South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Friday 7 June 1878, page 5


Thb Powees or thb Board or Hbalth.

—On 9 or two points of public interest are involved in the litigation that has recently taken place between the Central Board of Health and Mr. Formbv. As some time

has now elapsed Bince the initiation of these proceedings, it will not perhaps be unnecessary to recall briefly the circumstances of the case. On March 15 the Board served a notice upon Mr. Formby directing him to abate a nuisance on his premises at Port Adelaide, and upon his failing to do so to their satisfaction they laid an information against him under the sixth section of the Public Health Act, which was heard at the Port Adelaide Police Court on March 23. It was then contended by the defendant that no nuisance existed, and Beveral residents corroborated this view ; whilst on the other hand the Board's Inspector testified to the contrary. The prosecution argued that the question at issue was whether Mr. Formby had or had not been guilty of an offence under the Act by disobeying the order of the Board, and this contention was upheld by the Magistrate. An appeal was lodged, and on April 17 the case was heard before the Adelaide Local Court of Full Jurisdiction. Mr. Downer then took the view that the existence of the nuisance was a question for the Board and not for the Court to decide, and he accordingly upheld the conviction, but reserved for the opinion of the Supreme Court the point whether the disobedience of the order to abate the nuisance was an offence against the Act without any evidence of the existence of the nuisance. The case was argued on Tuesday, when the conviction was upheld by the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Stow, who confined themselves to the question referred from the lower Court. It was argued by Mr. Symon on behalf of the appellant that it was against the spirit of English law that any person should be subjected to a penalty without being afforded an opportunity of being heard in his own defence. It is, however, quite clear in the face of the Act that it rests entirely with the Board to satisfy themselves as to the existence of a nuisance, and to allow or refuse to grant an enquiry into the case at their own discretion. At first sight such a state of affairs appears to be likely to be productive of hardship ; but it is undoubtedly desirable that the Board should be invested with the fullest authority, and it is satisfactory to know that their authority has been so definitely determined. For them to hold any different position from that so clearly assigned them by the judgment of the Courts would unquestionably be most undesirable, inasmuch as endless litigation would arise, and . in almost every case the action of the Board would be disputed. We have no desire to pronounce any opinion as to the merits of the case, but it seems to us to be most important that the Board should receive every support in the execution of their functions. At the same time it would be well if they were, except in flagrant cases, to grant an enquiry when asked for in proper form. In the case in point such an investigation might fittingly have been held ; but as Mr. Formby, probably in ignorance of the law, courted no such enquiry at the hands of the Board, it must be conceded that he has himself alone to blame for the triple defeat he has sustained. m ? Govekxmext Litigation. — There is no rule more clearly recognised than that Governments should be especially chary about going to law. Only when every other means of arriving at a reasonable arrangement with those against whom they may happen to have chums or who may happen to have claims against them have failed are they justified in appealing to the Law Courts. This view is based upon the broad ground that Governments which exist for the good of the people should be ruled in all their dealings with the people by principles of equity and good conscience, and not pursue their rights according to the narrow and rigid rules of technical law. If other arguments were needed, they are to be found in the facts — first, that as litigation is an evil the Government should be reluctant to sebabadexample by resorting to it ; and secondly, that inasmuch as Governments notoriously fare ill at the hands of a Jury, it is not to their interest to appeal to its judgment unless all attempts at settlement in other ways have failed. These remarks art apropos of the case of the Government against the Adelaide Steamship Company having reference to the damage done some sixteen months ago to the dredger Willunga by the steamer Victorian. In our Thursday's issue we gave such particulars as we were able to gather upon the subject, and minute enquiry made since justifies the statement that in every material particular the information wa then gave was correct. It appears that the Government after an interval of many months — we scarcely know how many — made a claim upon the Company for a sum of about £5,000 as compensation for the damage done to the Willunga. A ? correspondence thereupon began, and the Company submitted a proposal that the fixing of the