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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 239, 9 April 1866, Page 3

The Electric Light at Sea.— Some ' interesting experiments have just been . "" made at L' Orient, ou board the * Ooligny,-' *, the object of which is to utilise the elec-, ( trie light at sea. By means of a sub- ; marine reflector the water was illuminated to a great depth, so that it was possible to look down from the deck and see the fish,, attracted by the light, swimming , round the lamp as if in an aquarium. -A kindj of diving-bell, with a large glasseye jin one side, and arranged to supply air to a diver, was also let down to a depth of 38 fathoms. „ By means, of this apparatus it will be easy to inspect submarine constructions to fish coral, &c, and recover wrecked property. .Signals were likewise exchanged, by means of the elecric light, betwen the Coligny and the semaphore of Belle Jsle. These different applications of the electric light were made, in the presence of a military commission, by the inventor, M. Bazin, civil engineer, of Angers j and were found to give satisfactory "results.— "YDaily News." When Nelson visited the Eoyal. Naval i Hospital at Yarmouth, after thje, battle ; of .Copenhagen, he went ronnd .the wards, i j stopped at every bed, and said some-

thing| kind and cheering.- Ai? length he stopped opposite, to a bed on which; was lying? a sailor Who had lost his right arih close to the shoulder joint, When the following short dialogue 'ensued:—-. " Well, Jack, what's the matter with you?" — " Lost my right -- arm,- your honojr." Nelson -pausedj-lookedidoy^i at his (empty sleeve, then at the sailor, and saidj'pla-yfully, " Well Jack, then you and I ar^ spoiled for fishermen ; cheer, up, my bravb fellow." ' Petroleum.-— We were shown on Saturday, March 10, by Mr Vautin, two eakeis of petroleum obtained from the site jof the recent discovery of that mineral at the Coorong.. Creek, in the south-eastern district, where it is found in very large quantities. In consistency, appearance, and thus demonstrates the fact jof its belonginig to the "family of mineral caoutchonc. It burns with grea*t readiness, and {considerable brilliancy, and . emits. C comparatively little smoke. 7 Some of the specimens brought to Adelaide are of very considerable size, andibear the imprint of leaves, &c. It is believed that the liquid petroleum exudes from the ground at a certain season every year, -and then spreading over the ground in the vicinity, becomes . hardened to the degree we have indicated. We believe that claims have been taken up in the countiy forming the site of the discovery, andl that immediate steps will be taken to develop it by obtaining access to the spring. Mr Yautin's may be seen at our offifce. — S.A. Register. y V'