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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2568, 11 May 1871, Page 2

Supreme Court.—The argument in re IkGi'ina v. Strode, an application for a •.crib of quo warranto calling upon Mr Strode, l-l. M., to show cause why he should nst proceed with the information in the case of Barton v. Lemon, was concluded. 11 is Honor took time to consider judgment. The Nevada. — It is said that on arrival at Lyttelton, the captain of the Nevada telegraphed to Captain Thomson, Chief Harbor Master, to ask at what time of the tide it would be safe for the vessel to ;ross the so-called “ bar” at the Heads. The Iraught of water, only 13 feet, was also stated. Asa matter of course, the Harbor Master replied, “At any time”; and it is something rather singular, as if most signally to put to the blush the detractors of the Port, the Irst San Francisco mail steamer, that it was prophesied would not be allowed to enter it on account of the difficulties of the entrance at Port Chalmers Heads, crossed the “ spit ” as nearly as possible at “ dead low-water ” with seven or eight feet to spare. Princess Theatre. —There was a slight improvement in the attendance at the theatre last night on the repetition of Tuesday's programme—viz., “The Lost Sheep” and the “ Widow’s Victim.'’ The same bill is put up for this evening ; and to-morrow, being for the benefit of Miss Lizzie Bushe, the Adelphi drama called “ The Flowers of the Forest ” will be produced, when we hope to find a full house.

Port Chalmers Gas Works. Under tho superintendence of Mr Johnston, rapid progress is being made in the construction of these works. The gas holder is nearly comp'etcd; a good, substantial stone building has been put up as a retort house, and the setting in of the retorts will be finished in a few days. The gas holder will contain about 3,000 feet, and as there will be five retorts in operation to continue the supply as it is in course of consumption, there is no danger of insuilicient quantity. We are glad to learn that there is not likely to be any lack of consumers.

Colonial-made Machinery. —lt was with much pleasure that yesterday we examined a new machine for breaking ami gu iging dough, made by Mr K. Peters, for Mr Hudson, and now at work at his confectionary manufactory, in Princ s street. It was made somewhat on a pattern of one imported from England, but Mr Peters has introduced one or two important improvements, fills is particularly observable in the means of raising or lowering the rollers so as to regulate the thickness of the dough. By a very simple contrivance Mr Peters has adopted means for this, and throughout the whole construction of the machinery a degree of care and accuracy of finish is observable that is sought in vain in the imported one. It is exceedingly strong and well put together, and Mr Hudson informs us, besides being superior in finish aud efficiency, the cost has not been greater than that of an inferior machine imported direct from England.

Work Registrar.—On board the Nevada every movement of the engine is registered, in addition to the usual steam and pressure gnages, there is a dial which registers the number of revolutions of the paddles, from which an estimate of the speed can be formed. It is roughly calculated that one revolution per minute is equal to one knot per hour. Of course this is oly an approximate estimate. It will interest many to learn that during tho voyage from Sun Francisco, the number of revolutions of the paddle-wheels was r>28,()03. There is al-o a “crank indicator,” which by a simple contrivance points to the exact position of the crank at any moment during working. By its aid all difficulty arising from stopping the machinery at its “ dead points ” is avoided.

Masonic Hall. The Panorama, illustrating the Pacific Mail Koutc, M as exhibited for the first time last evening. The interest which at the present moment centres in this new route had, as might have been expected, the effect of drawing a tolerably large number of spectators to the Hall. All the panoramic views are exceedingly interesting, and have the merit of bodying forth the things intended. As works of art, some of these pictures hare a boldness and breadth of treatment which discover the master-band ; but they are n >t uniform in character. The contrasts in some cases arc too violent, and this is especially noticeable in the view of the City of Utah, which li-s bath-d ia warm oriental tints, while the surrounding hills are frowningiy covered with snow. A very pretty effect is produced by this contrast, hut it is mither natuial nor true art. The water, too, is perhaps lacking

that brilliancy and transparency which are so necessary to produce pleasing water effects. Still the pictures are well worth seeing, and are at least equal to any panoramic views that have boon exhibited here of late. The lecture is exceedingly interesting, numerous humorous aucolotes being bore and there int aspersed ; and the lecturer certainly received his share of the public applause. We can cordially recommend a visit to this Panorama, which will be exhibited every evening during the present week.

The Bank on New Zealand. —The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand was held at Auckland on April 2u. Prom the directors’ report wo learn that the net profit for the halfyear, after making due provision for every bad and doubtful debt, amounted to L 7-1 G43 10s 3d. which, added to the balance of undivided profit on September 30, 1870, of Iff 7-17 11s 7d, gives a total available balance for division of LB2, 380 Is 101. This was divided as follows, L 30.000 to the reserve fund : L33,C00 to pay a dividend of 10 per cent per annum ; hi 5,000 as a bonus of 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent, per annum, leaving a balance of L 7359 Is lOd to be carried to new prolit and loss account. Fire. —We regret to learn that a quantity of grain belonging to the llev. A. Dasent was destroyed at bis farm at Waiouaiti, on Natui day la't. It appears that the grain was stacked in what was considered vcy fair c mdition, so far as regards dryness, but as some of the wheat had commenced to spout previous to being gathered in, the suppositi hi is that a portion of this must have become heated, and set lire to the whole. Part of the grain consisted of wheat and paid oats, and the extent of the loss is set down at fully 1,40. This is only another instance of the necessity 'of the greatest care being exercised to ascertain that grain is perfectly dry before it is stacked, otherwise rain may ensue to many and serious loss to others. The stacks were uninsured.— llam'd.

Opposition Prophecies.—The Grey River Arqas of the 29th ult. indulges in tire following calculations upon the loan : “ Whether one approve or mit of the huge borrowing scheme of the Fox-Vogel Ministry, it is tolerably certain that there will be greater difficulty in raising the money in l>oiidon now than ever. Apart altogether from the distrust of the financial policy of the New Zealand Covcrnment which has already been freely expressed in the columns of the commercial journals in England, the cessation of the Franeo-Prnssiau war has brought into the field huge loans, which will, of course, compete with the new loan for this Colony, increase the price of money, and for the present almost entirely stop the sale of debentures which Mr. Vogel has gone home to effect. Toe Public Works Act expressly stipulates that the proposed loan shall not be sold at a price that will give the purchasers more than six per cent, interest—a stipulation which effectually precludes any large operations in the way of purchase, and makes the loan one for small investors only. The Colonial Treasurer may possibly be able to raise the half-million which the Assembly authorised to be raissd without tiie six per cent, restriction, but wc feci tolerably sure that his prospects of obtaining the money required to give effect to his great railway scheme arc anything but favorable, it is significant that although the intention of the New Zealand Government to incur a fresh 1-rge debt has been made public in London for several months, little mention of the subjects is made in the financial journals. The few articles that have appealed have been in a deprecatory tone, sufficient to betray the existence of mistrust,” What a pity that the magnates of the Stock Exchange should have listened to “ the voice of the charmer.” Many of our contemporaries will now he left to harp on native affairs, in connection with which they have over been busy in propogating the vilest calumnies.

We arc advised that the passengers by the Wellington leave at 2 o’clock tomorrow instead of 11 as advertised.