amount due should be left to a special nautical tribunal, consisting, for example, of the Admiralty Surveyors of ' South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, This suggestion did not meet with the approval of the Government, and an intimation to that effect was conveyed to the Company. On March 14 the Treasurer was requested by letter to receive a deputation from the Directors and four representatives of the underwriters. To this it was replied that the matter was in the hands of the AttorneyGeneral, then absent in the country, and the suggestion was thrown out that it would be the better course for the Company to put their views in writing. This suggestion it seems the latter did not adopt, and the next phase in the proceedings so far as they are concerned was the receipt of a Supreme Court writ. We do not care to enter into the question of the amount of damages fairly chargeable to the Company, but it does seem to us that inthusdetermining to force thematter into a Court of law the Government have acted precipitately and in direct antagonism to the rales to which we have already called attention. Granted that the Company are liable for damages, granted that the mode of arbitration suggested by them was open to reasonable objection, granted that they have not shown special importunity in keeping the matter before the Government, we yet maintain that upon the statement of facts this resort to litigation ia premature—

that other means of arriving at an equitable understanding so far from being exhausted have been directly discountenanced. What will be the issue of the action at law now initiated if it is persevered in it is impossible to say : but if, as we are positively assured will be the case, the Company join issue, there is the certainty of a prolonged litigation and an enormous outlay in costs. We are pleased to note that the subject has been brought by Mr. King before the Assembly, and .it is to be hoped that means will yet be found to avert a tedious, expensive, and at the best most unsatisfactory lawsuit. SrpposED Shaxxpox ok the Siam. — Tele-grams have bees received front Captain Hector of the RM.S. Siam, now lying at the Quarantine Grounds. The first, dated June 5, states that the doctor has examined the patients and ia positive that the disease is not smallpox, neither the external nor internal symptoms agreeing with those of that complaint. In a second telegram, dated June 6. the captain says : — ' I learn that no communication will be permitted at Adelaide. The patients have been carefully examined, and the surgeon is positive that they are not suffering from smallpox. Two are now well, and three nearly so.' The Melbourne agent of the P. k O. Company also telegraphs: — 'The Siam will be officially declared free from infection after Friday next at 4 p.m. should no farther cases occur. She will leave Port Phillip Heads at noon on 'Wed-nesday, Jure 13.' On hearing of the report of the ship's surgeon respecting the cases of sickness on board, the Chief Secretary telegraphed to the Victorian Government, asking for further information on the subject, in order that our Government might know how to act when the Siam arrived at Glenelg, bat a reply could hardly be expected until this mornipgDeparture of thb Mail. — Mr. F.R. Kendall, the P. & O. Company's agent, states ia a telegran^to the Adelaide agents that the Siam will leave the Quarantine Ground, which is close to Port Phillip Heads, at about noon on 'Wednesday next, in which case she may be expected to arrive at Glenelg early on Friday morning. The mail in Adelaide will close late on Thursday aight, and .should the steamer not sail too early a supplementary mail will ba made up on Friday morning. Telegbaph Cohuccmcation with China. — The Singapore and Saigon cable is interrupted, thus cutting off communication with China. The Oabls News.— Favourable intelligence reaches us of the condition of the Emperor of Germany, but it is stated that his forearm is swollen in consequence of the injuries it has received. The attempts upon his life have given rise to the suspicion that a conspiracy u on fcot to kill the German monarchs and Crown Princes It is announced that Prince Gortschakoff and Count Schouvaloff are to represent Russia at the Congress. The Russian military authorities imist upon the interpretation of the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano relating to tbe cession of fortresses by the Turks, and have again demanded that possession of these should be made over to them. How to Manage a Babt.— Dr. A. Campbell delivered a lecture on this subject at the City Mission Hall on Thursday evening, June 6. The room was well filled and the Hon. J. Colton presided. The lecture was most interesting and instructive, and at its conclusion a vote of thanks was passed with acclamation to Dr. Campbell. Mouirr Gambihe Model School. — Mr. J. A. Hartley, B^~, BJ3c., President of the Council of Education, arrived at Mount Gambiex on Monday, June 3. The Border Watch of June 5 siys that he spent that day and the following at the Model School. On Tuesday morning the Head Mistress handed, him her resignation, which was accepted. The girls' school is to be in charge of the Head Master till another appointment is made, and an effort will be made to complete the teaching staff in this department, which has been short ever since the school opened, with as little delay as possible. The President will recommend that the school ground, which is now in a very rough state, be levelled and securely fenced. Mr. Hartley will visit the other schools of the district before returning to Adelaide. Fnre Behf.