Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 129, 10 March 1860, Page 2

Miraculous Escape of an Aeronaut. — The Newcastle Chronicle says : — " Yesterday Captain Hall, the aeronaut, ascended in his balloon from an enclosure in Newcastle. The wind was northwest. Captain Hall, attired in full acrobatic costume, took his place in the car, and having arranged the ropes of his trapeze, &c, he gave the signal for all hands to relinquish their hold of the balloon simultaneoiisly. The balloon ascended with great rapidity immediately on being released from restraint, and as it glided higher and higher the crowd repeatedly cheered the aeronaut, who descended from his car — a kind of basket covered with red cloth, and containing seats for two persons — and performed his trapeze exploits to the half-averted gaze of the assemblage in the distance. His adventurous achievements were pretty freely condemned by those whom he had left a few moments previously, and we can say that it was a relief, after seeing him suspended by the foot from his frail machinery at the height of about a 1,000 feet to perceive that he had retaken his seat inside the car. After the balloon had been up about a quarter of an hour, she was seen descendingrapidly. At length she disappeared entirely behind the houses, and the spectators began to look about for amusement in the music and pleasures of the promenade. In a few minutes, however, the balloon was seen to shoot up with great rapidity, and before the majority of those present were aware of the fact she had diminished in appearance to the size of a hat. It was supposed at first that the aeronaut had again ascended, but away the airy vessel continued to sail in a south-easterly direction, until some alarm began to be felt for the safety of its conductor. Opera glasses were in great requisition, but the balloon got so far away that the car was not discernible. Shortly after ten o'clock the cabman, who had been sent to follow the balloon, returned to the town, confirming our' suspicion that an accident of a serious char-

actei*,had happened to the aeronaut. It appears thetf" Captain Hall, having proceeded for about minutes, descended in the Heworth district, not far from Felaw. The balloon was seen to descend by a farmer and his son, who were employed in the adjoining enclosure. The hedge prevented them seeing exactly what occurred, but there is no doubt that the car reached the ground in safety. There was hut very little wind at the time, and the descent took place in a most favorable situation. There can be but little doubt, however, that the grappling iron failed to keep its hold, and that the balloon dragged a few yards along the ground, causing some of the ballast to be upset, thus lessening the weight to be sustained. At that moment the daring voyageur seems to have been getting out of the car, when the balloon rising with sudden velocity, caught his feet in the ropes, and whirled him unexpectedly into the air. For the moment he was hanging with his head downwards, in the next the rope was disentangled and he fell into the clover field beneath, a distance certainly not less than 120 feet. The persons near him immediately ran to his assistance ; to their surprise he was not dead, but spoke in an incoherent manner, complaining that he was nearly suffocated with gas. Upon careful examination it was discovered that no bones were broken, nor were there wounds of any kind. The medical gentleman in attendance regarded the case favorably, and the general impression was one of unbounded astonishment that so little injury followed the catastrophe. The dress of the aeronaut was only slightly injured, and a watch which wa3 suspended from his neck at the time of the fall, was lying on the table by his bedside, and continued faithfully to record the time.

The Pbince Alpked (s.) — This steamer is now discharging her cargo and coals into the Lord Worsley, which vessel will start for H elson to-day. Upon enquiry we learn that the steamer left Sydney Heads about 6 p.m. on Saturday, with the wind at south-east, and a head sea ; ail went well with every appearance of the wind shifting to north-east during the night, but towards morning on the 12th, it commenced to freshen up again from the south-east, a heavy sea rising, and by 4 p.m. it was blowing a gale. The horses on deck commenced losing their footing, and got down with the heavy rolling of the ship : a good deal of water getting on board, little or no assistance could be afforded to the animals, and during the night many of them died. Those stowed below also fetched away from their stalls ; the fearful rolling of the steamer rendering it totally impossisible to secure them. About 1 a.m. on the 18th the iron cap of the foremast giving way, the fore-top-mast and top-gallant-mast with yards attached, came down with a tremendous crash, and shortly after the main-mast head broke short off, about 3 feet above the hounds, the main -top-mast and gear attached, falling on the quarter deck ; fortunately without injuring any one. The wind hauling more to the southward, the steamer was hove-to, and endeavours made to clear the decks of the dead cattle, and also to secure the spars that were alongside, but they were ultimately cut adrift, all the live stock ( on deck being drowned. Only one course was left for Captain Bowden, viz., to bear up for Sydney. It appears most extraordinary that none of tlae crew were hurt from the quantity of wreck that must have been washing about by every sea that broke on board, and she must be a very fine sea boat to have weathered the gale with so little injury. — Sydney Herald, February 17.

