NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 7, 8 June 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sudden Death.—A daughter of Mr E. Eastwood, living off the windmill road, died yery suddenly on Sunday morning. She had been complaining of a very sore throat and it was supposed that diphtheria supervened. An inquest was to be held this afternoon. The Salmon. —One of the young salmon in the fish-house at the Acclimatisation grounds was found dead by the curator on Saturday morning last. During the night it had leaped out of the race on to the bank, and when found was frozen stiff. This reduces the number possessed by the society to thirty-eight. Sale of Gourlay's Exhibition.—There was a very large attendance at the Oddfellows' Hall, this afternoon, when Mr Gourlay's collection of curiosities was submitted by Mr W. H. Hargreaves. ,r Big Ben" and his family had been purchased for the Museum, and were removed early to that place. Some portions of the collection, fetched fair prices. The wax figures and New Guinea mummy were to be submitted at a later period of the day. Siamese Circus.—The afternoon performance at the circus on Saturday was crowded with juveniles and a fair sprinkling of children of larger growth. The feats of the Japanese were loudly applauded, being cleverly executed, as were also the various scenes in the circle. In the evening the large pavilion was crowded to excess, many not being able to obtain seats. The Japanese portion of the performance was capital throughout, especially the balancing feats and the falling ladder, which must be seen to be appreciated. They are certainly the cleverest in this line of any that have yet visited Christchurch. To-night a new programme will be given, and as this is the last week of their stay those who have not seen them should pay a visit. Arrivals. —His Honor the Judge returned on Saturday from the sittings of the Court of Appeal, and a number of the members of the Church of England General Synod also arrived yesterday. Fatal Accident. —A very sad accident occurred on last Saturday evening, by which Mr T. R. O'Callaghan, of Kaiapoi Island, lost his life. We learn that Mr O'Callaghan, accompanied by Mr Storer, who also lives on the Island, left Christchurch in the afternoon in a light American waggon, and arrived at Coutts' bridge (about midway between White's bridge and his own house) about half-past seven. The approach to this bridge from the Island side is very steep, and when the bridge had been crossed Mr O'Callaghan remarked that the night was very dark, but he thought the mare knew her way home. Immediately afterwards the mare fell, and rolled down the embankment, and when they reached the bottom Mr O'Callaghan was under the waggon, which was also on Mr Storer's legs. Mr O'Callaghan asked the latter to release him two or three times, but he could not extricate himself. Mr Storer, however, cooey'd, and then became unconscious. The cooey was heard by Messrs Beswick, Macfarlane, and Shaw, of Kaiapoi, who were returning from Christchurch. They reported the fact at the Courtney Hotel, and a man named Dickie went to ascertain if any accident had happened, and soon returned, stating that Messrs O'Callaghan and Storer had been capsized. Mr Smith went to the spot, and on removing the trap found Mr O'Callaghan quite dead, lying with his chest under the shaft, and the mare lying over the shaft. Dr Nedwill was immediately telegraphed for, but found on arrival that life had been extinct for some time. Mr Storer, we understand, has not received any very serious injury. The body was removed to the Courtney Arms Hotel, where an inquest will be held to-day at two p.m. before C. Dudley, Esq., coroner. The deceased was well known, and held a large farm on the island. He was a brother of the Rev A. P. O'Callaghan. Deputation.—On Wednesday last the deputation appointed at the public meeting j at Flaxton, to upset if possible the Mandeville and Rangiora Drainage Board, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent and Mr Montgomery. Mr P. C. Threlkeld acted as spokesman of the deputation. A number of letters between Messrs H. Blackett, M. Duncan, and C. Young, to the Government in 1870, were read, and it appeared that through those communications the Government had decided to proclaim the district. The members of the deputation expressed surprise j that the ratepayers in the district had never I been consulted. They were informed that it was on the representations made that the Road Boards were unable to cope with the drainage works that the Government caused the district to be made. He promised to consider the prayer of the petition handed in, and make known the result as early as , possible. I

Atticus, in " Under the Verandah," of the 9th instant, published in the Melbourne "Leader," gives the following amusing'account of a seance given in that city by Mr Foster, the medium and spiritualist:— "His friend was so impressed with what he heard that he persuaded Mr Foster to give him a seance at his house. Several ladies and gentlemen were there, and the fehosts were brought in with the filberts. 'ls there any one present named George ?' asked Mr Foster; 1 a spirit has a communication to make to him.' A newly-married man, who had before experienced the blessings of matrimony, owned to the name; upon which the spirit of his deceased wife sent him a most affectionate message, saying that she hovered o'er him, that she loved him as dearly as ever, and that when he lifted the veil and followed she would be the first to greet him in the land of shadows. The unfortunate gentleman had all the sensations of a bigamist, and preserved a guilty silence, declining even to ask his former wife how she liked her homeless existence. After an awful pause Mr Foster said there was a spirit wanting to make a communication to a gentleman named Bobert: was he present 1 No one answered, and after waiting for some time another was summoned from the vasty deep. When they were breaking up the host said to one of his guests, • Why didn't you own your name was Robert V ' Because I profited by George's mistake,' was the answer. ' One wife at a time, if jou please. The spirit might be willing, but the flesh weak. The past wife couldn't speak to me without my permission, but the present could.'"