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Evening Star, Issue 2814, 24 February 1872, Page 2

The Port Chalmers Railway. We understand that about 800 tons of railway plant for the Fort Chalmers line of ra 1way have been shipped by the Ellen Clare, the arrival of winch vessel is hourly expected. The Waitaki Bridge. The materials for the construction of this bridge have been contracted for and may he expected to arrive by the Warwick, now on the berth for Otago, in London The weight of the iron work will bo about 300 tons. Prison Labor at Port Chalmers. —We understand that a small gang of Maoii and European prisoners will proceed to Port Chalmers on Monday next, to erect beacons in the harbor; also to erect several small jetties on the north-east side of the harbor. Sunday Observance. We learn that an information lias been lodged against a carrier for driving his waggon through George street on Sunday last. The offence is charged under the Sunday Observance Ordinance, ISG3. The case will be heard in the Mayor’s Court on Tuesday, New Industry.— Mr Kinuoar, of Oamaru, has started the manufacture of a new marking ink for branding wool, hales, &c. It is claimed for this ink that it is 44 quick,” ami indelible, and more economical than any previously in use. It can be supplied at 3s per gal on, and has already been tried by several merchants, wool packers, and others, and is highly spoken of. Gaol Return. —The following is the state of 11. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending 24th Feb. Awaiting trial, 2 men ; 1 woman ; under remand, 0 men, 0 women, penal servitude, 82 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 34 men, 14 women; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women; in default of hail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 0. Total, 120 men ;15 women. Received during the week, 7 men, 2 women ; discharged, 7 men, 0 women. The High School Prise Fund, — A rehearsal of the music to he played on Fiiday evening daring the progress of 44 Julius Ciesar” and the following concert, took place last evening at Mr Charles Begg’s music saloon. The direction of the music has been placed in the hands of Mr G. A. Martin, who has most ably arranged several popular airs specially for this entertainment.

Fish-preserving. —We have been favored by Mr Jewitt, Princes street, with an opportunity of inspecting and tasting some preserved barracoota, which had been three months in the tin, and was really in excellent condition. It was tinned by Mr Tannage, of Port Chalmers, and should secure for itself a market not only in this Colony, hut throughout the neighboring Colonics. The addition of a little vinegar with condiments to taste formed a really delicious dish.

A Municipality in Difficulties. —The reduction of the subsidy voted by the Provincial Council to country municipalities has had the effect of crippling the efforts of the Oamaru municipality That body now asks the Government to relieve g it necessities

(I) by assuming its debt, paying the interest on debentures, and the annual sinking fund amount, (2) by enabling it, under the usual enactments, to collect all licences and impose a tax of 3il per bale on wool aul Id on grain, altogether yielding an annual revenue of L 103 5; or (3) to continue for five years’ more the usual subsidy.

Port Chalmers.—The report of a corpse having been seen floating down the harbour with the ebb tide during the gale on Wednesday morning last, has caused a renewed search for the remains which were su] p ised to he those of Isaac Samuel. On Thursday the police boat examined the various points and hays in the Upper and Lower Harbor. Messrs Thomson Bros., in whose emphiy the young man had been, had also a boat engaged yesterday and the day previous, hut without success, as no trace of the body could be found. It is, however, gratifying to notice that no reasonable effort has been spared by them or by the police in endeavoring to recover the body.

The Weather. Several writers have within the last few days been attempting to acc nmt for the existence of the excessive drought and heat on the eastern part of New Zealand, as compared with the floods and cold of this summer on the West Coast. Mr Martin, F.M.S., gives in the Nelson Mail his explanation or the causes of such heat aul dryness after crossing the n.ountaii s The Australian hot wind, he says, on reaching the sea, instantly evaporates moisture until saturated. In that process of evaporation a vast amount of heat is absorbed and rendered 44 latent.” Or. striking the Southern Alps the accumulated moisture is suddenly condensed in rain and, conversely, in that process of condensation, ihe he it by evaporation rendered latent, is liberated, and the air thus again becomes not only dry but hot also, as before it employed its heat in evaporation. Hence the 44 norwester ” of Christchurch, Otago, and Southland. The Clutha Railway Plant. —The Jessie Headman, now in port, from Loudon, has on board, addressed to the Colonial Secretary, for the Clutha Railway, 250 tons of rails, 5 tons of spikes, G tons of holts, 50 packages signals, in all about 270 tons. On board the Margaret Galbraith, from Glasgow, 152 tons of rails, and 7 tons of spikes and holts were shipped. By the Warwick, the next vessel on the berth for Otago, 156 tons rails, and 52 tons of bolts, switches, and crossings have been shipped. This will complete the orders given for the permanent way. The rolling stock, for which contracts have been entered into, are two locomotives, four passenger carriages, two break vans, and two waggons with cranes, turn-tables, and other necessary stationary plant. The engines were agreed for with Messrs Neilson and Co , of Glasgow, and the caniages with the Ashbury Railway Carriage Company. Tberailswere contracted forwith the Darlington Iron Company, and most of the stationary plant with Messrs Cowan, Sheldon, and Co. The first order was for eleven miles of rails, and the second for seven miles. The whole of the work tendered for is expected by this time to be completed. The Battalion Committee will meet in the Militia Office on Monday evening at 7.30. Business important. The representation of Shakespeare’s 44 Julius Ciesar” will be repeated by the High School Boys, in the Masonic Hall, on on Friday evening next, March Ist.