CLEVER NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1918, Page 5

CLEVER NEW ZEALANDERS.

EXPLOSIVE BULLET USEfi ! AGAINST ZEPPELTN&'. Heceiyed (via America) S&o. 1", 7-50 pjn. London, Deo.' 16It. transpires that .lolra Pemarpy, a New- Zealander now itf London, invented an explosive bullet which, was the principal factor in destroying the Zeppelins raiding JJngland. The bullet is nowuarl to destroy marine mine?.—Reuter. SOLDIER AND INVENTOB. A BRLLIANT CARKEE..;:. Among Um New Zealanders who 'hi.-* gained distinction during the war is Captain Robert Burn, the eldest son of Mr. John Burn, of the firm of Burn and Son*, motor engineers, Petone. From hit initial rank of private he has risen Twilliaiitly in four years to one of tbe highest administrative positions in the aeroplane industry of xhe world (says the Post).

CAptain Burn was educated at the Fort Street Model School, Sydney, and for some time was engaged and recaivft 1 mechanical training in his father"* engineering shop at Pctonc. Ee had a marked aptitude for- mechanical w»rk, and some years ago was responsibly fur several inventions nuking for theigrftiicr efficiency of gas and oil engines. Some time 'before the outbivak of war he bad gone to England to float a company to exploit a new type of oil engine invented by him, and he wa3 in London when the call came for voluntrw«. Ho at ono» enliskd with the Ist Vw Zealand Contingent of Kitchener's Armv.and left for F.gvpt as n pri\atc HU mechanical knowledge bci'amo known, 'ird he vas (ranifevied lo ihe Motor Transport Department, and piomoh'd to the rank of sergeant-ma ior, being fov a time in phaige "f the njotor repairs "."op at .->re of Ll.c main Kgyplian cwmv-\ \Tiiile in Egypt he worked out i.Ms foi an in.ptoved grenade and creii uV 'hvower. ir I wis later cent to F.nglmid. where lie io ecived the. rank et lieutenant, to brim his ideas to practical perfection. T'.s inventions were laid before th,> Intuitions Bor:i1, "and, after lho"nu_rh tests, were apnioved, \%Hli the result Ihit Aw: ing the last two years of the war the Burn "constant anale" j'rdnarie pun. which weiahs onlv lfi'vlb and has a ranee of fi"* jards and the improved bomb was in use by the Allied R'.-mies on the Western front .

Captain Burn was then appointed a member o f tho Invention* Tiiiufl!. the duty of vh'.rh was to examine nnd (o report 0" nli rar invnition>. When Ihe nutcrv came for "specdimj-uo'' in i'rt output of fightim: air machines he ->vns transferred to take chaw "t th.- inIduKtrv at Tlendon, of the mr?t >••' Iportant centres of 11'"- I'idusbv in t'lii ' world. Hip genius for mechanical en<ri-ner-rinff, coupled with his administration, opened for him a srid more important position—ih?l of C'nW Production and Technical Ofuw i:s thi aeroplane industry. Tie has irvpnled a successful improved t.«nk fur aeroplanes, and is now engaacl on another important aeroplane invention. Many interesting war trophies sent out hv Captain Burn are in the possession of h»s father Tho collection as a win.!* is unique, and is of special interest ti the people of New Zealand, ns it in'-htdc? several of the captain's inventions. Tlie s ; include the Burn patent discharger foi firincr grenades. th« fliini time and per cussion fuse, tho Both constant angle trrenade jrun, and a paten led taessage carrier, nli of which have been ldoplot by tl» Allied armiett.