MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 12, 10 June 1863, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Royal Engineers for New Zealand.— The detachment of non-commissioned officers and men selected to proceed to New Zealand, on important service, goes out under the command of Captain E. T. Brooke. In addition to other duties connected with the survey of Crown lands in New Zealand, and the construction of public works, it is intended to employ some of the most intelligent of the non-commissioned officers and engineers in the Australian Mint. A Meeting of Native Companions.—A rather remarkable circumstance happened at Cogh ill's Creek, in the g£thering of thousands of Native Companions in a paddock near Mr. Ogilvie's farm. Whether these hitherto somewhat scarce birds assembled for the purpose of discussing their grievances or to indulge in a corroboree, it is difficult for us to say. They, however, commenced to gather on Monday morning, and during that day and Tuesday and the day following scores arrived from distant parts every hour, and on the last day the flock was so numerous as, in the language of our informant, to give the paddock an appearance of being coveied with an undulating white tarpaulin. Having indulged in a variety of noises {! roughout the day, at night the hubbub ceased, and on the following (Thursday) morning, when Mr. OgiUie arose, he found that every native companion had disappeared.—7albot Leader. Railway Accident.— A fatal accident occurred on the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway, on Wednesday evening, about six o'clock. A woman, in attempting to pass over the level crossing from the Wharf to Emerald Hill, was run over by a train at full speed. She was knocked down by the engine, and the wheels passing over her neck, the head was completely severed from the ho ly, and rolled down the erabankpnt. fhe l.ody was carried forward by the train f>r several yards, .was greatly mangled. The train was at once stopped. We are told that when the woman came forward the pointsman shouted to her not to attempt to cross, but nevertheless she persisted in doing so. The dress of the deceased would indicate that she Tv. a ig eiSOn m humble circumstances.—Leader, iaj •

An Awkward Situation.—The Tarrengower u" • ours 18 responsible fot the following :-lle sailed from Sydney in the Rangatira on her last trip. A female - P l!rsued th e steamer in « v ataman* boat. Ihe signals made from the boat caused the captain to haul to, and the boatpXi" thn 7 f g6tting to ° near the screw -Pr<s--J )oat .;y as u P sei Here occurred a t°L bu l:;n in^ce - ; theb batman° atman to the .hip, but the woman turned topsy-turvey 1-ept her Vfl"' t*" 1?" cr ' no^ne developments nosition 5" V^ him * ical but terrible swam to hpp S ° J u,n P e d overboard anp succeed rMn sta . nce -and with great difficulty . her from a vt- ? ;er ' sln £ ' ] ® r position, and rescued fler liorn a watery grave.