Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 26 May 1866, page 5


News of the Week.

As a proof of the large fish which are occa-sionally caught in our river, we may mention that yesterday a Jew fish, weighing, when cleaned, thirty-eight pounds, was netted near

Kangaroo Point. We understand that in the course of a few days a Branch of the Australian Joint Stock Bank will be opened in Ruthren-street, Toowoomba. We are informed that a funeral sermon on the late Rev. B. Dixon, who recently died at Port Denison, will be preached at the Albertstreet Wesleyan Church, to-morrow, by the Rev. W. J. K. Piddington. Wj have been requested by the Secretary of the Brisbane Hospital to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of £1 from A Friend through Dr. Lonsdown; two dozen quart bottles of ale from Mr. Sullivan, St. Patrick's Tavern; forty loaves from Messrs. Sullivan and Cohen, Refuge Row; and a quantity of periodicals , from E. B. Southerden, Esq. , Ouk Oxley Creek correspondent says the weather ha 3 been pretty favorable for agricultural operations during the past week. The mornings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th were very cold, leading us to expect speedy frosts, since then, however, it has been milder, with showers , at intervals. A continuance of mild weather ■ for a few weeks longer will be productive of immense benefit to the late potatoes, whioh up to ■ the present look very well. . We understand that an exhibition of the : attainments of the pupils at " Our Lady of Mercy Convent Schools," Brisbane, will take : place at the school on Monday evening. A very \ pleasing programme has been prepared; and,' judging from the success which has attended similar concerts in Melbourne, we believe that j those who are invited to be present will be j extremely pleased. ! The Toowoomba Chronicle of May 24 reports the following instance of " narrow escape" which occurred on the afternoon of Monday week. A little boy, son of Mr. Jennings, was playing near J a waterhole on the property of Mr. Ciarles Taylor, when he slipped and fell into the water. Fortunately, William Cummings, a builder, who > was at work on the roof of a new store about a hundred yards off, observed the accident, ran to ' the spot, plunged in, and was just in time to ! save the child from a watery grave. ' Ykstebday evening, about half-past 5, a man named Isaac Hincheleff, fell off a scaffold, at the corner of George-street and Margaret-street, where some new buildings are being erected. ! The attention of his fellow-workmen was first directed to the circumstance by hearing him groaning just as they were packing up their tools to leove work. They found his head resting on the ground, and his back on a large stone. They ' took him at once to the hospital on a stretcher, and Dr. Lansdown attended him. It is ex* ! pected that the poor fellow's bock is broken, but ', Dr. Lansdown cannot speak positively, as it is impossible to examine him at present. Ho is [ totally unconscious, and there is but little hope | of his recovery. ', Ybstebdat morning as Mr. W. H. Walsh, M.L.A., and Mr. Royds, M.L.A. were driving in a buggy along Queen-street, the horse started off at full speed, and in passing a cab in the > middle of the road, swerved sharply on one : side. The two gentlemen were thrown out violently to the ground ; Mr. Walsh, we regret to say, received one or two severe contusions on his head, and bled copiously from his nose. He was assisted into Mr. Bulcock's shop, and when ' he had sufficiently recovered he was removed to , the Club. Mr. Royds, though severely bruised ' and shaken, escaped without further injury. The horse bolted down the street, and was 1 stopped below the Police Station, without doing ! any further damage than capsizing an orange i stall. We are happy to say, that the injuries Mr. Walsh received, were not so serious as was j anticipated, and that he has recovered sufficiently : to return home. ' We are requested to call attention to a public i meeting of the promoters and friends of the ! " Ladies' Benevolent Society," to be held on Monday evening, in the Chamber of Commerce. | This society has originated from the public ! meeting held a month ago on the subject of the i distress existing in this city and its suburbs. The society then formed received the title of i the " Systematic Beneficence Society," but the ; committee appointed at that meeting thought I it desirable to change the title to the present ! one—" The Ladies' Benevolent Society." The ' committee will consist of ladies only, and there can be no doubt that, in their hands, the funds ! placed at their disposal by the charitable will be kindly and judiciously applied to the relief ■ of