MISCELLANEOUS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 270, 3 April 1873, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Some interesting particulars regarding the progress of the Wesleyan Church in the colonies were communicated by the Rev. T. Williams to the Sydney Conference. A copy of the minutes of the English Conference, 1816, gives the heading "Asia," and under that the subdivision "New South WalesSamuel Leigh." Mr. Leigh was the Alpha and the Omega of the list of Australian Ministers. Nor was it all plain sailing with that lonely gentleman. Society itself was in a very far from healthy condition. Governor Macquarie wrote thus of it :— « I found the colony barely emerging from infantine imbecility . . . depressed by poverty: . . the morals of the great mass of population in the lowest state of debasement, and religious worship almost totally neglected. " On h is part Mr. Leigh was refused official recognition, which meant a good deal in those days. The pioneer missionary says himself: "Society was knee-deep in oppression, dishonesty, and shameless vice;" and his biographer adds : "A vigilant eye was to be kept upon him and when the moral good of his work became visible, an alarmed magistrate, fearing this would become a colony of Methodists," advifed his Excellency to send the missionary Leigh "to work in the chain-gang in the coal mines of Newcastle." Such was Ihe stete of early Methodism in Australia, and of its representative at that time. On the other hand, the colonial statistics for 1872 give the following return : Number of ministers and preachers on trial, 265; local preachers, 1456; churches and other preaching places, 1721; church members and probationers, nearly 30,000; attendants on the Wesleyan ministry, about 206,000. To these statistics must be added the figures which x-epresent the progress in the missions proper. These read thus: — Twenty European missionaries, assisted by 5& native missionaries and 925 catechists, who officiate in 1162 preaching places, to 129,679 hearers, of wnom 37,763 are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Methodism has not done ba<Uy. — "Melbourne Telegraph." Mr. C. Adams, of Pittsburg, U.S., has patented an improved alloy designed for journal bearings aud other pui poses, composed of zinc, iron, copper, and phosphorus. The substance which is fourd as residum of galvanising works, and known as " dross," is composed of zinc and iron in about the proportions of 96 per cent, of the forjner and 4 per cent, ot the latter. These are just about the proportions of the two metals, which when melted together with copper will afford the best result. Take say two parts of the dross referred to and two parts of copper, and melt them together in a crucible. These proportions will afford a good metal for journals bearings. Eor small and strong castings use about one and three quarter part of the dross and .two parts of copper. For sheets use iwo parts of copper and one and a half part of the dross. The dross is prepared for use by simply melting it and running it into pigs. It may then be melted with copper in varions proportions, and if desirable a small quantity of phosphorus (say) about 1 oz to lOOlbs of the alloy, may be added while the alloy is in the crucible in a melted state. By this invention is obtained a metal resembling brass, but which is much cheaper, on account of the substitution and utilisation of the dross or refuse of the galvanising works, for the expensive metal, tin. A metal is also obtained which will not cut when used for journal boxes, a property which has not hitherto been found in any country. There were eight cancHtates, we observe, for the office of common crier and sergeant-at arms to the coporation of London, vacant by the appointment of the former occupant to the higher dignity of sword-bearer. Among them we observe there were a teadealer, a broker, a retired major, a retired lieutenant-colonel, a retired captain, another retired major, a gentleman, and a clerk. The clerk got the place. But what we should like to know is what special attraction there is in the position which should make so many great personages strive after it, or what there is in the circumstances of the. great personages which should induce them to cadge it. The Bath footman exclaimed " It's the uniform as does it," and perhaps the civic robes may be all powerful with tea dealers, brokers, and retired military gentlemen. Or it is that as men who have failed at everything else fancy they cannot fail to distinguish themselves as schoolmasters or editors, these great people think they are peculiarly adapted for fulfilling the duties of common crier and sergeant-at-arms to the coporation. — •' Sportsman." DX. BRIGHT'S PFTOSPFTODYNE.— Multitudes of people are hopelessly suffering from Debility, Nervous and Liver complaints, Depression cf Spirits, Delusions, Unfitness for Business or Study, Failure of Hearing, Sight and Memory, Lassitude, Want of Power, &c, whose case admit of a permenant cure by the new remedy PHOSPHODYNE. (Ozonic Oxygen), which at once allays all irritation and excitement, imparts new energy and life to *the enfeebled constitution, and readily cures every stage of these hitherto incurable and distressing maladies. Sold' by all Chemists and Storekeepers throughout the Colonies, from whom Pamphlets containing testimonials may be obtained. CAUTION. -Be particular to ask for Dr. Bright's Phosphodyne as imitations are abroad, and avoid purchasing single bottles, the genuine article being sold in cases only.