MILLSTONES MADE OF GLASS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 285, 18 October 1878, Page 19

MILLSTONES MADE OF GLASS.

The Manufacturer and Builder calls the attention of manufacturers who cast heavy pieces of glass, and also of millers, to a recent discovery, that the finest flour is produced by those millstones which have the most glassy texture and composition, and the subsequent discovery that pieces of glass combined in the same way as the French burr, and similarly grooved on their surface, will grind hotter than the burr millstones. The consequence of this discovery has been the invention of the glass millstones now made by Messrs. Thorn, and used in Germany and in Borkcndorf with great satisfact on, as it is found the3 r grind more easily, and do not heat the flour as much as is the case with the French burr stone. In grinding grist they run perfectly cold. In order to make such stones, blocks of glass from six to twelve inches wide are cast in a shape similar to the French burrs, but more regular and uniform. They are connected with cement in the same way, and dressed and furrow-cut with pick and pointed hammers ; but it is believed that diamond-dressing machines might be profitably applied. It is .said that these millstones, made of lumps of hard glass, do not wear away faster than burr stones. Stones oC four and a half feet in diameter, driven by faix horse-power, ground 220 pounds of fiour per hour, and did it while remaining cold. The grist is drier, looser, and the hull more thoroughly separated from the kernel than is the case with other stones.

We are happy to learn that Mr. Oscar Wilde, the ?on of " Speranza,"' who so recently obtained the Newdegate prize at Oxford, has been awarded a first-class in the final classic schools which is the highest honour the University can bestow. HiSTORiCAL ! Tide " Jurors Reports and Awards, New Zealand Exhibition." Jurors : J. E. Ewen, J. Butterworth, T. G. Skinner. " So far as the Colony is concerned, the dyeing of materials is almost entirely confined to the re-dyeing of Articles of Dress and Upholstery, a most useful art. for there arc many kinds of material that lose their colour before the texture is half wo^'d. G. Hirsch, of Dunedin (Dunedin Dye Works, George-street, opposite Royal George Hotel), exhibits a case of specimens of Dyed Wools, Silks, and Feathers, and d} r ed Sheepskins. The colours on the whole arc very fair, and reflect considerable credit on the Exhibitor, to whom the Jurors recommended an Honorary Certificate should be awarded. Honorary Certificate, 29 : Gustav Ilirsch, Dunedin, for specimens, of Dyeing in Silk Feathers, &c.

diture necessary to complete the Hues at present being constructed, the proper equipment of the various lines with rolling stock will be even more neglected in the future than in the past. There has been an inclination on the part of individuals to attempt to supply their special wants by providing their own trucks, but with no result, as the matter is one which cau only be satisfactorily dealt with as ;i special line of business. Exactly the same state of affairs has been developed in England, the capital of the original companies has proved insufficient to maintain a proper supply of rolling stock on their lines, and individuals have bjen unable to supplement the defect. Consequently, a large number of Waggon Companies lnve bjen started, which are now tending to engross this class of business into their own hands, with, in nearly all cases, very satisfactory results. The present Company is intended by the Provisional Directors to occupy exactly the same position as the English Waggon Companies. The project has been submitted to, and after careful investigation, approved of by the Government, and in order to offer private enter; prise enterprise sufficient inducement to undertake this necessary work, it has been agreed to alter the rates o£ freight, so that goods carried in the Company's waggon will be allowed a rebate equal to one penny per waggon per mile. The above rebate has been fixed for a period of live years, but should the Government not be willing to extend it, they are to purchase the waggons of the Company at their then value. The business of the Company will be the building of railway and tramway rolling stock of every description, and selling or leasing the same to the Government, private railway companies, grain merchants, and others. The profits made by companies engaged in this class of business in England are very large. A statement extracted from Financial Opinion of May IS7S, is appended, showing the value of shares in a number of these companies, au:l the dividends paid by them have ranged from 9 to 20 per cent. In the present case the above rebate would enable the Company to let out their wagons on such term s as would yield a handsome profit to the shareholders, and the hirer could in all cases depend on a regular supply, and would have the right to unload when convenien to himself, without liability for demurrage. _ t The followiug circulation will show the profits to bs derived from the operations of the Company :—: — Allowing sixty miles as the average weekly mileage of a wagon (a very low estimate), the Government rebate on a five ton wagon would amount to five shillings per week, and a further sum of five shillings per week would be charged to the hirer, thus giving a return of ten shillings per week for each wagon. 500 wagons it is estimated would cost, say, £45,000. Eestirnatecl earnings at 10s per week for one year £13,000 Less maintenance at £2 10s per wagon yearly... £1,250 Depreciation at £5 per wagon yearly... ... 2,500 Management, &c, ... ... ... ... 1,500 £5,250 Net profit of over 17 per cent. £7,750 The average life of a wagon, as taken from English practice, is about 14 years, so the sum allowed for depreciation may be considered ample, and the cost of maintenance has been fixed at a higher rate than the Government estimate. Wich a view of at once commencing operations, so that a supply of wagons may be made available as soon as possible, the Provisional Directors have obtained fioni Messrs. James Davidson and Co. an offer to build such wagons as they may require on exceedingly favourable terms, and, in addition, they have agreed to give the Company the option of purchasing those valuable premises known as the Otago Foundiy, containing about one acre, and having frontages to both Castle-street and Cumberland-street, together with such plant as the Company may require, at any time within twelve months from the formation of the Company, at a valuation. Should the Company ultimately agree to purchase the above premises, the vendors have agreed to take at least one-third of the purchase money in fully paid-up shares in the Company. The Companj r will therefore be in a position to determine during the first twelve months whether it will be better to accept the above offer, or to secure fresh premises, or continue the system of building by contract. Thus it will be necessary to call up only a comparatively small amount per share of the subscribed capital until the remunerative nature of the business, and the best means of carrying it on, have been fully tested. The share list will close on the Ist day of November, 187 S. Forms of application for shares can be obtained at the National Bank of New Zealand, and branches, or from Mr. J. A. Mackenzie, the Company's broker.