the distressed and suffering poor. We commend this society to the support of the public, and trustto sec a large meeting. The following case is reported by the Daily Telegraph, as having come before the Thames Police Court, London, on the 17th March :— " Elizabeth Gitliff, a native of Australia, who appeared to be very ill and poor, and was laboring under great trepidation and anxiety, came before Mr. Paget and related an extraordinary narrative, of the truth of which there could be no doubt. Her husband died a few years ago on his return from the gold diggings, leaving her with two young cluldren, both girls, with whom she was living in Melbourne until the early part of 1863, when severe illness compelled her to go into the hospital. She left her children in the care of George Brown, an engineer, and his wife, of Little Collins-street Melbourne. Brown worked on board steam, boats, and his wife was her cousin. While she was in the hospital they sent her a letter, and no answer being returned, they took it for granted that she was dead, and went to the diggings, taking the children with them. Directly she was restored to health she followed the Browns and her children to the diggings, but could not meet with them. She returned to Melbourne, heart-sick, wearied, and disappointed, and in great distress, where she was informed that the Browns had gone to England, and taken the children with them. A subscription was raised, and sufficient money collected to Bend her to England. She arrived at Liverpool at Christmas, and travelled to London, j She could hear nothing of her children or the Browns, and her resource* were now entirely exhausted. She had lived by raising money on her property for the last six weeks, and put in the duplicates relating to it in confirmation of her statement. She also handed to the magistrate certificates in verification of her story. She wanted to return to Melbourne, and had not the means of doing so. Mr. Paget said that it was a distressing case, and that he would cause inquiries to be made, and see what could be done."

The Municipal Council will hold their usual fortnightly meeting on Monday next. Petitions will be received from residents in Facers-street, the Valley Ward, and at Kangaroo Point. Reports will be brought up from the Finance and Improvement Committees. Tenders will be considered for supplying road metal, and for the construction of a culvert. The following notices of motion will be brought forward:— By his Worship the Mayor—That an additional sum of £50 per annum be paid to the Inspector ,of Nuisances on account of extra labor. By Alderman Collins—That tenders be called for making and metalling Albert-street. By Alderman Hockings—That the Market Committee rereport upon the size and description of a marketplace for South Brisbane. By Alderman Darrigh —That tenders be invited for making and forming Boundary-street, Kangaroo Point. By Alderman Hockings—That there be a call of the whole Council for Monday, 28th May, to reconsider the question of payment to the assessor for South Ward. By Alderman Hockings— That a ferry be established between Boundary , streets, North and South Brisbane. We have been requested by the Secretary of the Brisbane Hospital to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of £1 from Mr. Michael M'Cann, through A. O. Herbert, Esq.; one dozen gallon stoppered bottles, from Mr. Joshua Ebenston ; two dozen porter, from Mr. William Deagon, Prince of Wales Hotel; a large quantity of books, from Mrs. Sophia Walker; clothing, from Mr. Ellerkerand Mr. Goldsmid; and firewood, from Mr. Oliver. Ik reference to the purchase of the Wivenhoe estate, the Umpire of May 19 says:—"The committee of this fund met at the Metropolitan Hotel, King-street, last evening; Richard Jones, Esq., in the chair. New subscriptions were announced to the amount of about £350, which will be found particularised in our advertising columns, and the meeting adjourned until Wednesday next. As the sale of the property is fixed for the 4th proximo, the necessity of promptitude and liberality in affording assistance was strongly dwelt upon. About two-thirds of the amount required, it was announced, had been promised." Late on Saturday evening, Sab-inspector Lloyd and a mounted trooper started for Woogaroo, to ascertain the truth respecting the stabbing of a man named James Fitzpatrick by a Chinaman. It appears that on Sunday afternoon, Fitzpatrick and four other men were driving from Woogaroo to Brisbane, when they overtook two Chinamen, about four miles from Oxley Creek. Fitzpatrick went up to one of the Chinamen, and attempted, to take his horse, but he resisted, and struck Fitzpatrick with a stick, and was knocked down for doing so. The