News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 35, 19 December 1884, Page 9

News of the Week.

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FWDAT.

Thk prospects of the Otago Central line (says the CrommXl Argut) have never looked more promising than now, and renewed hope has •prong up in the breasts of interior settlers. Tenders will be shortly called for seven miles of plate-laying on the Wingatui section of the railway. Tenders are also being invited at present by the Public Works Department for the superstructure of the viaduct on the Wingatui section which spans Mnllocky Gully. The greatest height •of the viaduct will consist of three spans of 106 ft. each in leugth and five spans of 60ft., the total length being 648 ft. The greatest height of the viaduct from the Mullocky Creek to the formation level will be 140 ft. The superstructure will consist of five iron piers, two masonry piers, and two abutments. At present, tenders are only beingcalled for the ironwork, but it is expected that before very long the tenders for the abutments and masonry piers will be out for oopetition. The iron piers will each consist of six columns of iron letticework bolted together, the whole being bnilt into a solid foundation of masonry. The two highest piers will be about 110 ft. in height, the next one about 60ft, and the two piers nearest the abutments, one -either side, about 50ft. There will be iron lettioework sidings on the top of the viaduct, which, as has already been stated, will be 648 ft. in length.

A new oil comply, with a capital of £60,000, has been formed at Gisborne, and will begin operations at once on land adjoining the South Pacific ground. The shareholders comprise Melbourne, Auckland, Napier, and Christchurch bonnet* men. It is anderstood that the GoTerntnent hare issued a circular inumatinf that members of the Civil Service cannot be permitted to take an active part in relation to the management of trading companies in which they may be shareholders. Alfred Kehau, the head chief of the South Island Natives by descent, has died at ftoapuke. Kehau was a young man, and had been ailing for some time. £°c Auckland Free Lance writes :— The release of the famous Tichborne Claimant has set afloat a new batch of stories in favour of his claims. Prom every part of New Zealand and Australia we Hear of people who know something about the vessel he was supposed to have been rescued by. How does it happen that none of tbeje people were forthcoming when the colonies were ransacked to find some evidence for the Claimant while people were still in doubt as to his story being possibly true ? Anyone who has read the story of the tnal and the summing-up of the evidence by the Chief Justice of England will require much more than vague stories about a vessel (or half a dozen vessels) called " Osprey " to shake for an instant the conviction that the claimant was, and is, as thorough an impostor as ever gave the public the trouble of bringing him to justice. It is currently reported that Earl Granville, the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, has announced to the Powers that he has abandoned the attempt to mediate between France and China. No official communication is, however, yet published. A correspondent of a contemporary gives the following as an instant remedy for toothache .— Procure a small piece of zinc and bit of silver (any silver coin will do) ; place the sine on one side of the afflicted gum and the silver on the other. By bringing the edges together the small current of electricty generated will immediately -and painlessly stop the toothache.

Saturday.

Sericulture is to have a practical trial at Wbangaroa. Mr. Grothe, recently a sericulturist in Spain, intends erecting buildings and going into the industry on a large scale. It is understood that Sir Julius Vogel has instructed his solicitor to proceed against the New Zealand Timet for the long series of alleged libels in which it hasj indulged respecting him. Tbe proprietors will be served with a writ for £10,000 as soon as the declaration can be put in form.

A difficulty has arisen between the Westport Coal Company and their colliers, which has resulted in the whole of the latter discontinuing work. The merits of tbe matter are these : For some tame past the Company have been paying the men for unscreened coal, which the Company say is not tbe rale anywhere else. They nave now resolved to pay for screened coal only. The men refuse to agree to the alteration, and have struck work. A reporter of the Wairarapa Standard, who witnessed the fatal accident to Mr. Welsh, at Featherston. supplies the following :— When the guard's whistle sounded, a stampede was made for the train. Mr. Welsh sprang on to the platform of a carriage ; but he then appeared, upon seeing Mr. F. P. Tancred mount an adjoining one, to alter his mind and endeavour to charge from one carriage platform to the other. The train, which was now moving away at a good pace, would not allow the intention to be accomplished. Mr. Welsh evidently was aware of that fact, and upon trying to step back opon the platform of the carriage, missed bis hold of the guard-iron and fell between the revolving wheels of the carriages and station platform, and thus was drawn along and tightly jammed between the Vain and platform until the train was clear. The body of the unfortunate man w<>s then seen lying mutilated against the end of tne platform, the lower part of his coat and part of his trousers and oraweu being completely torn away. A number of willing hands soon came to his assistance, but a glance was sufficient to assure anyone that the sufferer would very speedily be beyond human aid. The tram was immediately Btopped, and the railway officials rushed up with some Beat cushions from a first-class carriage, to which the mangled body was conveyed. The signal was then given for the train to resume its journey. It may be explained that Mr. Tancred, being the holder of a first-clas* ticket, changed curing the journey •etween Wellington and Featherston into a second-class carriage for

