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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 16, 20 January 1869, Page 2

It has been currently rumored this •morning that the Directors of the N.Z.S.N. "Company were in treaty for the purchase of the s.s. Egmont, aud we (Evening Post) hear that £11,000 was the price wanted for this vessel. We do not kuow if there ia any truth in this; but, knowing that the Tirarua, Rangitoto, and Claud Hamilton only brought, on an average, £9,000 each, we cannot believe that there is any foundation for such gossip. The schooner Nautilus, recently wrecked on the Manawatu bar, had on board, amongst other things, Mr Pownall's flaxdressing machine apparatus, which had been recently imported from Eugland, This machine was said by Mr Pownall to be improved beyond any yet attempted in New Zealand, ahd should it not be rescued •from the wreck (which is extremely doubtful) will prove a great loss to the colony in preventing tha full development of what promised to prove a flourishing brauch of industry. In Auckland, we understand flax-dressing, is being carried on to a considerable extent, by various parties, with small machines. The prices -realised as yet arfe about £25 per ton, and the expe uses of preparing it about £15. Willi the great improvements combined in Mr Bo"wualPs.apparatus, much more sueacefiful results might have been anticipated. ; ;~E.venJDg Post, Jan ,15. :'-;-V7^Ke^ar(q[ae Henry Miller .struck on an ,^unkno-wn [reef in lat. 28deg. s.lmin. and %e^aij_e_ stuck fast for 13 hours.