They then interested themselves in the variety of colours that it was possible to get by treating certain shrubs, trees, and even noxious weeds in a certain manner. The result of these experiments has been most encouraging. They have been able to make dyes with a range of shades, from black to the lightest tints of green and fawn, and in between the whole range of browns, khakis, pinks, pale heliotropes, and canary yellows. Further, they have experimented with a large measure of success in making their dyes fast. One lot of wool was dyed a light brown, and was fully exposed to the weather for 25 days, and on being compared with a piece of the same wool that had not been exposed to the light, no variation in shade could be detected. Mr L. Phillips says that the value of the discovery lies in the extreme simplicity of the process (which, of course, is a secret), and in the fact that there are noxious weeds of good colour value which at present cost the farmers a lot of time and money to keep down. The dyes will effectively colour coarse hair, wool, silk, cotton, jute, hemp, and feathers. They, too, have stood the test of scouring and milling. In the past it has taken skilled men of science a considerable time to produce one colour. The Phillips brothers state that they have produced 250 shades or tints of brown, green, and yellow, as well as black and navy blue, but so far have not produced any vivid blues or reds.
• In his speech at the Wellington Gas Company’s meeting, Mr William Fergusson (chairman) said:- ‘‘Numerous houses are now being built in Wellington without any brick chimneys, and are dependent entirely for all heating purposes upon the supply of gas. Not only is there a large saving of the first capital cost of such building, but the domestic comfort involved in the abolition of coal and ashes is very great.’’ Apart from the factory chimneys, Wellington was now a nearly smokeless city, he said, and the directors felt that the time was fast approaching when public opinion would demand that the factories and others causing the pollution of the air by black smoke and soot must cease doing so by the adoption of gaseous in place of solid fuel.
• Queer ideas of patriotism prevail with some people (says the Mataura Ensign). A member of the First Division at Gore, having a premonition that he would soon be called up, tried to sell his property. A well-to-do retired farmer made inquiries about it, but negotiations hung fire for some reason or other. On being pressed to close with the offer, the would-be purchaser somewhat staggered the agent who was trying to sell the property by remarking that he was in no hurry over the matter at present, as when the seller had to proceed to the war he would probably be glad to sell it at £100 less than its market value to get affairs settled, and that he would buy it then.
• Trouble has been experienced at Waronui coal mine of late (writes our Milton correspondent) owing to the inrush of water, in a new drive recently put in, overtaking the mine’s pumping capacity. The inrush caused a cessation of work in the flooded portion this week, but all the miners restarted yesterday in another portion of the mine and at an adjacent property, known as McGilp’s mine, and the temporary flooding will not affect the company’s output. Additional pumping machinery will come to hand within the next fortnight to cope with the trouble. — ODT, 24.2.1917.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
