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; Aug. 31, 1871] 
NATURE 349 

mechanical processes in some of the largest works of South 
Staffordshire, The meetings conclude on Friday. 
In his last weekly return, the Registrar-General refers to the 
westward advance of Asiatic cholera as investing with more 
than ordinary interest Dr. Frankland’s usual monthly report upon 
the quality of the metropolitan water supply. The water supplied 
by the New River and Kent Companies is again reported freest 
from organic impurity, that of the East London and Chelsea 
Companies the most impure. With reference to the advantage 
which wonld be derived from a general application of Dr. Clark’s 
softening process to the London water supply, the Registrar- 
General adduces the following valuable facts, which have been 
communicated by Mr. Robert Rawlinson, C.B., C.E, :—‘‘ The 
average daily water supply to the metropolis was I11,292,104 
gallons in June, and 112,107,697 gallons in July. Now in each 
million gallons of these waters there is about one ton of bi-car- 
bonate of lime, or 1114 tons in June and 112 in July. About 
two-thirds of this weight of lime or chalk would be removed by 
Dr. Clark’s softening process—that is, in June 74 tons, and in 
July about 75 tons. In each year about 25,000 tons of useless 
lime would be removed from the metropolitan waters by the 
simple and easy process now in use at Canterbury.” The Registrar 
adds: ‘‘This riddance of the foreign matter, which deprives 
water of some of its cleansing properties, is in itself an advan- 
tage ; but, besides this, the fine precipitate of chalk carries down 
with it suspended impurities and probably frees it from choleraic 
and other contagions. It is a most effective filtration.” It is a 
comfort to know that the working classes are beginning to feel 
their strength. When that is put forward it is certain to be in 
the direction of sanitary and educational measures. The Registrar- 
General appends to his report a concise sketch of the steps proper 
to be taken in view of the threatened epidemic. 
A CORRESPONDENT at St. Andrews informs us that Professors 
Helmholtz, Huxley, Sylvester, Peters, Tait, Wyville Thomson, 
and Crum Brown, with several other savans, are now in that 
city, where there appears to be a sort of after-glow of the 
British Association. Our correspondent remarks on some points 
of interest in connection with the recent meeting of the Associa- 
tion. There was an unprecedented number of senior and second 
wranglers and Smith’s prizemen in attendance in Section A. 
Prof. Helmholtz and Baron Liebig, M. Dumas, and Profs, 
Poggendorf, Bunsen, and Hofmann, all expressed great regret 
that they were unable to attend. Among other distinguished 
men present under circumstances, in some cases, of great diffi- 
culty, were Prof. Delffs, of Heidelberg, Dr. Baunhauer, of 
Haarlem, Drs. Anderson, Stenhouse, and Apjohn, Prof. 
Williamson, and others. 
A CORRESPONDENT of the Zimes writes that on Monday, at 
3-45 A.M., while at Worthing, he felt a distinct shock of earth- 
quake, ‘‘My first impression,” he says, ‘* was as if some per- 
son in the room above had fallen heavily on the floor, again and 
again. A second followed in about a minute and a half, but of 
less violence ; each was accompanied by a low murmur as of a 
distant waggon. Again last (Tuesday) night, shortly before mid- 
night, another but slighter shock was felt. On the first occasion 
many people were much alarmed, and, until able to compare 
notes, attributed the unusual sounds to a variety of causes. 
One gentleman drew a sword and searched his house for burg- 
lars. A family of unprotected females found relief in hysterics ; 
but, almost to a minute, all were agreed in their statement of 
the time of the disturbance.” 
LATE advices from Captain Hall's expedition in the Polaris 
state that the party reached Newfoundland in good condition, and 
was received with the utmost attention by the authorities. Cap- 
tain Buddington, the sailing and ice-master of the expedition, has 


resigned, and will probably be replaced at Disco by Captain 
Richard Tyson, The United States frigate Congress has left 
New York with additional supplies of provisions, coal, &c., for 
the Polaris, and will proceed by the most direct route to the 
depét agreed upon in Greenland. A number of persons accom- 
pany this vessel, among them Mr. Bryan, the astronomer of the 
expedition, and several gentlemen who will return in the 
Congress, 
THE total expenses of the Mont Cenis Tunnel amount to 
65,000, 000f., of which 20,000, 000f. are to be contributed by the 
Railway of Northern Italy, and more than 25,000,0cof. by the 
French Government. The masonry of the tunnel is reported to 
be excellent throughout, and no inconvenience whatever from 
smoke, steam, or mephitic air is apprehended. 
Str R, Murcuison has received a letter from Dr. Kirk, 
British Consul at Zanzibar, in which he states that Dr, Living- 
stone is moving slowly but safely, evidenthy feeling his way, and 
““determined to leave little doubts behind him this time.” 
AN association for the promotion of scientific instruction 
among the working classes, in connection with the Government 
Science and Art Department, has been formed at West Brom- 
wich, and on Monday evening the movement was formally in- 
augurated at a meeting held in the schools in Bratt Street. The 
classes will open shortly for a winter session. 
CO-OPERATION on the part of the Dominion of Canada in the 
storm-signal observations of the United States commenced on 
the 15th of last month. Telegraphic reports and communications 
will be made from a number of stations in the Province of 
Quebec, and published from Washington with the regular series, 
the observations from the United States being telegraphed back 
in return. Dr. Smallwood, the well-known meteorologist of 
Montreal, is in charge of a central office in that city, where the 
local reports are to be concentrated, and whence they are to be 
communicated to Washington, and to whom the returns are to be 
transmitted. 
A NATURAL science demyship, of the annual value of 957, and 
tenable for five years, will be awarded at Magdalen College, 
Oxford, in October next. The examination will commence on 
October 3, and candidates must call on the president on the day 
previous, This examination wil be held in common with Merton 
College, where a Postmastership, of the annual value of 80/, for 
five years, will be awarded at the same time and with the same 
papers. Each candidate will be considered as standing in the 
first instance at the college at which he has put down his name, 
and, unless he has given notice to the contrary, will be regarded 
as standing at the other college also. 
THE Zoology Exhibition, value 40/., for two years, at the pre- 
liminary Scientific and 1st B.Sc. examinations of London Uni- 
versity has this year been obtained by Mr. J, C. Saunders, of 
Downing College, Cambridge. 
Dr. H. ALLEYNE NICHOLSON has resigned his Lectureship 
on Natural History in the Extra-Academical Medical School of 
Edinburgh, and is now in Toronto. 
AN expedition for botanical purposes is in course of formation 
to the summit of Mount Bellendenker and the Endeavour River 
in Queensland, This mountain is situated on the east coast, near 
Cape Grafton, and nearly opposite the head of the gulf of Car- 
pentaria, and the Endeavour River is a little farther north. It 
is the highest mountain on the Queensland coast, It is very 
probable that many new plants will be found in the course of 
this expedition, as the country is almost virtually unexplored. 
The last explorer was Kennedy, who was killed twenty years 
ago. It was in the Endeavour River that Captain Cook landed 
and cleaned his vessel after the discovery of the Torrés Straits. 