the purpose of convening with deceased and some other friends. Upon that account, n* doubt, the unfortunate man may have conceived the idea of renewing the conversation during the remaind«r of the journey. The injured man was taken to the Greytowa Hospital, and the surgical investigation by Dr. Sanratty showed at once that there was no chance of recovery, there being a compaaad fracture of the left leg, the right hip bone being also crushed, aad the lower parts of the body frightfully mutilated. Some excitement (says the Daily limit) was caused in North Bast Valley last evening by a report of an attempted murder and suicide. The report proved to be true, for it appears that a mau named Baucaup- JaeoV Vandyke had shot a young woman— Mary Ann Wadsworth— wounding her slightly, and afterwards attempted to take his owa life. It appears that a party was being held ia Cameron's Upper Junction Hotel. The party wan attended by aboat a doeea or more people, among whom was Miss Wadsworth. Shortly after 9 o'clock Vandyke entered a room where the company were engaged in dancing. He took a seat at the side of the room, bat almost immediately rose to his feet, and presenting a revolver at Miss Wadsworth's head, fired. Miss Wadswortn was at the time dancing with a young man who had been invited to the party. The bullet grazed the side of her neck, inflicting a slight wonnd, and she fell into the arms of her partner. Vaadvke, seeing the first shot had sot taken effect, took aim with the intention of firing again, but Ike. revolver missed fire. He then attempted to shoot himself, but, beiag rushed by the bystanders, the muzzle of the revolver was forced downwards, and the ball entered the floor. The men who were ia the room having secured Vandyke, proceeded to bind him with ropes, and at onoe sent for the police. Sergeant O'Neill lost no time in reaching the Junction in company with Dr. Martin, who attended to Miss Wadsworth's injury, The wound was ascertained to be ef a very slight character, and the doctor is of opinion that his patient will be quite well in two or three days. . . . Vandyke is a gardener or small farmer, who has property at the Junction. He has resided there for about six years. He is a German by birth, and apparently about 40 or 45 years of age. Miss Wadsworth is a youag girl about 17 years of age, and daughter of a dairyman who is well known in the district. Vandyke is believed to have paid his addresses to her, and being accorded but slight encouragement he became jealous. TLis is the only motive that can be assigned for the.deed.

Monday.

It is a strange fact (says the Tuapeha Timet) that the officia mind is slow to act in new directions It was only after a disastrous wreck that the Government saw the wisdom of erecting a light ho»se on Waipapa Point, and it required a brutal murder to prove tbe need of a resident constable on tie Otago Central railway works. Polios* Constable Murphy has been sent to take charge of the district ; and he will have no easy task to accomplish. The " unemployed " are the worst sample of men in the Colony, and the life of a constable among them will be anything but an enviable one. A (determined elort must be made to suppress the sly -grog selling, which is at the bottom of the gross misconduct that constitutes this god-forgotten place a veritable hell upon earth. The eruptions on White Island, which commenced last Marca, and which compelled tbe workmen to leave, have now diminished, but fire is still visible. A number of men are now getting sulphur.

Rewi has addressed the following letter to the Hon. Mr. Ballanee, Native Minister :—": — " Greeting. I have received your letter of Novea*ber 21 from Mr. Rochfort. This is my reply to it : Yes, we will assist Mr. Rochfort and others engaged with him upon the survey of the rail* way line, and will remove any difficulties that may arise. There will be no obstruction to the construction of the railway, which has been agreed to by the people. But, friend, there is one question which we are apprehensive about, and that is legislation affecting us. I request that yo« will visit us, and let us know all your intentions. Do not withhold any of them, as your predecessors did, who came to us and told as seme of their propsals, while they withheld other. Let us be satisfied before laws are made affecting us. Ended.— From your friend, Rbwi Maniopoto.

