Australian News.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 8945, 21 January 1898, Page 4

Australian News.

Sydney. January 12 RAILWAY COLLISION.

The 5 25 train from Parramatta to Sydney was run into by a shunting engine at Parramatta railway station last evening- The train was waiting at the platform for sn engine when the engine of the Western train dashed through on the wrong line, colliding with the passenger carriages, smashing the buffers and cross plates of three carriages. Tne passengers who were seated in these carriages received a shock. Miss Greenway, Secretary of St- John Ambulance Association, received a cut over one eye, but she went on to Sydney. Mr Harper, traffic manager, was soon on the spot, and the disabled carriages were removed to the siding. SUICIDE BY NARCOTIC POISONING. The death of the man named James Miller which took place iu the Sydney Hospital on Friday evening formed the subject of a magisterial inquiry by the Deputy Coroner, at the Coroner’s Court on Saturday. Evidence was given by a woman named Chiistina Wright to the effect that during last week the deceased had drunk excessively, and on Thursday night he threatened to kill witness and commit suicide afterwards. On Friday she was at her residence in Yurong-street, where he mfita an attempt to choke her. She left the house during the day. On her return she was accompanied by Con stable English, who found Miller lying <m a sofa in the house suffering from the effects of what afterwards proved to be narcotic poisoning. A finding of suicide was recorded. A CRICKETER INJUKID. During tie progress of the Bur-wood-Leichbardt second-grade cricket match played on the Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon one of the Leichhaidt players, Herbert Gray, ini

attempting to stop a drive by a Burwood player named Kemp, had the second finger of his left hand so badly -mashed that he was compelled to go o Prince Alfred Hospital, where it was found necessary to-amputate the ringer. THE PRINCESS CAMMRRAY COLLISION.

The Marine Board has delivered ils finding in the case of the collision be tween the steamer Princess and the ferry boat Camireray on the morning of December 27. The result was as follows:—The board report that the 1 said collision was caused by the wrong-, ful act or default of both .masters. First by the wrongful act of J. E. Walters, the master of the Princess, in committing a breach of the 120 th section of the Navigation Act of 1871 by not beeping on the right' aide of the channel leading out of Sydney Cove '; also, in committing a breach of the 19 th article of the steering, and sailing ( rules by not keeping out of the way of the Cammeray when she was on her !own starboard side; and second, by j the wrongful act or default of Alfred I'Bedwell, me master of the Cammeray, } in not stopping or reversing in time in the narrow waters of Sydney Cove, in order to avoid immediate danger as directed by the 27th article. Taking all the circumstances of the collision into consideration, and remembering that the passengers were saved chiefly by the coolness and skill of the master of the Princess, who placed his vessel alongside the North Shore Company’s ; wharf, whilst the bulkheads kept her ' afloat, the board is of opinion that a severe reprimand to each master will I meet the merits of the case. The said i J, E. Walters and Alfred Bedwell are i therefore reprimanded and cautioned i accordingly.

