News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1540, 14 May 1881, Page 9

News of the Week.

Thomas Garrett, who waß bo severely injured in the Roslyn Tramway accident, died at 2g minutes past 11 o'clock on the night of Ihe oth^ Mr S. H. Cox has been appointed inspector of mines for the mining districts of Otago and Southland, Mr Jußtice Gillies on the sth delivered a judgment in the case of Connor v. Mackay, which, if sustained by the Court of Appeal, will materially assist in briDgiDg to a cloae a case that has been pending for more than two years, and the conduct of which haa involved a great amount of extra work upon the officers of the Court, and particularly upon the Registrar. The appeal from the decision (which was in the plaintiff's favour) will be heard at the forthcoming sitting of the Court of Appeal, and if the defendant's appeal is sustained the proceedings will almost haveto be begun de novo, or, to quote an expression made use of after the judgment, it will be a " merry-go-round," and as Mr Smith remarked, much merrier to the counsel than to their clients. Two other motions in the same case were adjourned until after the sitting of the Court of Appeal, the argument of a rule nisi in the oaae of Ford v. the Corporation of Oamaru was postponed ; and a decree in the case of Maloney and another v. Keast was consented to by counsel and granted.

The Brisbane Courier states that Queensland ports are closed agaicßt the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigß from all parts beyond the colonies of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

Asocial gathering in aid of the Freethoughfc Progressive Lyceum was held at the Temperance Hall on the sth. Mr Robert Stout occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. The first portion of the entertainment consisted of a concert, during which the Chairman gave an interesting addresß on "The religion of Carlyle." Dancing was com xnenced at 9 o'clock, and was continued for two hours, when those present then dispersed. The gathering on the whole (passed off very success fully.

•An inquest waß held at the Crown Hotel, Balclutha, last week, on the body of John Russell, who, it will be remembered, was drowned some time ago from the Balclutha bridge works, and whose body was found at Stirling the other day. Dr J. G. Smith was the coroner. A verdict of ecoidental browning was returned, and the jary agreed that no blame was attributable to anyone. Deceased was Bingle, had no relatives in the Colony, and was a native of the South of Ireland.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Carbine Club was held on Friday evening in the Garrison Hall, when only a moderate number of members put in an appearance. Lieut., colonel Stavely and Major Jack were unanimously re-elected President and Vice-president. The following members were elected a committee for the ensuing season :— Sub-lieutenant Black, P.O. Morrison, Gunners Jordan, Lees, W. Mills, E. 0. Reynolds, Wallis, and James Jack ; Gunner Jordan being elected hon. neeand treasurer. The Club is open to all comers, and as the subscription and entrance fee are very moderate, it is to be hoped that the season will prove a highly-successful one. The first match will be fired at Pelichet Bay on Saturday, the 21st inst.

We are informed that on Thursday morning on» of the Roslyn tramcars, fitted with an in^roved gripper jaw, was tested under the (supervision of Mr O'Connor, C.E., the engineer appointed by the Government to inspect the line. The car was made to stop on all the curves and the grip on the rope released, when it was found that the tone was retained within the jaws and under command for gripping at any'moment. The use of this improved jaw will place a check on the epeed-of the car in the event of the driver not applying his brakes properly, as he will simply grip the rope, when the car will be made to travel at the usual speed of about five miles an hour. The new gripper jaws were constructed by Messrs Cossens and Black according to instructions of Mr O'Connor and the Company's engineer, and all cars running for the future will be fitted with these improved jaws.j aws. Mr O'Connor also on Monday last tested the braking power of the oars on the wet rails with the usual application of Band. Qn each trial the car was brought to a stand rapidly, and entirely to the inspector's satisfaction. We learn that Mr Duncan, the engineer of the line, will take the activd supervision of the working of the (iramway for some time to come, and we have little doubt that the public confidence will soon be restored.

Mr David Proudfoot, proprietor of the Dunedin city tramways, has shown ras portraits of a number of tramcars and omnibuses he is importing for use in this city and suburbs. Some are from Brussels, and the others from New York and Philadelphia, America. There are 15 tramcars and seven omnibuses. The cars are all fitted with the improvements most lately invented, such as bells (by which the passengers can signal the driver without rising from their Beats), door operators, mirrors, &c. Tha construction of both cars and omnibuses is of a first-class kind— indeed of the very best, and when they arrive and are put on the lines they will be a convenience as well as an An ornament. Some of them are now 80 days out from America,

