NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 583, 2 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Rate.—A rate of Is in the £on rateable property has been struck in the Heathcote district. Scholarships—We would remind intending competitors for provincial scholarships that the last day for receiving applications is the 10th inst. Sporting. The nominations for the Great National Handicap Steeplechase will be found in another column. The weights will appear on or about the Bth inst. The steeplechases take place at Christchurch on the 24th May. The OamaruMoeraki Railway.—The North Otago Times understands that the ballasting of this line as far as Maheno w; s to be completed on Thursday, and that the line was expected to be open for goods and passenger traffic yesterday .J St Luke's.—To-morrow has been fixed for the nomination of candidates for the return of one Synodsman for the parish of St Luke's. Nominations must be left at the house of Mr Gordon, the returning officer, before four o'clock. Queen's Variety Troupe.—Mr Alec O'Brion, with a company of variety artiste*, appeared at the Music Hall last evening to a full house. Mr O'Brion's songs and dances were loudly applauded, as indeed were all the items on the programme, many of which were red em and ed. The company appear again this evening at the I&usie Hail,

Baptist Chubch.—The anniversary tea meeting in connection with the Hereford street Bap'ist Church will take place this evening, followed by a public meeting, when addresses will be delivered. Earthquakes at Oamaru —A shock of some severity was felt on Thursday morning, at 3 30. It was accompanied (says the N. 0. Times) by a rumbling sound. Many persons also state that they felt two slighter shocks, one before and the other after this, at intervals of abont half an hour. A slight shock was also experienced at about half-past 3 on the previous morning.

Serious Accident.—A sailor named William Aubrey met with a bad accident in Lyttelton harbor yesterday afternoon. He was engaged in sending dowD the maintopsail yard of the brig Derwent, when the lift carried away, and he fell on the rail. He was at once conveyed to the casual ward, and Dr Bouse having examined him, found that he had sustained a severe fracture of the shoulder blade. The Provincial Executive,—We learn that Mr W. M. Maskell has resigned the office of Provincial Secretary and of Treasurer, having been appointed Registrar to the New Zealand University. No arrangements have, we believe, yet been made for the appointment of his successor. It is to be hoped that the position will not be allowed to remain long vacant, as the absence of the treasurer will greatly inconvenience those having business transactions with the Provincial Government. Central Board of Health. —A meeting of the Central Board of Health was held yesterday morning, to consider the case of the Countess of Eintore. Present: His Honor the Superintendent (in the chair), Sir J.C. Wilson, Hons J.T. Peacock and G. Buckley ; Messrs Knight, M. B. Hart, and Dr Turnbull. A telegram was read from the immigration officer, Mr J. E. March, relative to the sickness on board the ship, and also a report on the same. The immigration officer reported that there had been twentyfour cases of measles during the passage, and one case of scarlet fever, the latter of which was convalescent. It was resolved that instructions be given to Mr March to have the fittings, &c, ot the ship removed to Quail Island, and the 'tween decks thoroughly fumigated ; also, to isolate the convalescent case of scarlet fever at Ripa Island ; and that all bedding and clothes in use by those who had suffered from sickness on the passage should be destroyed. It was also resolved that the burning of clothes, &c, should extend to those in use by the saloon passengers, the officers and crew of the ship. The health officer was requested to report in full on the matter to the Board. The meeting then adjourned. Inquest.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Royal Hotel, Lyttelton, on the body of a man Darned John Norton, before W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner. Mr R. Bunker was chosen foreman of the jury. John Henry Norton, sworn, said—l am son of deceased, On Saturday at 7.30 p.m., my father came home ;he was in good health. At 8 o'clock he commenced his Bupper ; he had tripe, and the first piece he put in his mouth stuck in bis throat. I was in the next room, I heard him laugh, and then there was a rattle in his throat as he walked to the back door. I thought at first it was fun, as he had been playing with the children before. My mother followed him out, and I went too, and found he appeared to be choking, and my mother was striking him on the back to make him swallow the tripe down, and I did the same. I then ran to Mr Dunlop, who lives next door, and told him my father was choking, and then went for Dr Rouse. When I got back he was lying on a bed in the front room dead. Dr Rouse went with me. Dr Rouse sworn, said—About 8.J5 p.m. on Saturday the last witness came to my surgery and told me be was afraid his father was choking. I went up with him, and found deceased lying on a bed perfectly dead. There was no action of the heart and lungs. I found the throat choked with a soft substance. To day I made a post mortem examination, and found the substance produced completely choking up the deceased's wind pipe. Death must have ensued almost immediately, as no air could enter the lungs. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." A painful tragedy has just ended the unprofitable life of one C R . He was madly in love with a painted thing, and spent some £IO,OOO on her. When all was over in the money line her love declined, and he tried to kill the painted thing. He fractured her skull, and then shot his brains out. When the painted thing was recovering from her wound, they brought the bullet to her with which the former proprietor of £IO,OOO had killed himself. The lady said, taking the lead in her hand, ' Why, I didn't suppose it would be so flat!'