LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS. October, 31st, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 757, 3 November 1852, Page 3

LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS. October, 31st, 1852.

A Atkinson, W. 2 ; Allen, Sam. ; Ashton, Henry; Anderson, Mrs. ; Arnett, Mrs. ; Adley, Mr. B Brown, Win,; Beathe, Miss Mary ; Borrie, D. ; Benton, T. IS.'; Bienvenew, N. ; Baker, Miss ; Bun, Amos ; Bannard, Win., (late 65th) ; Bavnten, J. H. Esq. ; " Burns, Robert. C Cooper, James, (3) ; Cook, George ; Cameron, Charles ; Cameron, Allan ; Crawford, P. R. Esq. ; Carleton, James ; Connolly, Michael : Clark, Saml. ; Craig, Wm. ; Campbell, A. J. ; Campbell, P. ; Chew, Miss ; Cole, Mr. ; Calder, Jno. ; Cooper, Elizabeth ; Connell, Mrs. D Day, Geo. ; Davision, R. H. £2) ; Diehl, C. E Emonts, Wm. ; Ewington, Mrs. ; Edley, Mr. ; Eaton, J. F. Fleming, Mr. ; Frazer, Sandy ; Farrell, Thos.; Fox, G. H. G. Grey, Joseph ; Grey, William : Gillies, Archibald; Grant, Alexander; Goodman, H. J. ; Gilchrist, Mrs. H. Heeds, W. ; Hood, Augustus ; Howroyd, Rob. Esq. ; Harvey, William ; Hay, Elizabeth ; Haynes, Abraham ; Henderson, Henry ; Heath, Thomas Mason ; Hagerty, Mr. I. J. Jabet, J. F. ; Johnson, Susan ; Iliff, Thomas William ; Jnsley, L. 2 ; Jones, William 2. K. Knott, Mrs. Charlotte ; King. B. E. ; Klipsch, Edward ; Kettle, Mr. ; Kemp, John ; Kirk, William ; Kelly, Joseph, Esquire. L. Lodge, Miss E. M. ; Lloyd, Joseph. M. M'Clatcbie, William 2 ; M'lntvre, Robert ; Moffat, David ; Mahony, E. 2 ; Mear, John ; M'Kay, Mrs. J. ; Miller, John ; Monre, John, (late 65th) ; M'lnnes, Peter 2 ; M'Curley, T. ; Miller, T. ; Murphy, Bridget ; Miln, John 2 ; Magec, John , Moat, W. P. ; M'Kay, Kenneth ; Macandrew, Daniel; M'Cloud, Caroline; Marston, Amelia ; Marriott, B. ; M'Cullum, Hugh. N. Newman, Peter ; Nott, William. P. Parry, Charles; Peglar, George; Phillips, John ; Penfold, Stephen ; Porter, R. ; Prime, T. H. ; Poore, J. W. ; Porter, John ; Price, Peter ; Philps, John. R. Row, Mrs. Susan ; Richmond, Mr. ; Rigby, Joseph ; Rixon, Robert. S Spence, R. ; Smith, Alvah, 2 ; Strieker, Gustavus ; Shearer, Wm. ; Snuffer, William ; Shelton, Stephen ; Spark, A. X., 3 ; Smith, ! E. ; Smith, C. C. ; Stoory, Win, ; Stephen, W. ; Stephen, Jno.; Shotter,Geo.; Saver, Mrs. B. 2; Smith, R.; Scott, Geo.; Seam, Charlotte ; Smith, Job ; Styles, Sergeant ; Sutcliff, R., 2 ; Sproul, Ann; Shaw, Mis. T Tennant, Wm. A. ; Thomas Wm. ; Tandy, Levi; Tankersley, T. W. ; Toms, G. ; Tait, William. W Watthew, Mr. 2 ; Wells, B. 2 ; Wilson, John A. ; Watson, Henry ; Waller, Jno. ; Wright, George ; Wood. John ; Wouldam, Mr. SEAMKNS LETTERS Brusill, W. H. J. Barque Columbus ; Bagust, B. Ship Samarang, 2 ; Bennett, Robert, Schooner Salopian ; Boby, Mr - Shi P Tori h 2 > Hughes, Benjamin, Brig Victoria; Hines, Abraham, Ship Persia; Jones, W. Schooner -Marmora : Parsfield, Jno. Ship Samarang ; Raymond, G. do. ; Sutherland, Daniel, Barque Thames; Tower, F., Brig Victoria; Trader, Captain, Barque Enterprise. JOHN F. HOGGARD. Acting Postmaster.