— Mr. 'W. R. $vens is exhibiting some unusually fine beef at his shop. There are three carcases, one weighing aa much as 1,508 pounds, the others not being quite so heavy. The largest beast was fed at Mr. C. 'White's paddocks at the Reedbeds, and the other two at Mr. Bladder's paddocks. Yobxb's Phkimsula Steamship Coxpaht. — 'This Company is being successfully floated, the residents of Southern Yorke's Peninsula especially interesting themselves in its formation. The Secretary and others interested have just returned from canvassing the several townships, and have met with considerable success. A meeting was held at Edithburgh, presided over by Mr. L. Giles, J.P., and another was held at Stansbury, with Mr. F. 'Wurm in the chair. The plans and specifications of the intended new steamer gave great satisfaction to the shareholders of the Company, and the rate of speed she is guaranteed to travel, viz., 13 knots, was universally approved of. The capital of the Company being subscribed for in £1 shares enabled a large number of farmers to subscribe to the same, and they thus became interested in its success. The new boat will, it is expected, be here in the early part of January, 1879, in time for the bulk of business of the next wheat season. The new Company's boats will give daily communication between Port Adelaide, Edithbnrgb, and Stansbury. Thb Lath Db. Macartney.— The death of Dr. Macartney, M.T,.A , occurred suddenly at Williamstown on Sunday, June 2, under circumstances of a character which have given rise to rumours of a sensational kind. Dr. Macartney (remarks the Argus) had had a chequered career in the colonies, and one which gained for him considerable notoriety. He arrived here from Canada, where he had been ordained as a minister of the Church of England, and was appointed to the charge of a parish in Gippsland. He renounced the Church, however, and in 1S69 he was elected member for Gippsland, and was admitted to the bar. In 1871 he left the colony for Fiji, but was unsuccessful there, and returned to Victoria. Dr. Macartney then made an effort to change habits which had sunk him to a low level, and became a temperance lecturer, but was far from successful in the attempt. He offered himself as a oandidate to the electors of South Gippsland obtained tee approval of the Reform League, and the wave of the 13 th May placed him once more in Parliament. One of the eccentric decisions of the Elections and Qualifications Committee unseated him, but he was again returned. The colony in the interval between the two elections was scandalized by charges and counter-charges with regard to Dr. Macartney's domestic relations, culminating in a divorce suit, in which ' adultery, desertion, and cruelty' were alleged against him, bat Mrs. Macartney did not obtain a divorce. Only last week the deceased was summoned »t the District Court for the maintenance of his children. And the end of an unhappy life has been a sad and mysterious death. PsrrnoHS. — Three petitions were presented on Thursday, June 6, to the Commissioner of Public 'Works from residents in the Electoral District ef Albert by the members for the district, Messrs. A. Hardy and R. W. E. Heaning, of which the following is the substance: — From inhabitants of Kingston, Lacepede Bay, and others, purchasers of land in the Government Township of Eosetown, adjoinisg the Township of Kingston, asking that a bridge might be constructed over Maria Creek, in order to connect the Township of Rosetown with the shipping pier at and the main roads centring in Kingston. From residents in Lacind&le and farmers in tbe Hundred of Joyce, praying that before the Commissioner decided upon the Border Town Railway he will take into consideration the rights of Lneindale, which township was surveyed and sold by the Government after they promised that the Border Town Railway should start from that locality and go as far as Cockatoo Lake. And from residents in the District of Lacindale and travellers on the Kingston and Narracoorte Railway, requesting an alteration in the time allowed when the train stops at Luciudale, so as to allow pisseEgers to obtain refreshment and also to transact business in the township. The Commissioner promised to lay the memorials before his colleagues and send a reply. Forsst-Tees Plaxtocg.— At the hall of the Chamber of Manufactures on Thursday evening, June 6, Dr. Schomburgk delivered an interesting lecture on ' Forest-Tree Planting, and its Influence on Climate.' A discussion followed the reading of the paper, and the worthy Doctor was thanked for his timely advice in reference to an important subj«:t. The report of the lecture is unavoidably held oxer.

