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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8072, 13 October 1887, Page 4

Our cable messages this morning are numerous and interesting! Another dreadful railway disaster is reported from America, a country which has contributed an appalling list of eimilar catastrophes. A collision occurred between an express and a goods train, and a fire breaking oat intensified the horror of the situation. Seventeen persons perished, and a large number were injared. The elections in Bulgaria appear to have led to serious rioting, over twenty persons having been reported killed. The Zankoff party are blamed for the disturbances. Mr. Chamberlain met with an enthusiastic reception in Belfast.

The annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company was held yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, when about sixty shareholders were present. A full report of tho meeting will be found in another column.

We understand that Mr. Justice Ward leaves by the Waihora to-day for the South, having been directed by the Government to tako the place of Mr. Justice Johnston at Christchurch. That gentleman has had to give up his duties on account of ill-health. He is about to leave for Australia to try the effect of, change of air and scene, and it seems somewhat doubtful when he will again be able to resume his seat on the Bench. The Chief Justice has lately been acting at Christchurch, but on the arrival there of Mr. Justice Ward, he will return to Wellington.

The fifteen Martini-Henry rifles given by Mr. J. C. Firth for competition by the various volunteer companies, were presented to the winners yesterday evening at the City Hall. The proceedings are reported in other column*.

A dividend of 6d per share has been declared in the Cambria Gold Mining Company, which will bo payable to shareholders on Tuesday next at the office of the manager, Mr. It. McDonald Scott, Insurance Buildings.

The charges of obtaining goods and money by false pretences against William Smith, to which referenca was made in yesterday's issue, were decided at tho Police Court yoaterday, and resulted in the accused being committed for trial on both counts. The details of the proceedings will ba found in extenso in another column.

Shortly before eleven o'clock last night there was considerable commotion and consternation in Queen-street in consequence of a horse attached to a Hansom cab belting at a mad paoe down Queen-street from the front of the Opera House, in Wellesley»street. The horse and hansom are owned by Mr. George Poland, who himself had charge of them. The horse — a fine upstanding bay — was standing quietly enough near the Opera House, ana Mr. Poland was on the footpath when the discharge of firearms in the theatre startled the horse, and bo bolted, tearing madly down Queen street, and spreading csusternation amongst the cabmen who were on their stands. Fortunately the animal steered a clear course down the centre of the street, and past the Waverley Hotel and railway station, but be made a sharp turn into the gateway at the turning between Firth's mill and tho railway station, and here he brought tho cab to grief. A wheel was torn off, the axle broken, and one at least of the springs is also broken, but the horso escaped without injury, and, being easily captured after the collision, was led up Queen-street to the owner's stables. A considerable crowd collected around tho scene of the collision at tho railway station, and Sergeant MoMahon and two constables were amongst the first. Having made the ! inquiries necessary, they proceeded towards j the railway wharf, aud there, right in the ! carriage way, they found a man helplessly J drunk, and removed him to the lock.up,

Some additions are to be made to the Frozen Meat Company's building! on the reclamation, and Messrs. Mahoney and Son, architects, have prepared the necessary plans and specifications, but they are of a comparatively unimportant oharaoter. The main addition is a dining room, 3'2£t by 16ft, _ for the use of the workmen, and the other is a shod 12ft by Bft, in which will be placed a large tank for the reception of refuse, etc. At the quarterly meeting of St. James's congregation held last evening, the question of free seats was again discussed, and it was resolved that in future all seats in the church be declared free on Sunday evenings. There were only two dissentients, and it. is believed that this solution of the question will prove very satisfactory.

While awaiting his torn to be charged with drunkenness at the Police Court yesterday morning, a man named William Charles Hylands, an old sergeant-major in the Imperial army, was seized with several fits in the ante-room, and the aid of Dr. Girdler had to be called in. He made an examination of Rylands, and ordered his immediate removal to the Hospital. He was accordingly remanded for eight days.

At Abbott's Opera House yesterday evening Miss Georgie Smithson and her company produced the serio-comic drama " Eory O'More," but owing to the counter attraction at the City Hall, on the occasion of a semimilitary display, the attendance was discouragingly thin. This, however, did not operate against the production of the play to the satisfaction of the audience, and there were manifest evidences of care in rehearsals and in tho general arrangements which were worthy of higher appreciation. Miss Smithson sustained the role of Rory O'More with a light-hearted airiness and abandon which showed her thorough acquaintance with the character, and throughout the performance never lost sight of the individuality of the character which she represented. Mr. Lachlan McGowan played the thankless character of Shan Dhu with all his accas« tomed care and discrimination, and Mr. J. J. Walsh realised the ideal of the smuggler, De Weilokin, very accurately. Miss Gertrude Esdaile played very prettily as Kathleen, and earned for herself warm applause ; and Miss Kate Bennett as Mary O'More, and Miss Anderson as Widow O'More, played with care and discrimination. The other leading characters, Soldering Solomon and Scrubbs, found good representatives in Messrs. Frank Simmonds and F. W. Fisher, and the minor parts were filled in with judgment and discrimination. The drama will be reproduced to-night.

