Captain Edwin reports at 1.35 p.m. •__ .-.-"Every indication of frost to-nio-hfc ' or veather will continue exceptionally cold." The market is still dull. New Zealand ~,-Bank and South British Insurance are ' panted, but transactions are very few in any . stocks* A favourable report is to hand from the Cambria, and the shares are on the rise lOlbs of specimens are reported, andfche general dirt is crushing for over an ounce to the load. Imperials are asked for about 4 g) whilst Saxons are neglected. 10 , Our attention has been drawn to the fact " that a number of our most flourishing local industries are not represented at the Indus trial Exhibition, and we mention it in the hope that the omission will be remedied without delay, as ib is desirable to make ''■ the exhibition as complete as possible. The industries "conspicuous by their "absence " are oil and candle manufactures, leather boots, rope and twine, beer, and brass. . ;Mrs Violet McPhee Was to-day sentenced '& to.th ree years' penal servitude for arson in "' Victoria - street. The report of the case appears on our eighth. .The annual meeting of the shareholders ■ 'of'the Waiuku and Onehunga Steam. Navi gation Company took place on Wednesday last in the Kentish Hotel, Waiuku, about ,20 persons being present. Mr J. Ban- Brown (managing "director) occupied the chair. The balance-sheet showed the re ceipts to have amounted to L 2,084 2slld, the largest items being cash in hand) November, 1885, LIOO 10s Id; passages LL'OlSlOs; freight, L 920" 12s lOd. The expenditure had amounted to L 1,984 Gs 9d, leaving a balance of L 99 10s 2d in hand. The largest items of expenditure had been wages, agencies, and labour, LI, 177 13s 6d ; -coals, stores, and water, L 404 4s 4d; auditor, rent, and interest, L 93 4s Gd ; and repaid bank, 1,1.07 12s lld. The balance sheet was adopted, and Messrs John Hood and Caleb Hosking. were re-elected direc tors, and Mr D. Campbell was re-elected auditor. A long discussion took place" with reference to money owing to one of the .banks by the Company. Sonic shareholders .'-'were of opinion thab the Company shpuld issue more shares ; others thought it would not answer the object in view. It was sug gested that tenders bo called for the sale of the boat. The meeting was ultimately ... adjourned for a fortnight. r The Star of Auckland Lodge of American P Oddfellows have reeentlyreduced their scale of initiation fees in accordance with a.re- Bolution from the Grand Lodge authorising them to do so. The result lias been an in crease of members, and a more prosperous condition of aftairs. The lodge meats for the election of ofiicers to-morrow evening. Mr R. S. Smythe, manager of the Royal Comic Opera Company, has, on behalf of . Messrs Williamson, Garner and Musgrove, handed over a donation of ten guineas to the Auckland Benevolent Society. There Is some excitement in Sydney con sequent upon the refusal, of the Government to alter their tobacco tariff!. Already about a hundred men employed in tobacco fac tories have been thrown out of work, and it was intended to organise a public meeting in front of Parliament House some night v this week, in order that their case may be fully laid, before the public and the re presentatives of the people. Fully 600 men will be thrown out of* work for a consider t-able period, and it is -probable that not more than one-third of their number will be .taken on again". On Monday evening last the Sir Henry Havelock Band qf Hope gave the third of their winter evening entertainmen :s in the !" schoolroom.. .Notwithstanding the down pour of rain, there was a good attendance of'taembers and friends, who spent a very enjoyable evening 1 , and went home feeling well' repaid for having " braved the ele , men Is." -The chair was occupied by the ' vice-president, who . in a few well-chosen ! I words expressed the pleasure it gave him 4-to see such a large gathering in spite of the %. wet night. The programme comprised some iiteeii' items. Master Wood gave his tation in a very creditable manner, lady and gentlemen members of the .B. class sang a glee in a very pleasing tier.;; Miss Jane Picard- sang "My her " very nicely, and Messrs P Mow tand W. McDonald followed with an sing dialogue entitled " The" American Weller," while the Misses Taylor, as, and Robinson were all that could -sired in their rendering of " Have you lit ?"• a dialogue for three. One of the pieces of the evening was given by. Miss ide. This was followed byasong "Don't ry 'a, Man if He Drinks," which was ; iri a very pleasing manner by Mrs Col 3. - Willie Clithan then gave a recita-. j and Mr Whitelaw (from the A.B-.H. m) delivered a very interesting address, lfulof humour and common sense. The i-item- was a Jubilee temperance piece, ten for the occasion by the Rev. A. J. th,, and recited by Miss E. Gillespie. Ie Wife's Mistake," a dialogue for five, well rendered by the Misses A. Arnold, Gillespie, A. Carlaw, and Messrs W. ry and Clarke. Miss Annie Carlaw ted "The Lips That Touch Liquor 11 Never Touch Mine," Miss Potter . a reading in a pleasing manner, and a c girl recited " I've Dot a Man to Sign Pedge," after which the meeting was ed with the Benediction by the Chair l. In the absence of Miss Aley (the d'of Hope pianist), Miss Potter kindly plied her place. ;, aperstohand to-day show that the ers die Auckland-owned horse St. Dnnstan l the big steeplechase at the Sydney at Club meeting. . . it a recent committee meeting of the lsonby Choral Society, it was resolved admit, orchestral members,, and an or stra" is now formed of 22 instrumen ufts,-including Mr C. Hem us as leader, 1 most of the leading instrumentalists of cklarid. The first rehearsal of the* -iety with the orchestra was held last 'riday; in the All Saints' Schoolroom, and ladcring the weather, was very well at lded. The work for the next concert is w&'s'" Rose Maiden," which is entirely Nto Auckland. The music in this cau ais of the most tuneful ahd light de ■iption.-and there is no doubt that it will come exceedingly popular. The conduc f (Mr Trimnell) seems to have a knack of ( feting the attention of performers, and ot eptafyinghiniself-with them, prnnber of good dogs are now in the -•"■els. Amongst them are three fair re- ? ev era, This mornm" Garrard got into a f?%.with a little dog in Cook-street. «■ man, after consulting with his wife, could not afford to buy,a *for'his dog, ahd accordingly Garrard ftfed away with it to the kennels.. Ihe «$' however, objected, and bit Garrard s somewhat severely. He subsequently *at to a chemist's.and had the wounds prised.. It will be seen from this that even of a dog muzzier is not its seamy side. from Christchurch says :— Me balanGe-sheet of the Union Insur- SCompany shows that there is an avail- TM_ Mnce of L16,G95. The directors pro- Vhl dividend absorbing LIO,OOO 577. forward LG,695." 18 -ill rl)an e, the American orator now in teH *?**>■* aboufc to leave for s y dne y> bu ? Steady announced) kindly consented [<f>, 14; one more lecture which takes place (Thursday) evening at the Taber rJß St As t]ii ' s will bo the last opportunity • eminent lecturer, no doubt a lU fj: *'t 5 J W ?e a mhence w m bo present. The sec- J9M W*tymo_th Church, one of thelargest rffoWm writes of the lecturer :— 110 W ab( ' sfc at, ° lls ecl by the opening sen- Ire: W l M, nnva*,ed and unbroken until the ill iL.. iki lecture aside from the immediate t -S_S£?** of permanent value." Por ; be found in our advertising