Thb Dhbbt.— News of the great race of the year which took place on the Epsom Downs on the 5th of June will be found in our English telegrams. The Derby has been won this year by Mr. W. S. Crawford's bay colt Sefton, a son of Speculum, from Liverpool's dam. As a twoyear-old this colt ran second to Redwing for the Hurstborne Stakes, was nowhere in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, which was won by Janette, and was similarly fixed in the Criterion Stakes, in which Janette was also victorious. He was nominated in the Middle Park Plate, but did not run. During the present season he has not been reported a winner as far as we btve heard, though he was entered for the principil races leading up to the Derby — the Newmarket Handicap and Craven Stakes of the Craven Meeting and the Two Thousand Guineas. He is engaged in the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Eons Memorial Stakes at Ascot, in the Summer Cup in the Newmarket July Meeting, and in the Newmarket St. Leger. He is, however, unfortunately not included in the great St. Leger, in which his opponents, Insulaire and Childeric, are both nominated. Insulaire's performances have been remarkably good, as besides running second for the great race, he was similarly placed for the Two Thousand Guineas and won the French Derby. Childeric started six times as a two-year-old and won four races — the Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket, the Prince of 'Wales Stakes at Goodwood, a Sweepstakes at Doncaster, and the Prendergast Stakes at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting. Tbe Derby winner was bred by Lord Glasgow at the Glasgow stud. His dam was from Clarissa by Pantaloon. Thb Absbkt Mhmbes of the Leoisiatiyr Council- — Sir Thomas Elder's representative in Adelaide has received a telegram from him in reply to one sent asking if he would be in the colony by the end of next month, as, if not, it might be better for him to resign. The reply says : — ' Consider my seat vacant.' Sir Thomas Elder placed his resignation in the hands of the Hon. J. Fisher, to be used by him if considered desirable. Mr. Fisher also holds a similar power from the Hon. 'W. Everard; but this unfortunately is informal, not having been signed. The Hon. W. Sfcorrie and the Hon. Thomas English also left their resignations with friends, to be used in the same way. We learn that it is not intended to grant leave of absence to the four hon. gentlemen; but as Mr. Everard's resignation cannot be made use of, it is probable nothing will be done until his seat has become vacant on the ground of bis absence from his place in the House for two months when the period has expired. The resignations of the other three members will, we believe, be handed in. By the adoption of this course the colony will be saved the expense and trouble of a double electioa. Thb Light Election.— Messrs. David Moody and Andrew Tennant addressed a large meeting of the electors of the District of Light at the Eapunda Institute on 'Wednesday evening, with a view of being elected to fill the vacancy in the House of Assembly caused by tbe resignanation of Mr. F. S. CarrolL The Mayor of Eapunda (Dr. M. H. S. Blood) presided. Both candidates were well received, and on propositionsjbeingput as to which was the more fit and proper person to represent the district, a majority of hands was held up in favour of Mr. Tennant, but the Chairman announced that |the voting appeared to him to be about equal, and declined to say in whose favour it was. Railway Oohhcxicatiom with thb Sbhafhobb. — In answer to Mr. Bower, the Commissioner of Public Works stated in the House of Assembly on Thursday that the Port line of railway will be open for direct passenger traffic from Adelaide to the Semaphore on or about the 1st of August. Supreme Coubt SrrrtMGS. — His Honor the Chief Justice sat in Equity on Thursday, Jure 6, and confirmed the order of the Court to dismiss the bill in Erase v. Light and Another. A petition for vesting an order in re the Poona Mining Company, Limited, was presented by the Hon. R. B. Andrews, Q.C., but on a question of practice being raised by His Honor the matter was postponed. The adjourned argument on the hearing in Hamblin v. Marjoram was then taken up by the defendant's counsel, and at 1 o'clock the Court adjourned till Saturday, when the argument will be concluded. Thb Scbtobax Tramway Coxfaky.