itself, until it overflows in a continuous stream at the top, so as deliver eight gallons a minute, and to drive it, even through a nozzle, to a distance of 20 feet. A wheel about 15 inches in diameter, will, it is said, deliver 1800 gallons per minute, worked by an engine of four-horse power. The inventor is said to be a Mr. Appold, who proposes to aid the drainage of Haerlem Lake with one

40 feet in diameter, and delivering 15,000 gallons a minute. — Builder. Atmospheric Pestilence. — In a letter just addressed by Dr. King to the Earl of Carlisle, we find the following passage': — " Such ( atmospheric pestilence' has not been confined to the Goodwin Sands, It has visited Salisbury and Walworth. A gentleman of large fortune and great intelligence writes to me, from his estate at York, on the 23rd September : — ' A gentleman died here two days ago who was at Salisbury when the cholera raged so fearfully there. He said a labourer was at work in the steeple of a church on the evening on which it broke out, and when he came down he said he smelt it in the air. They asked him how he knew the smell of cholera ; he said he had served as a soldier in India, and he had often smelt it there. The cholera came as he predicted.' The worthy rector of Breamore, near Sarura, also communicated to me in nearly the same words the same fact. A gentleman holding a very high position in the Customs writes — ' the circumstances to which you refer in your note of this day's date (11th October) were communicated to me by an old friend whose veracity is unimpeachable. They are shortly these :—: — A respectable person, a butcher, named , who resided at Walworth, was conversing with two of his near neighbours at the door of his shop, when they all three felt a pestilerous blast of air, which produced distressing sensations. One of the three went home immediately and took spme brandy and water, and then went immediately to his medical attendant. I am not aware whether he suffered materially, but his life was saved, and the other two died of Asiatic cholera within twenty-four hours from the period before mentioned. I understand that was a healthy man, and that all three were in the prime of life."

A Reward well Bestowed.—The Paris journals related a few days back that a medical student, in paying a visit during the cholera to a poor family who had no flannel to make the necessary frictions, took off his flannel waistcoat and gave it for the purpose. No one could at first say who the medical pupil was, and it was only after long investigations that his name became known, by his comrades mentioning it to the Mayor, who informed the Minister ot'Public Instruction that M. Thieux was the person. A letter arrived from the Minister, inviting the young man to di'iner for the following Wednesday. On the day slated the Minister presented him to Madame de Fal'oux, who placed him near her at table, and paid him the utmost attention. Towards the end of the evening, M. de Fallouv, taking him apart, announced to him that he had to present to him in the name of the University, with medical works to the value of IOOOf., and he added, " Do me the favour to accept, as a mark of my persona! esteem, these two volumes; they contain a letter for you (it granted the young man a pension of 400f. for three years), and do not forget that we receive every Wednesday." M. Thieux withdrew penetrated with gratitude.