The Atkinson who obtained the contract for Colonial cement from Government is Mr Decitnus Atkinson, brother of Major Atkinson, The New Zealand Ticues gives the following description of his process, which is patented :— First the limestone is quarried, and converted into litne by the usual sJaking process. The powder lime is then mixed with water— sea water is best for the purpose— and formed into blocks roady for roasting. The latter are then submitted to fervent heat, under which the white stone is converted into a dirty brown clinker. This is cement before grinding. The clinker is then ground into an impalpably fine powder, and so becomes the cement of commerce. Submitted to searching analysis the cement ia proved to have almost exactly the same constituents as the cements of England and Germany. The products of Mr Atkinson's skill, research, and ingenuity have been closely examined by Mr Blackefct, ea-gineer-in-shief of the Colony, and Mr Oliver, the Minister for Works. Both gentlemen are eminently practical in this direction, and both accord unqualified commendation to the specimens. The Otago Hunt Club had the first meet of the season at Anderson's Bay on Saturday. Mr W. F. Petre acted as master, and Mr Cullen as huntsman. The pack had three [good runs, over country from Anderson's Bay towards Portobello. The principal drawback to perfect eDJoyment from a hunting point of view arose from the prevalence of wire fences, some of {which caused considerable discomfort to steeds and riders. There were the usual " spills," but none of them left broken bones, so that they are scarcely worth mentioning. Amongst the numerous party who followed were several ladies.

We understand (says the Dunstan Times) that County works are likely to be brought to a standstill, even on contracts, the Bank of New Zealand having declined to allow any increase of the County overdraft.

Major Sumpter (says the Oamaru Mail) has received a communication from Major Thomson, of Invercargill, stating that he has recovered from his indisposition, and that the two hussars who were injured during the sham fight are none the worse for their misadventure. He goeß on to say : " I think it ia advisable for me to state that no ill-feeling exists amongst the hussars, as some of the country newspapers have reported, on account of the accident that befell two of their men in charging the battery on the hill. All that is desired is that a hint will be given to men in charge of guns, that if they should so far forget them, selves as to fire point blank into a man's face, they will be held responsible for any damage that may be done through such gross mischievousness. I have also to express the satisfaction we all feel at the arrangements made for our comfort during the encampment, and the kindneßS shown us by yourself and your staff ; and I hope you will intimate to Dr De Lautour that I feel personally thankful to him for his unremitting kindness to those of my men who were compelled to claim his valuable assistance."

The Yen. Archdeacon Williams, reporting to the Bishop of Dunedin, says :— " The Maorispeaking population!^ Stewart's Island, con* Bisting mainly of half-castes, constitutes a very orderly community. Some of the old Maoris spoke with much feeling of the visits of Bishop Selwyn in former days, and told me that the men whom he authorised to act as lay-readers and teachers have all died oat. Mr and Mrs Arthur Traill, who have charge of the Government school at the Neck, seem anxious to promote the welfare of the people, and are much respected by them."

A correspondent of the Tuapeka Times writes :— -" Permit me to refer to the wholesale butchery that i 3 now being carried on amongst the hares in this district. It is not an uncommon thing for some individuals— to call them ' sportsmen' would be a misnomer — to go about with gun in hand, followed by half-a-dozen ill-bred cum and greyhounds. This was what is. called, for want of a better name, 'capital sport.' A hare is started, a shot is fired at her, and if only wounded the pack of mongrels follow in hot pursuit. Cannot something be done to prevent such barbarous and unsportmanlike conduct?"

Mr M'Caughan, who has lately returned from Victoria, paid a flying visit to Riverton on Thuraday (says the Western Star). We understand that, acting under strong pressure brought to bear upon him by a number of his supporters, he has reconsidered his decision to resign his seat, and will attend his parliamentary duties next session — the last of the present Parliament. It is also stated that he intends to address his constituents before proceeding to Wellington.

The occurrence of the Tararua disaster should lead the Government to consider the advisability of connecting Fortrose, the township at the Toi-Tois, with Wyndham, the nearest telegraph-station, by telephone. The distance is about 25 miles, and the cost of erecting a line would be somewhere near L9OO. No new expense would be entailed in regard to the working, as this could be done by the postmaster at Fortrose and by the telegraphist at Wyndham.' The revenue' should be sufficient to pay interest on the cost of construction, for there is already a good deal of settlement in the neighbourhood of Toi-Tois, and a large deferred-payment block is now being surveyed, whilst the Edendale - Fortrose railway will no doubt be finished in the course of a couple of years or so. No doubt if the Government place a light on Waipapa Point, a telephone to Wyndham via Fortrose will be certain to be instituted ; but in the meantime there is the possibility of such another disaster as that to the Tararua, or even the smaller one which happened to the I£akauui about a twelvemonth ago, at Toi.Tois, in the event of which the advantage of speedy communication would be very great. A petition is likely to be got up in the district to bring the matter under the notice of Government.

