THE COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13888, 27 April 1907, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

COLLAPSE OF A TUNNEL.

FOUR MKN KILLED.

Clifton, Sunday.—A shocking accident, hy which four men met (heir dc;lh, and another narrowly «enpcd with his life, Imp. polled at Scarborough on April 13. The men were engaged in driving a tunnel, awl hod gone in a distance of about 30ft, AVhiic tlio four unfortunale men were working iho tunnel suddenly collapsed, quantities of earth and stono breaking away from the roof, and burying (bem under the dobris. The names of those killed arc Michael Cavnnagh, of 01 if I on, married; Joseph Wellington. of llnrstvillc, single; Alfred Ilordcr, of West Maifkmd, suisjlc; Arthur Selby, of ScarIwrough, single. The injured man was Harry Owner, of Clifton.

It appears that the tunnel was being driven by contract for tbo South Clifton Colliery Company from a distance of about half a mile south of tho present shaft. The rrork was commenced on the side of a hill about 50 yards from tho South Coast railway line. The, contnrtors, Messrs Cavanagh (ono of tho victims) and A. Willis, bad driven about 30ft when the aceidcnl happened. It appears that flic unfortunate men liellington and Selby wero working near tlio face, Cavanagh being near tlio tunnel mouth on tho left hand of Iho drive. Ilordcr was a little further in on tlio right of the drive, and Garner was eluding near Cavanagh, but nearer tlio entrance.

Suddenly, without warning, portion of the roof came .away, pinning Belliugtmi, Selby, and lionlcr. A boulder and earth also struck Garner, knocking him towards the mouth of the tunnel. Cavanagh, escaping from the clfects of the first fall, pluckily rushed to liic rcscuc of' his males, and succeeded in freeing Eellington from the debris which hold him, and was- in the act of assisting Selby when tbo second fall occurred, which buried .all of them under its weight.

Several men were engaged just outside the mouth-of the tunnel, and immediately they found out what liad happened rushed to the rescue of those, buried under tho rartli. The sad news peon spread, ami hundreds of willing bands wero quickly on Ilia r,ceno of the disaster, rendering all possiblo assistance: but it was some time Ijeforo tho quantity of debris could be removed, and life was extinct when tlio bodies wero recovered. Death in each ease must havo been instantaneous.

Drs Dixon and Stool were on band to render any assistance possible, but all the cafes wero lieyoml their aid. Garner's injuries, however, wero atleiuled to. ami lie was convoyed to tbo Bulli Hospital. Tho funerals of throe of the vietimsCavanagli. Selby, and Hordcr-look place ill the Cli Hon Oemoterr. They were largely attended by South Clifton minors, collicrv officials, and friends rrom tho town and tli" whole district.

The iniurprl man Garnar had !t narrow escape. Portions of hi& Jimbs woro buried wider tlio fall of caHli, and stimulants bad to l)o administered whilo the work of roloasuiff um was proceeding. Ho was much exhauntod and sufTcrintf from injury to the lack and shock. Wbon Cavnuatfli' released Jwlhriaton from the firs), fall Garner wont, to TMhnyW'r awistance, and was caught by the soccaid fall.

TWO MEN DROWNED.

HEROISM OF FATIIEU AND SON.

A equaJl which struck Sydney without warning cftcr 3 o'clock on Sunday ' ™ten!°on, April 7, capsized a boat off Bomli m which woro Tiiuo men, and two of these wcro drowned. The seven survivors had a perilous time, and wore engaged in a lifo-and-doatJi in theraging POM for nearly two hours beforo thoy worn indeed up by Iho pilot, steamer Caplam Cook. The victims were Harry Jackson and Frederick Bassnian, both barmon. Tlio rescued were 13. Grant, A. Lewis, Thoniaa Matthews, Edward Mcrrimau F Merrinun, H. Cadwell, and W. Ridoi'ii. Tlio party left Double Bay on a lishiti.tr trip shortly after 9'o'clock in the morning, .-itid when about tlireo miles off South Head 'linca woro dropped. They had no luck, and early in the afternoon, when off Bondi, Merriraan, sen., noticing' clouds gathering, suggested that thev should return to the harbour. Scverafof the party tlKiught this was not neccssary, and it was dociilcd to remain out a little longer. When, later, they wero making for homo a squallcamo down on them with appalling nuddennssi. Hcrrhnaa gavo orders for tho sails to bo lowered, but thero was not timo for this to bo carried out. before the first, fieroo gust struck them. Jlerriman. who had hold of t'ho-fipritsail, let it go and sprang to tho tiller, but almost simula heavy sea filled the boat and alio capsized. All the occupants were washed overboard. Morriman and his son, who aro good swimmers, reached the boat