MEMORANDA

Tickets for Ara Lodge, No. 345, LC, " At Home are now ready and may be obtained from the Secretary (Bro. W. M. Chapman), or any of the officers of the Lodge. +„J here .lV U T be a meting of the second team of the Hornets F. C? this (Wednes day) evening, to elect captain and secretary, anct make general arrangements for the season. Y. M. C. A. rooms, Bp. m. A meeting of the Links Football Club will MV- , d .. n fche Y -M.C.A. building this (Wednesday) evening. A meeting of those willing to promote the candidature of Mr E. Withy is to be held to-night in the Excelsior Hall, Newton. Mr G. Osborne, whose advertisement appears in another column, intimates that tie has baken a room above Mr W. Mears's establishment in Queen-street, and is pie pared to receive lady and gentleman pupils tram 12 to 2 o'clock daily. He has adopted tnis course in order to afford an oppor tunity for persons desirous of-receiving tuition in .elocution to attend half-hour lessons during their dinner hour. Yet another Jubilee entertainment. We have jubilated considerably, but, thanks to the good people of St. Sepulchre's we are invited to jubilate yet again at the grand entertainment' in the Symonds street schoolroom to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. Herr Schmitt and Mrs Uuthie contribute a grand duo to the musical portion, which includes items from Mrs Micklethwait, Dr. Cobbett, Miss Bloazard, Mrs Glover and Mr A. L. Ed* wards. After a brief interval the curtain will rise on the famous trial scene from Dickens -"Bardell v. Pickwick"—in which Mr G. p. Pierce will preside as the Chief Justice, and such well-known amateurs as Messrs Hillyer, Hudson, Walpole, Robin and White will take prominent parts. The n&t'lect.ure in the V.M.C.A. winter course will be given on Friday evening next by the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon, the subject being "Luck." Those who wish to be amused as well as profited should attend..

BURLGARY.

The premises of Walton and Son, boot uppe manufacturers, were burglariously entered early yesterday morning.and about eighteen pairs of boots, valued at LB, stolen. In formation was given to the police, and Sergeant Kiely arrested a man named James Watson at Newmarket on suspicion. He had five pairs of boots in a bag, and these have since been claimed by Mr Walton as his property. Accused was brought before the Court to-day, when Sergeant Pratt applied for and obtained a remand for a week in order that the police might apprehend another person who is under suspicion, and also to give them an opportunity of recovering the stolen pro- P ei 'ty- *..-..".-• .

SUICIDE OF A CLERGYMAN.

Result of 111 Health

Hawera, this day. The Rev. Henry Clere, vicar of Twicken ham, Somersetshire, England, committed suicide this morning at Hawera Parsonage, where he was'staying "as' a gaest for a few days. For years he has suffered from 111 ---healbh, and had come into Hawera from his son-in-law's farm near Opunake in conse quence of an acute attack of illness. Last 11 ight he retired to rest apparently better than usual and in good spirits, but on breakfast being taken to his room it was discovered that he had committed suicide by hanging himself to the bed post." The deceased was 7l) years old.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday. Avo ung man maned Arthur Cartel - , a draper's assistant, at present out of employment, stabbed himself this morning. Last night he had a quarrel with a woman with whom he had been living, and she lefb him and went to a friend's house. He followed her, and on her refusing to return with him he drew a pocket knife and inflicted a wound on the left breast, just over the heart. The wound is not considered dan gerous.

ACCIDENT AT THE MIRANDA COAL MINE.