A strange case of illness has occurred in the ertobello district, which t ha3 caused a good deal of interest amongst members of the medical profession. Two eons of Mr James Spence, one four and a-half and the other two and a-half years of age, were seized with illnesß' on Tuesday, 12th April, within $n hour qf eacn other. Four days afterwards Dr Brown was called in. He found them suffering severely from swollen glands, accompanied with a foetid discharge from the nostrils and elsewhere. Both children died. The symptoms were thosa of glanders, or at a.ny rate were those of nothing else with which the faculty Beep to have been acquainted. Glanders is a disease amongst horses, and has bs6n known to be communicated lo human beings, although very rarely j but a doubt has arisen in this case, because veterinary surgeons atate that they have never known- a case of glanders amongst horses in Otago. An official visit to Portobello was made on Saturday last by Mr Johnson, chief inspector of cattle for the district of Otago ; who was accompanied by Mr J. Thomson, inspector of cattle at Port Chalmers^ These gentlemen made an exhaustive inquiry into the matter, and from the result of their labours we find there is not the slightest trace of glanders in the diatript. Meantime the cause of death therefore remains, ia doubts

Mr Batkin, one of the commissioners appointed by the Government to report^ upon possible reductions in the Civil Service, is now in Dunedin, and upon the arrival of his colleague, Mr Scad, will proceed with his labours, visiting every part of tho Provincial District. We believe it w the intention of the Government so far as possible to consolidate offices rather than carry on the reduction on the 10 per cent, principle, which, as already stated, is likely to be abandoned,

Tiia usual monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Educational Institute was held on Saturday, Mr Duncan in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. An interesting paper was read by Mr Pollock on the working of the Education Act in Scotland. At the conclusion of the meeting tho Chairman announced that a paper on the " Education of Teachers in Otago" would be read at the next meeting.

Mr H. Hirst, M.H.R. for Wallace, will shortly addresß hia constituents at Wrey's Busb, Dipton, and Orepuki.

Mr Craik, a gentleman who has recently arrived from Madras, India, has during the past few days been exhibiting to the railway authorities in Dunedin a set of instruments for block-signalling on railway Hues. The apparatus is known aa Winter's block instrument, and Winter and Craik's interlocked starting semaphore. It has now been used for three years on the Indian railways, and haa given great satisfaction . The block instrument has indicators consisting of two needles or pointers j one painted red, referring to trains approaching, and the other painted^ black, referring to trains leaving the Btation. Each indicator has two positions, viz., "Cleared" and "Online." Underneath the red indicator are the words, "train coming from," and underneath the black indicator are the words, " train going to," while the name of the station with which the instrument is connected, and consequently forming the last word of each of the above phrases, is immediately underneath, and common to both dials. Each instrument is also provided with a plunger to give signals to the distant station, a bell on which the signals from the distant station may be received, and a switch handle, which, provided an acknowledgment be obtained from the distant signaller, controls the " Train coming " indicator of the near station, and the " Train going " indicator of the distant one. The working of the instrument has been designed to secure perfect safety, as will be seen from the following illustration .'—Suppose a train has to leave Dunedin for Caversham. First, Caversham would signal " Line clear " to Dunedin, and Dunedin would acknowledge this signal, both these things requiring to be done before the instrument will obey the operator's wish and show by the red and black indicators respectively "train coming from ' Dunedin and " train going to " Caversham, The semaphore is connected with the instrument, and yet is worked distinct from it. The instrument having signalled a "train going to" Caversham, as the train leaves the station the first wheel of the engine passing over the rail opposite the semaphore raises the arm \p danger. Thus the engine-driver going out placeß the semaphore in safety to himself, and it is maintained in that position till bis train has reached Caversham, and till, through its connection with the block instrument, the necessary signals have been interchanged between the two stations to denote that the line is clear. Until these signals have been interchanged, it has been electrically locked by the action of the passing engine. The apparatus, qf which" the above is but a brief description, is most simple in its working. It pleases the authorities here greatly, and a set of instruments will, we understand, be given a trial shortly on the local lines.