Swimming. — Why is it not made a part of education for every child to learn early to swim ? asks Miss Martineau. Where is the difficulty ? Where is the objection ? Many years ago a boy was drowned in bathing in one of the great private schools of the dissenters. The usher was with the party, but the boy got beyond his depth, and sank because he did not know how to keep himself up. Instead of taking measures to show every boy how to do that, the masters forbade bathing altogether ; and a more awkward squad than the pupils of that school could not well be seen. They never learned the proper use of the limbs ; and they were consequently timid where well-trained lads would have been without a thought of fear. A boy who can swim like a fish is pretty sure to do other things well ; to row, to bowl, to drive, to ride. Every child ought to swim like a fish. See how this consideration again brings us back to the topic of mortality ! Is there ever a summer when we do not see a succession of paragraphs about persons drowned in bathing ? Is there ever a tourist season at the lakes in which every considerable lake has not its victim ? A skiff is upset — a bather has got out of his depth — an angler has fallen overboard ; and as none of them can swim, they all go to the bottom. So we go on, year after year. This year 1859 has been mournfully distinguished by coroners' inquests on this kind of needless death, Oxford and Cambridge have offered up their victims, and seas and rivers have sent their bad news to swell the indignation and shame with which we have to confess that we, a maritime nation noted for our manly sports, and have not yet learned to swim ! — Once a Week.

Wesieyan Chakg-es. — The Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist society, just terminated at Melbourne, has directed an almost entire change in the locale of its ministers in the South of New Zealand. Mr. Buller is to leave Wellington for Christchurch, and will be succeeded by Mr. Warren of Nelson. Mr. Innes is to leave the Hutt for Nelson and will be succeeded by Mr. 'Aldred of Christchurch. Mr. Kirk' is to leave Wanganui for Auckland . and will be succeeded by Mr. W. Watkin of Motueka. Mr. Moorhouae of Auckland will proceed to Motueka. Mr. Vickers will still continue to be the assistant minister here, and Mr. Kouße is to remain at Lyttelton. — Wellington Independent [We also observe from a printed document issued by the conference, that a minister is to be appointed for the Ahuriri District.]

By this mail Sir Charles Clifford and Mr. and Mrs. Weld have returned to New Zealand. Family matters prevent Lady Clifford's leaving England for the present, and we regret to find that Mr. Weld haa never entirely recovered from his attack of fever. He haa great faith in the restorative powers of the N. Z.. climate, and we trust that he may speedily regain his wonted strength. — Independent. . _ _■' ■

The Panama Route. — The Chamber of Commerce, Sydney, have refused to recommend the establishment of a fortnightly mail Sk Suez, as proposed by the P. and O. ComrMy to the British Government, and referred l^ifc to the Colonies. The time it was thought had arrived when the colonists of New South Wales must either say 'We want the Panama route, we will have it, and we will pay for it,' or c we should like to have it, but we can't afford it, and must go without it.' Victoria is willing to become guarantee to the British Government for the colonial subsidy payable for the present monthly mail, and Sydney will probably become guarantee for whatever subsidy may be necessary for a monthly mail via Panama, looking to Queensland and New Zealand for help. The French Government are understood to be willing to contribute, provided the steamers call at Tahiti. Long and strenuous have been the efforts of New South Wales to establish the Panama route, and the decision now arrived at by Victoria, and that which will be at once come to by Sydney, to offer their individual guarantee for the whole colonial subsidies of the two routes, will surely satisfy the {British Government and induce it, at once, to set both lines in, operation.

