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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 15, 29 November 1883, Page 3

A new Street Car.—Recently the Government of New South Wales sent Mr. George Downe, superintendent of the motive power of tramways, to the United States to secure the construction of a combined locomotive passenger car for use in the streets of Sydney. The construction of the car was entrusted to the Eastern firm of J. C. Brill and Co., and of the engine to the Bal win Locomotive Works. The result of the united work of the two establishments was shown recently on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, and in a trial trip up the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad for a distance of twenty-six miles and returns, during which everything worked in a satisfactory manner, and a speed of fifteen miles an hour was made. The car has somewhat the appearance of a Frankford dummy, though much larger and more massive. The length of the car and engine is 38 feet, and their combined weight 144 tons. The interior of the car is divided into four compartments, the seats in each facing, similar to those in a summer street car. Each seat accommodates six persons, making room for torty-eight in all. There are also seats on top of the car, forty-two more being accommodated there. The streets through which this car is to run are quite narrow, and the tracks are laid on each side next the curb. The cars are enclosed, ingress and egress to each compartment being hud through sliding doors on one side, the opposite side not being accessible for passengers. The car is finished inside and outside in sycamore and ash in their natural colours, presenting a bright, cheerful appearance. There is a platform at the rear end similar to common street cars, and from it a stirway leads to the roof. There is also a stiraway in the same direction between the front end of the car and the engine. The engine is of the compound type, and in its construction are incorporated several special ideas of Mr. Downe, which it is expected will operate advantageously in the different points and connections. It requires but one man to operate the machinery, which is placed at the sides of the car and enclosed in strong sheet-iron boxes to preserve it from dust, harm, &c. The engine has a capacity of twenty-five miles an hour, while the regulation speed on the street cars of Sydney is ten miles an hour.

Death From Passion.—Cases in which death results from the physical excitemen consequent on mental passion are not uncommon. A recent instance has again called attention to the matter. Unfortunately those persons who are prone to sudden and overwhelming outbursts of ill-temper do not, as a rule, recognise their propensity or realise the perils to which it exposes them ; while the stupid idea that such deaths as occur in passion, and which are directly caused by it, ought to be ascribed to “the visitation of God,” tends to divert attention from the common-sense lesson which such deaths should teach. It is most unwise to allow the mind to excite the brain and body to such extent as to endanger life itself. We do not sufficiently appreciate the need and value of mental discipline as a corrective of bad habits aud a preventive of disturbances by which happiness, and life itself, are too often jeopardised.— Lancet,

Why he Would not Subscribe.—An old inhabitant of a country villiage, being asked for a subscription towards repairing the fence of the graveyard, declined, saying, “ I subscribed towards improvin’ that burryin’ ground nigh on to forty years ago, and my iamily hain’t had no benefit from it yet.”