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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2385, 23 November 1870, Page 2

Acclimatisation. — Mr Hallenstein, the Mayor of Queenstown, at present in Dunedin, has received a telegram stating that SO trout reached the Lakto in safety this morning.

Drink and Lunacy.—The number of lunatics confined in the various gaols and asylums in the Colony is BGO. Of these it is alleged that 80 per cent, of the cases have been caused by intemperance. Thu Gourlav Family.—The talented Gourlay Family make their appearance at the Masonic Flail on Saturday. The announcement appears in our advertising columns, and we shall be able to give fuller particulars before the evening of opening. Princess Theatre. The “ Homo Wreck ” was repeated last evening to a very fair audience, by whom it was well received. As it will be withdrawn after to-night, wo should advise those who like to see a play carefully acted and well put on the stage not to neglect this opportunity. Mr and Mrs .Steele commence their engagement on 'Thursday, and open in the popular drama of “ East Lynne.”

High School Athletic Sports,— The annual games will bo held on tlio North Dunedin Recreation Ground on Saturday, the 3rd December. We have been requested to give this early intimation of the date, in order that those who wish to compete may have ample time for training. In contests of this kind the preliminary practice is really

of far more importance than the result of the race itself. Powers of endurance, as a rule, prove more serviceable than mere speed, and those can be fostered only by patient and careful training. The programme of the sports will he somewhat similar to last year's—the principal event being the One Mile Plat Race for the Ladies’ Cup, open to all past and present pupils of the High School. In addition to the usual races cmilincd to High School boys, there wdl be a quarter-mile race open to hoys of all schools, without any restriction of age. This, we have no doubt, will bring together a largo Held of competitors. We take this opportunity of saying a few •words as to the state of the ground on which the races are to take place. It is rough and lumpy, with here and there a dangerous hole in it—indeed, some few months ago, when Young Austin under'ook his match a/ainst time, it was alto ;cthcr unfit to run on. The expenditure of a few pounds would suffice to level and trim the ground, so as to render it suitable for foot-racing. At present the reserve is lit for n thine, while the hideous fence with which it f.as 1 ecu allowed to bo surrounded, renders it an cycamv instead of an ornament to the northern part of the City. New Road Engines. —The “ Builders’ Trade Circular,” of September 8, devotes a leader to the subject of road steamers, and describes one constructed by Mr Nairn, 21, Albany stwet, Leith. The differences are great in boiler construction as compared with Thomson’s. “The engines are very simple in construction and working. The driver has only two handles to look after—the steam and reversing handles—and all complication of clutches and gear hy moans of slip brakes are avoided. Instead of indiarubber tyres, common hempen rope is used, by which means the cost of the engine is considerably reduced (say to the extent of L2UO), and its repairs rendered easy. They are protected in the same way as the indiarubber tyres, and are said to improve by use. The arrangements have been applied to street omnibuses and traction engines. The former are described as closely resembling the largest horse-drawn vehicles. There are three wheels to each —two driving and a guide wheel. The wheels are made of wrought iron, about three, feet in diameter, with tyres of hemp ten inches broad ; and the machines move with little or no noise. The body of the carriage is supported on the wheels by a combination of laminated and .volute springs and blocks of imliarubber, which makes it swing with perfect ease. The motive power is applied through throe combined c\finders pla cd under the rear of the carriage, and acting directly on the axle of the two hind wheels. The engine is six-l-orse power nominal. Coke is used for liring, so that t- ere is Lttleoruo smoke, and the hut air from the furnace and the exhaust steam are, by an ingenious arrangement, carried off noiseles-ly, without causing any inconvenience to the passengers. There is no funnel in the common acceptation, the hot air and steam being conveyed away by a pipe leading from the boiler along the top of the carriage, beneath the scats for outside passengers, and having an exit at the extremity of the weather-board over the conductor’s head. The machine is described as being perfectly under command and working without noise or smoke ; ‘ in fact many ot the general public must have wondered what actually propelled the omnibus . long.’ The number of passengers was 50 to 55, and with this load the engine took a gradient of lin 15 with perfect case. A speed of twenty miles an hour was obtained on a level which could have been kept up for fifteen miles without stoppage.” The Editor considers that Mr Nairn s invention renders street tramways unnccssary.

The first competition of the Dunedin Naval Brigade, for Company representatives, will take place at the Anderson’s Bay butts to-morrow morning, at 5 sharp.