PETROLEUM.

Patea Mail, 25 September 1882, Page 4

PETROLEUM.

The Poverty Bay Herald reports the return of Mr Bourte, of the South Pacific Petroleum Company, from the scene of operations. He found everything in perfect order and readiness awaiting the arrival of the special expert from America, who was expected to arrive by the last mail boat, but who probably has gone on to Sydney to receive instructions from the board of directors The surface indications continue good. Instructions have been given the manager in charge, to send down a sample of a superior paraffin wax that has just been discovered. It will be forwarded to Melbourne for analysis at the Appolla Candle Works. There appears to be no reason to doubt the ultimate success of the company. — : : EMBALMING. The Lancet describes the chief processes employed by the principal Italian embalmers; the special processes are kept secret. First, cold water is injected through the whole circulatory system, until it issues quite clear* This may take as long as five hours. Alcohol is then injected for the purpose of extracting all the water from the body. This is followed up by the injection of ether, to dissolve out the fatty matter. After this a strong solution of tannin is slowly injected, and full time is allowed for its soaking into all the tissues ; this takes from two to five hours. Lastly t the body is exposed for from two to five hours to a current of warm air, which is previously dried by passing it over heated chloride of calcium. The body can then be preserved for any length of time and is as hard as stone. Mr I. F. Herbert, of Tapanui, has leased 84,000 acres of Maori land sixteen miles from Gisborne. The land is good, and grass is abundant. One of the earliest importers of sheep to this colony died suddenly in Melbourne last week, namely Mr Robert Chapman. Some people in England have a vague idea of N.Z. geography. In a late number of The People, it is stated that Sir Arthur Gordon drove from Wellington to open the Christchurch exhibition, at which there were only 2,400 people present! Freethinkers are subject to punishment under an old law for distributing heretical tracts, but it would be a curious experiment to try under present circumstances. A gentleman was entering the Christchurch Cathedral the ether day, and a man forced a tract into his hand. He complained to the chapter. They took legal advice, and found that under an Act of William IV, the person distributing such pamphlets could be fined or imprisoned.