Chinaman then called his mate to assist him, and in the scuffle that ensued, the latter stabbed Fitzpatrick. The Chinamen then ran away, but the one who was first assaulted, is in the custody of the police. Fitzpatrick was conveyed to Freeney's public-house, and although the wound is severe, he is in no serious danger. A kektinq in connection with the Fortitude Valley Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society was held in the Valley Church (Wesleyan) on Monday. About 150 s*t down to an excellent tea. After the tables had been removed, the President, the Rev. Mr. Wodehouse, gave an address in favor of mutual improvement societies. The secretary's report then followed, which ehowed the society to be in a prosperous coadition. The choir sang "Canaan." Mr. Snow then gave a recitation from " Pollock's Course of Time;" followed by an essay from Mr«Corbett, on the "Benefits resulting from Mutual Improvement Societies;" a recitation by Mr. Cox, "Eulogy on the Bible;" followed by the choir singing " Dying Christian to his soul." Messrs. Moore and Clemetia then gave recitations. The choir sang "Forgive blest shade." The Rev. Mr. Brown mode a speech ; Mr. Allen, a recitation; and the choir sang " God save the Queen." A vote of thanks to the ladies followed; and, after singing the Doxology, a very interesting meeting dispersed. A clever capture of a blackfellow, for horse stealing, was made on Sunday evening by Subinspector Lloyd. He was stopping at Freeney's public-house, near Oxley Creek, when he heard a man ride past the house on the way to Woogaroo. He followed about half-an-hour afterwards, but, though he went at full speed, did not overtake the former horseman. He fancied he noticed him, however, draw off the road while he was passing. This proved to be correct, for while he was at Woogaroo the horseman passed, and Mr. Lloyd, thinking bis attempt to conceal himself suspicious, stopped him and asked the blackfellow where he was going. He said he was riding Mr. M'DonnelTs horse to a station up country. He said he had left his bridle and saddle in Brisbane. Mr. Lloyd doubted this story, and detained the blackie, and he heard soon afterwards that the horse was stolen that morning from Mr. M'DonnelTs, at Oxley Creek. It was a very valuable horse that the blackfellow was taking away. In accordance with a motion made by the Hon. H. B. Fitz, a return of the lands resumed for railway purposes and the amount of compensation paid by the Government for the resumption of the same has been laid on the table of the Legislative Council. The items in the return possess much interest, as they afford another proof of the jobbery which has been licensed under the railway scheme. We recollect that some time ago certain gentlemen, during the recess of Parliament, paid a visit to the various townships at which it was proposed termini should be established. Among them was one who, holding at the present time many lucrative offices under the Government, was then charged by us with having an object in view when he left his comfortable residence within the precincts of Parliament to travel with a then recognised strong supporter of the Government—one universally allowed and who liked j to be named " the fifth Minister" over the Main , Range to Toowoomba and onward. At the time j we made the statement we believed we were eori rect; the Parliamentary return before us proves I that we were, for we find that he and other pur* | chasers of land in the districts through which | the railway is to be carried, are to receive com: pensation. We should not like to say that ! undue influence was exercised, but we leave it to , the public to judge whether so soon after certain i lands were purchased by certain gentlemen, comj pensation money should be voted to them, j as it was previously known that such land would '■ be required for railway purposes. Mr. James Taylor's name frequently appears as one of the , " compensated," and there must have been in| formation afforded to him and many of his j friends—Mr. L. A. Bernays not excepted —to , have caused them so suddenly to rush into hud j speculation. Of course the last-named gentleman must have been well acquainted with the value of land between Jondaryan and Dolby, and the prospects of compensation otherwise he would not have paid at the rote of £200 per acre for it. With Bigge's Camp or Grandchester : it is unnecessary to assert that Mr. J. Taylor ; was acquainted, as he is a member of that far, seeing class, who weigh well the consequences before they act. The grand total of compensation in money paid amounts to £22,040 19s. 7d. ' We only hope that some independent member j will bring the whole matter under the notice of Parliament.