In the New Zealand Journal of the 14th February'last, we inserted a letter from Mr. E. W. Trent, the manager of Park Hemp Works, Old Ford, relative to an invention of his for preparing the New Zealand flax. Connected with this subject, some interesting experiments have recently been made at her Majesty's dockyard, Woolwich, by permission of the Lords of the Admiralty, to test the comparative strength of a new patent band for driving machinery. The patent band is a combination of webbing, made of hemp, leather, and gutta percha ; the webbing is first saturated with gutta percha. and made to adhere to a thin strip of leather ; the webbing gives it great strength, and the leather going next the driving pulley takes the friction, the gutta percha protecting the band from atmospheric influence. The following is the result : — A patent band, the webbing made of the best Russian hemp, &c, 5 in. wide, broke at a strain of 2 tons 7^ cwt,, while a patent band, the webbing made with New Zealand flax, prepared by Mr. Trent, 5 in. wide, broke at a strain of 5 tons. A patent band, 3 in. wide, webbing of best Russian hemp, broke at a strain of l£ tons, while a patent band, 3 in. wide, webbing made of New Zealand flax, prepared by Mr. Trent, broke at a strain of 2f tons. Several other bands of different sizes were tested, giving a decided superiority in favour of the New Zealand flax webbing over the others.

A piece of rope, 2\ in, circumstance, from Russian hemp, spun by machiueiy, designed by Mr. Trent, bore a strain of 3 tons 12-§ cwt. It is considered very good rope that bears a straia of 1 ton to the inch, circumference. This machinery combin.-s the advantages of hand and machine' spinning, without the defects of either ; most of the old-fashioned machinery have a great tendency to tear and destroy the fibre in the preparation of spinning. It also spins the New Zealand flax admirably.—New Zealand Journal, June 5.

The celebrated Picture Gallery of Marshal Soult, acquired through plunder in Spain, and containing several of the chef d'auvres of Murillo, has been broken up and disposed of, the sale exciting immense interest. The Correspondent of the Times in Paris gives the following vivid description of the bidding for the "Conception of the Virgin," universally esteemed to be Murillo's master-piece. "The order of sale was here interrupted for the purpose of allowing the great pictures of the day, four in number, to be disposed of, the first of which was the • Conception of the -Virgin,' by Murillo, 8 feet 6 inches in height, by 3 feet in width. This almost divine picture represents the Virgin in the act of being carried up to heaven. Her golden hair floats on her shoulders, and her white robe gently swells in the breeze, a mantle of blue at the same time falling from her shoulders. Groups of angels and cherubim of extraordinary beauty sport around her in the most evident admiration, those below thronging closely together, while those above open their , ranks, as if not in any way to conceal the glory shed around the ascending Virgin. All the writers on the Spanish school of painting agree in declaring this to be the chef d'oeuvre of Murillo ; and never, perhaps, did that great master attain to such sublimity of expression and such magnificent colouring. The biddings fully responded to the high character of this great work. The first bidding was 150,000f., but that price seemed so inadequate to the value of the picture, that offer after offer soon brought the price up to 400,000f. The three great competitors up to this point were the Marquis of Hertford, an agent for the Queen of Spain, and another agent for the Emperor of Russia. The biddings then continued with great spirit until they reached 500,000f., when an involuntary round of applause burst out at that sum being reached. At 528,000f. a pause ensued, but the biddings were again resumed, and, almost without a check, the great price of 580,000f. was reached. Here the gentleman for Spain, who had been apparently determined to have the picture, paused. He again, however, went on for a bidding or two more, when at last, 0n586,000f. (£23,440) being offered by a gentleman in front of the auctioneer, the Spanish agent gave in, and the picture was knocked down amid loud cheers of admiration at such a price being given. But this applause became absoluteenthusiasm when it was ascertained that the purchaser was M. Nieuwerkerke, the director of the National Museum. The crowd rushed forward, shaking him by the hand and cheering most heartily. The auctioneer then announced in due form, that the purchase was for the Museum of the Louvre, and the cheers redoubled. In fact, the delight appeared universal', and it was several minutes before the sale could proceed. Two other Murillos, one, • St. Peter in Prison,' and the other, ' Jesus and John, children/ were purchased by M. Thurneyssen, the banker, for the Emperor of Russia, the price of the former being 151,000f., and of the latter 63,000f. ' The Christ carrying his Cross/ of Sebastian del Piombo, was also purchased by the same gentleman for the Emperor of Russia for 41,000f. It is well known that the late Marshal had refused 80,000f. for this picture."