The Lake Wakatip Mail says a cake of gold, weighing 401 oas., and the result of 517 tons of stone, was brought down yesterday frost the Premier Co. 'a mine.

The Government have decided to reinstate the snb-inspect«n who during the retrenchment scheme were reduced by the Atkinsoa Government. The 10J sergeants-major who are (restored to their former 'positions as third-class inspectors will continue at tbe scale «f pay for the present, but next session an increase will be considered and provision therefor made in the Estimates. An official telegram from Madagascar has been published stating that the French forces have captured a tort containing five guns at South Vohemas, and that in the engagement which took place M 9 Hovas were killed.

The Austrian, French, and Italian Governments support the claiats of Germany and Russia to seats on tbe Commission of the Caisse (public debt). The shipments of frozen meat to hand by tbe steamers Done and Po* >si have arrived in excellent condition.

In the Chamber of Deputies last night Premier Ferry made a statement regarding the Franco-Chinese difficulty. He announced that the attitude assumed by the Chinese Government had defeated Earl Granwlle's efforts at mediation between tbe two countries, aud the parleying which has been proceeding has now been ended. >1. Ferry added that his Government intended to pursue energetic measures in the prosecution of hostilities against ToDquin. The Panate has agreed to a vote of an additional 43,000.000 francs. A distressing affair happened here on Friday last (says the Dunstan Times). James Anderson, of the firm of Anderson Bros. and Isbister, farmers, of Ida Valley, visited the town for the purpose of consulting Dr. Lewis. He met the doctor in the to\in and arranged to meet him shortly afterwards at the hospital They parted with that understanding, and Anderson went down tbe flat, but from what transpired afterwards he passed by the hospital and

I.

went into Mutton Town Gully, where he dismounted from his horse, and divesting himself of coat, vest, and hat, deliberately walked into the Molyneux and was drowned. A youth, named D. McConnochie, who was on the bank at the junction of the gully and the Molyneux, witnessed the immersion, and at once made his way to the hospital and gave the alarm, and then informed ihe police, who scoured the beaches of the river, but failed to recover the bo Iy. Anderson was a quiet, sober, and industrious young man, and though rather strange at times in his manner, yet he was one of tbe few who would be thought to commit suicide. Dr. Lewis, when speaking to him, noticed a strangeness in his manner and ascribed it at the time to the effects of liquor, but from subsequent enquiries made, it appears that such was not the case, and the assumption now is that he must have been suffering from sunstroke, the sun having been very strong and powerful for some days previously. The Surveyor-General will shortly visit and report upon all Crown lands as to their suitableness for the purpose of associations' special settlements. The probable price of land uuder the scheme will not exceed £1 per acre, exclusive of the cost of survey. The new series of Civil Service regulations, intended to enforce more punctual and regular attendance during office hours, have been prepared, and will shortly be issued. The Government have received a cablegram from the AgentGeneral giving the proposed alterations in the Federal Enabling Bill. They are generally unimportant, the most important being the power given to the Legislature of any colony to withdraw from the ODeration of the bill. r

Messrs. Stafford, Buckley, and Fitzherbert will act as solicitors for Sir Julius Vogel in his libel actioa against the Times, and the Attorney-general is being retained. The rumours that the Government intend removing the inspectors of police are without foundation. The Government have no changes in contemplation. Mr. Bochfort, who is in charge of the surveys of the North Island Main Trunk railway, hopes to have the 15 miles southward from Te Awamutu completed by the middle of January. The necessary plans will be finished a month later, when tenders will be called for the work.

Tuesday.

The programme of the New Zealand Rifle Association is issued. The shooting commences on Monday, the 9th March, and continues the following days. The prizes amount in the aggrregate to close on £760, exclusive of belts and other trophies. One prize is a3O guinea clock, presented by the Mayor and Councillors of Wellington. The numher of shots to be fired for each belt by each competitor is 128. The following tenders were received for the Hurunui contract on the Main Trcnk railway, South Island :— Accepted : Stocks and Wallace (Christohurch), £9,190. Declined : Scott Bros. (Christchurch), £9,811; James B. Kitt (Christchurch), £10,195; J. Whitaker and Co. (Dunedin), £11,515 ; Miller and Smillie (Christchurch), £11,962. v