A man named James Clarkson, who was eno-aged in the Miranda Coal and Iron Company's Mine at Bridgewater, near Mercer, sustained injuries yesterday, at the bottom of the main shaft. At present nothing definate is known as to the origin of the accident. Clarkson had only been encased a few days before. He was work ing some distance away from the spot where the accident occurred, and in fact had no right to be there. His mabe stabes that he told Clarkson to go and get a slack tub To do this ClarksOn required to go into an. I disused drive at the other side of bhe bottom of the shaft. In order to prevent accidents occurring from the descending and other causes the management have had a deviation drive put around the botbom of the shafb. Apparency in order to save time, Clarkson had passed across the cage at the bottom of the shaft without letting the man in charge know that he was doing so. It would seem that just as the man crossed the cao-e it began to ascend, and it is con caught, and by that means he was raised some distance up the shaft and subse quently .Ml to the bottom again Claik son's mates heard him shriek or shout, and n? once hurried to his assistance, when they found hS lS at the bottom of the mine. man, who was , conveyed to the tiam 1 named Epaoi-ncotT and° Joseph Cobine. Upon £5 at bhe Auckland ta £ possibility of an a °" ae " l '" h ° les 0 f the U Clarkson at ended to to^ jss* %-ffj* __ ° f the """'■

PUNISHED FOR RUNNING AWAY.

(KyT ELEaKAPH--P_BESS ASSOCIATION.) , Wanganui, this day. -.nmpd Wm. Connell wa s A young man named wm. Itlnced to three months' imprisonment

RAILWAY DISASTER IN SYDNEY.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION TRAIN.

Five Killed aud Forty Injured

FEARFUL SCENES AND SUFFERINGS,

The Queen's Jubilee day has been com memorated ab Sydney in disaster as well as demonstration. An excursion brain convey ing some 250 passengers to Peat's Ferry, on the Hawkesbury, on Tuesday June 21st, became uncontrollable, the brakes being inoperative, with the result that five people Were killed, including the engine-driver, and there is a long and ghastly list of wounded. Within an hour of the catastrophe, which occurred at 2.40 p.m., a special relief train conveying medical men and medical ap pliances was on the road to the scene in charge of the Commissioner for "Rail ways. Other medical practitioners were picked up en route, for tragic as the affair was, its effects were at first exaggerated. They arrived to find four dead persons near the wrecked train, and many of the wounded moaning near them. Those who escaped, and others who were slightly injured, told their tales of horror. Briefly, it was that they left Sydney at 10.25 on a pleasure ex cursion. Nothing was noticed wrong with the brakes, and no mishap occurred till within a few miles of Peat's Ferry.their des tination. The increased speed notice able as the train was descending the incline, which extends for sonic miles, did not at the outset cause any alarm. The engine-driver, the stoker, and the brakesmen only knew what was wrong. During the first few moments several passengers casually remarked that the en gine-driver was evidently making up for lost time, as some little time before a delay occurred, the train having to be divided into sections, owing to the inability of the leebmotive to get it to the top of the hill, after which the two divisions of the train were rejoined. But the speed continued to increase ; tho guard, in the absence of a brake van, was seen to be desperately turn ing the hand brake at the end of a saloon carriage. He did so without effect. Con tentment changed momentarily to mis giving, and misgiving in another moment into terror. The train was rushing madly on ; the carriages swerved and os cillated as they only do at an unusually high rate of speed. The guard was still at the brake, but with the same result as if he were turning on steam. It flashed upon everyone that by some reason generally un known they were rushing headlong to des truction. " The brakes have given way " x was the cry at last heard, and it ran along from carriage to carriage until all shrieked in their terror. Onward—still onward, at, increasing speed the train continued, and in this lightning descent the locomotive whistle (which was tinned on by the engine driver the moment he realised the danger) was blowing. In another instant the horror-stricken passengers found themselves en veloped in darkness. It was a tunnel, and the whistle never ceased. The next moment they were again in daylight and whizzing downwards faster than the wind—at such perilous speed that the trees could hardly be distinguished as they were passed. Fathers and mothers frantically clutched their children, and many minds were be wildered by the reflection whether it would be safer to leap from the train than to re main and hopefully await the end. It soon came. Many remembered that Peat's Ferry was the actual terminus of the line, and others better acquainted with its con tiguity esclaiwied, " Tbe River !" — two words of potent meaning. The porter stationed at the Peat's Ferry station heard the continuous whistling, and a few seconds afterwards saw the ap proaching train coming upon him at the rate of 70 miles an hour. It was a moment for presence of mmd —for action, not for bewilderment. His was noble beyond all praise. Imagine his position. At tho station were two lines, both terminating at the embankment of the river. On the one line there was a heavy train which had just discharged its contingent of passengers, and if the approaching train had been allowed to run into this the resistance to the shock would have been so great that as bhe one train telescoped the other they would have smashed up every carriage. In the other line there were some light empty contractors' trucks, and he at once realised that a collision with them was the better of the two inevitable results. It was his duty to shunt the train on to that one, but it was a duty that required more than ordinary courage. If he allowed the train to go straight on it meant certain de struction. If, on the other hand, he attempted to shunt a train coming down without control at that enormous pace, the chances were equal-hat the points would not act quickly enough, and the slightest failure would have resulted in part of the train gatting on ono line and part on the other, and a terrible smash up in which the porter himself would probably be involved. Had his nerve failed for a momeni—had ho abandoned the points or worked them insuf ficiently in his fear—the consequences would have been disastrous beyond contemplation. But his presence of mind was sure. A moment's reflection decided him. He turned the train on to the line occupied by the trucks and held his breath as he waited the result. It was as he had expected. Dashing past the platform, the train wen. as he directed and collided with the trucks, scattering them to fragments. The loco motive toppled over the embankment, in stantly • killing Wilson, the driver, and burying him and itself in the mud of the river bank. The fireman had a miraculous escape from an equally sudden death. Pitched some distance beyond in mud and water he escaped death, but sustained injuries so severe that he was in a dazed, semi-conscious condition at a late hour at night. The two carriages behind the engines were smashed beyond redemption, and in these were the passengers killed and injured. The couplings having sepa-. rated, they were not carried over the em bankment. Strange to relate, these par ticular carriages before the delay oc curred in drawing the train over a hill in two sections were at the rear, and were at that time changed. Those who escaped rushed to the assistance of the less fortunate. Three persons who died almost instantaneously, two men and a woman, were laid aside. The body of the engine-driver could not be removed, and we believe still remains under the engine. Two others, a young man and a little girl, succumbed to their injuries last night and there are others in a dangerous condition. When the medical men arrived in the special train they attended to the injured, who were subsequently conveyed by special train to Sydney. The Rilled and Injured. Mr Rennie, oveiseer for Messrs Amos Brothers, contractors, was riding on the engine He evidently saw that death was imminent, for as the train dashed through the station he waved his handkerchief as though -to say good-bye to those on the platform. He was killed with the unfortu nate driver, Thomas Wilson, who wa_ caught legs under a portion of the engine, •The carriage next to the engine rose in bh'e air and then telescoped into the next carriage. The occupants of the former Gscaoed, strange to say, with very little m uiries, but those of the latter, which was an American car, suffered severely ; two of them a young girl of about 20, and a young man 'apparently about 22 years old, Were instantaneously killed, their bodies being Sttliscquently found frightfully toggle*