The new baths that are being erected by Mr. Le Brocq, at Petrie's Bight, near the Brisbane Gas Company's Works, are fast approaching completion. The length of the bath is eighty feet, and the breadth forty, and the depth varies from three feet of water on one side to seven feet on the other. They are to be called the Metropolitan Baths, and will be opened in about six weeks time. We are informed that, at a meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association on Friday* Mr. J. W. Todd read an essay on " Thomas Hood, Wit and Poet;" and also gave some extracts from his works. After the reading of the paper, the meeting discussed the chief merits of the essay, and also of Hood's poetry, Messrs. Bennison, Thome, Palmer, and others taking part in the conversation,. Mr. Fulwood read " The Song of the Shirt;" and after some remarks from Mr. Todd, the chairman closed the meeting by prayer. The following items are extracted from a letter received by us from a private correspondent at Bowen :—" The Free Church, owing to the departure of the Eev. W. Griffith, has become closed. The only clergymen now here are:— Rev. William M'Ointy, Roman Catholic ; Rer. Mr. Searle, Church of England. A movement has taken place to get the Kennedy District separated from Brisbane misrule. The Rer. Dr. Lang is to be invited to pay us a visit in order, no doubt, to obtain the weight of his experience in a matter so important. The barque City of Melbourne will sail hence this evening for the Albert River Settlement; she takes a cargo of timber." It has been notified by advertisement during the week that the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Mail Company's steamship Kaikoura will be dispatched from Sydney for Panama vid Wellington on the 15th of next month. She will leave Wellington on the 24th of that month, and arrive at Panama on the 21st July. Passenger* and mails will be transhipped into the Royal Mail Company's steamship at Colon, and will arrive at Southampton on the 14th August The lares, including transit across the Isthmus, are in the saloon from £95 to £105, according to the cabin accommodation ; and in the second cabin £65. From Sydney to Panama only, they are from £55 to £60 ; and in the second cabin £35. The fares from the Isthmus to New York are chief cabin, £16; second cabin, £10. W* understand that the committee appointed at the meeting held in* the Town Hall, on the 30th ultimo, for the purpose of forming a Systematic Beneficence Society, have applied to the Government for a grant of land in this city. We are not aware to what use this land is to be put, but it is to be hoped that the subscriptions, if any, which have been, or which will be raised, will not be frittered away in stones and mortar when they could be so much more profitably employed in at once alleviating what is generally, and we believe correctly, supposed to be only temporary distress. If, also, a building is erected by this society, it will be very lite a workhouse, by whatever name it may be called; and if Queensland requires an institution of this sort the sooner the fact is proclaimed to the world at large the better. For our own part we think that the colony can go on a good deal further, even at the present rate; without any necessity arising for the erection of one of these buildings. I Govkbxxknt Hoitsb is now lighted with gas, and the alteration has been accomplished in a very tasteful manner. In the entrance hall there is a-gasalier of twenty-six lights. The drawing rooms are illuminated by double crystal brackets, which are so placed as to secure an uniform distribution oflight. The dining room is lighted by ornamental bronze brackets, and the other rooms by gasaliers. The offices, verandahs, and other parts of the building are lighted with bronze pendants. There are also gaslights at the lodge and entrance to the avenue. In all there are 170 lights on the premises. The house is fitted up with iron pipes, which are placed underneath the flooring. The iron pipes have been adopted because they are considered safer than composition pipes, which are sometimes cut through by rats. The work has been excuted, by Messrs. Watson and Stewart, of Albert-street, who also laid on the gas at the Immigration Barracks and Police Station. Thkei are many, who anxious of furnishing exhibits of a really valuable description to the local exhibition, have been prevented from so doing, owing to the length of time required for preparing them. We may mention as one instance, that of Mr. Thrower, the cabinetmaker, of Queen-street, who, although he has bestowed considerable labor, and devoted a great amount of time to one piece of work, has only now completed it. The exhibit (which by the way is to be sent to Paris), is a most elegant ladies' toilet table, constructed of colonial woods, namely —tulip, satin, and Cyprus pine. The design is that of a pedestal table, each pedestal containing four drawers, the handles of which arc beautifully carved from the heart of the tulip tree, and represent bunches of flowers and fruits. The mountings of the pedestals are of satin wood, and there has evidently been considerable care bestowed upon them, judging from their highly-finished appearance. The standards of the looking-glass are of yellow wood, elaborately carved. Altogether the piece of work is well worthy of notice, not only as showing how well our colonial woods are i adapted to the uses of the cabinet maker, but also as proving that we possess here skilled labor equal to any to be found in other colonies. The new School of Arts will be entirely completed, we are informed, in about four weeks. All the accommodation required by such an in* stitution will be found on the premises; and those members who knew by experience the unsuitability of the old building, will hare nothing to complain of now in that respect. We have before given an account of the arrangements in that portion of the new institute facing Creekstreet ; and, as the entire building will soon be completed, it will not perhaps be out of place to give a description of the remainder of the building. The front facing Queen-street will be let for shops and offices, four of the former and two of the latter. At the rear of these shops there is a large hall, the chief entrance to which is in Queen-street ; lit opens also into Creek-street. Its dimensions are 80 feet by 40 feet, and the wall plates are about twenty-two feet from the floor. Next to the large room of the Town Hall, it is, without doubt, the most handsome public hall in Brisbane. Sufficient provisions are made for ventilation and light. At one end of the hall there is a spacious platform, with a declining surface, which will afford ample accommodation for public meetings, concerts, Ac. We believe that the room is capable of accommodating from 800 to 1000 persons. When completed, the building will be a credit both to the Institute and to Brisbane. The only part of it which offends, or even which does not please the eye, is that monstrously ugly pepper-box, or, as some way call it, cupola, placed on the most prominent part of the building.

