A VALUABLE DISCOVERY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1072, 17 February 1883, Page 3

A VALUABLE DISCOVERY.

The recent metallurgical discovery noticed in the London Telegraph, threatens to re* Tolutionise the economy of the world. The Morning Post thus deals with the possibilities involved in the discovery : ‘lt is said that aluminium bronze can be used for cannon. If an aluminium piece of equal, or anything like equal, size be as strong as one of steel, it would be possible to reduce by more than one*half the weight of all our artillery, and possible, consequently, to bring into the field pieces of twice the calibre now employed, and capable of throwing shot many times as heavy. It would obviously be possible to construct armoured ships of something like thrice their present strength without increasing their weight. Aluminium, indeed, might very speedily supersede iron for ship* building purposes, even although its price should be considerably greater. It would we believe, require no sheathing, and would not affect the compasses as iron inevitably does. Aluminium wires of one-third the weight would bear the same strain as wires of iron. Aluminium carriages might be made cheaper than wood ; aluminium would certainly be the delight of athletes; aluminium boats and oars may, before many years are past, be common sights in our lakes and rivers. The present canoe is a graceful and beautiful object ; a canoe madejof aluminium would be a thing of beauty indeed, as well as of use. We may live to see locomotives shining brightly as silver, and dragging a train of silvery carriages after them at about half of the present cost per train-mile run, seeing how greatly the dead weight might bo reduced, Aluminium tables, chairs, picture framely furniture of all kinds, would ha not meres, light and convenient, bu*, if devised with anything like ajsthotic taste, exceedingly beautiful.’