The girl's right leg was torn off about the knee, her body was mangled and her upper lip cut through. The passengers in the succeeding carriages were some of theip in jured, bub they fared better than those in front. * The bodies of the young man and woman were afterwards also identified. Their story is a peculiarly sorrowful one. The girl was one of several daughters of a widowed mother living ab Petersham. Her name was Eliza Waters, and her age 19. The young man was named Thomas Phillips, aged 20, a plasterer by trade. He was engaged to be wedded to Miss Waters when he should come out of his time as appren tice. They started for Peat's Ferry on Tuesday to spend a happy day- they were corpses before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Driver Wilson's body was discovered in the water, jammed beneath the engine,, which but a moment before he had been driving, and all efforts to extricate it hitherto have failed. The body of Mr Rennie, who was a fine handsome-looking man of about 40 years of age, was seen lying near the permanent way ; and the bodies of the young- man and woman already referred to were in the same car riage. In the pocket of the former were found two return tickets from Lewisham ; and as these'two young people bear a family likeness, ibis supposel bhey were brobher and sisber. The body of the girl was huddled up in a corner, a torn, bloody and lifeless heap. The engine which had been travelling tender in front performed a series of some what curious gyrations in its descent, and when it settled down, the front of the boiler was where formerly the back part of the tender had been, that is to say, the en gine had nob only rolled over and over, but had reversed its position lengthwise. Tho chimney broke off and did not fall into the river, and the tender had nearly disap peared from view in pretty deep water some yards away from the boiler. Hat of Those Killed. T. Wilson, engine-driver. W. Rennie, engineer, in the- employ of Amos Bros., contractors. Eliza Waters. Thos. Phillips, aged 20, plasterer. Hy. Hani-ins, clerk in Railway Store De partment, Eveleigh. List of the liajured. Harold Barry, four years old, right arm broken ; was taken to the residence of Mr Cowdery, engineer foi existing hues, ab Petersham. Miss Eftm Hunter, May-streeb, Sb. Peters ; combined fracture of the left leg and severe lacerated wound on the left bhigh ; in a state of collapse and not ex pected bo live. Leg will have to be ampu tated, but cannot be dono unless re-action sets in. Mrs Blonifjron, Hyde Park Observatory, 219 Elizabeth-street, Sydney • contused wound under chin and contusions on right shoulder. Taken to Sydney Hospital for injuries to be dressed, and afterwards taken home. Miss Charlotte Blomgren (daughter of the above) ; dislocation of right hip and fracture of left arm. Taken to Prince Alfred Hospital. Miss Sarah Blomg.en (sister of the above); slightly injured. Joseph W. Bannister, 27, residing at 21 May-street, Pyrmont ; sprained ankle and bruised knee. Charles Potter, 45, 7 Derwent-street, Glebe; severe shaking and compound fracture of the left leg.' Takon tb Sydney Hospital. Mrs Potter (wife of the above) ; contusion of both legs and good deal .haken. Taken to Sydney Hospital. Jas. T. Thornton, 123 Lachlan-street, Waterloo ; injury to shoulder. John Pye, of Petersham, fireman of the train ; cub on scalp and abrasions on back. .'Harold A. Bishop Brown, of Ashfield; deep cut on right cheek. Charles Maillay, of Woollahra ; graze on shin. Miss Chan tier, of 36 Wynyard Square, Sydney ; severe fracture of left leg. Sydney Conyers, about 26, residing in Wynyard Square,and employed in Existing Lines of Railways Departmenb; fracture of right leg. George A. Bailey, 60, of 135 Q»een-street, Woollahra ; considerably shaken. Miss Elizabeth Crouch, supposed to reside at Pyrmonb; bruised shoulder and right side ; good deal shaken. Miss Elizabebh Pay ton, of 32 Charlotte street, Enmore ; injury to back. Miss Harriet Paybon (sisber of bhe above) ; lefb shoulder bruised j much shaken; left side injured. , Miss Ada Payton (sister of above); left ankle sprained. Miss Alice Lourigan, or Lonergan, of 203 Dowling-street, Moore Park; sprained ankle and slighb bruise over left eye. Miss Mahoney; left arm and right hip dislocated.. ... ~ Miss May Mahoney, 17, of Young-street, Croydon ; fracture of right tibia and small contused wound on left leg. Taken to Prince Alfred Hospital. Miss Zitelle E.. Bailey, of Queen-street, Woollahra; severely injured. Miss Louisa Hough, of Waverley; both knees bruised. ~ James Malcolm, 22, of Graham-street, North Shore; shaken. John Nash, 25, of the Lands Department, residing at Burwood ; fracture of left thigh and leg. Taken to Prince Alfred Hospital. John Harvey, coachbuilder, Shepperd street, Darlington; lacerated thumb and bruised hand. Miss Elizabeth Stapelton, of Woollahra; contusions and shock to system. Miss E. A. Hough, of Waverley ; injury to hip. James H. Hargreaves,of 81 Forbes-street, Newtown ; bruised wrist. O. H. Reed, of Balmain ; abdominal in jury. Henry Lane, of Amos-street, Macdonald town ; bruised hand v James West, 32, of Abbatoir-road, Rosella Bay, Balmain; contusion of right leg and shaken. P. Bowles, 26, living near Mart's Dock, Balmain ; incised wound over right side of forehead, lacerated chiki, contusion of left forearm, and much shaken. Marion Turnbull, 24, of Goodsir-street, Balmain ; injury to left forearm. A few others were more or les3 injured,, but their names were nob ascertainable. The Guard's Statemeat Alfred Clissold, the guard of the train, gives the following account: —After leav ing Ryde the driver found he was short of water, and could not take the train up the bank. He pub back to Ryde, took in water there and got as far as Beecroft Cutting, where the train again came to a standsbill, and we found it necessary to divide it and take half the carriages on to Hornsby at one trip, and return- for the other half. This was done, and the carriages which were in front on leaving Sydney were in the rear of the train for the rest of the journey. The train was re-united and started again, but after leaving Hornsby it came to a stand again. I got out and ran towards the engine to ask the driver what was the matter, but before I got to him he succeeded in starting the train again, and I jumped on to the nearest carriage, a first-class saloon, the third from the en gine. As soon as we began to go down the bank (that is, the decline) I saw by the speed at which we were travelling at that the driver had lost control over the train. I applied the brake of the carriage I was on and hung on to it with all my might. I could not get to any of the other carriages to put the brake on them, as I was intercepted at each side by the ordinary four-wheeled carriages with no passage through. Thfe train was going at a tremendous rate, and it swayed backwards and forwards so as to take me off my legs two or three times. I hung on till the fngiuQ capsized, I