ill a ooaplo of minute, wul thus wero enabled to render assistajico to their struggling companions.

Tho first to be assisted to a hold on the lccol was Cadwcll, a-ud then Matthows, but Ridoni and Grant had an exciting oxperionoo boToro thoy suoocodcd in getting to the boat's side. Lev;is clung to the stern. Jackson sank nbnost immediately after tho enpsize, nnd was not sunn again, but Bassman battled manfully with the waves for fully half an hour l>eforo 1m saJik through sheer exhaustion from the heavy sea running. Ho had been washed a considorablo distance from the boat, and was drowned in sight of his companions, who wero powerless to aisiet liiin. Indeed, but for the heroism of. (ho Morrimans it is certain that nt least thrco others must have boon drowned.

Mcrrinian, boh., sitting astride of tho boat, supported Cadwcll and the others each time a. wave struck tho little craft. while his son pluckily jumped oIT, and after a sea had washed over the boat held it steady to prevent the weaker meinliers ot the partv from being as;ain washed olf. The lad volunteered to swim ashore, a dislanoe of over three miles, for assistance, but the others would not hear of him risking his life in such a sea. Hp. however, did the next best (him; he could think of. Sowing his father's sweater, lie waved at. intervals to attention on shore, and his signals wero eventually seen from South Head. The pilot, steamer Contain Cook was despatched to the otiio, ami two hours after tho accident the rescue was accomplished. Tho men wero von- much exhausted, but all oxcept Lowis recovered somewhat under treatment at. the hospital. Lewis is reported to bo in a. very bad way.

TEACHERS' CONFERENCE.

FEDERAL CONTROL APPROVED.

Tho annual conference of the Viotorian State School Tcaohers' Union was hold on April 3, the president' (II r J. W. Gray) being in 1 the chair. A number of motions were submitted {or the consideration of Iho delegates. One of tho most important nfl'inncd that the best interests of education would lw served by placing the various State departments under Federal control. A lone discussion took place on this question. during which it was urged that tho transfer of control from 'the State jo tho Federation would act as a check on " faddism,' and that a better type of education would result. After it had lwe.ii suggested that the union should cooperate with the A.N.A. to bring about Federal control, the motion was adopted.

Strong dissatisfaction was oxprescsd l.\v resolution with the departmental inctlioil of assessing .the value of tho individual icachnr. It. was assorted tint inspectors varied very much in their method of assessment, and often based their opinion of a year's work on a half hour's sample, sometinus at tho end of a tiring day. Such a method, it was contended, was very unfair and misleading. A sub-committee was appointed to draw up a scheme for an improved method.

The following resolutions were also adopted

That tiie salaries oi teacher* in tho filth and lower classes should bo raised.

That tho programme of instruction is too extensive to bo properly taught.

That temporary appointments should aoi bs lur.de when there aTe suitable persons arailnble to permanently til! positions. That tlie propcrtion of junior to adult tcacJicrs is too liu^e.

That amalgamated schools should ho Separated,

flint teachers' residences should bo fenced off from tho school grounds, in order to socure tho privacy to which teachers aro entitled. 1 That wlule there are deserving touchers iu tho country uuitin.jf for studentships 110

teacher should Jw allowed a third year at tlio university.

That the wjiolo of the literary oourse for junior tenebfrs should bo embraced m tho curriculum of the continuation school.

That this confwcr.ee desires to point out, tho mifairiicss of giving special credit lo those teachers whoso pupils nro most z\\cccps'ul in winning scholarships.

The draft of a now constitution was discussed and adopted, with some alterations.

