MISCELLANEOUS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 173, 28 June 1872, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The mining department, Auckland, has received a descriptive circular by Messrs Hutton and Mac Donald, of Leeds, respecting a new double-acting steam stamp for crushing purposes. The machine is arranged in a very compact and portable form. The stamp-head is. worked on the same principle as the steam .hammer, the steam upon it, to the end of its downward stroke, as well as to the weight and fall of,the stamp-head.. The anvil block can be placed.upon a simple wood foundation. The auvil and stamp head are capable of being turned round to equalize the wear, and can be replaced at a small cost when too much worn for use. The machine is said to possess the crushing power of more than twenty ordinary stamp-heads, and to be economical and rapid in working. The portableness of the machine, and the fact that several of •them can be used together, are additional recommendations in its favour. The cost is said to be moderate, and the weight of the whole eight tons. It is urged by the manufacturers that it is of especial value to small companies of miners who' have not the means to obtain large and expensive machinery. The Training of German Princes. The Prussian Correspondent of the ' Times' at Berlin, writing on the 27th' ult' says : —" Speaking of royal usages in this country, I must not leave unmentioned that . Prince Henry, the second son of the Princess Eoyal, has been apprenticed to a bookbinder. According to immemorial practice, all the youthful scions of this dynasty, have learned a handicraft as part of their education. It is supposed, and I believe justly, that tbe mechanical skill acquired in these pursuits is a valuable means of fostering thrifty habits and accurate observation. His reigning Majesty, if lam not mistaken, is by trade a glazier; his son and heir, I believe a carpenter: [lt was stated at the time of his marriage with the Princess Hoyal that the Crown Prince was a compositor.] A Chicago cotemporary thusdescibes the manner in which that city is being rebuilt: " Let me see," said a Chicago boss mason reflectively, to a burnt-out merchant, " I have got to put up a block for Brown thi* morning, and. a dwelling-house this afternoon for Smith. Tes, I guess we can jerk up your store this noon by takin' only half an hour's noonin."

The following is credited to an American visiting .in England:—" Wal, stranger, you English juries ain't smart nohow. If an American jury had had the Tichborne case, I'll tell you what they'd done. Th *vM just have bought up the Tichbcr.ia bj.sd.*, and thenfound a verdict for the claimant."

The Effect of Eexcistg on the Production of Wool.—The question of the advantage attendant on fencing in the runs, and letting the sheep go at large, when compared with shepherding the sheep on unfenced runs (says the ' Pastoral Times) has now been pretty well tested on the Darling. It is estimated that the sheep have at least on an average one pound of wool more when they :ire permitted to <ro unshepherded. Nor is this all—the wool is decidedly cleaner, more free from dirt or " gritty" substances, and has more yolk, so that the advantages of fenced stations are undeniably great ; in fact, shepherding sheep will be dispensed with wherever it is practicable to do so —the point may be considered as settled in these districts. The French y. Prussians.—While the French are largely increasing their military establishment, the following clipping from an exchange shows that' the Prussians are not asleep :—" The Prussians are fortifying ■ Metz with enormous cannons of steel from Krupp's manufactory at Essen. They are said to be of the same calibre as those of Mont Valerien during the war. They are also enlarging Strasburg, so that, instead of 90,000, it can contain 200,000. They are, also, making a canal parallel with the Ehine, and an enormous basin for ships coming from Mannheim and the North Sea."

G-old m Tasmania. —Payable gold has at last been fouud in Tasmania. The 'Launceston Examiner' says:—

"Ah on'- a .wep\ a-?n ■.,■&•" tr.at a rumor va.>. afloat to, t ; ie c-'tl-.-t that a rich and extensive patch. ■ of alluvial ground had" been 1 discovered on the property of Mr. A. WV Brewer near Bridport. The rumor. turns out to be substantially correct, and some claims have already," we' -understand, been marked cut on what the discoverers have named the-Denison Diggings. Lately some fine water-worn the heaviest weighing dose on 6 dvrts., were on exhibition at ■ the Bank of Y.D.L., where they attracted considerable attention."

Niw G-oldeield.—A payable goJdfield has been discovered, at Matanaroa, on the eastern side of the Ohinemuri ranges... The stuff is reported to yield three grains;to the cfeffe The discoverer has proceeded tb Auckland to claim the reward. ■'•■ "* .

'A. Gold Find.—A Temuka correspondent says _:—" I have been showna sample o't rough gold, weighing one and a-half grains, which has been tested and valued.as worth £3 10s. ■ per oz. Mr. H. Pratt of this; town when cleaning the inside of a goose, found-'in. the gizzard a number of small pieces of gold, weighing as above. .The, largest piece, I should say, weighs about three quarters of a grain, and the other pieces are of various sizes ; the whole show signs of the action of water, there being.no sharp edges.. . There must evidently be gold in *the district, and. payable from the size of the samples. Warm.Covering for Cold Night.—A correspondent writes : "On cold nights, when I have not sufficient bedding over me, especially at hotels,, where we cannot always get just what we want, I adopt a very simple plan ; let me recommend it to others. Throw oif one or two of the top covers from the bed, then get two or three large newspapers—one very large one will do —spread' them on the bed; and " replace the cover. The result will be a warm and comfortable night, without any perceptible increase in ■ the weight of the bedding. Again, for a cold ride on boat, coach, or-a longwalk, against the wind, place a spread, newspaper over your chest before you button up your overcoat; - and you will not become chilled through. ' Nothinocan be cheaper, and, as far as it goes, nothing more efficient."

The following interesting item of-re-ligious intelligence appears in the Age r —"A. very important movement; and one which should serve as an example to Christian churches all over the world, "has just been set afoot in"', this Colony. We learn, from the Church of England Messenger, that a scheme has been started at the instance; of a large number of laymen of ■ the English and Presbyterian Churches,. to get the two bodies to join together for thesupport of the ~ Christian ministry in places where there is either at present no minister, or where, from: attempting to support two, neither receives a suitable income. It is proposed to* form a society for raising iunds -to assist in maintaining the ministry in such places, the money "to- -be handed over to the Assembliesfor distribution by a joint committee afoong.,,districts which make application for assistance. The scheme has received., the • .sanction of the- Bishop's council, and the Presbyterian Commission of Assembly the other day appointed a committee to confer with his Lordship on the subject." :.

A Mount Yermont five-year-old, Rearing his mother remark in company " that she usually found her 'first impressions of people to be. correct/ called out at the top of his voice," Mam ma, what were your impressions when you first seen me?" The subject of conversation was immediately changed.