heard something roll down the bank, which must have the engin.. The carriage I was on was nearly capsized. Ib was hanging more than half way over, and I believe ib was only the strength of the coupling which saved it from falling over into the river. It was nearly full of people, and they were trying to get out through the upper windows. I propped it up with a sleeper, and helped to geb the passengers out. I have been 27 or 28 years on the line, and never had an acci dent before of any kind. If I had been oa the rear carriage instead of one in tho middle of the train, ib would have been impossible for me to apply the brake to more bhan one carriage, lb has been said bhab some of bhe people were scream ing as bhey came through the tunnels, being afraid at the speed of the train. This is not true, so far as I saw. Some noise was caused by youths and boys .skylarking as we got into the tunnels. The first thing I saw after getting out of the train after the accident was the body of Inspector Rennie laid on the bank. Statement by a Passenger. Mr W. J. Parks said : I was in one of the first-class carriages. The train left Redfern at 10.25 in the morning, and every thing went all right until we were approach ing the Peat's Ferry Station. Suddenly the train commenced to gain extra speed, which rapidly increased. We were going down hill ab bhe time, a steep incline. The speed became terrific, so that omr breath seemed to be taken away. The women screamed and the passengers rose to their feet. It all appeared to be a matter of a very few minutes, for hardly were we able properly to realise that we were on a runaway train before we dashed into a lot of ballast waggons with terrific force. The carriage seemed to double up into a heap and we were thrown with horrible violence against each other and against the sides or roof or seats of the carriage,! can't say which —perhaps all. The carriage was on its side, or such of it as was whole, and through the broken windows those who were able clambered out. It was a scene of fearful commotion, and screams and groans and cries for help were heard all round, com bined with the hissing of the steam from the engine, which we afterwards found had tumbled into the river. Only two of the first-class carriages were affected, aud these were telescoped into one another. I managed to climb through one of the windows, and by the time I did so there were many persons willing to assist us. I escaped most miraculously with nothing worse than a bruise on the arm and the ankle, but several of those in the carriage were pinned to the floor by broken seats and pieces of the carriage, which had to be cut away in order to re lease them. There was a lot of confusion ab the time,and the cries of those who were injured were heartrending to hear. Ib was a perfect wonder that more of us were not killed or more severely injured. The injured Mere removed to a public-house near and attended to as well as was pos sible.

