Untitled

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 20, 10 March 1860, Page 3

A Stone-cutting Machine, of remarkable power and efficiency, the invention of M. Jean Marie, a clock-maker, ofFassieux, in the department of PAisne, France, has been recently exhibited in full operation in that locality. It hews, scapples, and carves the hardest stones, with great precision. In hollowing out a large and very hard block of stone, the machine, according to the Journal de FAisne, performed in one hour, an operation which would occupy a man three or four .days.

The new material, "vegetable leather," as a substitute for animal hides, appears to be making its way into general use. The United Service Gazette announces as probable that this new material, the discovery of the Messrs. Spills, army contractors, will be officially adopted in future contracts for leather leggings for soldiers.

The "Withey Trees" Cotton Mills, of Messrs. Eccles and Co., of Bamber-bridge, Preston, with the machinery, consisting of from 16,000 to 17,000 spindles, and 270 looms, have been lately destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at from to

In driving piles by Nasmyth's steam piledriver, working at from sixty to seventy blows per minnte, the heads of the piles frequently burst in flames and burnt fiercely. The surprising increase of machinery, in our manufacturing districts is evidenced in the case of Bradford, where in 1801, there was only one mill, having fifteen horses' power; whilst in 1859 there wereone hundred and sixtynine, with three thousand four hundren horses' power, employing 25,480 persons.

The average velocity of the wind, as registered at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, during the prevalence of the recent gales (first and fifth November) was twenty-four miles per hour, as measured by Robinson's anemometer. The barometer full to 2864 on the first, and rose to 2868 on the second of November.

How the Government manage the Dock-yards. — The engineers of the H.M.S.S. Retribution, of 800 horse power, costing were taken out of her in 1850, because they were too powerful for the vessel. They were landed at Woolwich, lay there till 1856, and were then ordered to be broken up, when for the wrought iron saved, the Government received about ;€ 1,500.