The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 41, 18 February 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1870.

To Ship Owners. — We would call the attention of ship owners and agents to an advertisement which appears in another column calling for tenders for the conveyance of passengers between Manukau and Dunedin, calling at the intermediate ports. Conversazione. — We are requested to state that the Conversazione, which it was proposed to hold in the Provincial Hall, on Tuesday evening next, for the purpose of liquidating certain expenses incurred od behalf of the parish of Christ Church, is for unavoidable reasons postponed until a later date, of which due notico will be given. St. Alban's, Appleby. — We have been requested to remind our readers of the Thanksgiving Service which is to be held at St. Alban's on Sunday afternoon next, when a collection will be made in aid of the buildiug fund. The residents in that district will learn with much regret that the Rev. Mr. Lewis, to whose zealous endeavors the building of St. Alban's Church is entirely due, is about to leave them, and to enter upon a new sphere of labor on the West Coast of the province. Parish of St. John's, Westport. — A meeting of the vestry of this Church was held on Tuesday last when a letter was read from the Bishop of Nelson, stating that he had appointed the Rev. W. D. Lewis to the curacy of St. John's. It was moved that the churchwardens should acknowledge the receipt of his Lordship's letter, stating, with reference to the last clause, which suggested the possibility of partly furnishing the parsonage out of the church funds, that there were no funds in hands for that purpose. Theatrical. — The Star Company promise for to-night one of the most attractive of their entertainments, which is to be almost entirely devoted to Shakesperian selections, including scenes from Othello and the Merchant of Venice, the whole to conclude with the laughable farce of the Wandering Minstrel. Such a bill of fare should ensure a bumper house. Volunteer Inspection Parade. — The No. 1 City Rifles and the City Artillery, mustering in all about 50 officers and men, were last evening inspected by Col. Harrington, who put them through a variety of evolutions, and at the termination of the parade addressed them as follows : — I am sorry that I cannot compliment you on your drill. I have no wish to find fault unnecessarily, but I cannot help observing that there is a want of steadiness andsmartneßS in your movements which I can only attribute to irregular attendance at drill. There was a time when Nelson stood foremost among the provinces with regard to both the number and excellence of her volunteers, but I am sorry to say that a great change has taken place since then, and that there now appears to be a want of spirit and energy among you. I must impress upon you the necessity of constant and regular attendance at parade, if you are desirous of becoming really efficient volunteers, or good marksmen. Look at Otago — how is it that that province sends up, year after year, men who carry off the principal prizes at the annual competition ? Simply because the volunteers there attend their drill with tlie greatest regularity. Good shots are sot made by occasional practices, but by a thorough knowledge of the correct way of handling their rifles, and this is only to be aitainedby regular drilling. Whilst thanking those of you who have attended this evenir.g, I must express my regret that there is not a larger number present

Flax Machinery. — At the request of several of our readers, we re-publish from the New Zealand Herald of 22ud December last the following description of a flax-dressiug machine constructed by Mr. Booth of Dunedin: — "Mr. John Booth, a Yorkshire manufacturer — possessed of great mechanical ingenuity — residing near Dunedin, has obtained a patent for a very simple and inexpensive machine, whereby the leaf is perfectly cleaned and the fibre brought out, when washed, in a condition resembling white silk, some of which can now be seeu at the Museum in Wellington. We have inspected the drawings of the machine which accompany the patent, and consider it highly satisfactory. The principle of the machine is nothing more than scraping both sides of the leaf on a spring surface, thus doing the thick and thin parts alike. The machine is fed from a table attached to it, having small strips of wood laid along it to guide the leaves straight through the machine. The leaves are first caught between two iron rollers covered with india rubber, each about two inches in diameter and revolving on each other, these rollers bring the leaves on to a . fixed roller about four inches in diameter, and which is also covered with india-rubber ; as soon a**; the leaves get ou to this roller they are scraped by a set of kuives or scrapers fixed in an iron shaft and flange, and revolving at the rate of about two hundred revolutions per minute, the leaves then pass again through two iron rollers covered with india-rubber similar to the first pair, and again come on a fixed roller about four inches in diameter, covered with india-rubber, and are then scraped on the other side of the leaves by another set of knives or scrapers similar to the first — the fibre is then completely dressed, and by the application of additional machinery it may also be washed, wrung, and dried in the one operation. All the refuse and waste in dressing makes good paper, aud would probably pay the expenses of working, &c, thus making the fibre dressed clear profit. The gum is said to be valuable for medicinal aud other purposes, and it can be collected by itself by the application of a drawer or box to the machine. Machines can be made capable of dressing of from one to a hundred blades of flax at one time ; the motive power required for a ten blade (five leaves) machine, similar to the drawings that accompany the patent, is less than half a horse power. One blade machines could be driven by the foot in the same manner as sewing machines. As there are no india-rubber works in j this or the Australian colonies, the machines must necessarily be made in England ; and a gentleman, now in Wellington, is proceeding home by the next mail, to get some made. We understand that Mr. Waring Taylor, of this city, has been appointed the agent for Mr. Booth, the patentee.