SYDNEY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 16, 25 January 1845, Page 3

SYDNEY.

Lord Stanley. — This noble lord has j accepted the Chiltern Hundreds, having been called to the Upper House by her Majesty. This event will not, however^ cause any alteration in the Cabinet, the noble lord still retaining the seals of the Colonial Office. We believe that the elevation of Lord Stanley to the House of Lords is mainly to be attributed • to the desire of the Duke, of Wellington to be relieved from the onerous duties of ministerial; leader in that branch of the legislature. The j

! want of speakers on the Government side in. the Upper House' has been strongly remarked since the death of Lord Fitzgerald, and the frequent indisposition of the Earl of Ripon.— Svdneu Herald.

Captain Warner's Invention. — Experiment at Brighton. —On Saturday, Captain Warner's invention, of which so much has been said, was subjected for' the first time to the test of public experiment. Its effect has been tried before on two occasions, but on a much smaller scale, and only before select parties. Mr. Somes, the eminent shipowner, furnished the John of Gaunt, a barque of about 400 tons burthen, to be subjected to the discharge of the explosive powder. The vessel, although old, was by no means unworthy, a proof of which is to be found in the fact that Mr. Soraes was offered £1000 for the vessel only a few days before. TEe John of Gout was towed down to Brighton for the purpose, and anchored off the battery." A great many noblemen, membets of the House of Commons* i*nd other djs* tinguished persons, came down from town to witness the experiment, and the shore was crowded with perhaps 20,000 persons, all watching the proceedings with the utmost eagerness. Captain Warner was stationed in a small steamer, about 500 yards from the devoted ship. Almost immediately after he had let down his flag to indicate that he was ready to commence, suddenly, and with the quickness of lightning, a brown murky cloud surrounded the ship, and, unaccompanied tiy noise except the dull crashing of riven timbers, sent up from its besom high into the air the mainmast and all i's attached spars, splintered into fragments, which fell in \ a shower around the vessel. The strong breeze immediately drove away the cloud, and then the ship was seen by the persons on shore lurching heavily to port, a large portion of one of her sides being blown away, her mizenmast being broken short off a few feet from, the iop, but the foremast standing, being held by the forestays, which withstood ths shock that destroyed all the other rigging. A moment after the lurch, the vessel righted, settled down rapidly for a few seconds, and then sunk in five fathoms water, exactly two minutes and a half after she had received the stroke of this strange and unaccountable force. As soon as the vessel had sunk under the waves, three thundering cheers were given for Captain Warner. Nothing could be imagined more striking than the sudden, noiseless, and complete destruction of the ship. No shell was thrown — nothing was ostensibly propelled from the steam-boat — ho human agency appeared to be engaged against the vessel,' and yet she crumbled to pieces more quickly than if struck by the whole broadside of a man-of-war. — Ibid. ■

New Penal Settlement. — Authentic information has reached the colony, of the in* tention of Government to form a .Penal Settlement on the northern coast of Australia, beyond the limits of this colony. The exact spot has not, as we understand, been fixed upon. Halifax Bay is spoken of as likely to form an advantageous position for the purpose. The first ships, with convicts on board for "the New Settlement, may be expected shortly to arrive at Sydney. A meeting, it is. said, is to take place between Sir George Gipps, Sir Eardly Wilmot, and Mr. La Trobe, the Superintendent of Port Phillip, in order to take into consideration, and report upon the course which they may consider most advisable to adopt, in the formation of the Settlement, and the carrying out a judicious and comprehensive system of penal discipline. — Australian.

The Export of Hides. — Hides from New South Wales are stated to be worth, in the London market, aliout 2*l s f each. This export, therefore, is well worth the attention of our merchants. It is recommended in Culverwell and Brook's Circular, that, the -hides as soon as tlrey are taken ofE should be well washed, and laid -opeitia piles af..abaut forty hides Tor a.few."h.pnrs for the Water,, j|rp w Id drain froni them, then to" be put Into "a strong brine for three" days, and afterwards to be rolled separately up with hair inside, first sprinkling and. tubbing in a few pounds of good fine salt on each hide ; each hide to be well tied up to prevent the salt from escaping. Salted hides from New South Wales are often much injured, in consequence of being cut in flaying, and it is particularly recommended that they should be carefully flayed. Settlers injure the hides most raaterally, by the system of branding upon the hides. When a hide is disfigured by the branding iron, it is not worth one-half- the price it would otherwise realize. The hide is not fit for the artizan unless perfect; and we must ttieisfore draw the notice of our country gentlemen to the fact. What would be easier, than, 1$ future, to brand' cattle u,pon the/ horn, tljfc head, or the thigh?- By so doing the bide would be perfect, -and fit for the ihoemtker or the saddler. The mode of branding on gre shoulder ought to be discontinued. — Syjney Morning C hronicle.

To the Editor of the Neu> Zealand Spectator and Cook's Straits Guardian. Sir, — Allow me to ask, through the medium of your paper, if the Local Authorities intend to make any return to the Legislative Council of the number of dogs that have been " worked off" in this district under the Dog Ordinance, distinguishing those that had collars, arid of those the number that had red collars. Doubtless, either in Capt. Fitaroy's time or in his successor's, a return will also be made of the dogs that have had their day in Auckland. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Kuri. Wellington, January 20, 1845.