trials which have been made the full journey has actually been accomplished in 32 seconds.  In the Board of Trade tests under General Hutchinson, weights to the extent of 15,000 lb. were variously shifted, and in certain cases concentrated in trying localities, but the cage stood the trials without any appreciable change of form, and in neither the cage nor the chains were any objectionable features developed.  The three lifts can be worked singly or combined, so that the accommodation is always ready for from 100 to 300 persons.  Further railway connections between the Mersey Subaqueous Railway and the surrounding land lines than those which yet exist are in contemplation.

All the booking-halls, waiting-rooms, etc., etc., in connection with the four stations have been laid with Lowe’s patent wood-block flooring.  The blocks are only 1-1/2 inches thick, but, being made of hard wood and securely fastened to the concrete bed with Lowe’s patent preservative composition, they cannot become loose, and will wear for a long series of years, until, in fact, the wood is made too thin by incessant traffic.

The engineer, Mr. Fox, and the architect, Mr. Grayson, are much pleased with the work, especially as it is so noiseless and warm to the feet.  These floors ought to be adopted more frequently by railway companies in connection with their station buildings, as “dry rot” and “dampness” are effectually prevented, and a durable and noiseless floor secured.

* * * * *

IMPROVED REVOLVER.

The Kynoch revolver, manufactured by the Kynoch Gun Factory, at Aston, Birmingham, is the invention of Mr. Henry Schlund.  It may be regarded as the most simple in respect of lock mechanism of any existing revolver, whether single or double action.  It extracts the cartridges automatically, and combines with this important feature strength and safety in the closing of the breech.  Certainty of aim when firing is obtained by means of a double trigger, which serves many purposes.  This secures quick repeating as in the double-action revolvers, and at the same time the revolver is not pulled out of the line of sight, as the trigger is pulled off by the forefinger, independently of the cocking motion, the cocking trigger being longer than the ordinary double-action triggers.  The cocking trigger further serves to tighten the grasp, and so enables the power of the first recoil, which affects the shooting of all revolvers, to be held in check.  The light pull-off enables a steady shooter to make surpassingly fine diagrams.

[Illustration:  THE KYNOCH REVOLVER.]

The upper side of the barrel is perfectly free from obstruction, so that the sighting can be done with the greatest ease, and the entire weapon is flush and without projections which can catch surrounding objects, with the exception of the cocking trigger, which seems to require a second guard to render it secure when thrusting the pistol hastily into a holster.  At the same time, it should be remembered that the cocking trigger does not effect the firing.  It puts the hammer to full cock and rotates the cylinder, and these operations may be performed time after time with safety.