LOOAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3191, 5 May 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Boat Accident and Loss of Life. — We regret having to chronicle a most unfortunate accident that took place yesterday afternoon, which resulted in the loss of two lives. About two in the afternoon the first cutter of H.M.S. Virago, -with thirteen men on board, started for the shore under a double-reefed sail, as a very strong breeze was blowing from the north-west with occasional heavy squalls. About midway, and near the outer buoy, a fierce gust struck the bout and completely capsized her. The accident was seen from the shore, and several boats put off to the rescue as speedily as possible. Very few minutes elapsed before the rescuers were amongst the struggling men, several of whom were encumbered with heavy weather clothing, and when drawn out of the water were very much fatigued with their efforts in buffeting the rough sea that was running. After the excitement of the moment occupied in rescuing fche crew of the swamped bout from their perilous position, and each of those who had j been in the water looked round to see if his comrades had been equally fortuuate, it was discovered that two mon, Taylor and Smith, were missing. Taylor, who was j a warrant officer's steward, was quite a j young fellow, and unable to swim. To make his chance worse, ho was very heavily dressed. We understand that the poor fellow joined the ship only a few months ago in Auckland. The other man was one of the re- | gukr crew of the boat, and could not swim. The swamped boat was soon afterwards brought on the gridiron, while another boat from the Virago- went out grappling for the bodies as long as daylight permitted, but unsuccessfully. From the strong wind blowing during the whole of yesterday and last night, and the heavy sea setting in on the To Aro beach, it i 3 more than probable that the bodies may bo cast up during the course of the day. A singular coincidence is connected with this sad occurrence which is worth mentioning. Amongst the boats which went to render assistance, the first to reach the fatal scene was a boat belonging to the schooner Crest of the Ware (Bell, master). This same boat, with precisely the same crew on board, about two months ago rendered similarly valuable assistance to another of the Virago's boats which had been capsized. Mr Oosbie, Mr Maxwell, and Mr Foster, officers of the Virago, were among those in the boat, and the nccident was nearly fntal to one of them. He was supporting himself by an oar, and one of the two drowning men seized hold of his legs when sinking. Fortunately for the survivor, the previous efforts of the drowning man had so exhausted him, that he soon let go his hold. Several of the Virago men were patrolling tho seashore between the Baths and the Maori pa during the night, in the performance of the melancholy duty of looking out for their comrades' remains. But up till a late hour last night the sea had not given up ita dead. Electoral Rom. — Our readers will perhaps be astonished at finding such a large number of claims objected to. Two perrons seem io have followed the role of the old elder in Scotland, who, when minister, office- bearers, and all the congregation amalgamated with another communion, still kept his integrity to the last, and would not follow them in their declension. On being remonsti'ated with, and asked what he could do standing by himself, he replied, " I can protest." Messrs" Jackson and Smith seem to have aspired to this dreadful isolation. But the climax is reached when we read that Smith objects to Jackson, and, in fact, denies his objective existence altogether. The revising "officer will doubtless decide this case first, as it stands to reason there can bo no objections if there are are no objectors ! Rifle Match. — The following team is selected to fire in the return match with the Hutt volunteers, which will probably be fired at the Adelaide Butts on Saturday afternoon : Messrs Butham, Hal?e, Gillon, D. Grar, O'Connor, Webb. M'Tavish, M'Credie, Crowe, White, Mason, and Zohrab. Artilbery Meeting. — The Wellington Artillery Volunteers will meet at tho Empire Hotel this evening at eight. Sale OF Pkopebtt/. — A very extensive sale of property was held at the Exohango yesterday by Messrs Bethune and Hunter. The attendance was large, the bidding spirited, and the prices obtained were considered highly satisfactory, and especially so witli the city properties. The property at Kangitikei, containing 138 acres and improvements, particulars of which we published some days ago, brought £320 : town acre, No. 52, sold in allotments at 20s 255. and 30s per foot, realising £320 : town acre, No. 67, sold at 15s per foot, realising £120; townacre,No.779,soldfor;g7s ; town acre, No. 781, realised £70 ; totvn acre, N0. 866, and 1 nd at Manawatu, withdrawn. Wellington Christy's. — The late successful entertainment, being tho first of a series, was attended with many preliminary expenses, but tho nett proceeds amounted to £15, which sum has been handed over as a contribution to St. Mary's Orphanage; The following letteiß have been kindly placed at our disposal : " Wellington, May 4th, 1871. My Lord,— l have great pleasure, by tho direction of the committee, in enclosing a cheque for the sum of £15, being notf proceeds of a concert given by fche members of the Amateur Christy'B in aid of a local charity, and beg to request your Lordship will be good enough to place tho I sume to the credit of tho fund for the support of St. Mary's Orphanage.— l am, &c, A. T. Maginnity, Secretary and Treasurer. His Lordship Bishop Viard." " Wellington, May 4th, 1871. Dear Sib, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of £15, an offering for the purpose of tho erection of St. Mary's Orphanage, an institution much required. — I am, &c, tPh J. Viard, Bishop of Wellington. A. T. Maginnity, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer. Winter Evenings. — The chill breath of winter is daily becoming sharper, the days are Bonsibly shortening, and the question naturally presents itself — What aro many of us going to do to relieve tho monotony of the long overlings ? It has beon a distinguishing fraturo in Wellington, na it has also been pre'ty much al! over Now Zealand, to g<T uj> readings, lectures, and various amusements of an intellectual natu-e during the winii>r montht We have no d >nbt that tho ensuing winter will provo no exroption to the good custom we have hitlieit) followed ; but tlm* j it should not bo ho, we merely moi ti m i.Jio j fact as a remiudor, for it eoems tlmt this

