MAIL ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5197, 17 November 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

MAIL ITEMS.

A series of experiments is to be made at Portsmouth on board the Lightning, torpedoboat, and with the engines of a similar craft, with the object of rendering the working of the machinery as nearly as possible noiseless, and of ascertaining the best means for making the results of combustion invisible at sea. The publication of the Daily Express, a journal which was started a few months ago to represent the interests of the Church of England, has been suspended ; but will, in consequence of the encouraging progress of the paper, be resumed on Nov. 1. Nottingham Castle, which for some time past has been undergoing restoration, is to be opened, in May or June next year, as an. Art Museum, in connection with South Kensington. The Prince and Princess of Wales have been invited to be present at the ceremony. An accident of a very painful description has occurred at Crosbie Castle, West Kilbride. An artificial pond had recently been constructed in the glen for the purposes of bathing and swimming. A few days ago Miss Mary Jane Hunter and her sister Janet, daughters of Mrs. Robertson, late of Whitfield House, Govan, went to the bath. Miss Janet went in first, and, with the assistance of a rope stretched across the pond, was learning to swim. Afterwards Mias Mary went in, and was exercising herself in the same manner, but accidentally lost hold of the rope, and showed signs of sinking. Her sister saw her danger, and by catching her hand tried to draw her out, but was unable to bold on. She ran for assistance, which was quite near at hand, but before the body was recovered from the pond life was extinct. Major Lloyd, of the COth Rifles, who has been ttaying on a visit with Mr. T. M. Usborne, at Clifton, Blackrock, is missing. On a Sunday evening Major Lloyd dined with Mr. James Murphy, deputy-lieutenant at Blackrock. About eleven o’clock he left Ringmahon for Clifton. It was a very dark night, and he was offered a lantern, but declined it, spying that he could find his way. Some time afterwards he was seen groping along the road and asking his way to Clifton ; but he has not since been heard of, though search has been made for him. It is thought that, instead of keeping the straight road, as he was directed, he strayed on to a walk by the river called the Marina, and that owing to the darkness he walked into the water. The body lias since been found, which confirms all the suspicious The ship Khersonese, which arrived recently in the Mersey from Bombay, reports that whilst on her outward voyage ■ one of the apprentices was thrown into the sea from the martingale, through the dipping of the vessel, but he was ultimately saved. During the homeward passage several more serious accidents happened. On two occnsons, as the crew were engaged aloft, one of them fell to the deck, and in each ca-o the Injuries received proved fatal. While one of the seamen was engaged on the cathead the vessel shipped a heavy sea, which carried the poor fellow into the water. This accident occurred during a dark night, while there was a heavy sea on, and quite a gale blowing. It would have been impossible for a boat to have lived in such a sea, and the vessel could not have been put about in time to have saved the unfortunate man.

The new Town Hall at Manchester has been formally opened by the Mayor, Mr. Abel Heywood. The Queen had been invited to perform the ceremony, but much to the disappointment of the towspeople a reply was received from Lord Eeaconsfield to the effect that her Majesty was unable to accept the invitation. In the evening there was a banquet, presided over by the Mayor. Among the guests were Lord Chief Justice Cockburn, the Bishop of Manchester, Mr. John Bright, M.P., Lord Winmarleigh, and several members of Parliament representing Lancashire towns. Mr. Bright responded for the Lower House to the toast of the “ Houses of Lords and Commons.” He said it was the first occasion upon which he had been asked to speak publicly on behalf of that body. He was of opinion that the present House did not exhibit the same amount of life or freshness as its predecessor. He denounced the policy which the country had hitherto pursued in regard to India. Saddled as we were with the government and happiness of two hundred millions of people, it was our duty, he said, to look beyond the military necessities of the position, and to devote our energies to works of irrigation and navigation that would in future prevent the occurrence of such distress as the people of India were now suffering. He had little faith, however, in any change in the mistaken policy of the Government in regard to India unless the people of this country spoke out plainly and unmistakeably. Lord Chief Justice Cockburn also spoke.