NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 686, 31 August 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Interproviin-cial Football Match. —We learn from a private telegram that the weather in Auckland is unfavourable for the match, it being a wet day. Both teams are well. Hamilton and Chapman stand out. Sporting.—We remind owners of horses that the nominations for the O,J 0. and Canterbury Cup close to-morrow evening at 8 p.m. at Warrer's Hotel. The Haughton Case.—We learn from Wellington that the information in this c<se was not laid by the Chief Law Officer of the Crown, as reported in recent telegrams, but by the police in the ordinary way. Railway By-Laws.—The following bylaw is repealed on and after September Ist: —" All bonded goods will be subject to a charge of one shilling per ton for Customs examination." Timaru Hospital.—The following is the return for August:—Patients under treatment at date of last return —Males, 27; females, 8; total, 35. Admitted during month—Males, 19; females, 6; total, 25, Discharged during month cured —Males, 14; females, (J; total, 20. ENTERTAINMENT. —A.n entertainment in aid of the church funds will be given tomorrow evening at the Durham street Wesley au schoolroom, at half-past se.Men. The programme will comprise songs, duets glees, &c. THE VVAIMATB COUNTY—Wa learn, says the Herald, that the mo.-t complete unanimity of feeling prevails in the Waimate district as to the desirability of forming it into a county, while on the other hand the proposal to make one county of South Canterbury meets with general disapproval.

Poet Chalmers Bar. Preparations have been made, says the Daily Times, for experimenting upon the outer bar of the harbour by harrowing it. A heavy iron harrow has been constructed at the Graving Dock workshop, and probably will be put into use in a day or two, as tenders for the work of harrowing have been sent iu, and will be considered by the Harbour Board at next meeting. Sudden Death.—An infant son of Mr G. M. Pellett, Knightstown, died suddenly yesterday morning. The child had been ailing for some time, but at eight o'clocl' in the morning seemed to be in its usual state of health. At half-past nine Mrs Pellett saw the child was dying, and sent for Dr Florence, but it was dead before he could arrive. An inquest will be held. The Clematis.—Mr D. Craig received a telegram from Wellington yesterday stating that the Taupo, on her passage to Wellington the previous night, passed close to a vessel bottom-up, twenty-five miles N.N.B. half E. from Godley Heads. We believe the Akaroa, s.s., is again going in search this morning, weather permitting. It is to be hoped that Captain McLean will, on this occasion, be successful, as these derelicts floating on our coast are very dangerous to navigators. The North Road.—Some short distance from the Road Board office, in the Papanui direction, the North road has, to the length of about ten chains, been allowed to remain in a yery neglected state, and the accumulation of mutf at this place is by no means agreeable to persons travelling oyer it. This very unpleasant state of things lias not been improved by the stenph emanating from the rotting carcase of a dog, which for about three weeks has been allowed to remain in the centre of the road, crushed into the mud by vehicles passing over it. Canterbury Hailways—A return is published in the Gazette of the traffic returns for July. The following is a summary :—Merchandise, £>647 llssd; rents, £9l 6s 9d ; wharfage cranage (£9O l»a 8d) £1337 lis 8d; passengers, £5226 2s 4d ; parcels, £358 7s ; horses, carriages, &o, £ll9 4s 3d; total, £15,780 2ssd. During the corresponding month of 1875, the receipts were £10,669 183 4d. The tonnage of merchandise carried amounted to 20,777 and the number of passengers was 53,857,

Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association.—The usual meeting of the Association was held last evening, Eev Mr Morley occupying the chair. Mr Cass opened a discussion on the "Nature and duration of future punishment," maintaining the theory of annihilation ; the opposition was led by Mr John Booth, and an interesting discussion took place, in which Messrs Conual, Allison, and Wilson took part, and the meeting closed at a late hour. R.M. Court Building.—After the case of a person charged with lunacy yesterday, at the R.M. Cuurt, had been heard, Dr Nedwill complained to his Worship of the want of a proper room in the building in which persons uuder such a charge might be properly examined, and stated that in this, as in previous cases, he had to examine the man ia the open yard. This drawback had been felt a very great source of annoyance and inconvenience to many members of the profession called to discharge similar duties. Mr Mellish said that for a long time it was well known the whole building was inadequate and unsuitable for the purposes for which it was used, and no one had experienced this more than the Hon the Minister of Justice, who had doubtless used his best exertions to have a suitable building erected. He (Mr Mellißh) believed that plans for such a building were in hand, and its erection would probably soon be commenced. Iron Sand Experiments.—Mr E. M. Smith, says the Taranahi Herald, recently conducted some trials at Henui for smelting the Taranaki iron sand. At the time appointed about twenty persons (amongst whom were the leading tradesmen and two or three blacksmiths) arrived on the works, accompanied by Mr E. M. Smith, who at once set to work, aided by Mr Atkinson- A crucible, holding about a quart, was filled with Mr Smith's patent compound brick and charcoal, and set in the fire. The metal was expected to have been ready to run into a mould in half an hour ; but owing to the damp rising from the still wet mortar which had been used in the erection of the fireplace, it was three-quarters of an hour before the crucible was taken out, when the bottom was still of a dull black color instead of being at white heat. The metal did not run, but on the contents of the crucible being turned out and allowed to cool, metal mixed in the slag was to be seen, which on being tried with a file was found to be of the quality of the finest steel, and took a good polish. The second experiment was intended to show that metal produced from iron sand could be remolted and run into mould again if required. Accordingly a piece of metal obtained at the trial made with the furnace some years ago was broken up and placed in crucible with charcoal and limestone, and placed in the fire. In shorter time than that occupied in the first case, the crucible was taken out, and on being turned over the metal ran freely. Pieces were broken, which showed an extremely fine grain, and having a bright sparkling appearance. The outside appearance was quite silvery, which was said to be evidence of good quality—the result of the titanium. Judges pronounced the metal as something excellent, For the third experiment a small quantity of pure iron sand was put into the crucible with calcined beach stone, the material from which Mr D. Atkinson makes his cement. In due course the crucible was taken from off the fire in white heat condition, the furnace having by that time got in good trim. On being turned over on to a clean iron plate both slag and metal ran free. On cooling the slag was found to be as brittle as glaes, of the color of porter-bottle glass, and contained globules of metal from the size of the finest shot to the size of an ordinary marble. This experment was intended to show that even with beach stone only as a flux, the most perfect separation of the particles of iron from the slag could be ensured. It was a clear illustration of the manner in which Mr Smith at his late lecture said the iron would trickle in globules through the slag to the crucible of a furnace like that at Henui, and so enable the metal to be run off in the form of pig iron, or more properly speaking steel bars. Mr W. H. Mathieaon (a shareholder in the Titanic Company), after these experiments is more than ever convinced of the practicability of the iron sand being successfully smelted, if only the furnace is handed over to the competent manager. Either Mr Smith or Mr Atkinson is willing to take charge. Mr Smith is burning anxious, and will never be satisfied until he himself or some competent man who has faith in the process, has been allowed the use of the furnace.

