VICTORIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 56, 9 May 1866, Page 3

VICTORIA.

Twenty-five rifled cannon of the latest pattern and most formidable power may be expected in a few weeks for our bay defences, and 2,500 of the best Lancaster rifles have just arrived for the uniform arming of the volunteers with the newest and most approved variety of these "weapons of precision." We are gradually accumulating a goodly stock of the munitions of war, aud when we have a couple of blockships on which to mount some of the great guns — floating, because movable batteries beiug specially adapted to the protection of Port Phillip, from the character of the coasts— it may fairly be taken for granted that our shipping and metropolitan waters will be prepared for the emergency of any sudden outbreak of hostilities. On the 27th ult. a trial of Hart's cylindrical quartz-crushing machine took place at the instance of several gentlemen who had consented to see it put to a rigid test. The trial occupied about four hours. The machine was fed with quartz for three hours and seventeen minutes, duriug which period five tons and twelve cwt. were crushed and passed through a fineness of wire grating of 225 holes to the square inch, or about double the fineness of wire gratings employed by stamps. This crushing trial was at the rate of 288 tons per week. The steam power employed was four-horse. The revolutions of the machine did not exceed an average of eleven and a half per minute. The data during the trials were collected by several gentlemen present, and mutually checked. General satisfaction was expressed at the result, and sanguine expectations are now entertained that the improvements which will be made on future machines of the same size will raise it to a crushing power of at least 400 tons per week, at an expense of plant and steam power, completely fitted up, not exeeding £1.500, or about one-fourth the cost of crushing plant by any other process now in use in this colony. The arrivalyesterday of the ship Lincolnshire, with another importation of salmon and trout ova, preserved in ice, has naturally excited much interest, especially among the members of the Acclimatisation Society, who have been anxiously awaiting, and making preparation for the interesting strangers. In all, the vessel brings 110,000 ova. packed in thirty-five tons of Wenham Lake ice.

Sydney, April 30.— The Fitzroy Iron Mines have stopped working, the men Lave been dischared, aud company is likely to be wound up. Arrived.— Agnes Banfield, from Mauritius; Dutch barque, from Manilla, with 1,600 tons of sugar; Coorong aud Eliza Corrie, from Conception, with 700 tons of breadstuffs. We are informed (says the Oamaru Times) that, as the first fruits of a sample of the Oamaru stone being exhibited in Melbourne, an order has been received for 10,000 feet for shipment per the s.s. Albion. We are confident that this is the commencement of a large and important traffic in this material, which is rapidly gaining so enviable a reputation wherever it is introduced.