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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2069, 22 December 1869, Page 2

Accident. — An accident occurred on Tuesday evening hy which a Mr John Fowler, a farmer at the North Taieri, lost his life. It appears flic un’ortunato man was (having a loaded dray along a sido'ing, when the main break snapped, and hj s dray capsized, falling upon him, and causing almost instantaneous death. The inquest on the body nad not been held when we last heard from the scene of the accident. The occurrence took place on the Green Island road. Harbor Comraxy’.s Steamers. — The s.s. Maori sailed from Timaru at <J o’clock this morning, with s’4<> bales of woo! for the William D ivio, and 25 passengers, and may be expected about five, this evening. She loads and sails again lor Timaru, Akaroa, and Lyttelton to-morrow afternoon. The p,s. Wallace left Clamant at 12. oil to-day, with 150 bales wool, and about 21) passengers. She wfll arrive about the same time as the Maori. Educational —Wo loam with pleasure from the /b’ess of the Kith instant, that two Uoys Belonging to this Province distinguished themselves greatly at the annual examination at Christ’s College, Canterbury. R. Bell gained the senior Somes’ schohuslup and the lirst prize for classics in the sixth form, while R. T. 801 l carried oft the classical and the French prizes in the lower fourth. The boys arc sons of the Hon. F. Dillon Bell, and were both educated almost entirely at the High School of Otago. Mu E. Moss. -We regret to loam that our old ami respected townsman Air F. AIo s, who left this province some two years ago with his family for the Fiji islands, has been compelled to return owing to ill-health. He is now in Auckland. Air N. Chalmev’a late Provincial Treasurer of Southland, who left that province about the same time, lias also returned with his family, having lust two children during their absence. Their opinions of the Fijis are not encouraging. The heat ami humidity of the climate being at seasons oppressive. Still they have faith that the Fiji’s will yet become a prosperous settlement.

Thu Late Accidents. —The painful intelligence given in a telegram from Tiniaru following close c,-n the heels of the news of a similar accident at the Kakamii, has produced a profound impression. Mr Balfour’s sudden demise is a loss not only to his friends hut to the whole Colony, and the circumstance that two engineers of mark have heeu lost in a similar manner within a very few days is a remarkable coincidence, the more especially that only on Tuesday last both gentlemen were dining side by side at the same table, and had arranged to meet at Timarn with reference to the same professional business. It is more than strange, too, tliat although one proceeded overland and the other by sea, a similar fate overtook them. Oamuru Time*. Preservation Inlet Coal. The directors of the Preservation Inlet Company, we learn, arc taking every possible means of testing the (piality of Iho coal brought from the Preservation Inlet mines by the James Paxton. A large sample was tested by the engineer of the Otago Distillery Company, and he reports most favorably of it as a steam-producing coal. A quantity is being reserved for the purpose of supplying lame ocean steamers with sullicieut to enable the captains of the vessels to give relia'de reports. Wo are in a position to state that a specimen of the coal was submitted to the late Thomas Paterson, Esq,, the day before he left Dunedin, and he expressed an opinion that, it was a superior brown coal, well adapted for domestic and steaming purposes, The compaii}' have shown gn at enterprise and perseverance in their efforts to prove the existence of extensive coal deposits on their ground at Preservation Inlet, and we hope they will reap the reward their perseverance merits.

The Supreme Court. —The case of Hcnningham v. Driver was brought to a termination this morning. The law points raised by Mr Smith, counsel for defendant, in support of a nonsuit were, on the ground that “ no proof of probable cause ; no proof of express malice; and no proof of the termination of the prosecution of Driver v. Henningham had been adduced.” Mr Maeassey supported the application for a nonsuit. Mr Barton and Mr Stewart opposed. The case lasted until a late hour yesterday evening, when his Honor reserved his opinion on the law points raised. This morning he gave judgment to the effect iu favor of defendant, as far as plaintiff had failed to prove express malice. The plaintiff must therefore cither accept a nonsuit, or allow the ease to go to the jury, iu which ease he should, have to direct it to give a verdict for the defendant on the ground stated. Mr Barton declined to accept a nonsuit. His Honor then charged the jury, instructing it to bring in a verdict for defendant. A verdict in accordance with his Honor's charge was returned. The ease of Young v. Smith was then taken. (Court still sitting.) Jetty J)ues.— A deputation consisting of Messrs H. Houghton, E. MJOlashan, J. 1!. Mackenzie, and J. Mills waited upon liis Honor the Superintendent at noon to-day, to represent to him the detriment to the trade of the Bolt that will result if the jetty dues regulations announced to come inti) operation on the Ist January next arc enforced. They showed conclusively that they will have the effect of oppressively taxing vessels engaged in the coasting trade,

and of tending to drive them away from the Port. The question is to ho brought before the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, and bis Honor aeeeded to the request of the deputation to defer the further consideration of the matter until Wednesday next. —-At eleven a deputation from the residents at Pino .Hill, headed by Messrs E. M'Glasliau and K. Short, bad an interview with the Superintendent. ft was explained to bis Honor that the district road board commenced the construction of a road which was unnecessary, and which would involve that district in great. The cost of making the road would not be so very great, but heavy sums would have to be paid as compensation to those owners of land through whose properties it was proposed to take it. Much of the expense might, bo saved if the road board would take the' - road three-quarters of a mile further down, when it might pass through the property of -Mr Martin, who would allow it to be done for a small compensation. As it was proposed the road would be made parallel lo and a short distance from the present road ; that it would cost between LdOO and L4OO ; and that the road board was anticipating its revenue. It was therefore asked that the Government should scud out an officer to report iq. on the matter. Llis Honor suggested that the deputation should embody the representations they had made to him' in the form of a memorial and for ward it to him as Chairman of the General Load Board, when lie would endeavor to get the Government to send out an impartial person to report on the matter. The deputation agreed to do so, and retired.