GUN-COTTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 9 October 1869, Page 6

GUN-COTTON.

An English - scientific journal ' says : — " Among tl)e incidents with which M. Dumas was entertained during his recent visit to London for the Farraday hcture, was a trip to Woolwich, where, under the guidance of Mr. Abel, he saw the making of big guns in the arsenal, and experiments with gun-cotton which must have surprised him. A palisado was built of' Oalt timbers a fpot thick, firmly fixed in the ground, and supported in the rear by strong trusses. Disks of guncotton were placed along the face of the palisade aboub a foot above the ground, and were fired by a battery in the usual way. The effect may be described as wonderful. The palisade was literally blown away amidst a deafening report, as if the massive timbers offered no more resistance on one side of the gun-cotton than tho atmosphere on the other. The disks require no fixing ; merely laying them on is sufficient. Solid blocks of iron and stone can be shivered into fragments by firing a disk laid on the top. In future sieges, if some desperate fellow can but get to the gate or a thin part of the walls, and hang on a few disks of gun-cotton, a breach can bo made by firing with, a galvanic current from a long distance. Henceforth Indian stockades and New Zea-* land pahs will be but vain defences ; and if a hole can be blown in the side of a ship what will be the use of building vessels of war ? After all, cotton may prove to be king in the shape of gun-cotton." The suggestion about New Zealand pahs is worthy of consideration, for it is certain that volunteers for " desperate " service will never be wanting among the countrymen of Lieutenant Salkeld and the heroes of the Cashmere Gate, Delhi. Miners may also take an interest in an invention which might be used for other pur poses than those of way.