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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1922, 3 July 1869, Page 2

Libel.—We understand that criminal proceedings have been to-day instituted, on behalf of Mr Henry Driver, against the proprietor and printer of the Echo, on account of an article which appeared in that paper on Wednesday last. Suicide. This afternoon a man named Hickman, a carpenter, hung himself in his own house in Stafford street, two doors above the Golden Age Hotel, by passing a rope, fastened to the handle, over the door, and suspending himself from it. Accident. A serious accident happened on Monday evening, at Mossgid, East Tnieri. While Mr St. Lawrence Webb, postmaster and storekeeper there, was unyoking his horse from a spring cart, on his return from town, he had his leg broken from some cause which our informant does not state. Dr. Inglis was soon in attendance, and performed what was necessary for the injured limb. — Standard.

H.M. Gaol, Dunedin. —The following is the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 3rd of July, 1869 : Awaiting trial, 3 men, 0 women; under remand, 0 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 24 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 60 men, 19 women ; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women; in default of bail, 1 man, 1 woman ; debtors, 2 men, 0 wemen ; total. 90 men, 20 women. Received during the week, 6 men, 12 women; discharged, 12 men, 10 women. City Police Coukt. — At this Court this morning, before A. Chethnm S'rode, R.M.—James M'Lean and Wm. Rogers, were each lined 10s for being drunk. An unfortunate man, who was charged with being a lunatic, made a serious complaint again-ft the hospital authorities, stating that they refused to give any food other than barley broth. He desired the Magistrate to send him to the gaol, where he said he was sure to receive proper attention. He made a long s ateraent as to the nature of his ailment, but in such a manner as to lead to the belief that he was perfectly sane. He was remanded for medical examination.

Princess Theatre. —There was a very spars attendance at the Princess’s last evening. The pieces presented were “ Lady Audley’s Secret ” and “ The Fie d of the Cloth of Gold.” The drama, which embodies the principal incidents of Miss Brad don’s famous work, awakens a powerful interest by its startling situations. The part of Lady Audley was sustained by Mrs Jackson in a manner which heightens our opinion of that lady’s capabilities. The impersonation was easy and natural throughout, and the acting vigorous, impassioned., and effective. The closing sc*ne of the first act was rendered espee ally impressive by her powerful delineation of the ever varying moods of her heroine ; and when the frenzy of des pa r consequent upon the threatened discovery of her atrocious crime, yields to the bare possibility of escape which hope suggests, there is as fine a bit of acting as we have seen for a long time, and the curtain dropped amid unmistakeable applause. The piece was well played ; Mr Eayner taking the part of Robert Audley in his usually quiet and effective manner ; Mr Joyce, as Sir Michael, playing his part well, and Mr Howard as Bihbles, though in a subordinate position, contributing largely to the interest of the piece; Miss Matthews as Phoebe Marks, Mrs Howard as Martin, snd Miss Jenny Nye as Lady Alicia, making the most of their respective parts. Distressing Case — .We have much pleasure in directing the attention of our readers to a subscription now on foot on behalf of the family of a laborer named M'Kenzie, who was disabled by an accident at the Kakanui breakwater about five months ago. On the 16th of February last, M'Kenzie, who was in the employ of Mr George Proudfoot, contractor, was, with others, hoisting a large block of stone weighing three tons, and while so engaged the stone slipped, and his arms were dragged into the block. Both arms were fractured and both hands shattered. The sufferer was at once removed to the Hospital in this city, where the left hand and two of the fingers of the right hand were amputated. Every effort has been made to save the right hand; but the hones have been so crushed and broken as to leave little or no hope that it will ever he of service. For over four months and a half M‘K< nzie has been prostrated upon his bed, and months will yet elaps ■ before he is in a fit state to leave the Hospital He has a wife and four children, the youngest of whom is only three weeks old. He is a respectable man, and although only a laborer he had a little money saved at the time of the accident, but that little has long since been exhausted. With its breadwinner disabled for life, the prospect of the family is indeed a bleak one. Those who are interesting themselves in the matter, have every confidence in recommending M'Kenzie and his family j,as fit objects for practical sympathy, and it is hoped that tuc appeal now

being made will be so responded to as to allow of the family being plaved in a permanent way of earning a livelihood. Subscription* are being received by Geo. R. Kerens and Co., boot importers, Stafford street ; Keith and Nicosoa, booksellers, Princes street; W, B iird, bookseller, George street ; B. Bagley, chemist, George street; and at the Evening Stab Office, Princes street. Subscriptions may also be left at the office of the ITo-pital Steward, under cover to Mr Torrance, Hospital Chaplain.

A New Use fob Flax.— Amongst other uses to which the New Zealand flax (Phonnium Ten ax) is likely to be applied, is one of its products as a curative agent. Mr F, A. Mmioaton, Provincial .Surgeon of Southland, wri cs to the Southland Times, and eulogizes very strongly the concern rated decoction which is obtained from the liquor, in which considerable quantities of flax leaves have been boiled, as a healing dressing for cuts and lacerations.

Railway Constkuction. —The following interesting information regarding the cost of railway construction, given in evidence before a committee of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, we take from the Argus The Railway Construction Committee resumed its sittings yesterday, and a large quantity of evidence was taken. Mr Lloyd, agent for Mr Page, gave a description of that gentleman’s patent, and explained its adaptability for branch lines. The estimated cost of construction, without rolling stock, would be about L 2,000 per mile, and carriages could be so constructed as to run both on the present rails and the new line. Mr Griffin, the engineer to the Ballarat Shire Council, who had had some connection with the Great Western line, and had also been connected with railways in Turkey, said that the Varna line, which was on an incline of one in forty-two, cost but L 5.000 per mile, including rolling stock and stations. Fifty-pound rails were us cl, and the engines weighed thirty tons. Mr Thompson, who had been employed on some of the Scottish lines—though not as an engineer - stated that the Fife line, upon which there was a heavy coal traffic was originally constructed for L 5,200 per mile. It had since beenimproved out of the profits, which .have averaged I 2£ percent per annum. Mr Clapp was examined as to his knowledge of the American railway system. Ho said that nearly all lines in the United. States were single lines, although provision was made for their being eventually made double. '1 he rails varied from 4ollh to 60lbs, and were spiked to the sleepers, the ends, however, resting in chairs, and no one joint being opposite another. The engines, as a rule, did not exceed thirty tons in weight. The sleepers were of chesnut wood, and when dressed with coal-tar lasted about seven years. The ballast generally used tvas gravel, blnevtoue being far too dear. The speed attained was about the same as in Victoria, but the express trains travelled at the rate of forty miles an hour. There was less shaking in the American c*rs than in the Colonial. This was in consequence of their greater length, and the difference in const notion. Accidents chiefly arose from collisions, caused by so many lines crossing each other. The great cost of maintaining the American lines arose from the heavy frosts and lapid thaws. There was three times as much traffic on some of the American single lines as on the Sandhurst and many double lines. Light en gines were used for express and light goods trains.”