Loss of the Joseph Fletchee. — The Kate Cleather, from Hongkong, 3rd November last, has just anchored here, bringing the captain and crew of the ship Joseph Fletcher, of London, Pook, master, from Auckland, which vessel was wrecked on one of the Loochoo group on or about the Ist November. Five of the crew were lost — the surgeon, second mate, cook, apprentice, and 1 seaman. The ship went ashore in a heavy gale from the northward. The survivors succeeded in reaching the Loochoo group, where they were well treated by the authorities. The Governor of the islands furnished them with a junk well provisioned, to convey them to the coast of China, and fortunately they fell in with the Kate Cleather, who has kindly brought them to this place. They afterwards fell in with a Shantung junk in distress, and took off the crew and brought them to this place. The master of the Kate Cleather deserves much credit for the humanity which he displayed, and no doubt he will meet with that praise which is his due. — China Overland, December 29.

An arrangement has been concluded hetween the Provincial Government of Canterbury, New Zealand, and Messrs. Miles, Brothers, and Company of Bristol, to convey emigrants from the port of Bristol to the above province. The first ship, conveying 200 adults, having assisted passages, is to be despatched in the beginning of this month, and vessels will leave periodically afterwards.

The ' Eoyal Charter ' catastrophe has induced Messrs. Baines & Co. to direct their Australian ships to call and land passengers and mails at Queenstown. They also propose directing them to call there on the outward voyage.

Sir George Grey has met a large and influential number of the members of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, to consolidate plans in reference to a mission to central Africa. Sir George Grey urged the necessity of fixing centres of Christianity and civilization in central Africa, as the most effectual way of extending British commerce and empire, and in proof adverted to what had taken place in New Zealand and other countries. He expressed his belief that the greater part of central Africa would eventually be civilised and evangelised, and evince a, desire to be annexed to Great Britain.

Remedy fob Poison. — A correspondent of the London Literary Gazette, alluding to the numerous cases of death from accidental poisoning, adds :— " I venture to affirm there is scarce even a cottage in this country that does not contain an invaluable, certain, immediate remedy for such events — nothing more than a dessert spoonful of made mustard, mixed in a tumbler of warm water and drank immediately. It acts as an emetic, is always ready, and may be used in any case where one is required. By making use of this simple antidote, you may be the means of saving many a fellow-creature from an untimely end.

A New Hay. — Would any of our agricultural readers, who feel inclined to experiment upon the green sugar cane drop, try the operation of converting it into hay, as we do now green oats: "We have seen the experiment so far tried and bo successful, as to leave no doubt on our minds as to the possibility of curing it ; our only doubt is as to be allowed to lie out before it could be stacked. The strong succulent rays of the sorghum soon wither and soften under the influence of the sun's rajs, but they contain a great deal of juice, and if stacked too soon might cause the stack to beat, and spoil it. The experiment might be tried on a small scale. If it succeeded, we are satisfied that no hay that ever was cured would be equal as food to the sorghum hay. The weather in this colony is generally favourable to the curing of it, and there would be the advantage of having two green crops after the first had been cut and made hay of. We wish some one who has the means and opportunity would try the experiment T)efore~ the season passes away. — Victorian Agricultural and Horticultural Gazette,

A person having occasion to visit an old couple at Durham, of extremely penurious habits, found them holding counsel together upon the cost of the funeral of the wife who was then very ill, and to his astonishment, they continued their ghastly calculations until every item in the catalogue, from coffin to nightcap, had been gone through, with much grumbling at the rapacity of "they undertakers," when a bright thought suddenly struck the husband, and he exclaimed, "Well, Janet, lass, ye may not die after all, ye ken." "Deed, and I hope not, Robert," replied his helpmate, in a low feeble voice, " for I am quite sure that we canna afford it." — Sunderland Herald.

The Postal regulations suspended since last March were to come into force on the Ist January. In consequence of this all newspapers forwarded from England to Australia will be charged 2d. each — a most serious drawback to their colonial circulation, and a great hardship to colonists generally. .

', A ■western editor wishes to know whether .the law recently enacted against the carrying of deadly weapons, applies to doctors who^ oarrypiUs ia their pockets ?. ' .