The Auckland Star says :— -A most extraordinary case of death from tetanus, or lockjaw, has come under our notice. It appears that deceased, a strong, healthy young man of 18, about a fortnight ago ran a nail into the outer fleshy part of his foot. As he met with the injury by jumping down from a height on to the floor, it would seem that the wound was more than a slight one. However, no serious consequences were apprehended. The deceased went about his usual business, and medical aid was not thought of. How little anxiety was felt may be judged from the fact that deceased last Saturday shut up the shop as usual, and himself drove home some distance in the cart. On Sunday he experienced a stiffaess in the back and in the muscles of the neck. He had, too, some difficulty in opening his jaws, but was able to take food. " Painkiller" was the only remedy applied, and still it was not deemed necessary to send for a doctor. On Tuesday he was left at home under the care of a sister, who, in the course of the day, observed a change come over him, and suggested the advisability of sending for a medical man. The deceased, however, said he felt better; but he died within an hour, apparently without pain. One thing suggested by this very sad death is the necessity of attention to even small wounds, It is probable that tetanus is of more frequent occurrence in this country than in England, for liability to it increases in direct ratio with the heat of the climate.

A novel article of export has been introduced by Messrs Swallow and Ariell, biscuit mauu facturers, Melbourne. They have prepared for transmission to London a small trial shipment of " beef biscuits," composed of a mix ture of 401b of minced fresh beef and 601b of the best quality of flour. They state that 12 months ago they baked some of these biscuits as an experiment, and that they are now perfectly good. The Argus Bays it is hoped that the preparation of these biscuits will prove a successful way of disposing of some of our surplus beef and flour, and as the manufacturers can supply them packed in airtight tins for exportation at 3d per lb, there seems to be no reason why a market should not he found for them among the poorer classes in England. The biscuits are well flavoured and very palatable.

The Royal assent has been given to the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill for this Colony.

The member for Caversham, Mr Barron, purposes meeting the electors throughout his constituency in a few days.

Professor Blank began his chemistry lectures for the University session on Monday, the class beingjoinedbylß. In the junior laboratory class he has 10 pupils, in the senior 4 His bi-weekly class, held from 8, to 11 at night, ia attended by 16 ; and bis physics class, held at 830 a.m , by 4. The Saturday afternoon for teachers, which was so largely attended last year, begins this year on the 19ch last. Professor Parker gave the first of his popular Monday evening lectures on botany last night in tha Museum. There was a fair attendance.

Seventy-six applications were received for the post of librarian at the Dunedin Athenaeum, The Committee met on Monday, and elected to the post Mr James Paterson, recently in the employment ef the Education Board, The members of Committee present at the meeting were :— M6BBrB R. Gillies (chairman), Barr (hon, sec), Street, Montgomery, Bracken, Logan, Sinclair, Stuart, Captain Baldwin, Dr Macdonald, and Dr Ooughtrey,

The regular monthly meeting of No. 21, No Surrender Loyal Orange Lodge, was held in the Odd-Fallows' Hall, George street, oa Friday, tha 7th, at 8 pm. The Worshipful Master occupied the chair. The Ludgo was opened by prayer, and a portion of Scripture read, after which the Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were passed. Correspondence was read from the Grand Secretary, Christchurch, informing the Lodgß that the half-yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge would be held at Timaru on the anniversary of her Majesty's birthday, May 24ch, and requesting the Lodge to send a dele gate ; also a letter from the Grand Treasurer, desiring that subscriptions collected for the Grand Lodge of Ireland might be forwarded before the Grand Lodge meeting at Timaru, and also the funds towards the testimonial that will be presented to the Past Grand Maßter. After some discussion it was carried nem con. — "That No. 2L cc-operata with the other lodges^ in sending a delegate to Timaru." A committee was appointed to wait upon the other Dunedin lodges, and confer with them regarding the celebration of the Twelfth of July. One candidate was initiated, and four were proposed for membership. After the business to be brought before the Grand Lodge had been fully discussed, the roll was called, showing a very good attendance indeed, and the Lodge was closed.

The Hospital returns for the past week are : — Remaining from previous week, 111 ; admitted during the week, 25 ; discharged, 10 ; deaths, 3 (Joseph O'Donnell, Thomas Garratt, and Annetta Davidson) ; total remaining, 123.

The Oamaru Mail of Tuesday last ha 3 the following :—": — " Mr Isaac Newton Watt arrived in O&maru yesterday with the object, it is said, of taking the place of Mr Parker, K.M. We wish Mr Watt a pleasant career."

The result of the inquest on the young man Garratt, who met his death by the Roslyn tramway accident, is that a verdict of manslaughter has been returned against the driver, Peter Hannah. Hannah was released on bail immediately after the inquest.