Dcxnra the week large numbers of visitors have attended at the local exhibition, which, , owing to the numerous articles which have ■ been received of late, is well worthy of a visit. ! Wk may mention that, as the Victorian Com* ; missioners have postponed the opening of the , exhibition in Melbourne from August to I October, many of those in Queensland, who . have not as yet appeared as exhibitors, can for* j ward their exhibits to Melbourne after the exhibition in this town has been closed. That, ] perhaps, will suit western and northern resij dents who, from petty feelings of jealousy towards Brisbane, have refrained from sending in many contributions which they could have sent had they not been influenced by feelings which should not exist when the interest of the ; colony, as a whole, is concerned, i Wk have had an opportunity of inspecting Mr. L. Carmichaers patent direct action soda j water machine, imported by him from England. With this machine that gentleman is enabled to manufacture all kinds of mineral waters together with the usual aerated drinks, such as sodawater, lemonade, 4c. We can personally testify to the good quality of many of Mr. Carmichaers concoctions. Now that such drinks can be manufactured in Brisbane, the trouble and expense of importing them may be saved. Wi are glad to see that the authorities have so far taken action to prevent a recurrence of accidents similar to the one which befell a lady and child last week, as to fence in the sides of the very dangerous culvert in Roma-street. That, however, is not the place where the accident happened. The gully inside of the reserve is the spot. Parties entering at the Roma-street gate and going towards the barracks or cricket ground have to cross it. At all times the place is dangerous, and especially so after nightfall. We have again been requested to call attention to the fact. The injured parties are in a fair way of recovery. A xajt named William Chill, seaman onboard the schooner Julia Percy, was arrested on Thursday, on the charge of having stolen a £5 note from Richard Eadsforth, the cook of the same vessel. The hitter had gone on shore on Tuesday night, and when he returned on board had a £5 note in one of his pocket*, and 18s. in another. When he awoke next morning he found that the note had been stolen. He questioned Chill about it, but he said he had only 4s. in the world. Chill subsequently went on shore, and was observed to spend a good deal of monsy, and when accused by a fellow seaman of having 6tolen the note he confessed it, and gave back part of the money. He was at once given in charge, and the case will be investigated at the Police Court. An inquest was held on Thursday morning, at 11 o'clock, by the Police Magistrate, on the body of Thomas Gilbert, a drayman, who was killed on Tuesday by a fall from his dray. The inquest was held at the house of the deceased, near Kelvin Grove. It appeared from the evi-dence elicited that, as the dray was going along, one of the wheels came off and the reins broke I at the same time, and the unfortunate man was | thus thrown out of the dray, when in a state of : intoxication. He was conveyed to his own house, but expired from the effects of the fall before medical aid could arrive. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." I It was not anticipated that there would be so large an attendance of the members of the No. 1 ' Artillery corps as there was on Thursday morning, at the Battery, in the Queen's Park. Out of our small corps of volunteers there were twenty- j four efficient men. The manner in whiph the , salute was fired proved, that although not punc- i tual as regards practice, the members of the ; Artillery Corps can be relied upon when requested to act. There is one circumstance, however, in connection with the salute, yesterday, which should be mentioned, namely, that although the volunteers fired it, the dirty work, for instance cleaning the guns, was left to the soldiers of the 12th regiment to perform. If the members of the Volunteer Artillery Corps are called upon to act, they ought at any rate not to be allowed to leave a battery until the guns are properly cleaned and left in such a condition as to be made available a few days afterwards. We merely mention this, not that we think any member of the corps would shirk his work, but because labor should not be imposed upon others which should be performed by the mem-bers of the corps. It was a matter of astonishment yesterday that although the Government have erected a flagstaff, no flag has been pro- vided. Another of those pleasing entertainments at the South Brisbane Mechanics' Institute, took place on Thursday evening, when there was a full attendance. We have not space to give a detailed notice, but can bear testimony to the excellence of the performance. The songs most deserving of praise were " Sebastopol," sung by Mr. Rogers, also by the same gentlsman, bat in ladies attire, " Mama won't let me marry yet." The latter was rapturously encored. "John Halifax's Dream," by Mr.. ! Cox, was encored; and " Nil Desperandum," I and " Simon the Cellarer," were given in a most : spirited manner by Mr. Pike, and both enthuj Bia3tically re-demanded. " The Bashful Young | Gentleman" being substituted for the latter as lan encore. We must not omit to men| tion "The Lay of St. Gengulphus," | read by Mr. Cox with much point and 1 expression. AI3O, the recitations " Daniel O'Rourke," by Mr. Martin; "The Bashful : Man," by Mr. Eaden; and "The Charge of the 600," by Mr. Keogh. The latter was evi{ dently much appreciated, being unanimously encored. " Beware," a glee, was so nicely ren-I dered that it received an encore; and " The i Two Roses," by the same gentleman, narrowly ; escaped a similar fate. " God bless the Prince j of Wales " concluded the performance, and we hope that we may have many opportunities of t spending as pleasant an hour at South Brisbane |as we did last evening. Before the last song, the new secretary, Mr. Horace Earle, announced ' that the committee intended giving a concert i as a complimentary benefit to the late secretary, 1 Mr. Rogers, some time next week. We trust . that the numerous friends of this gentlemen will not fail to put in an appearance upon that occasion. , The Perth Gazette and Western Australia ; Times of April 27 contains the following re' marks on the subject of a Scab Act being passed : —" The meeting of the Delegates from the several Agricultural Societies, held in Perth , on the 13th instant, resulted in the adoption of a series of propositions on which to solicit the Government that a Scab Act should be based. They are probably sufficiently stringent for the purpose, but as the meeting confined itself to recommending the reduction of the duty upon : sheep tobacco to 4d. per lb., without suggesting ; any method by which the expenses of administering the proposed Act should be defrayed, it is doubtful whether the Government will com-1 ply with their desires. There can be no doubt that even at the reduced duty the revenue from ■ sheep tobacco would be very largely increased | j by the operation of the Act, perhaps sufficiently : so for the first year or two, until scab is eradi* i cated, to meet the cost of inspectors, Sic., \>u I after that time it must fall upon the general rej venue of the colony, a fact not generally accept* ' able to others than sheep-owners."