season wo are more dilatory than our neighbors. In many of the outskirts of the province catering for intellectual recreation is going on actively, and in the country districts of the neighboring Island readings and other entertainments are in full swing. We have a lively recollection of the excellent series of lectures got up in connection with the Presbyterian Church, Willis street, chiefly through the instrumentality of the Eev Mr Peterson and some other gentlemen, and we know that the public at large would accept as a welcome boon such another series for this season. It iB a pity that tho versatile brain power possessed by many of our foremost men should not be made to part with its wealth of thought and fancy for the benefit of their fellow citizens ; and to many of the gentlemen themselves, who are daily engaged in tho dry routine of departmental duties, a chance lecture or oration would be a not unpleasant change. Then there is our Debating Society, which proved such a signal success last winter. No doubt after the thought and observation durlug the last few months the members will be bursting with ai'gument and facts, and ready to discuss the most abstruse point in the whole category of social questions. We merely draw attention to the matter thus generally, leaving it for those who kindly bestir themselves in this good work to fix their own arrangements. The Census. — It is some considerable time since the last census paper for thi9 city was returned, and yet we are in ignorance of its population. The census was taken simultaneously for tho whole of the colony, but as yet published returns have only come to hand from the South Island districts ; at least if any have been published for tho North Island we have not yet seen them. What ia this to bo attributed to? Are the people south of Cook Strait more inquisitive on the question of vital statistics, or is it morely that thoy have a more expeditious way of doing thingtj? Wo make no doubt that if there is any delay in publishing the returns, as would appear from tho number of enquiries we have of late heard on tho matter, that the delay has been unavoidable. Meat Preserving. — A now process of preserving meat has just been perfected by Mr Richard Jones. It has long been known that meat preserve! in tins by tho ordinary process of heating in a chloride of calcium bath for a prolonged period, and then closing the orifice, is surrounded by jelly, which, with most of its juice, has been extracted from the meat, leaving a tasteless and exhausted fibre. To obviate this objection, Mr Jones exhausts the steam by a tube connected with a vacuum chamber, the meat thus being cooked with its juices left in tlnir natural place amongst the muscular substance, while the whole process can be effected at a lower temperature than has been heretofore used, and with less injury to the flavor and appearance of the meat. Small-pox and its Cure. — A correspondent of an Auckland paper, in the course of some remarks on tho probable infroclustion of small-pox to this colony from England, says: — During tho year 1863 the English press called public attention to a new specific, the eftects of which in arresting the progress of the disease were described as marvellous. The medicine was said to be a decoction of the root of a papaveraceous plant, a native of Nora Scotia, named by different writers Saracenia purpur Indian cup, and Saracenea purea or pitcher plant. One writer says "It will rare emall-pox in all its forms within twelve hours after the patient has taken the medicine ; and however alarming and numerous the eruptions or confluent or frightful they may be, the peculiar action of the medicine is such that very seldom is a scar left to tell the story of the disease." If such a potent medicine exists, it is very desirable that, tho medical men should be furnished with an abundant supply to enable them successfully to combat with the expected foe. Public Works a Safety Valve. — A Californian correspondent writes : — The work to construct a railroad over the Andes, crossing at the elevation noted, ia one of the greatest ever undertaken in tho world. But there is one remarkable incidental advantage. The chronic condition of tho South American Republic has been that of revolution. Peru has its share of them. But it now has complete exemption, because Meiggs absorbs all the revolutionary material. No Chinamen are employed. The work is all given to the natives of the country. If nny idle conclave of fellows become noisy and obstreperous, and threaten mischief, Mtiggs forthwith hires them, and sets them to work on hio railroad. The wages are not very large — only a fevr shillings a dny at the most. But laborers earn enough fco keep them comfortable, and so long as [they work their pay goes on. No work, no pay. Indians and the mixed races, who are led astray by the inflammatory appeals of the revolutionary chiefs, have no time for that business now ; they are all off helping Mciggß build his railroad. The country enjoys peace. A railway contractor furnishes a safety valve for a nation. All the explosive energy of the dangerous class is drawn off and utilised in tho vast work of building a railroad ovor tho Andes.