Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

as in the case of this Safety Detaching Hook of Mr . Walker ' s , the government of every civilised nation ought to reward him liberally for his services , ancl insist upon its adoption wherever necessary , leaving the manufacture to any maker , only exercising proper supervision to insure that no worthless imitation is sold for the

genuine article ; giving long imprisonment to any knave who sought to enrich himself by dishonest means . Although residing in Cleveland , Mr . Walker is as personally unknown to me as though he had lived all his life in Timbuctoo , and of the

Birmingham firm AVIIO manufacture his important Detaching Hooks I am equally ignorant . Not so , hoAvever , Avith the Detaching Hook itself , Avhich was satisfactorily tried at the Stanghow ironstone mines in the autumn of 1874 , in the presence of several

mineowners , viewers , miners , and delegates , and met Avith their unanimous approval . Since then it has been regularly used in several coal-mines in Wales , the county of Durham , and other places , as well as in the Cleveland ironstone mines , and has never been known to fail . It needs no very refined feelings to feel shocked at the numerous accidents one sees recorded in

the newspapers as the result of over-winding , and it is Avell enough to convict a careless attendant of an engine at a pit shaft of manslaughter when such dreadful accidents occur . But this does not bring the dead to life again , ancl is small comfort

to their bereaved friends . Now that Mr . Walker has invented ancl properly made knoAvn his invaluable discovery , should I ever be on a jury where the workmen Avhen arriving at the top of a shaft are pitched clown again ancl killed through

over-winding , I will certainly hold out for a verdict of manslaughter against the parties who have neglected to provide for the proper safety of the men Avho toil in the boAvels of the earth to enhance our national Avealth in general , and theirs in particular . The

wages paid and received is a matter with Avhich employer and employed have alone a right to interfere : the safety of the lives of my felloAv-creatures , Avhether employers or employed , —in fact all , from the Queen on the throne to the most Avorthless idler in a vagrant ward , is my business , ancl the business of every other citizen . Ancl , above

all men , the honest Freemason , who did not make a false declaration when on his initiation he solemnly declared that he was really anxious to make himself more serviceable to his fellow-creatures—though at perfect liberty to hold any theological or political opinions that may commend themselves to

his judgment—has no right to rest contented to make a good living in a whole skin , whilst his more exjiosed felloiv-men are being dashed in pieces through Avanton carelessness , though that carelessness does not immediately concern him . " I am a

man , " says Terence , " and nothing that concerns humanity can be indifferent to me , " and the brother Avho never felt himself actuated by this noble sentiment is no true Freemason , whatever ceremonies he may have passed through ancl Avhatever jewels

he may Avear . It is purely on the ground of humanity that I feel an interest in Mr . Walker ' s clever invention ; which consists principally of a pair of jaws , working on a centre pin , in such a manner that the weight of the load has a tendency to open the upper limbs , which clip the strong centre pin of the shackle . The upper limbs

are formed externally with jaw hooka The jaws are kept together , and made to retain the shackle pin by means of a clamp , Avhich is held in position by the pins . The lifting rope is attached to the shackle , ancl the load to the connecting link . The

supporting ring , through which the rope is constantly Avorking , is a fixture in a baulk of timber , or iron girder , at the pit top . In case of over-winding , the jaAv hooks hold together by the clamp , pass freely into the ring , but the projections of the clamp

coming into contact with the bottom flange of the ring , hold the clamp stationary , Avhile the jaws are being pulled through ; the result being that the pins are sheared off , and the jaAv hooks released from tho restraint of the cramp . The internal

diameter of the ring being the same as the ividth across the jaAv hooks , the rope remains secure , until the jaAv hooks reach the top of the ring , when , by the action of the weight of the load , they are forced open , and so hook on to the top of the supporting

ring , —the rope passing harmlessl y over the pulley . The apparatus can be easily applied to every rope permanentl y raisin " or lowering a load , whether loose or secured