ELECTORAL NOTES.

(by telegraph.—own correspondent.)

Wellington, this day.

Eden.

Mr Tole is working assiduously to clear away a large quantity of business which has accumulated in the Justice Depart ment, and expects to be able bo leave for Auckland about Friday week for the pur pose of fighting Eden elecbion.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CimiSTCiiUßcir, Tuesday.

Mr Rolleston addressed a crowded meet ing at Prebbleton to-night, and was warmly received. His speech was more especially devoted to an attempt to show that the reductions claimed by the present Govern ment had no real existence. Mr O'Callaghan, who was most enthusiastically received, made a spirited reply, in which he charged Mr Rolleston with disingenuousness. At the close of the proceedings Mr Rolleston received a vote of thanks for his address. Thrpc cheers were given for MrO'Callaghan - Dunedin, Tuesday. A Financial Reform Society was formed this evening to secure a reduction of the salary and allowances of the future Go vernor, reduction of Ministerial saalries, and the curtailment of Legislative expenditure'; a reduction of the number of members of the House by at least one - foiirbh, and the Council nob to exceed one-half the number of the House ; Civil Service retrenchment, equalisation of revenue and expenditure, re sistance to increased taxation, and decen tralisation, f "; • The Hon. T. Dick addressed the electors of Dunedin East, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. Dunedin, this day. C. B. Campbell is.definitely out for Dune din Central. Strong pressure is being brought to bear on Mr Hallenstein to come out for the same seat, and there is a strong probability of his consenting. . : • ■

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

No. 2 Battalion. The usual parade of No. 2 Battalion took place last evening at the Drill-shed. There was a good muster of the City Guards, Vic torias, Newton, and Queen's Own Rifles, under their respective officers. Lieutenant- Colonel Dignan was in command, and in spected the men. The Battalion then formed in column and marched to Princes street, where the men were pub through a course of drill, after which they marched back to the Shed and the parade concluded. Royal Irish Bifles. Another well-attended meeting of this company was held last night in the Catholic Institute. Lieutenant J. Patterson pre sided, and Lieutenant Leahy and all the non-commissioned officers were pre sent. Lieutenant-Colonel Mahon also attended for the purpose of swearing in new members'. Seven were admitted. It was decided to elect Messrs W. J, Suiter, J. Costello, and P. Gallagher honorary members of the corps. It was agreed to allow the election of a captain and a treasurer to remain in abeyance for another fortnight. The next meeting will be on Monday at the Drill-shed at 7.30 o'clock. It is anticipated that the corps will be duly, gazetted during the present week. Should this be done, the corps will attend battalion parade next Tuesday. Capitation. It is rumoured that, in order to prevent any doubts about the correctness of capitation lists in future, a member of the district staff will be instructed to attend all inspections and check the returns of men given as eligible for receiving Go vernment capitation.

WAIKATO NOTES.

(BY TELEGKAPH—-OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Hamilton, this day. . The election for a councillor in the place of Mr Barton, elected Mayor, took place to day. The result of the poll was—Hatrick, 83 ; Salmon, 70. The friends of both can didates were veryconfident, and the result is a great surprise.

- Thames, this day. The Thames Football Club have accepted a challenge of the" North Shore to play a match here on Saturday,

POLICE-COURT—THIS DAY.

(Before Mr H. G. Seth Smith, R.M.)

Drunkenness.—Two persons were punished for firsb offences, and John Thackaberry, who was suffering from delirium tremens.wtis remanded for a week for medical treat ment. No Excuse —Michael Foley was charged with being? found at night without lawful excuse on the schooner Marion. —Prisoner admitted the charge. It was stated that he was found on board the schooner, and was requested by the sailors to clear out, but refused. He was given into the custody of the police at daybreak.—Seven days' im prisonment.. . False Pretences.—George Wyatt, alias F. J. Bennett,was charged with imposing on one William Robertson by false pretences and thereby obtaining from him a passage from Onehunga to Hokianga. Prisoner smiled blahdly when the charge was read and pleaded guilty. Ib was stated thab prisoner had represented himself to be a brother of Mr Wyatt, of Kaweroa, and that he was possessed of a cheque for L2O. Both these statements proved to be false, and Bennett er Wyatt was brought back from Hokianga and handed over to the police.—Fourteen days with hard labour.

FAREWELL DINNER.