What appears to be an important find of gold at Mauaia, Coromandel, has been reported in Auckland, by Mr. G- Blackmore. The Herald says :— " So far as we can learn, the discovery is on the Manaia Creek, about four miles above the sawmill which has been burnt down, ft is stated that the leader, from which the specimens were obtained varies from four to six inches in width, but the specimens being small afforded no indication of the size of the lode from which they were taken. The stone is grey in colour, with a large proportion of silica, and tbe gold is of very fine shotty character." In the Invercargill Compensation. Court yesterday, W. P. Grigor recovered £915 and £39 18s costs against the Government for land taken for the Seaward Bush railway and damage to the remainder of the property. The claim was one for £1,4tf8 log. la his evidence Mr. Calcutt, the Government valuer, said the landowners oa the line were the principal obstacle to its being pushed on. The sentence of death passed upon Captain Stephens and Mate Dudley, of the Mignonette, has been commuted to six months' imprisonment.

The German warship leaves Auckland for Samoa as soon as she receives her mail by the mail steamer. Prince Bismarck has been urged to appoint a permanent officer in the islands of New Britain New Zealand, Awea, and Tonga to conduct German affairs.

It is rumoured in Berlin that Germany intends shortly to establish several colonies in the Pacific and New Guinea.

A quantity of dynamite was dropped on to one of the buttresses of London Bridge on the Sarrey side. The shock caused by the explosion was felt as far as Woolwich. No clue at present has been obtained as to the perpetrator of the outrage. The evidence of experts tends to show that the damage was effected by means of dynamite. The property in the vicinity of the bridge did not suffer any injury. Michael Davitt made a speech at Calbridge, Glasgow, on November 11, in which he predicted great danger for England if, after the passage of the Franchise Bill, the Government refuses to allow Home Rule in Ireland. Mr. Davitt also denied the statement that he had urged the Skye crofters to armed resistance. He said they had right on their Bide, and would ultimately succeed. A serious riot occurred at the mining village of Coal Island, in tbe suburbs of Dungannon, county of Tyrone, on November 16. While being far from good Catholics, the colliers are bitter haters of the Protestants, and to show their feelings they attacked the church and drove the Protestant worshippers out, assaulted with clubs and Btones every Protestant they couUl find, and held possession of the village for two hours. They were dispersed by a police force from Dungannon. Henry George, the laud agitator, arrived in London on Nov. Bth from New York, at the invitation of the Scottish Land Restoration League. His public lectures will deal particularly with the crofter question. Michael Davitt, Henry George. Miss Helen Taylor, and several members of Parliament attended a large land restoration league meeting at St. James' Hall, London, on November 18. There was a good

