NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 557, 31 March 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Race Horses. —The race horses Atnohia, Pungawerewere, Templeton, Elfin King, Tattler, Dan O’Rourke, Tadmor, Tommy Dodd, Guy Fawkes, Korari, and Parawhenua arrived in port from Dunedin, by the s.s Taupo yesterday. School Buildings, Timaru.—We learn from the Herald that final arrangements are about to b 3 made for the erection of the head master’s and janitor’s houses, and an infant school on the grounds of the public school. Agricultural and Pastoral Associa’ TION —The usual monthly meeting of the committee of the above was to have been held yesterday, at 230 p.m„ but failed for want of a quorum. The members present were Meesrs Wilkin, Ford, and Henderson. The meeting has been adjourned to Thursday next,

East Christchurch District School. —The school committee of this district met yesterday evening. Present—Messrs Yeel (in the chair), Bray, Mitchell, Kirk, and Jameson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Minister for Education, stating that after the current quarter tha salary of the master of Bingsland school would be according to scale, requesting the committee to procure tenders for the earthwork required at the main school, and authorising certain expenditure that had been applied for for furniture, &c. Another letter from the Minister sanctioned the appointment of Miss R. Gates as pupil teacher. The report of the Head-master was read. A letter was received from the City Council, requesting the committee to be particular in preventing the attendance at school of children who came from houses where there was any infectious disease. Mr Mountfort reported that he had taken delivery of the Gloucester street building from the contractors, and had dismissed the clerk of the works. The chairman was desired to communicate with Mr Mountfort and Mr Farr relative to procuring plans of the several school buildings. After some further routine business and some accounts passed for payment the committee adjourned.

Railway Accident in Otago.— The Daily Times gives the following account of the death of constable Vernon :—“ Constable Henry Vernon, a valuable member of the police force, who, for the last twelve months has been stationed at Green Island, met with a shocking death on Saturday night. Three young men named Thomas Brinn, John W. Bates, and Joseph Bates, called at the Caversham depot yesterday morning, about a quarter-past eleven, and reported that when passing through the Green Island railway tunnel their attention was attracted by a little dog whieh accompanied them barking at something, and on striking a match they were horrified to see the body of a man, covered with blood, lying alongside the rails. Being frightened they hastened back and gave information to constable M'Kilney, stationed at Caversham, who, with Dr Batchelor, proceeded to the place. Four hundreds yards from the mouth of the tunnel, on the right hand side, they came upon Vernon’s body, which was shockingly mutilated. The head was flattened to a sleeper, the body lying obliquely clear of the rail, All the limbs were broken, the left leg being twisted across the abdomen. His collar and tie were lying alongside, and his watch and chain behind the body, A pair of handcuffs in the coat pocket of deceased, were broken in pieces. The body was afterwards removed to the morgue of the Dunedin Hospital. From enquiries made at the Railway station, we learn that the last train to pass through the tunnel on Saturday night was the late train, which would pass through about 8.45 p.m, from Balclutha. After the tragical occurrence was discovered, the engine was examined, and in front of the guard there were marks of blood and some human hair. Constable Vernon leaves a wife and child. He was three years and eight months in the police force.” The same journal next day says:—“The shocking accident at the Caversham tunnel on Saturday night was all but succeeded on Sunday by another of a similar character in the Blanket Bay tunnel, on the Port Chalmers and Dunedin line. The last train (5 p.m.) from the Port was just entering the tunnel when the driver, by the merest chance, happened to descry the form of a human being some distance ahead in the gloom of the tunnel. To shut off steam at once, and whistle down breaks, was his first act, and so the train was brought to a walking pace, but still rapidly approached the man. The latter, perceiving his peril, lost presence of mind, and when the whistle sounded, was observed to fall on his back between the rails. Recovering his feet, he ran from side to side of the tunnel like one demented, then suddenly took to his heels and ran to the other end of the tunnel, and as the train emerged into daylight he was observed some distance ahead making into the bush as fast as his legs could carry him. He must have received an awful fright, and will no doubt remember the occurrence to the day of his death. His escape from a fearful fate was of the narrowest. Railway tunnels are dangerous places to venture into, and had better be avoided by all, except those who have business in them, no matter how thoroughly acquainted they may be with the times of the trains,” Speaking of the above accident the Daily Times remark);—“A terrible warning has been given of the danger of trespassing on railway lines, more especially in tunnels, by the sad fate of Constable Henry Vernon, and one which it is to be hoped will prove effective. At the Coroner’s inquiry yesterday, it was stated that not only do persons persistently walk a’ong the lines because a short distance nearer to their destination, but when rebuked by the railway authorities, who until recently had no legal power to interfere with offenders in this respect, actually blackguarded them. Thanks to Mr Stout, a measure was passed at the last session of Parliament, making it a criminal offence to walk on the railway lines, audit remains to be seen whether this will prove a remedy. Out of four fatal accidents on the rail in Otago, all are attributable to trespassing, and yet people risk their lives in the most reckless manner. We yesterday described another narrow escape of a man while walking through the Sawyer’s Bay tunnel, and feel confident we will have to narrate more fatal occurrences through similar negligence unless people desist from thus placing their lives in jeopardy. Whether or not the practice will be discontinued we cannot say, but'we recommend to the railway authorities the prosecution of any individual who may be caught so offending, and it is to be hoped that from some severe example much good may come.”