Miscellaneous.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 306, 10 September 1908, Page 3

Miscellaneous.

What is claimed to be the smallest electric motor in the world is in the possession of aTexas electrician and watchmaker, who made it as a scarfpin. It weighs one pennyweight and three grains, and is run by a current from a small silver chloride battery.

The big rhinoceros, Mogul, at the Bronx Zoo has had an operastion performed for cataract. It required the services of 15 veterinarians, ljlb of chloroform, and alb of ether to reduce the animal to a proper state for the operation. The operation occupied half an hour, and it is hoped that it will prove successful. It will be a month, however, before this point can-be determined.

No slight, sensation has been caused in Roman Catholic circles in Rome by the appearance of Cardinal Merry del Vai in a motor car, which he uses to take him to Vicarello, where he is taking a course of hot baths. The Vatican has always been strongly against the motor, which the Pope has hitherto looked upon as unsuited to the dignity of the Church, and for this reason he has always refused permission to the Cardinals to adopt motor-cars in place of the traditional carriage and pair, notwithstanding that many of them have requested his sanction. Without a motor-car, however, the” Papal Secretary of State would be unable to take his cure and attend to his Vatican duties, and the Pope has therefore reluc e tantly permitted him to use th new means of locomotion.

Lord Avebury has been furnishing a Congress of bee enthusiasts in London with some very interesting information concerning the busy insect. Talking of his own experiments upon the senses of bees, Lord Avebury obseived that, no doubt they could touch, taste, smell and see. He had kept bees for many years. To test their sense of hearing he/had blown a. trumpet, a whistle, had played a violin, and had talked to them, but he noticed that, while feeding at anyrate, no sound affected them. They went on working regardless of the sounds. Possibly they did not hear the sounds as we did, but rather the overtones. They had five eyes, two of which were constructed on a different plan from the other three, and this was very carious. They certainly could distinguish colours, and he believed the ultra-violet rays, which we could not see were visible to them.

Messrs Harms worth, the proprietors of the London “ Daily Mail,” recently purchased <2OOO square miles of spruce forest in the centre of Newfoundland, and have formed the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company to take it over. The wood is to be made into ■wood pulp, and then shipped to England. The company have invited tenders for the construction of a steamer specially designed for carrying pulp, and strengthened to stand contact w’ith the ice. She will be 400 ft in length, 50ft in breadth, and 30ft in depth moulded, will carry about 7000 tons dead - w’eight, including bunkers, and will steam 11 knots.

As regards the new ship marking any very great advance on the Dreadnoughts in power (writes Mr Fred T. Jane in u St. James’s Budget”), the real reason against this has been pointed out by M. Laubeuf, the famous French constructor. He recently pointed out that, as England has most of any existing type, she is bound to be the principal loser by any novel departure. This cynical remark was inspired by the Dreadnought, and it has proved all too true, as far as Germany was concerned. Directly the Dreadnought was a known success Germany started building Dreadnoughts, and she has now seven in various stages—her 1908 ships being already more or less in hand. We have but seven also, and one 1908 ship to be laid down next September. We might make that ship a c< super-. Dreadnought,” but in 1909 Germany -would be building “ superDreadnoughts ” also—so nothing' would be gained, while such advantage as the Invincibles may gine would be thrown aw r ay. That, s the case against novelties.