Tm D. 2>. Gazette of Tuesday states that since their hut issue (Saturday)' the weather I had been clear and mild. And that on Monday x morning, soon after daylight, the thermometer j stood at two degrees above the freezing point.— ■ [Snow, ice, and skating-iuatches may yet become common over the range.—Ed.] Jacky, the blackfellow, who was apprehended on Sunday evening for stealing a valuable hone from Mr. M'Donald, landlord of the ■ Oxley Creek Hotel, was brought before Kearsey : Carman, Esq., Acting-Police Magistrate at | Wogaroo, on Tuesday morning. He was com! mitted to take liis trial at the next Metropolitan District Court assizes held in Brisbane. He was brought down to Brisbane Gaol in Cobb's coach, under the charge of a constable. Mrs. A. Timbbhll, who to our readers is well : known as the authoress of several valuable ; articles on Sericulture, which liave been published in the Qmeemtlauder, has kiadly fur! nished to this office some valuable exhibits of : silk and cocoons. The specimen! forwarded by i Mrs. Timbrell are of a very interesting ' character, inasmuch m they represent the silk as taken from the cocoons, as twisted in the form of cord, and also the cocoons when divested of their silky covering. The silk is of very fine quality, we and hope really that the efforts made by Mrs. Timbrell will meet with not only apj probation, bat eventually a recognition more | substantial than that of mere praise. Asniousaccident occurred on Tuesday mo m I ing on the river, between 5 and 6 o'clock. The ferryman at the Alice-street ferry put off from ; the south side of the river with four passen-I gen, and when he was nearly half-way across he noticed the A.B.N. Company's steamer Ipswich : rapidly approaching him; he shouted out to j those on board to beware of him, but before i the speed could be slackened, or the course | altered, the steamer struck the boat in her bows , and midships. Fortunately the passengers were ' able to clamber on board the steamer, without ; sustaining any material injury, only one man receiving a slight hurt in the eye. The ferryman, however, was not so lucky ; he struck out for : the shore, which he succeeded iv reaching safely. ! A boat was put off from the north side of j the river, and the injured boat was recovered and sent to be repaired. ; Wk are informed that Mr. Horace Earle was I appointed secretary of the South Brisbane I Mechanics' Institute on Monday evening , hut. Mr. A. J. Hockings, who presided, was instructed to present, on behalf of the . Institute, a testimonial to their late secretary, ' Mr. Bogera, expressive of their high appreciation of his untiring exertions for the interest of , the Institute, as also their esteem for him and Mrs. Rogers, in their private capacity. It was also resolved that, as a further token, a special entertainment or concert, upon an extensive scale, be got up by the committee, and the proceeds handed over to Mr. Rogers. j Thbough the courtesy of Mr. Hitehins, of I the Postal department, we are enabled to give ( the following particulars relative to the arrival | and departure of the English mails and their ! contents:—The incoming English m».\W by the Ellora were received on the 19th instant, per Cawarra and Lady Bowen, and consisted of 97 1 boxes, 4 bags, and 3 packets, divided as follows : ; 134 registered letters, 13.140 ordinary letton, . and 23,677 newspapers. The outward mail i per Cawarra and Bombay, was despatched on : the 21st instant, and consisted of 46 boxes, 14 t packages, and 2 bags, divided as follows : 428 | : registered letters, 12,721 ordinary letters, and ! 9857 newspapers and books. Mails were made lup for twenty-nine different parts. As a proof ; of our growing importance in connection with the neighboring colonies, we may mention that : the mails for the Australian colonies and New , Zealand, despatched on the evening of the 14th, '■ contained 3054 letters and 1469 newspapers, by j far the largest intercolonial mail that has ever left. A meeting of gentlemen favorable to the formation of a Football Club in Brisbane was held on Tuesday, at Braysher's Metropolitan Hotel. It was decided that a club should be started, and to this end a committee—consist- ing of Messrs. S. Hart, W. G. Macnish, W. H. Ryder, C. E. Wallen, G. Cowlishaw, and T. Board —was appointed to prepare a code of rules to be submitted to a meeting to be held on the 31st instant. The prospects of the club must be certainly very encouraging to the pro- moters, as already more than twenty gentlemen have joined, and a large number of others have signified their wish to do so. An inaugural soiree, in connection with the Temporary Presbyterian Church, Fortitude Valley, was held in that building on Tuesday evening. Tea was served on the tables at 6 o'clock, and was partaken of by a numerous attendance. After the tables were cleared away, a public meeting was held, at which the Rev. Alexander Caldwell, pastor of the congregation, presided. He addressed the meeting at some length, giving an account of the origin and I progress of the Church in that locality. His i remarks were listened to throughout with ! marked attention. The meeting was then ad| dressed by the Rev. C. Ogg, on Public Schools; by the Rev. J. Cameron, on Christian obligations in relation to religious ordinances; and by j the Rer. B. G. Wilson. During the intervals '•■ between the speeches, the choir sang selections of sacred music, and fruit was handed round to the visitors. After a vote of thanks to the ministers who had taken part in the proceedings, and to the chairman, the meeting terminated.