— This Company have announced their intention to commence actual business on Monday next, June 10, and the first car is to leave the Kensington terminus at half-past 7 in the morning. General particulars will be found in our advertising columns. Thzatbb Royal. — 'East Lynne' was represented to a thin house on Thursday night, but the attendance was not to be wondered at considering the inclemency of the weather. This evening Mr. and Mrs. Darrell take their farewell benefit, under the patronage of|Colonel Downes* Major Godwin, Colonel Biggs, and the officers of the Volunteer Force. The programme according to the advertisement will consist of Mr. DarreH's original drama ' The Trump Card' and other entertainments. ?White's Rooks. — The Stewart family gave their amusing entertainment on Thursday night to a house that was plainly affected by the weather. Still there was a good attendance, and the specialities of the various performers were greatly appreciated. Those who wish to see this pleasant company must make histe, as they only appear to-night and to-morrow evening. Axkbicak Wonder. — Notwithstanding the wet weather, a large numfier of persons visited the exhibition of the 'Blacksmith's Dream'' on Thursday, June 6. Thb BosPHOBtJS.— The owners of this vessel inform us. that she arrived safely at Wallaroo on June 5, an4 consequently cannot %e the same ship as that referred to as having pot into Sydney. The latter is supposed to be the Floral Star. Evangelization is Adelaide. — Mr. Henry Varley, tbe well-known evangelist, has c inducted a service in the Town Hall each evening during the past week, preaching to C3ngregations varying from 700 to 1,000. There has been a noonday prayer-meeting attended by about 100 persons, including several ministers, and early morning prayer meetings have also taken place daily. On Sunday morning Mr. Varley visited the Stockade in company with the City Missionary, Mr. Berry, and conducted an interesting meeting. In the afternoon, at his service in the Town Hall, Mr. Varley made an appeal in behalf of tbe sufferers by the famine in China, and £26 17s. 4id. was collected. In the evening the Hall was 'crowded, 1,500 persons being present. On Saturday a meeting was held in the Flinders-street Baptist Lecture Hall, to consider the propriety of forming a permanent united Evangelical choir. Mr. Eillborough, the musical conductor of Mr. Varley's services, attended, and mentioned that a similar choir in Melbourne had ** sung the Gospel' at no less than 250 of Mr. Varley's meetings, and that it was now a permanent institution, available for future service in connection with evangelization. It was decided to form such a choir in Adelaide — not directly connected with Mr. Varley's services, but to take part in them and also in the meetings to be conducted by Dr. Somerville, who is shortly expected here. Pocltrt BRBEDisa. — Since the establishment of the South Australian Pooltry Society more attention haa been paid by the general pufelic to the raising of a better class of domestic fowl, and some few gentlemen are seriously thinking of following the pursuit with an idea beyond that of merely competing with a few choice varieties at the Shows. Mr. Charles Downer, of Port Adelaide, who for years has shown considerable interest in the direction of poultry breeding, haa now on bis grounds at Kilkenny, near 'Woodville, a splendid lot of that most useful fowl, the Brahmapootra, coming on, the young birds numbering some 200, being well-bred promising-looking cockerels and pullets, which will make a first-rate display at the forthcoming exhibition of the South Australian Poultry Society. Among the young birds are many whose points show their careful breeding, having the fine wide full breasts, good well-feathered legs, deep made frames, and the free carriage that distinguish the best.ored Brahmas. Some of them look as if they would be weighty fowls, and Mr. Downer has certainly got a fine show of birds. He has both light and dark Brabmas, kept distinct, and intends having a portion of the grounds laid out specially for poultry breeding. Another of the members of the Poultry Society bas added from England a pen of three buff Cochins, costing £20, for breeding purposes. Breeders h»ve suffered severely by the stranee disease that has been bo prevalent amongst poultry and destroyed so many valuable birds, and it is rather discouraging to those ?who, like Mr. Downer, enter into the pursuit not for profit, but to encourage the taste for breeding a better class of domestic fowl, to have an expensive f tock diminished in that way.