! deal of enthusiasm during the discus lion of the proposition that the land inalienably belonged to the people. The Corporation of the City of Limerick, by an overwhelming majority, refused to pay any attention to second writs for the extra police tax. They also passed a resolution denouncing the Government for reapppinting George Bolton as Crown Solicitor. United Ireland says : "It is possible a general fiscal xevolt will recommend itself as the simplest , and most effective way ot compelling the Government to yield to Irish demands." The Catholic Plenary Council commenced its session in Baltimore on November 9. Three Canadian bishops, and Osong, Vicar Apostolic of Japan, were present, but did not take part in the deliberations. The deceased bishops number 42, and on the 13th a Beqviem Mass was solemnised for tbe repose of their souls. The election of a Democratic President in the United States necessitates the retirement of James Bussel Lowell as Minister at the Court of St. James. It is said he will take up his permanent residence at Oxford. According to political gossip, H. W. Hulbert, formerly of New York, will be Lowell's successor. TheUhited lreland, of Nov. 21, states that it is the intention of the Nationalists to impeach Earl Spencer for conspiring to murder. It says the Irish party is determined to force an inquiry into Earl Spencer's acts. A troopship, with 2000 marines, was ordered to proceed on November 10 from Portsmouth to the isle of Skye, to assist the police in restoring order among the crofters. There is no abatement of the excited feeling in Skye. Crofters from the neighbouring islands are flocking there to atsist their brethren in maintaining their claims. Fully 2500 crofters met the detachment of police on their arrival on November 11. They demanded the object of their coming. No satisfactory answer being given, the islanders conducted them back to the landing-place and requested them to leave their shores. A dispatch of the 16th says newa had been received that the crofters have resolved to submit unconditionally. One of the events of the week ending November 22 was ths debate in the House of Commons on this subject. Sir William Harcourt, on. behalf of the crofters, denounced both emigration and evictiop, so general was the feeling in their favour that the Tories spoke with moderation. Several Conservative landlords have agreed to stay their demands, and a resolution asking prompt legislation for the crofters was carried unanimously. The leading farmers at the same time have called for wholesale reduction of rents. John Bright, in a long letter favouring Freetrade, published on November 17, argued that since its adoption by England the price of food and hours of labour have diminished, while wages have doubled. He says although trade in England is momentarily depressed, the depression is far greater in " Protection " countries like Russia, France, America. He concludes by saying that the recent overthrow of the party of Protection and monopoly in America may prove a great blessiog, and wben England and America have embraced a policy of free industry the whole failure of monopoly throughout the world will take its downfall. Lord Dunraven replied to Mr. Bright next day, and takes issue with him on every important particular. He asserts that wages have risen more in America than in England, that American workmen are much better off, and that thousands of English artisans are thus attracted to America. He asserts that the trade of Russia, France, and America has bsen rapidly extending during the last seven years, while that of Euglaud has been declining. The correspondence was induced by the Hackney election, which took place on tbe 20th, and into which local option entered aa largely as Freetrade. It will be with mixed feelings (says the Tdegraph) that many ot" the friends of Mr J. A. Rearden, of the Napier Commercial Academy, will learn that he purposes at an early date taking his departure after a residence oE some fifteen years amongst us or in the neighbourhood. Mr. Rearden has been appointed headmaster of the Hokittika school, and what is our loss will be a gain to that town. Mr. Rearden has been engaged in teaching for about thirty years in centres as far apart as London, Dublin, Gibraltar, and Napier. Inspectors have invariably reported well of the work done by his pupils, and many of the latter now occupy lucrative and responsible positions. For eight years Mr. Rearden was headmaster of St. Mary's Boys' School. At a later date he bad charge of the Meanee Mission College, where he had the care of forty boarders and one hundred day scholars. For four years he has carried on his present Academy which has been favourably known as a good private school. He has taken an active part in all charitable efforts, and to his energy is due in a great measure the present position of the Hibernian Society, which has been established ten years and has paid away £1800, and has now funds in hand exceeding £500. Tne parent -.branch has extended its efforts to Gisborne and Waipawa and shortly a branch will be opened at Hastings. Mr. Rearden is the present secretary. A dispatch from Berlin of November 22 says the German Government is credited with the intention of annexing several islands in the Pacific Ocean as well as part of New Guinea. The North German Gazette makes a bitter attack upon British operations in the Pacific, and says the British High Commissioner recently inflicted a mock sentence of eight days' imprisonment upon the pirates of the schooner Stanley, who plundered several German mercantile firms in Langhein Island, and who, after massacring a number of natives, took 100 of them as slaves. The pretence of Australia to humanity, the Gatatte says, has no basis in fact, and Germany is bound to insist upon the immediate annexation of the unclaimed islands in New Guinea, if only for the purpose of protecting the natives from English barbarities.

Wednesday.

Yesterday morning at the High street crossing, Rangioia, the up* train from Christchurch ran into a van containing a pleasure party of young people, members of the Presbyterian choir, on their way to the Waikuku sea-beach. The occupants, numbering 12, were thrown out. Two— Mr. David Keir and Miss Margaret Morxell— fell under the wheels of the train, and received terrible injuries, from the effects of which they died shortly afterwards, The names of the others of

the party, and the injuries they received, are as follows :— Thomas Keir, left arm badly broken and head out. John Hughey, the driver, serious wounds on head. D. M'Kay and Mrs. M'Kay, each two ribs broken. Misses M. Stapleforth, Jane M'Cracken, A. Morrell, and Mr. C. J. Jennings, more or'less bruised and shaken. The deceased David , Keir was a son of Mr. J. Keir. of the well-known firm of Boyd and ' Keir, builders, and was 21 years of age. And the young lady deceased was 15 years of age. It appears that • Hughey, the driver of the van. observed the morning train from Christchurch close upon him. Thinking there was not time to pull up his horses, he gave them a cut with the whip to get them over the line. The engine was too quick for the horses, and crashed into the side of the van close to the front wheels, dashing it away from the horses (which escaped with but little injury) on to the cattle-trap at the crossing. The occupants of the vehicle were thrown in all directions. The most badly hurt of the sufferers . were quickly conveyed to adjacent houses, where they received prompt attention from Drs. Downes, Williams, and Gordon. The van was completely wrecked, and the wander is that more of the party were not killed or more seriously injured. The front carriage of the train was considerably damaged, the iron [stanchions on the platform being broken away and several windows smashed; but none of the occupants were injured. Hughey and M'Kay are in a very precarious condition, the latter having injuries to hia back of a seiious nature in addition to broken ribs. The other sufferers are doing as well as can be expected. Hopkin and Jowitt's flour and oatmeal mill at Balclutha was totally destroyed by fire at 3 o'clock yesterday morning. The fire is believed to have originated in the engine-house. The estimated value of the stock is £3000 and the building £3000. The insurances amount to £3000, as follows : United, £300 ; Fire Association, £500 ; Equitable, • £1420 ; London and Lancashire, £500 ; National, £250. The estimated loss is £3000 above insurances.