The Imperial Hotel last night was the scene of a pleasant gathering of the sport ing fraternity, who assembled at a com plimentary dinner to bid good-bye to Mr W. Lyons. About fifty sat down, and after the .good things provided had been discussed the business of the evening com menced. The chair was occupied by Mr A. Bruce, on his right being the guest of the evening, while the vioe-chair was filled by Mr W. W. Robinson. Mr Bruce in a neat speech proposed the toast of health and prosperity to Mr Lyons in Aus tralia. In the course of his remarks he referred in terms of praise to the high character that Mr Lyons held during his many years' connection with the sport-loving patrons of the community, and amid hearty cheers expressed the hope thab in bhe coming season his colb Too Soon would bear bhe "blue jackeb, whibe cap " to victory in at least one of the im portant races to be run on the Australian turf. Mr Lyons, in responding, said he felt deeply grateful for the kind remarks that had been made concerning him self, and the compliment paid him that evening. He had spent a great part of his life in Auckland, and he could honestly say that he was leaving it with the greatest regret, but he looked forward to returning at some future time. The other toasts were :— " Racing In terests," proposed by Mr J. Chad wick, and responded to by Mr J. Lennard; " The Local Tattersall's," by the Chairman and happily responded to by Messrs Brimble combe, Blaikie, and May; " The Local Trainers," proposed by Mr M. Gallagher, responded to by Messrs J. Chaafe, M. Carmody, and G. Hope ; " Tho Press," by Mr W. W. Robinson, and responded to by Messrs' A. Bruce, A. Jackson, and J. Chadwick ; and "The Host," to which Mr M. Gallagher suitably replied. During the evening several songs and recitations were given, including Lindsay Gordon's "How we Beat the Favourite," and a thoroughly agreeable evening was brought to a conclusion before midnight by the company singing " Auld Lang Syne." It may be mentioned that the menu cards were most appropriate, the racing colours of Mr Lyons being stamped and printed on the title page. Mr Lyons leaves for Sydney by the s.s. Tarawera this evening, his racehorses Too Soon and Queenie being conveyed by the same boat.

Mr Lyons received the following telegram from Chrißtchurch this morning :— " The bookmakers of this city, haying lieard you are leaving Auckland, and going to Sydney to follow your business, are sorry you are leaving us, but wish you a safe passage and every success in your new home.—A. Drake."

ONEHUNGA LOAN.

Lively Meeting of Ratepayers

A meeting of the Onehunga ratepayers was held last night in the Public HalL Th Mayor, Dr. Scott, presided, and briefly stated that the meeting had been called to consider the advisability of levying a special rate of 6d in the £ in order to secure the interest and sinking fund on the L 5.000 —already sanctioned—which it was pro posed to borrow from tho Government. He produced papers to show that all the former proceedings had been in'conformity with the Municipal Corporations Act, and that the previous poll was thoroughly legal. The reason for taking the second poll, he explained, was simply.economy. They had nowto consider the question of whether they should pay a high or low rate of interest on the proposed loan. At present the borough was responsible for the contract, L 5,500, as in the last year's balance-sheet that item was shown as a liability, and the Auditor- General certified to it; therefore, if they refused to sanction a special rate (which it was now proposed to take a poll upon) then the general rate would be used to pay interest on the loan. Mr Yates expressed the conviction that the firsb poll had been illegal. The mabter was discussed at some length, and ultimately Mr Sullivan moved, "That this meebing is of opinion that no poll be taken re loan for water and special rate, and that any further considera tion of the matter be deferred until the town is in a position to bear tho burden of increased taxation." Mr Neilson seconded the motion. Mr Yates then tried to address the meeting amidst great uproar, and at 10 o'clock was compelled to retire from the platform, which was then occupied for another hour by Messrs Jackson and Wilson, when no decision was arrived ab and the meeting dispersed.'

STONE BREAKING AT MAN GERE.

A Mangere correspondent writes to say that the members of the. Road Board of that district have been lately duped to a shameful extent by some stone-breakers, who took a contract for breaking about 200 yards of stones. The quantity of stones stipulated for was seemingly broken all right in two large, heaps ■by the side of the mountain, and. after the heaps were care fully measured by an officer of the Board the contractor was paid in full for his work, which appeared to have been well done, ac cording to the judgment of the members of the Board, who reckon themselves good judges of such work; but lo ! when the cart ing out of one of the heaps took place, it was found that the heap, to a great extent, consisted of large boulders in the bottom, and right Up to the top, the aag.e_ of thS heap having been interlarded with fine large thistles (not Scotch thistles, however, as no specimen of that weed grows in the district), which were very artistically arranged to prop up'tha broken scoria stone on the top of the big boulders, so that the deception was never detected until after the contractor was paid and the broken metal carted out. Fully one-third of the heap consisted of large boulders, and the second heap is expected, when opened up, to prove the same;£ and the worst of the matter is,, the contractor, has left the 'district,

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day.

Cambria. ---lOlbs of specimens are to hand from No. 1 footwall leader, No. 3 level. Cambria.- The crushing is shaping pay ably at the battery. The crosscut at No 3 level is being pushed ahead, and it is ex pected that it will hole through to the winze sunk on No. 1 cross-leader in the course of a few days. Gold is seen pretty freely when breaking down the footwall leader. Taken altogether, it must be admitted that the prospects of this mine are improving. Golden Crown.—lt is the Intention of Mr Dunlop to break out trial parcels of quartz from Nos. 1 and 2 reefs, which will be treated carefully in order to ascertain exactly what grade quartz can be crushed remuneratively now that the Company possesses a battery of its own. ■ ■:.--. ' Saxon.—Although very little picked stone has been obtained during the last few days from the reef at No. 4 level, colours of gold are frequently seen. No gold has yeb been observed on the lode in the hillward drive ab No. 3 level, but the country is a nice favourable sandstone.

COROMANDEL.

[From Our Own Correspondent..