INFANT MORTALITY,

The question of infant mortality was mentioned by Mr Wood at a recent meeting of ' the Melbourne Hoard of Health, and Dr Norris, the chairman, intimated that lu- was quite prepared to draft, a scheme for dealing with the matter, provided members were willing 1 to accept as the basis of Ibe solution of flic problem the inseparability of the mother and her child, and the fact" that maternity was honourable, li was simply inhuman to separate tho child from iu ■mother until it was weaned. .Statistics showed, too, that in places where the two were kept together tho mortality was at a surprisingly low rate. He was not prepared to suggest any alternative as "a second best," as there was no "second best for this problem. With breast-fed infanta the mortality was well Mow 100 out, of 1000, but- in wises where artificial Ming was resorted to it went up to nearly 300. They had to consider, not only the" mortality, but the abnormal condition of niany of those who survived. Some of them were .physically and mentally dwarfed, and were in other respects imperfectly developed They talked alxmt the problem or population, but until tho community showed itself fiblfl to take care Of the lives which come as a natural increase, it was a faroo to talk about immigration. Dr Johnstone confirmed the chairman's view that, tbo mother and child must not be separated in any scheme for the solution of the problem. He instanced a ease which liatl come under his own observation of a boy who was dwarfed a.* the result of infantile treatment. Mr Wocd. however of another wisp where the b.'id oftects of artificial feeding hail been overcome hy oxt.vcmo care, and Dr Norrir. suggested that life was too short (o have to spend extreme care, when tlio necessity for it could easily be avoided. MAN-BATING SHARKS. . P llO ?f 'bo fishing experts .of New South ya-.es is collecting data on the subject of the man-eating sharks of Australia. The immunity that surf bathers have enjoyed during the, swimming season just ending has suggested lo him tho theory that tho maneating species is a distinct one. Grev nurses and tiger sharks are the sort, most frequently found round the Australian coast, and the expert's theory is that they do not attack men. As fur as he has been able to gather, most of the falaiities from sliiirk bites havo occurred In rivers and estuaries, and not on the ocean Ixsachos, and ho thinks that tbo specimen of sbark that attacks swimmers is a descendant of tlio monster that haunts tho River Ganges, where he has acquired an instinct for human having been in times past fed on dead and often live bodies of unfortunate saerificial, victims. The expert admits that ho requires a good deal of evidonco to establish his theory. Tho fact of surf bathers not'having boon seized by sharks during the current season, which has witnessed the introduction of tho pastime, is due to tho habit sliarks have of avoiding breakers, winch cause a swirl of sand in Iho water, but that baihers would bo safe in the viomity of shoals of grey nurses and tiger s.itirks m clear water is a proposition (.hat, would require absolute demonstration before the swimming fraternity would dream of 1 acting upon it.

