TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1427, 10 July 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Recent Death by Lightning.—-The subscription for the benefit ot the family of Archibald Macfarlane has been warmly taken up by the public. At the close of the inquest the sum of £30 was collected. Civic Dinner.—This evening, Mr. Isaac Luck, Chairman of the Christchurch City Council, will entertain a large circle of the provincial and civic authorities, and other gentlemen, at dinner, in the Town Hall. It will be remembered that the 9ch of July has been a festive day in Christchfirch for several years. I The English Mail. —We are gratified to be in a position to present our readers with a telegram of the English mail, oij its arrival at the Bluff. The first telegram [reached us a little after five last night, anp the last at a quarter-past ten. We may expect to have the mail on Tuesday, as the mail: steumer from j (he Bluff will no doubt be in lime to catch the Lady Bird on her return trijj from Otago, Lyttelton Riklh VolunHekiw. — The members of No. 8 Company wilj parade this morning at half-past 3 o'clock, anjl march from the Drill shed, Market place, toPolhill's bay, to fire for the following prizes;-—Ist, Champion Silver Prize Cup, valued at £25, and an addition of £f> in money. 2nd, a Rifle, valued at £8, and £5 in money, .'Jrd, a Rifle, valued at £8, and £2 10s. in money. 4th, a Money Prize, of £2 10«. The rifles are presented by Mr. Beverley Buchanan. At a recent meetH r of I he committee belongingtotheCompany, it was agreed to give monthly prizes, ranging trom Ms. each down to 10s,, for the best shots, those who had attended regularly at parade to he alone eligible to compete. Inqukht—An inquest was held on Saturday, July 8, at (he White I-lorse Hotel, Christclmrcli, on the bod}' of a female child, named Brooks, who was lound dead oil Saturday. ,J. W S. Coward, Esq., M.D , the coroner of the district, conducted the inquiry ; Mr. Samuels being chosen foreman of the jury I,'iriam Brooks stated: I am the mother oi I he in tint. The deceased was seven weeks I It was a healthy child when born. I he child had been ailing for a few days past.

Whea I went to bod on Friday night I remarked that the child was quieter than usual. I went to bed about 12 p.m. A little girl was in charge of her.. I had no reason to believe that the child was ill. When I awoke in the morning I thought that it waa dying; I sent one of my neighbours for medical assistance. When Mr. Powell arrived the child was dead. By the foreman Dr. Stedman saw thefchild, and I went to Dr. Frins, who gave me a lotion for her eyes. Llewellyn Powell stated s I was sent for on Saturday last, to see the deceased. When I arrived, I found her dead. I have examined the body. There wore no external marks. The child's eyes were affected. I opened the head, and found the brain highly congested. There was a good deal of fluid beneath the membranes, and in the cavities of the brain. The lungs were congested, and the heart contained some dark fluid. The stomach wag healthy. I attribute the death of the child to convulsions. A verdict of " Found Dead " was returned. Electro - I?«)M)Gr. —On Saturday Professor Bushell gave an entertainment at the Theatre. The first part consisted of an introductory lecture on electro-magnetism, combined with an amusing expose of the socallted mysteries of spirit-rapping and tableturning. By means of machinery, raps were plainly heard in all parts of the building. Some very excellent apparatus was brought into play, especially the electro-magnetic rotatory engine, which proved the possibility of employing electricity as a motive power. This was the most interesting feature in the proceedings of the evening. Professor Belew then exhibited the rope-trick, which, on account of the performances of the Brothers Davenport, has excited so much attention in Europe and America. He was at first tied to a chair by two persons, selected promiscuously from the audience. But as the fastening was not effected in a sufficiently expert manner, some other persons were appointed to the task. Mr. J. M'Cosker was one of those who made the rope fast. Mr. Belew succeeded in freeing himself in one minute and forty-five seconds. Afterwards Mr. Bushell exhibited his powers as an electro-biologist. Twelve persons presented themselves, of these he retained six. One of them proved an excellent subject, and Mr. Bushell secured unlimited control over his senses, and demonstrated the effects of magnetism very successfully. The house was well attended, especially in the pit and stalls.