Monday. The annual meeting of the Royal Oak Company was held on Saturday, Mr Woollams presiding. The report was very encouraging. The yield of gold during the past year from tributers is 1,200 ounces 18 dwts 12 grains melted gold, valued at) £8,076 lis 3d. Of this the Company re ceived £770 17s sd, and after paying a dividend of Is per share spent the remainder in prospecting the mine, the result of which is given in the following paragraph:—" In driving a crosscut from No. 3 level a fair run of gold has been dis covered in the No. 1 reef, from which has been taken 118oz gold from 1£ tons and 1201b specimens. On the 23rd a couple of shots put into the reef brought down 201b good picked stone, leaving gold still showing in the roof of rise. It will be necessary, however, to do some timbering before any more of the reef can be broken down." The balance-sheet having been read, the meeting re-elected Messrs Tierney and Brett direc tors, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

AUCKLAND ATHENAEUM.

The second meeting of the second session of the above literary society was held last night at the V.M.C.A., when His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Devore) took the chair. There were about 200 persons pre sent to hear a lecture by Dr. Murray Moore, called "An Evening With Longfellow.' The lecturer, whose " Evening with Ten nyson " was such a success last session, was warmly welcomed, and throughout the time occupied by the discourse (two hours) kepthisaudiencewellinterestedandamused. The happy idea of illustrating the lecture by a series of beautiful vocal and instru mental renderings of various of Longfellow's poems, arranged in chronological progres sion, was well carried out. Mr Leslie Martin accompanied the singers in his usual good style, and the following pro gramme was gone through to perfection, the gem being Miss Corbett's song, " The Arrow and the Song " :—Quartette, " Stars of the Summer Night," Miss Kempthorrie, Mrs Tebbs, Messrs Charter and Edwards; solo; "The Wreck of the Hesperus," Mr T. Charter; duet, " Excelsior" (Balfe), Messrs Edwards and Charter ;. song, " The Stars and Bars " (Barnett), Miss Corbett; quartette, "Good Night, Beloved" (Pin suti), Misses Kempthome ■ and Corbett, Messrs Edwards and Charter,-solo, " Day break " (Romer), Mrs Tebbs; solo, " The Arrow and the Song " (Balfe),'Miss Corbett. In his opening remarks, the, lecturer, who is a first-class authority upon the subject, spoke of the rapid growth of the demand in Europe, especially England, for American poetry, which had risen during the presenb half century, there being the 'greatest call for Longfellow's poems.> Longfellow was born in 1807, and was descended from the oldest' Maine families, who trace their line : to the Pilgrim Fathers. His father's name was Stephen Longfellow; like 0. W. Holmes and other American poets, he was descended from the most aristocratic families. It was interesting to note that his mother was a most beautiful woman, and veryfond of music and poetry. Longfellow, who was rather a delicate childandwhoseonlyathleticexercise consisted in long walks, was one of eight, and was brought up in the Unitarian faith. His firsb readings book him into the realms of fancy, Don Quixote beinjr his favourite book in his young days. His first public exhibition of his .poetical talent was when' the " Portland Gazette " published a small poem, which at once (the author being only 16 years of age) established his reputation amongst his friends as a poet, n The scholas tic career of Longfellow was now run through at the Bowdoin College, where he had the chair of modern languages given to him, with orders to travel: in -Europe. Longfellow met Washington Irving, his favourite, author, inljSpain, and a great friendship sprang up between them. Re turning to America, he was appointed to the chair of Modern Languages at Harvard University, and again went to Europe, where he met Dickens, Carlyle and others. The year of 1835 was a sad one for Long fellow, as he lost his wife at Rotterdam. In 1831 the Tyrol was explored by the poet, and at Interlachen he met his future wife. Returning to; America, Longfellow: found his University celebrating itstwo-hundredbn anniversary. He now settled down te his duties, his work-room * being the well known General , Washington , Chamber, in which most of his poetry written between the, years: 1837 and 1845 first appeared on. paper. In .1843 Long fellow married Frances Eliaabeth Apple ton. A careful criticism and explanation of some of Longfellow's more celebrated poems was then given by the lecturer, mention being made of the, great sale of " Hiawatha," of which 100,000 copies were sold in one year.. A vote of thanks en thusiastically given to the lecturer and'his able musical assistants wound up the even ing, after which a.meeting of the Society was held, when a number of gentlemen proposed at the last meeting were elected members. • ,- -

COMING EVENTS.

meetings, &c. To-night.

Agricultural Hall—Royal Jubilee Burlesque and Pantomime Company, 8. Bell's Buildings, Wyndhaih-sfceet - Industrial Association s Exhibition. .' i City Hall-Skating Rink, 2 to 5 and 7.30 to 10 7 £ amess Church—Presbyterian Conference, Excelsior Hall, Newton-Those who are willing turn^rwfthTm tee iB faVOUr ° f te  c |thedral Library, Paraell-Malenesian Mis- Ne\vmarket Hall-Members ol Gardeners Horticultural Society, 7.30. ~, ; f

Rota of- Justices at Foil, o Court.

June3o-MessrsG. P.-lv. e'andl P. L, Prime.

Auction Sales To-morrow.

B-Tonka and Co-Fruit, Produce, &c, 11. , " a. Cochrane and &c 12 "'-'-> E.Leydon—Household FurnitU'e, : &c." 11 "'-- Frwaesl toft^ 1 * Caaes ' f l ®** A Pi<jUlre

T-IJfe: AUCKLAND ■ EVENING -STAR; -WED^SDAY, ; 'JDWEjj,f 1887. '

5



Look for the words " Freezing Company " on the margin of the pats ; shell brand in the centre.' No other reliable. - (Advt. )