NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1427, 11 September 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Caeterbttby Rowing Club. Members are reminded that the adjourned annual general meeting of tho above club 'will be held this evening at eight o'clock, at Radcliffe's Hotel.

Inquest.— An inquest -was held at the Palace Hotel this afternoon before J. W. S. Coward, E-q, to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of Mrs Sarah Wallace, professionally known as Madame Annereau, and lattly a member of Messrs Hayes and Benhamo's Circus. From the evider.ee it appeared that the deceased was performing an equestrian act entitled " The Four Seasons," when she lost her balance and fell from her horse, breaking the left forearm in two places. She was attended by Dr. Doyle from the time of the accident, which occurred last Tuesday week, np to her death, which toak place last Saturday morning at an early hour. The jury, after a very careful investigation, found that the deceased died from lock-jaw, caused by the injuries sustained by a fall from her horse. Christcuubch Abtilleey.—The artillery held their usual parade last night, under Lieuts. Stansell and Strange. There was a very fair muster.

The Impounded Land Fund.—The longdelayed argument of the case of tho Avon Road Board v the Colonial Treasurer is now fixed to take place on the 12th instant. His Honor Mr Justice Williams has arrived specially from Dunedin to sit with his Honor Judge Johnston on the cape. Theatee Royal. The operatic drama, '•The Child of the Regiment," was revived at the Theatre Royal last night to a moderate house. The performance terminated with the burlesque entitled "111-treated Trovatore." This evening Byron's comedy drama, " £100,000," will be produced for the first time.

The Sydenham Deputation.—The deputation from the Sydenham Borough Council, appointed to wait upon the Hon. J. T. Fisher yesterday morning, relative to the late sale of land on which a road should have been reserved, were unable to see him, as he had left Christchurch on the preceding evening. It is probable that they will be more fortunate with the Hon. the Attorney-G-eneral, who is remaining in town for the Avon Road Board case re land fund. Woecesteb stbeet Bbidge.—The attention of tho city surveyor might with advantage bo turned to the insecure state of the roadway of the Worcester street bridge. The majority of the planks are worn almost through, and, unless speedily removed and Iresh ones laid down, a nasty accident is very likely to happen to any unusually heavy vehicle passing over the bridge. In their present worn-out state, a horse could easily stamp his foot through many of them. The Rifle Range.—Messrs White and Morten requiring to resume possession of the land hitherto used as a rifle range. Major Lean has appointed a Board of officers to examine suitable sites. They have reported in favour of one at the Sandhills, which at one time was used by volunteers for the purpose. Two other sites in the Heathcote Valley have been suggested as likely to be available. There are two range reserves in the district, one at Templeton and another at Kaiapoi, but the nearer of them is inconveniently distant for Christchurch marksmen. Hoese Posts and Verandahs. —Since attention has been called to the nuisance of horse posts standing almost in the centre of the newly asphalted pavement in Oxford Terrace, some of them have been removed nearer to tho edge of the side walk. Several, however, are still standing between the corner of Montreal street and St. Andrew's Church, and on a dark evening are absolutely dangerous to pedestrians. The verandahs to some of the shops on the terrace, between the chemist's shop at the eastern comer of Montreal street and Dr. Patrick's old residence, are, if possible, still more dangerous, and should be removed to the edge of the footpath. Cannibalism in New Caledonia. —A few days previous to the departure of the schooner Aoba from Burail, information (says the Auckland "Herald" of September 4th) was received at that port that the rebellious natives had captured a convict near to Urai on the 16th ultimo, and, after inflicting death in the most barbaric style, had eaten his body—being the first instance of cannibalism indulged in since the present troubles began. The day following the French troops appeared on the scesio, and, surrounding the cannibals, succeeded in dispensing the band, after killing and wounding upwards of twenty. The information was conveyed by some friendly native to Burail.

