AUSTRALIAN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2807, 12 February 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Pee Pjiess Agency.)

Geelong Gold Cup:—New minster, 1; Tom Kirk, 2 ; Filibuster, 3. "

Australian Telegrams.

(Per Pbesb Agekcy.)

Sydney, February 5.

Tlie Sydney Morning Herald gives the following particulars of a railway accident at the Emu Plains, by which three men were killed and two seriously injured :—lt was caused by a collision between two heavily loaded goods trains, one having left Penrith at 11 p.m., and a special goods train proceeding to Penrith from the crushers. Where the accident occurred there is a very steep incline and the trains get up as much steam as possible to run up it, while those proceeding down it have an unusual impetus of their own, hencs it ie supposed that when the trains met t&»y were going at the rate of nearly 40 miles an hour. Stevenson, the driver of the ordinary train, is one of the survivors, but is much injured. Ho says that just before the accident he was astonished at seeing a light a considerable distance ahead, and called the attention of the stoker, and immediately after they were horrified with the conviction that it was a train- rushing down the incline, which it was impossible to escape encountering. Death stared them in the face, and there was no alternative but to face it as be3t they could. To jump off would be certain death, as it was passing along a high embankment. They put on the break, and the engine gave its wildest shriek. Stevenson, the driver, clutched the rail, and prepared for instant death, and said to the stoker, Wiggins, " Goodbye, Jack!" That was all he rememI bered. He had a most miraculous escape. Wiggins was killed instantaneously. At the coroner's inquest it appeared that the special train with the driver Perdue and two others left Washoe station for Penrith without the knowledge of any one at Penrith, under the impression that he would reach Penrith before the ordinary goods train left. A verdict of manslaughter was returned against Perdue. Three engines, valued at £40G0 each, and fourteen trucks were smashed by the collision or destroyed by a subsequent fire, which continued burning on the following,day. News from Fiji to January 26th says the drought is severe, and has been felt there most in the want of good water^ which is said to have been sold by one trader at a shilling per bottle, and by another at a shilling per small cask. Governor Gordon visits Samoa in H.M.S. Sapphire next month. It is likely that Governor Gordon and family will go to Sydney until May riexL Accounts reach Levuka of sad havoc made with the nut trees by the imported Norwegian rat, which builds in the trees and preys upon the young nuts.