I'INGER-PRINT IDENTIFICATION. All instance of the value of the fingerprint system eamc under notice at the bydiicy Quarter Sessions on April 5. In this instance it proclaimed the innocence of a man. Arthur Laeey confessed to a charge oi housebreaking at Mosman on 7th February. Another man named Peter Byrno stood charged with the samo offence, hut as a result of Laeoy's confession and other material facta tho Crown Prosecutor annoitnccd Inat (to would not proceed further with the ease against Byrne. liyrnc had ! been found endeavouring to dispose of articles stolen from the Jfosman house. Kis finger-pnnls were taken, but on being compared with impressions found on a pane of glass broken at (ho time of the vobberv, they were found to be dissimilar. He was, however, kept in custody as a possible I accomplice. Lacoy was arrested on another j charge, and when his finger-prints were taken they wero found to be identical with tneso on the glaes. Licey was also pickcu out by Lyme from 10 others as the man Who gave him the articles. Lacv then admitted his guilt to the police. In view of tho announcement of the Crown Pro*cutor, Judge Murray released I'.yrne. In sentencing Lacoy. his Honor complimented tne finger-print department upon the work w.ucli, in this case, bad ea-ved an apparently innocent mail from prosecution and possible conviction; A CRIPPLE BURNED TO DEATH. A shocking fatality occurred at BackCreek, liendigo (Vic.), during Saturday night, April 6, the victim being Mrs Frances Stone, a widow over 70 yoaTS old. Deoeased, who was a. cripple and had to use crutches, lived by herself in a small brick tenement in Retreat road. A ncighIjour, Jlw Craven, put her,'to bed oil Saturday evening, and left a candle on a chair near the bed, so that Mrs Stono could reach it if ncoessary during the night. On Sunday morning smoke was noticed inning from the building, and ( on Mrs Craven and her sons going into the house they found tlio bedroom full of smoke. The bedding had become ignited and apparently smouldered for some time, as it was only'.par-i-ially consumed. The unfortunate woman had evidently been suffocated by the smoke, as her body was discovered lying on the bed with the left, arm hanging over tho edge. Later in the day Mr Moore, P.M.. held a magisterial inquiry, when a verdict, of "Accidental death" was recorded. Deceased, whose husband died somo years ago, was at one time possessed of considerable property iri the city and held lnrgo mining interests, but latterly met with reverses. As far as is known she had no relatives here, but it is staled that she was well connected in England. STEAMER ELUCTRA STRANDED. The. steamer Electa went aground at. Harrington, Now South Wales, on Sunday evening, April 7, in a ]x>sif.ioii of great daugcr, but was successfully floated off on tho following Tuesday., She was lying hard and fast, with heavy seas breaking over her, and had a very perilous time. She was got oft with tho assistance of a hawser fastened to the headland. About 80 passengers and 185 cattle wero aboard, Ixjsides a large general cargo for up-river towns. The work of rescuing the passengers bv means of life-saving apparatus was proceeded with under great difficulties. The distance from tlm wall, about- 300 yards, and Ihe heavy «a made the task more hazardous. About 45 people, including 15 ladies, were landed through the surf in Ibis fashion. A heavy sea stove in the hatches, and all the cattlo More washed overboard. Many wore out to eca. and drowned, but sumo 30 to 35 of them managed to get footing and wove 6ftvcd. CUSTOMS REVENUE. Iho Commonwealth Customs and excise revenue continues to Loom. Tho receipts for the month of March this vcar, notwithstanding the fact that they include part of the Easter holidays, whereas tliofo for March, 1906. did not embrace any of the Easter vacation, exhibit, another remarkable increase over the corresponding period of last year. They totalled £792.060, as against. £777.369 last year—an increa-e of £1-1,691. Of (lie increase, New .South Wales and Victoria secured the largest share. Western Australia alone shows a decline, the drou of over £13,000 being partly due to the lapsing of Iho special tarill'. The total receipts for ihe portion of the financial vcar already expired amount to £7,320.539—an increase of nearly £500.000 over the receipts for the period July, 1905, to March, 19C6. The comparative totals fov each Stale arc as follow: —

INEBRIATE INSTITUTION. It- has been decided (o use (lie Castlelimine Gaol. Victoria, as an inobriaio asylum. _ This will be in addition tu the inebriate institution to he established on Ihe Lara Estate. 'J'lio Inspector-general of the Insane (Dr Jones), who lias tlie administration of the law milling to inebriates, has divided them into three classes-viz.: (1) I no l>elt-?r or paying class of inebriates; (2) (he inebriate who is respectable anil desirous of beiiijr reclaimed; and (3) tlio inebriate of the irreclaimable and vagrant class. The first- two classes will be treated at ..wio.,Ljca Inebriate Institution] and the

third class will bo dealt with at the CastJemaino Gaol, in which (here is accommodation for 99 persons. The building will cease, to be a gaol, and some alterations will bo made to fit & for its new purpose. The persons sent to it will be of the class that are continually coming beforo tho courts for drunkenness and receiving sentences for short terms of imprisonment. The institution at Lara is to be opened first. YOUNG INVENTOR KILLED. The mutilated body of Eric Aubory Morrison, second son of Captain Morrison, deputy harbourmaster. Fremantlo, was found in a cellar at the rear of his father's residence on April 3. Medical aid was summoned, but. it was found that death must have occurred several hours previously. For some time past the lad bad been experimenting wilh a view to constructing an acetylene gas motor. Tho appearance of tho cellar indicated that a severe explosion had occurred, which "re-

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