MISCELLANEOUS.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 372, 19 March 1879, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

An English Parliamentary return was issued in November relating to the use of continuous brakes on railways during the six months ending 30th June, 1878. Or the various brakos in use, three only— Saunders' automatic vacuum, Sull M'lnnes, and the Westinghouso automatic, all of which aro applied by both guard and engine-driver, and aro self-acting — appoar to have complied with the conditions specifiod in the circular of the Board of Trade, dated 30th August, 1877. These conditions are:— Tho brakes to be efficient in stopping trains, simultaneous in their action, and capable of being applied without difficulty by engino-drlvors or guards; in case of accident to bo instantaneously self-acting; the brakes to bo put on and taken off (with facility) on the engine and every vehicle of a train ; the brakes to be regularly used in daily working; the materials employed to be of a durable character, so as to ba easily maintained and kept in order. The Westinghouse automatic break is in use on the Great Eastern, Great Northern, Lancashire and Yorkshire, London, Brighton, and South Coast, London, Chatham, and Dover, Midland, North-Eastern, Caledonian, Glasgow and South- Western, and North British railways. During the six months ending June 30, 161 engines and 1,240 carriages, tec , were fitted with continuous brakes, giving a total at tbat date of 634 enginos and 7,310 carriages fitted with these brakes. The amount of stock not fitted with continuous brakos was 4,300 engines and 91,875 carriages, &c. An heroic act has been performed by a young lady at Boulogne, France A mnn at work on a sloop just off the port fell into the water and was sinking fiat, when Mdlle. Pay, daughter of a local wine merchant, who happoned to bo on the shore, jumped into tho.wavos, and swimming to the drowning man, rescued him from death. On roacblng dry land she received an enthusiastic welcome from tbe onlookora. An unfortunate Chinese digger on the West Coast has been put udder contribution for church building. A collector for a new Episcopalian Church Building Fund called upon him, and holding out his subscription-list, in a somewhat unceremooims manner demanded v contribution of ten shillings. Believing the amount represented 8 Government Ux, "John" paid the money without so much as a grumble. He has since been informed of his mistake, and is now on tho look-out for that collector. Tbe Wagga Wagga Advertiser is responsible for the following ; — " A few days ago a smart- ~ looking person was charged at tho court with theft, and In order to show the Bench that he was of respectable caste, in reply as to who knew him and could testify to his character, he named the inspector of police. This functionary, on being called, declared he had never to his knowledge seen the prisoner before, when the prisoner remarked that he had made a slight mistake — he intended to have named the sergeant of police. This officer, being called, also declared he had no knowledge of the prisoner. The prisoner, scratching bis head, as if calling forth fresh acts, said, • Your Honor, it must be the senior constable of this district 1 meant.' The senior constable being called, answered in the same way as his superior officers. This appears to have been the prisoner's point, for he stated as follows:—' Your Honor, have I not given you proof sufficient to show that, as I am not known to tbe police, my character must be unquestionable?' " Referring to tbe disclosures made by tbe accounts ia the bankrupt estate of a Manchester firm, the chairman of a meeting of it* creditors said :— " Since the Collie fraud of 1875, no commercial failure has occurred so disastrous to the credit and pockets of Manchester men as this of Heugh, Btlfour, and Co. I will not enter at any length upon those accounts, as any information will be given to you by the accountants; bnt there is one item iv the separate estate of John Heugh, which I cannot look over— it is the sum of £33,017 .5s 4d for tho expenses of the orphanage and charities— (Laughter). This munificent charity of an insolvent estate appears to me gbastly in the light of these revelations. — (Hw. hear.) It reminds me of a remark of our bishop that there are some men amongst us who build churches out of their ungodly gains to fee their way to hoaven.— (Laughter and applause). I speak strongly because I feel intensely that wo in Manchester have been frighfuliy deceived for yean as to the position of tbe credit of Mr. John Heugh." Literal —Mercer : " Stockings, Miss 1 Yes, Miss. What number, Mits, do you " Matter-of-fact young lady : " Why, two, of course! Do you think I've got a wooden leg?"— Punch.