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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 281, 22 November 1873, Page 1

In the Ovens district they play enrda a good deal, .and they have a kindly leaning to games of the American type. With this for preface, be it known that an elderly gentlemen of pious habits lateiy entered a bookseller's shop in search of a good book as a birthday gift for his daughter. " Have yon," said he, " The Guide to the Eucharist?' After climbing his shop ladder and looking over the dusty volumes on his upper ehelvea, tho bookseller descended. " You will probably find what you want in this, sir — latest edition of Hoyle — full particulars of all the new games, and " — opening a particular page — " here's all about euchre." A Californian journal brags that the manifests of four American vessels which mailed for Australasia showed over 70 varieties of goods. " But, after all," Hays this aspiring newspßp?r, " our trade with Australia is nothing to what it should be. If s (Australia's) foreign commerce amounts to more than 325 million dollars annually, aud much as we have progressed lately, we have but little over 10 per cent of it while England (impudent England!) has the oiher 90— this in spite of the fact that San Francisco is so many thousand miles nearer than Liverpool." Which says something for British enterprise. The financial crisis in America has affected its railways, ten of which have failed to pay interest upon their bonds. Bat, to trace effect back to cause, it may be inquired whether the railway rings did not briog about the financial crisis. American securities are at present looked on very dubiously on the London Stock Exchange, because when America does make a financial * burst," it is bard to tell bow wide are its ramifications, or where or when it will end. The late failures are looked upon by those who know something of American finance in connection with railway enterprise as only the forerunner of much greater things to follow in the way of gigantic failures and breakdowns. Leading American firms of long standing, and trading upon sound principles, have for many months ceased to hold laihvay stock. While the English Admiralty U forsaking — the type of the Devastation and Fury — to revert to au older form of vessel in the Inflexible, the Russians are conBtructingfpvar ships on a model which has at least the merit of novelty. Those who are conversant with the progress of marine architecture may remember that to Mr E. J. Reed, C.8., is duo the shortening of ironclads by at least ono huodred feet. This principle has baen punhed to its extreme limits by his more enthusiastic disci plea. By tho courtesy of the late Chief Constructor of the Navy, we (Iron) have been favoured with a view of photograph^ of the remarkable circular ironclad now at NicboUif ft. Admiral Popoff is responsible . for ttIB des'fgn of, perhaps, the most remarkable vessel that has ever floated eince Noah's Ark. The ship h perfecily circular, and is driven through the water by six screw propellers. So far as bandiness is concerned, nothing could be mote perfect. Tbe propellers disposed around the ■hip — it would be useless to talk of stem, stero, or beam — afford unlimited power of locomotion. Ahead, astern, or spinning like a top, the vessel is equally at home. Id ft seaway the behaviour of circular ships is said to ho peculiar, but for buoyancy they are difficult to surpass.