Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 602, 11 August 1858, Page 5

Miscellaneous.

01^ Donibhistle House by Fike.—On Tuesday morning a fire broke out in Donibristle House, Fifeshire, the seat of the Earl of Moray, and in a few hours almost the entire building was destroyed. The house stands on the Frith of Forth, near Aberddur, and consists of a main building, with detached wings for the kitchen and offices. The fire was discovered between seven and eight o'clock on Tuesday morning, and intelligence of the occurrence was immediately dispatched to Dunfernline, from whence two fire-engines arrived in the forenoon. By that time, however, a large portion of the roof had fallen in. A message was also dispatched to Edinburgh, and an engine left thi3 about one o'clock, and was conveyed across the Firth:by a special boat. When it reached the spot, however, the whole of the main building was in ruins. The water which supplied the house was used for the purpose of extinguishing the flames,' but there was no means of applying it so as to be of the slightest service. The only portion of the building saved is the library; a few paintings have also been preserved, but the principal pictures, including the whole of the family portraits, with the exception of an original portrait of the Regent Murray, were destroyed. The origin of the fire has not yet been discovered, but there seems no doubt that it broke out at the north-east corner of the building. The house is seldom occupied except by servants, the Hon. John Stewart,, brother of the Earl of Moray, visiting it for a short time every summer. We believe this is the third time in its history, that Donibristle House has been destroyed by firel— Scotsman. The Queen's Bounty.—Formerly it was usual to send a present from the Queen to any poor man's wife who had three children at a birth. The wife of a porter at Canterbury, named Legg, a short time since had three child ren, and the Eev. Mr. Hollands, vicar of St. Dunstan's, sent a statement of the fact to the, proper quarter. Last week she received, through Colonel Phipps, £6 from the Cueen.— South Eastern Gazette.

Gambling and Murder.—A terrible crime has been committed at Trieste. A young workman, who maintained himself and his mother by his daily labour, gained so little that they lived most wretchedly. By dint of privations he, however, saved up sufficient to purchase a ticket in the lottery. The drawing took place a few days ago, and his ticket gained a prize of 16,000 florins! Wild with joy,- the young man hurried to his mother, informed her of his good fortune, and asked for the ticket. "Alas! my son," said she, "I sold it some time back." Without a word, the young man drew his knife and stabbed her until she fell dead at his feet. He was arrested next day, ; : . Musical. Legislators.—The Maine Legislature has instituted the_novel and very pleasant feature of morning concerts in legislative sessions. The 'Kennebec Journal' says:—"The veteran messenger of-the house, Mr. Thomas, has a taste for music, and he has discovered an unusual amount and variety of musical talent among the members. This united talent has been brought out.in a series of impromptu morning concerts before the hour for calling the house "to order c until at length morning singing has become a regular institution in the Representatives' Hall, for.the 15 minutes before the Speaker takes his seat. At times the spirit of harmony becomes pervading, when the singing is specially marked by simple melody, and grave senators and members of the house in large numbers gather around the centre of the hall and join the singing of familiar tunes in true congregational style, and the music rises and floats, and echoes through the hall with fine effect." The New Suspension Bridge at Ciieisea.— This large and elegant structure is now fast approaching completion, so much so that it is confidently anticipated that it will be ready for opening in the course of a fortnight. This bridge will connect Chelsea and Battersea, and at the point where it crosses the river the Thames is 737 feet in width. The river is spanned by three spaces, the central one being1 352 feet between the piers, and the side ones 173 feet 6 inches each; the two piers in the river are 19 feet wide each by a length of 86 feet 6 inches. The height of the caissons of the piers, above what is called " Trinity" high water level, is 7 feet 6 inches. Above the level of the top of the caissons the piers are surmounted -by towers, which are constructed of iron. They diminish in plan to 9 feet S inches by 4 feet 2 iuchns at top, the whole being surrounded- by a cradle-work of cast-iron, upon which the rollers of the saddles work that carry the suspensory chains. Below the caissons the iron-work spread out at the bottom on what are technically called "bed-plates," that rest Upon York stone landings, 12 inches, in thickness^ below which are piles and constructed in the ordinary manner, that support the whole of the superincumbent weight. Externally the whole of the piers are covered with an ornamental casing of iron-work. The point of contact of the suspensory chains on the towers is at an altitue of 51 feet S inches above his?h-water mark; and the top of the finials that terminate the towers is SS feet 6 inches from the same level. The abutments of the bridge both on the Chelsea and Battersea sides of the river, have each what is called a " relieving arch " in the centre, which serves the purpose of distributing the weight uniformly, the space between the arch and abutment being filled with concrete. The abutments as well as the piers rest firmly upon piles, which have been driven at an angle in front of the- mooring chambers as an extra security. The roadway of the bridge is 32 feet in width, and the overhanging footways on each side are 7 feet 6 inches wide each. These are of somewhat peculiar construction, the former composed of oaken blocks, six inches long by 2 inches wide and 4 inches deep, embedded in asphalte on a ground or foundation of cork and bitumen asphalte; the latter ,is constructed in a similar manner, the only difference being that the blocks are of smaller dimensions. A very large amount of additional strength is obtained over the ordinary mode of construction that has hitherto been adopted in the formation of suspension bridges, by the introduction of two longitudiual lattice

girders of wrought iron, one of which is inserted on each side, and separate the roadway from the • foot-paths. At each end of the bridge characteristic and highly picturesque-looking lodges have been erected. Theselodgeshavebasements 16 feet square, upon which rise superstructures that are octangular in plan, the roofs of which are covered with Portland cement, and their angles and summits adorned with appropriate terminations in terra-cotta, supplied from the manufactory of Mr. Blashfield, Praed-street, Paddington. Some of these terminations fixed at the angles of these small buildings are noteworthy as being both ornamental and useful, being perforated, and serve as chimney-tops, The four towers that rise over the caissons and piers in the river are highly picturesque in form, and are entirely constructed of iron, except 18 feet of their upper portions at top, which are of moulded copper, which is, in fact, gilded and painted to resemble light-coloured bronze. The summits of the towers are crowned with large globular lamps, that when in operation will diffuse a large body of Ight around the structure. Taken as a whole, this bridge, of its peculiar class, whether as regards its constructive properties, or its aesthetic beauty, may safely be classed amongst the most successful efforts of the kind that have been produced in modern times. In connexion with' the bridge, the northern embankment of the Thames is now also nearly completed, with the exception of what is technically called the " metalling," and assuredly forms a very great improvement on the banks of "Old Father Thames," and no doubt, will keep him within his proper bounds, if not " within compass."