The fruit season (says the Mount Benger Mail) is rapidly approaching. Strawberries are now being sent to market, and from what we hear there is a good crop this season. The other kinds of fruit are not likely to be so plentiful as last year, partly owing to the changeable weather experienced of late. There is one great nuisance which exists — the birds. A bird (described to us as the " green parrot ") has come upon the scene, and is particularly destructive. We are informed that thousands of these birds have been, destroyed during the past few weeks, but still they abound in considerable numbers.

At the meeting of the Napier Education Board yesterday the Inspector stated that half the schools in the district were disgracefully overcrowded. On a recent tour he found children sitting on the floor anywhere they could get room. That state of things prevailed in at least 15 schools. In one built for 40 children 120 were present. The Board could do nothing, ha vine: no funds.

Mt. Eugene O'Conor, M.H.R., chairman of the Westport Harbour Board, baa effected a purchase here which will be a saving to the Board of £2500. The Lastingham, which was wrecked, liad on board steel rails for seven and a-half miles of the Wellington Manawatu railway-line. The Salvage Company at the wreck of the vessel have successfully raised the whole of this material in good order, and a few days ago it was sold to the directors of the Hutt Park Racecourse Railway Company ; but as they only required enough tor two miles, the remainder was sold to Mr. O'Conor at a rate equal to 40 per cent, under cost price in England.

A number of diamonds recently received in London, the produce of the Australian diamond fields, have been examined and tested by experts, and pronounced to be superior in quality to Cape diamonds.

The Pope created nine new cardina's on the lOfch November. In his allocution he adverted to the painful position in which the head of the Church is placed, and the trial through which the Church is now passing. He dwelt on the progress the Catholic faith was making throughout the world, and especially in the United States, where a Plenary Council had just assembled. He mentioned the fact that new bishops had been appointed in Australia, India, and throughout the Ea9t, and expressad special satisfaction at the restoration of the See of Carthage.

Late dispatches from Dongola state that Lord Wolseley has proceeded from Debbah to Korti, near Ambukol, where the British force will concentrate. Colonel Sir Herbert Stewart, with his staff, has already reached Korti. He reports that he finds ample supplies forthcoming, and that the attitude of the tribes is friendly. News has been received through a messenger despatched from Khartoum of further successes achieved by General Gordon in his conflicts with the Arab rebels. The messenger reports that General Gordon undermined and blew up the rebel forts at Onderman, destroying them and killing a largo number of the Mahdi's followers, who occupied them.

Thursday.

The inquest on the bodies of David N. Keir and Margaret Morrell, who were killed at the railway accident, was held at Bangiora yesterday, before Mr. C. Wbitefoord, coroner. The Jury returned the following verdict :— " That the deceased, David Niven Keir and Margaret Morrell, were accidentally killed on December 16 by coming into collision with a railway train." A rider was added that thejury did not consider any blame was attachable to the railway officials in charge of the train, but that in the opinion of the jury the signal arrangements at High street crossing are incomplete, and they suggest that the crossing-keeper during the day signal road passengers with a flag, and at night he be supplied with a lamp for the same purpose, and that he stand in the middle of the road whilst trains are approaching. The coroner conveyed to Inspector Pender the thanks of the jury for the complete manner in which he had produced the evidence. Several Chinese cruisers have left Shanghai. Their destination is as yet unknown. In view of the expected intention of the Chinese Government to intercept the reinforcements despatched to the French fleet, an ironclad has been ordered. U) convey the French transports from Singapore to Formosa.