A petition to the General Assembly, from seamen and others in the shipping trade, in reference to the employment of coloured labour on board vessels trading to New Zealand, was circulated yesterday, and numerously signed. The petition sets oat the claims of the petitioners as taxpayers, and goes on to say : "We humbly but earnestly protest against the employment of coloured labour and foreign shipping on oar coasts, and submit that bath and each have a tendency to injure the British colonial shipowners, and those employed by the latter, who, being white men with their wives and families to support, cannot com* pete with coloured labour, and in consequence will be thrown out of employment in the only labour market open to them, viz., the colonial shipping market. Your petitioners pray that your honourable Assembly will be pleased to make such amendments in the existing laws of this colony as will remedy the evils pointed out by your petitioners, and your petitioners will ever pray, etc.

An inquest into the circumstances of the death of John White, who was recently found dead in Brigham'a Creek, was held yesterday at Gleeson's Hotel, the inquiry being conducted by Dr. Philson, coroner, Mr. Ohas. Penn being foreman of the jury. The evidence of Messrs. Noble, Johnston, and Wm. Geddes and Sergeant Clarke was taken, but no facts other than those already published by us were elicited, and the jury returned no open verdict, " Found dead."

An improvement, of which that portion of Queen*tree near its junction with Welles* ley street, will feel the benefit in showery weather, la being effected at the joint cost of the City Council and the Tramway Company. It consists of the laying down in Wellealeystreet (East and West) of two large cesspits under the lines of tram rails, to receive the considerable flow of water which, after a heavy rain, rashes down the inclined groove of the Wellealey*street rails. These pits will prevent the accumulation of water and silt at the street corner, which has been a frequent source of annoyance to pedestrians during the past winter. The work is being done after midnight, in order not to interfere with the traffio.

The Onohunga Naval Artillery assembled at the railway grounds last night. There was a good master of 49 men, under the command of Chief Petty Officer Woods, who handed them over to Sergeant-Major Campbell, who pat them through a steady course of skirmishing drill.

The young woman Mary O'Connor, the mother of the child found dead in a vacant allotment at the rear of the Thistle Hotel on the 26th ultimo, was brought up at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. H. C. Baddeley, Assistant R.M., on a charge of manslaughter. As the police were not prepared with the evidence the case was adjourned till Wednesday next. A very heavy bail was demanded, namely, accused's bond in £500 and two sureties of £250 each, and as the prisoner was unable to find bondsmen for such considerable amounts, she was taken to gaol till the rehearing of the case.

The fancy dress rink at the Choral Hall last night was an unqualified success. The orchestra seats were filled with 300 onlookers, the benches round the halt were also fully occupied, and on the floor of the hall there was such a crush that skating was difficult. Altogether about 500 people were present. Although a considerable number neglected to come in fancy costume, the rest made up for the deficiency by the brilliance of their dresses, which lent a very gay appearance to the hall. Cricketers, footballers, and bicyclists, were well represented, and a number of volunteers were also present. The ladies were mostly drexscd in ball cos tames. There was the usual sprinkling of negro minstrels and other oddities, but there was one old gentleman who was acknowledged to bo the best character present. He was a disreputable-looking old vagabond, dressed in a shabby suit, with a brandy bottle sticking out of his coat pocket, and an ancient-looking umbrella under his arm. Hia nose was large, and his head bare. His entrance was the signal for much merriment, and he was at once recognised as the immortal " Ally Sloper." In addition to selections from "Mikado" and "lolanthe," the band played two sets of waltzes, one composed by Mr, Pooley and the other by Mr. Hartwell, of Parnell. Refreshments were provided, and the rinking was kept np till nearly midnight.

Oar W&inku correspondent states that at the inquest held on the remains of the young man, Suigi Ghezli, who was drowned in the Waikato River some time since, the jury brought in a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."

Yesterday, about one o'clock, an accident occurred to a boy named Patrick Davis, aged about eight years, at the breastwork near Mr, Firth's new Mill. It appears that the boy was gatheriug chips near the edge of the breastwork, when he trod upou a loose plank, which suddenly tilted, and threw him into the water. A gentleman passing observed his fall, and shouted to some lads who were Bitting near the place where the accident occurred. Two of these, named William Harper and James Fowler, ran at ouoe to the spot where the child had disappeared, jumped in, and brought him safely ashore, little the worse for his sudden Immersion. Sergeant Clarke, of the Water Police, who had been informed of the occurrence, took the boy home to his parents' residence, in Albert-street.

The formal opening of the North New Zealand Woollen Manufacturing Company is fixed to take place on Saturday afternoon, at three o'clook. A large number of invitations have been issued, ana already the cloth produced at this faotory is on the market.

An evangelistic service is held in the leature hall of the Young Men's Ohristian Association this evening at half-past seven. ■ Young men and recent arrivals are cordially invited.

The Band of Hope Union notifies members of Bands of Hope that the annual singing nod reciting contest takes place the first week in November, and that those desiring to take part should at once commnoioate with the secretaries of their respective societies for farther particulars.

The Silver Star Minstrels will appear this evening at the Soarboro'-itreet schoolroom, Parnell, is a refined "Ethiopian carnival," with now Joke#, aketohei, etc,