Winteb and Mining —The " Cromwell Argus," of September 3rd, says—The severity of the past season has been sorely felt by every mining community in this district, but nowhere more than at Bannockburn, where remunerative working solely depends upon the water bupjply. Heavy snow fills have for months past prevented any operations of an active nature, and the district has felt the ill effects of this enforced idleness. The courses of the various water-races have boen blocked with snow, and only now is there some prospect of their being rendered workable. On the Carrick Range itself there is no perceptible diminution of the immense accumulation of snow, and mining there may be put down at nil. During the past three months, the Star of the Isaßt Co. have made as many efforts to complete a crushing commenced early in June, but every attempt has been frustrated by snow storms and frost. Tho other day another trial waß made, but the snow drifted into the machine house to the depth of four feet, and nothing could be done. Q.uartz cannC h be g ot down rom fc^e nor COa * ud so thai "nth 1 the season gets milder the reducing of some ?0Q tons of stone now to grass cannot bp accomplish:?. A" evidence of quantity of snow chajt has fallen, we are Informed that one immense ravine in the vicinity of the late Young Australian Cp.'s mine is quite levelled with the mountain spurs, and it is said the drift cannot be less than 70 or 80 feet deep. The Peemanent Way on Christchuech Railways.—On this subject Mr Conyers' annual report contains the following:— The main line and branches on this section have been well maintained during the year. The total cost of the maintenance has been £59,361 3s 7d, equivalent to £154 7s 4d per mile per annum. Details of this expenditure are given in the Appendix H. There are several descriptions of rails in use, some of which give excellent results, the heaviest weighing 751 b., and the lightest 281 b. to the yard. The greatest length of road is laid with 401 b. iron rails, fitted with " Ibbotson's patent clip-joints." These are wearing out rapidly; the joint is a bad one, causes great trouble, and it is impossible to keep it tight. The Resident Engineer (Mr Lowe) reports, "The joint holds the rail ends against lateral movement, but allows considerable vertical play, ko that they are always depressed ; they will, however, lust out the life of the rails." The 521 b. rail, which is now heing imported, is an immense improvement, as also the fishjoint used with it. Of the Oregon sleepers laid between Oamaru and Moeraki, although down only two years, largo numbers have already been replaced, and but a very small proportion will last beyond another year. About two and a half miles of 40lb. iron rails have been replaced, costing about 6 per cent of the total maintenance. This expenditure will continue to increase year by year untd the whole of the main road ia laid with heavier material,

Electric Light Photography. An I archil ectural photograph (say s a contemporary) i lias been taken in Dunedin by means of the I light from a Gramme dynanio-elocfcric machine Jof a power equal to 800 candles. The view I was taken by fifteen minutes' exposure in a j crowded thoroughfare, during a drenching ; rain, and within an hour of midnight. The photograph could not have been taken ho well by daylight, for the falling rain would have obscured it. A Yam's Railway Accidents.—The returns of accidents to life and limb which occurred on the New Zealand Railways during the yenr ending June 30th, are published with the Public Works Statement. On the North Island Railways there were no passengers either killed or injured. On the Middle Island railways, Ohrietchurch section, one passenger was killed and one injured, both persons having according to the return been the victims of " their own misconduct or want of caution." Pour servants of the department were injured from causes beyond their own control on the North Island lines. In one case some ballast wagons ran away, and two men on brakes were injured, and in the other there was a collision between passenger and goods trains between Huntley and Taupiri. On the Middle Island Railways fifteen accidents, four being fatal, occurred to railway servants Pour men were injured on the Christchurch Bection from causes beyond their own control. Of those killed, three were on the Christchurch, and one on the Dunedin section, and all according to the official statement suffered from their own fault. Of the remaining seven, six were injured on the Christchurch, and one on the Greymouth section, all these accidents being caused by the misconduct or want of caution of tho men themselves. Of other accidents it appears that one man was killed on a level crossing near Onehunga, and one was killed in a " miscellaneous " way on the Christchurch section. Two trespassers were also injured on the Dunedin section. The whole number of accidents referred to in these returns was twenty-six, of which seven were fatal. It would be instructive to learn under what class of accidents that which happened to the boy James Musker, at Timaru, on April sth, is placed. It will be remembered that he was crushed between two trucks in a siding, and died four days afterwards, and that it was not thought necessary to hold an inquest. Was he the one who is set down as "miscellaneous?" By whose request did the Coroner abstain from holding an inquest ? Girls' High School.—This school will reopen for the next term on Friday, 13th inst. Tsmplaey.—Tomorrow evening Mr J. W. Jago, of Dunedin, Grand Worthy Chief Templar, will deliver a lecture on " Temperance," in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, when the attendance of the public is requested. Durham street Wesleyan Chukch. — The anniversary tea, meeting in connection with this church will be held on Thursday evening. It will ba followed by a public meeting, when addresses will be delivered by several ministers and others. College Lectures.—The fifth of the course of Wednesday evening scientific lectures will be delivered to-night in the Lecture 'lheatre, by Professor Bickerton. The e lectures are growing in interest, »ud this evening's will be a continuation of the last lecture on Voltaic Electricity, with experiments of a highly instructive character. Sydenham Borough Council. The poding for the election of three members of the Sydenham Borough Council, in the room of those retiring by rotation, will take place tomorrow, at the Council Chambers. There are four candidates for the three vacant seats. City Council The ordinary meeting of the City Council, adjourned from Monday last in consequence of the absence of his Worship the Mayor and sever ■! of the Councillors at Dunedin, is fixed for this eveninsr. In view, however, of the meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall, it is likely to be still further adjourned. The Civic Election. —The meeting for the purpose of enabling the various candidates for civic honors to express their views, will take pi ice this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. It has been called by the Mayor in response to a requisition presented to him, signed by a number of the r 4ppayers. The polling for the election will take place at the City Council Chambers on Thursd y, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p m.