CLIPPINGS FROM THE HOME NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 282, 28 November 1874, Page 4

CLIPPINGS FROM THE HOME NEWS.

guilty of manslaughter by a coroner's jury, and no ooe; save the sufferers, seem to be much the wiser.

The prosperity enjoyed by the country for the past few years continues. One result of the abundant harvest to which we referred last month has been somewhat unexpected. Jn tbe midst of the rejoicings aod thanksgiving services tbat have been common of late, comes tbe news of ibe redaction of tbe wages of (arm laborers from twelve to eleven shillings per week. Tbe reason given for the reduction is the low price of bread. It will not be very nnnatnral for laborers to pray for a bad harvest io the years to come. In the meantime, tbeir adversities are teaching thero, and thoagh they suffer now, good is sare to oome ont of their painfol experiences. At five o'clock this morning, Oct. 2, while a barge, loaded with blasting powder, in company with fonr otber barges, was proceeding along the Regent's Park Cana), it suddenly blew up with fearful effect. At the time the accident happened, tbe barge, which it is sapposed was leading, was passing directly under the North Bridge, North Gate, near Lancaster-terrace. So tremendous was the explosion, that tbe bridge, which was strongly bnilt of stone, and supported by large iron columns, was literally blown away from the banks, lifted bodily into the river, as if a mine bad been sprang, and then fell in a confosed mass into tbe canal. Immediately adjoining tbe bridge is the North Gate park lodge, occupied by the park superintendent, his wife, three sons, and one daughter. They had a most providential escape from death. Their house was almost built npon the bridge, and was shaken as by an earthquake. Its present appearance is as if it had been witbin tbe line of shell practice. Every trace of tbe barge, and; those on board, was instantly lost. Tha craft and its unfortunate crew mast have been shattered tb fragments, which were either scattered along tbe banks of ihe canal or now lie buried beneath tbe debris of tbe fallen bridge. Not only in the immediate neighborhood of Lancaster-terrace,, St. James'sterrace, and A venae-road, bnt for a long distance round, the terrific force of the disaster caused intense alarm. Witbin the area of tbe park itself, houses were shaken as if the foundations had given way ; doors and windows were instantaneously destroyed as ii by a heavy discbarge of shot. North House, a handsome villa, standing prominently witbin its own ground, opposite the North Gate, is a complete wreck. The garden walls and railings were blown down, and the habitation looks as if it had been taken by assault after a desperate resistance. Lancasterterrace, St. James's-terrace, and the otber lines of houses near remind one of the sad scenes round cities subjected to bombardment. It is very serious and widespread. The monetary loss, however, is not to be compared with the effects of tbe fright, which was the more trying, as the source of danger was unknown, and people knew not what might follow. Fortunately the loss of life bas not extended beyond the crews of one or two barges. Two bodies have been recovered, and two meo, not seriously burnt, taken to tbe hospital. A terrible calamity has occurred in America. At Fall River, Massachusetts, ou Sept. 19, a fire occurred in a large cotton mill. Seven hundred hands were in the building at the time. The fire quickly cut off tbe means of escape from the fourth and fifth storeys, where 140 persons were employed, chiefly girls. Many jumped from the wiodows. The roof fell in. Forty persons were killed or burnt to deatb, and about eighty seriously injured. Ao Old Catholic priest in Switzerland is about to follow Father Hyacinth c's example, abandoning celibacy. St. Ange Lievre, of Biel, in announcing his betrothal to a Protestant lady, says, "I marry because I wish to remain aa honourable man. In the sixteenth century it was a proverbial expression to say, 'As corrupt as a priest,' and this might be said to-day. I marry, therefore, because I wish to get out of the Ultramontane slough." During the last two years sixty-seven Roman Catholic priests have been convicted of immorality in France and Switzerland. In view of such facts, he says it is time io restore by marriage the good name of tbe Romish priesthood, wbich the misconduct of too many of its members has covered with infamy. It may appear strange that at tbis season of almost general holiday making the introductory paragraphs of the Home News summary should bave to i deal with the familiar yet unpleasant heading of "Accidents and Offences." So it is. however. On the 10th of September a very terrible railway accident occurred on one of (he branches of tbe Great Eastern Railway, a mile or two from Norwich. Two trains wore allowed to run at tbe same time from, opposite directions, and in tbe grimly grotesque phraseology of the Americans they "collided." A smash of carriages and engines, the teariogup of permanent way, shrieks and groans, terror and dismay, was tbe immediate result, and tbe consequences bave been terrible indeed. Within a few hours of tbr accident twenty men and women were found dead. Since then five others have been added to the number, and as we write, three weeks after the disaster, between seventy and eighty persons are lying disabled, some of them dangerously ill. One official haa been reprimanded, another found