Untitled

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 115, 21 April 1870, Page 7

A Wonderful Calculator. — John Alexander, post-runner between Nairn and Cawdor, has proved himself to be one of the most astonishing mental calculators, perhaps, in the kingdom. As a specimen of hia powers, he gave the correct answers to the five following questions in loss than a minute, in presence of Mr. William Raitt, Free Church Institution, Nairn, the other day: — "Two chests te.i, each 801 b., at 3s. 6id.; 12 bars brown soap, each 3^lb., at 4£d.; 17 bars white soap, each 41b., at 5?d.; 3 bags sago, each 271 b., at -Aid., and 7 bags barley, each 191 b., at l|d." He answered the following question correctly without noting down a single figure, and that, too, in a few seconds : — "Find the amount of £500, from March 1 to January 9, both days inclusive, at 4f per cent. ? Answer. £519 19s. l|d— 66-73d." He was asked by Mr. Raitt how many letters there would be in a year's file of a daily newspaper of eight pages, each seven columns, each 180 lines, each 57 letters ? The answer, 139,873,440, was given in a few seconds.

The Influence of the New Zealand GrOLDFIELDS ON THE NATIVE Rebellton. — A London contemporary remarks that the sudden revival of hope and energy in the northern provinces of New Zealand is clearly to be attributed as much to the recent improvement in the goldfields of Auckland as to any political or military success in the long struggle with the disaffected Maoris. The victories of the mining companies at the Thames are at least as encouraging as those of the colonial forces in the Taupo district. Although the natives still refuse to alienate the the lands on the Upper Thames for mining uses, yet from the fact that parties of them have received from the Provincial Government recently large sums for gold licenses on the lower river, it may be supposed that their patriotism or obstinacy will yield in time to the temptation of increasing their easily acquired gains. New Use for Electricity. — The " Daily Telegraph" says : — Some Parisian, electrician has developed a brilliant idea: he electrifies singers just before they "go oi>," and they electrify the audience. They sing with spirit, fire, energy-— all derived from the battery at so much per shock. Thus the work of a manager becomes simple : as he depends for life on the gas company, he will henceforth depend for the life and vigour of his operas oh some new electrifying company, contracting to do the work nightly. Vocal genius will be laid down in wires, and turned on or off as required — -the charge so much psr Grrisi power. If the singers do not sing well, the gallery will know that the manager is stingy or has no funds ; or that, through a dispute with the company, the electric supply is cut off. But if this, is true — -if brilliant singing can be bought by cash. — why not extend the principle ? Could not sublime and startling oratory be distributed in " mains " all over the land, with- connecting pipes, and of course, meters to every tawn- hall and assembly room? Could not even a hostess secure- a cer tain amount of electricity to enliven a dull dinner party — just as now she secures table- ornaments, and buys flowers'? And,, before all, and above all, could not the nineteen- thousand nine hundred, and ninety-five dull pulpits in the land — the total number of pulpits being twenty thousand— be electrified,, so that the plague of sleepy sermons might finally be exorcised?

Relics of "Robinson Crusoe." — Sir David Baxter has presented to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland the drinking cup which belonged to Alexander Selkirk, and was with him during his sojourn on the island of Juan- Fernaudez-; also his sea-chest.

The red deer, which for some timehad not been seen in the neighbourhood of the town, have returned totheir old haunts in considerable force, a herd of upwards of fifty having recently been seen on the Brook-street Valley ranges. Butter is quoted in Lytteelton at 6d. to 7d. a pound for the best description. Two firms bftye taken advantage tfthie low rate to expopt ta London-l4Q-fipkins_