Jackson's Bay Settlement. —The latest report to hand from the Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay is dated 7th August, when Mr M'lTarlane writes as follows :—" I have the honor to report the arrival of the s.s. Tui, Captain Bonner, from Wellington and Greymouth with passengers. They were all landed in good health, and provided with houses, and are now at work on the Smoojbhwater road; eleven of them have selected land in Smoothwater "Valley, and will move out when houses are prepared for them. The two Italian families from Greymouth go to the Okura, where the rest of their countrymen are already located and engaged in road making, eight of tne single men belonging to the same party are at work on the Eftiast track, until the land is open for selectiW The surveyors are busy at work, and I asj promised a selection map in a few days. Mr Smyth, the surveyor in charge, speaks very highly of the land, both as to extent and quali y, the soil being very good, easily cleared, and abounding in cattle feed. On the VVaiatoto, the work of settlement progresses satisfactorily. One of the settlers who has been ill for some time, I found it necessary to bring into the Bay (which was done yesterday), so that he might stand a pbance of recovering. Another man on the Arawata met with an accident, by a tree falling upon him ; he is a good deal bruised, but I don't think ho is seriously injured. There is a movement amongst the'settlers to obtain the services of a medical man for the settlement, the matter will come before you in proper form shortly, when, I have no doubt, it will receive your best attention. We have been very fortunate, so far as regards health, but with a rapidly increasing population, following occupations not free from danger or from accident, it is well that this subject should receive the consideration due to its importance. The road to Smoothwater is in course of construction, and during the late fine weather good progress has been made with this, as well as other work. After the end of this month most of the men will be at work on their land, clearing and preparing the land for the coming season. I anticipate that a large amount will be under crop this season, and I trust with good results,"

Press Club.—A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Press Club was held yesterday at 2 p.m. The arrangements for opening the Club room on Saturday nest were discussed and finally settled. It was resolved to open it at 3 p.m. on that day. The secretary reported receiving favorable replies from several colonial journals in answer to the request for copies of their papers for the use of the Club. His "Worship the Mayor was elected an honorary member of the Club, and the meeting adjourned. New Bbidge at the Domain.—The bridge over the river at the northern side of the gardens, and the piles and beams of which havs been erected for some time, is being again proceeded with, and will be finished about the beginning of next week. As the bridge leads directly on to the footpath which crosses the North Park to Fendaltown, it will be found a very great convenience to residents in that district, who will be saved a long round, and also to those coming to the gardens from Biccarton. It is to be a rustic structure, with caps on the pillars, in which ornamental cups will be placed containing climbing plants, which will be trained along the sides of the bridge. Accident at Oamabu.—A fearful accident at Meek's flour-mill, Oamaru, is thus recorded in the North Otago Times :—" At about 6 am, the night shift having been relieved, the machinery oiled, and the mill again started, when M'Murtrie, who was employed as oatmeal miller, went in between two pair of stones for some purpose or other, and a knitted woollen jacket which he wore becoming entangled by an upright shafting, he was lifted up by the machinery and grievously crushed. The mill was almost immediately stopped and M'Murtrie extricated, when it was found that his left foot and ankle had been torn off, both legs fractured in several places, one of his arms broken in five places, and several ribs broken, while also there was a deep lacerated wound on the inside of the left thigh. He was internally injured. He was attended by Drs Wait and De Lautour, and, by their instructions, removed to the Hospital, where he lingered in great pain till noon, when death put an end to his sufferings. It appears that there was no necessity for his going to the place where the accident occurred, and no blame appears to attach to anyone, as the stones were boxed in, and the machinery had recently been inspected and passed as properly protected by the Government inspector. M'Murtrie had a very narrow escape only a few weeks ago, the same knitted jacket having; become on that occasion caught and turned round some other shafting, and it was only throagh the circumstance that the belt, on his clinging to it, slipped off the pulley, that he then escaped with his life. M'Murtrie was a sober, respectable man, of forty-five years of age."