| , A TEAM GUARD KILLED. The circumstances attending the 1 death of Joseph Vmtzentz, who died l at the Sydney Hospital early on Sunj day morning, were made the subject lof an inquiry at the "Coroner’s j Court on Monday. The deceased l was 22 years of age, and reI sided at Union street, Erskineville. j He was guard on the tram which left I Balmain at 4.1 p.m. for Sydney, and while passing through Ross street, ; Glebe, fell off. He sustained injuries to his head, and was taken to the Sydney Hospital. His injuries were jnot at first.thought serious, but toj wards morning he became worse, and | died at 3 a.m. on Sunday. The : Coroner found that deceased met his j death from injuries accidentally received through falling off the footboard of the tram while in the execution of his duty, | THE CYANIDE PROCESS, i The secretary of the Falkner’s Gold- ■ mining Company, Limited, Pambula, has received the following report under date January 7 re the prospects of the , mine and battery, and the forecast is ! that the former report made by Mr . Moleswprth will be fully confirmed;— j Drew off the first cynide vat to day with very satisfactory results. Expect 'to get over 90 per cent of the gold in the tailings out of this method. The slimes are being saved for treatment, the water running away from them perfectly clear. A fresh body of very rich ore has been discovered in the old Falkners workings. It is apparently of considerable magni f ade, but no part of this will be used in the present crushing.” ■ A HEAVY FINE. In the Summons Division of the Water Police Court yesterday Denis Murphy, for a breach of the Bettinghouses Suppression Act, was fined £SO, with 5s 6d costs, in default three months’ 'imprisonment. A NEW ZEALAND SCULLER. Mr C. Chapman, the New Zealand amateur sculler, who won the amateur championship of Victoria last month, has contradicted the report which had been made to the effect that be would visit England and row there. He would not be eligible to row at Henley as his occupation requires manual labor. 1 SUICIDE AT NORTH SYDNEY. ' The City Coroner conducted an inquiry at Lloyd’s Hotel into the circumstances connected with the death of Henry *Leneban, who was found dead on Sunday afternoon in the bush between Grasmere road and Middle Harbour, North Sydney. The deceased left a letter addressed to his wife, in which he said, “ I cannot stand my worry any longer, - ’ and concluded with he words, “May God bless and protect you ; you have been a good wife to me.” Evidence was given by the deceased’s brother that he was 35 years of ago, was of temperate habits, but had been in low spirits lately, and seemed to think that he was suffering from some bodily illness. The Coroner found that death resulted from hemorrhage from a wound in the arm, self-inflicted. 1 REMARKABLE ESCAPE FROM I DEATH.

A telegram from Maclean states that a most remarkable escape from death has just been reported to the local hospital authorities. It appears that over a week ago a beach miner, John Wilson, was engaged felling a tree at McAulay’s lead, from the trunk of which he had hoped to procure a sluicing box. No companions were with Wilson when the tree fell, and a stout limb sprang back, striking him a severe blow on the head and shoulders, producing unconsciousness. In this condition, and in an almost uninhabited region, because the beach miners had all left the locality, with the rain descending in torrents, Wilson slumbered on while Nature gradually dispelled the effects of the concussion. When consciousness returned, the unfortunate fellow made his way to the nearest habitation, 10 miles distant, and, inquiring the day of the week, discovered he had been unconscious six whole days. He was treated kjndly, and was forwarded by coach td the Maclean Hospital, where he is slowly recovering.

IMPROVING THE CLARENCE RIVER. Mr Archibald’s scheme for permanently improving the entrance of the Clarence River is based on the principle that it would be cheaper and better to open a new channel away from the sand than to remove the bar from, the natural entrance. Such a scheme would be impossible at the entrance of some rivers, but the physical configuration ol the Clarence Heads, it is contended, is particularity adapted to the successful execution of the works on the principle proposed. ' It is estimated that the works will cost £150,000, and would give 36ft of water in the new channel, while Sir John Goode’s plan.only provides for 18ft. GALLANT CHINESE. Yesterday morning a deputation of leading Chinese, consisting of Messrs Quong Tart, W- E. G. Lee (of Onyik and Lee), Shue Yin (of Quan Mo On and Go.), Way Kee, and Sun Johnson (of the “ Chinese Australian Hera’d”), waited on Captain and the Hon. Mrs Ferguson at Government House and presented to them a gift of Chinese needlework, which had been especially designed to the order of the subscribers. The collection forms a unique example of the most artistic farieties of Chinese embroidery. The more important-piece is a quilt bearing in elaborately embroidered Chinese character a sentiment which has been suggested by Mr Sun Johnson, the interpretation of which is, “ Your virtues will flow everywhere and for ever” Mr Quong Tart made the presentation, Mr Johnson interpreting, and Captain Ferguspn responded. At the time of the Queen’s record reign cele-1 bration the local Chinese brought to! Government House a cablegram con- j gratulating Her Majesty on her attainment of her sixtieth year of regnancy, and the cost of forwarding this to London Captain Ferguson insisted on defraying. Yesterday’s presentation was a recognition of Captain Ferguson’s kindness on that occasion.