THE WOMBAT. 5 1 



The Winnipeg street railway system was recently tied up 

 for several hours owing to a sudden thaw followed by a 

 blizzard. Manitoba is having an exceptional winter of sudden 

 changes of temperature. — Canadian Electrical News. 



Ink for writing on glass : — The following mixture makes 

 a good ink for writing on glass. Dissolve 36 grains of sodium 

 fluoride and 7 grains of potassium sulphate in 500 c.c. of 

 water ; dissolve also 14 grains zinc chloride in 500 c.c. 

 water. For use mix equal parts of the solutions and apply 

 with a brush or a quill pen. After half an hour the letters 

 appear in matt etching. — Painting and Decorating. 



The January number of The Hub contains a good typical 

 picture of coaching in Victoria. The scene is at Queenstown, 

 a few miles N.E. of Melbourne, a four-horse coach being 

 drawn up in front of the " pub " and P.O. 



The following statement in regard to the care of milk is 

 of interest to people of all classes : — Gelatine plates, when 

 exposed to the air for a minute, contain more or fewer germs, 

 according to location. When exposed in an ordinary living 

 room five minutes after the floor had been swept, there were 

 543 germs found of 8 different species ; in an open field, 6 

 germs, 2 species ; in an open meadow, 8 germs, 3 species ; in 

 a college cow stable soon after feeding time, 570 germs, 1 1 

 species ; university creamery and cheese factory, pasteurisa- 

 tion-room after scrubbing, 5 germs, 3 species ; refrigerator 

 store-room, temperature 40 F., 1 species. Very few persons 

 have any idea of the numbers of germs that they take into 

 their systems with milk that is kept in insanitary places. This 

 article of diet is, of course, much more palatable when fresh 

 and cool, but unless it can be kept from disease germs, it is 

 far more wholesome when sterilised. — Australian Agricul- 

 turist. 



Reported discovery of a silver lode. It is stated that on 

 O'Donnell's lease, near Adelaide Vale (about 20 miles from 

 Bendigo), a handsome find of silver has been made. It is 

 impossible to get any reliable particulars at present owing to 

 the extreme reticence of those from whom information on the 

 subject might be obtained, but it is said by a gentleman from 

 Bendigo that he has been shown some extremely rich 

 specimens. It is furthermore stated that several of the leases 

 in the vicinity, which were taken up ostensibly for gold- 

 mining purposes, have in reality been secured on account of 

 the silver which is believed to exist. — Bendigo Advertiser. 

 16/3/97- 