ElSTKBX EXTBKSIOK ThLBGRAFH UOXFIXY.— We have received from Mr. S. Knevett, the Secretary, a copy of the Directors' half-yearly report of this Company, of which Colonel Glover is the Managing Director, and we subjoin the principal portions of it : — ' The total sarnings for the half-year have amounted to £134,753 4s. lOd. The working expenses— in-cluding a sum of £21,586 9s. for cost of repairs and tpaintenance of cables — interest on debentures, income tax, &c, absorb £67,210 5s. 6d, leaving a balance of profit of £67,542 19s. 4d-, which, with the addition of a sum of £13,299 17s. Id. brought forward from the previous half-year, makes 1 total of £60,542 16s. 5d. One interim dividend of 1^ per cent., amounting to £24,963 15a., das been paid for the half-year, and it is now proposed to distribute another of like amount, payable on the 15th April, making, with the two interim dividends paid for the first half-year, a total distribution of 5 per cent, for the year 1877. The balance, amounting to £30,905 6s. 5d., will be carried to reserve. Tbe RangoonPenang cable, which was interrupted at the date af t'Le last meeting, was repaired on the 13th January. It was found to have been broken by i ship's anchor about 15 miles from Rangoon. Ihe Banjoewangie-Port Darwin cable, which Evas also broken when the last meeting was held, was repaired on the 15th December. The break was caused by attrition over a bank 95 miles from Banjoewangie. The Peaaug-Singapore and Singapore-Batavia sections have also been interrupted for short periods during the past halfj ear.'Attempted Attempted Assassixatiox of thb Ehfeboh jf Gbemant. — The Chief Secretary has received i telegram from the Agent-General in London, itating that the Crown Prince of Germany has been appointed to act aa Regent during the ;ime his father is incapacitated by the wounds inflicted by his would-be assassin. Thb Debatb ok the Address.— The speaking )n the motion for the address in reply to the jpening speech in the House of Assembly on rhursday was confined chiefly to the new memaers, several of whom showed considerable debating power. Out of the ten speakers whef addressed the House there were no less than six who had never been in Parliament before, namely, Messrs. Downer, Haines, Stokes, Magarey, Fraaer, and Fowler. Alt 3t of them spoke well, bat the speeches of Messrs. Downer and Fraser were more than usually effective. On the motion of Mr. Coglin the debate stands adjourned till Tuesday next. Nbw Patent Act. — The first patent under the new Act was granted on Tuesday to Mr. W &. 'West-Erskine for the apparatus for cooling rooms which was described in our columns last year. Abhival of thb Cariuquheih.— Messrs. Elder, Smith, & Co., the Adelaide agents of the Carnaquheen, have received a telegram from London, dated June 5, notifying her arrival. The news will be welcome, as the vessel has made a long voyage, and those interested were beginning to feel anxious about her. Cakal fboh Poet Adkiaidh to thb Semaphore. — From a statement made by the Treasurer in the House of Assembly on Thursday it appears that the trial borings of a canal from Largs Bay to the river near Porb Adelaide have been completed, and that the estimated cost of carrying out such an undertaking is about £450,006. Claytoh Chuhch. — A special Church meating was held on Wednesday evening, June 5, to take into consideration the resignation of the Pastor, the Rev. Thomas Hope. Mr. Thomas Caterer, Senior Deacon, presided, and there were 63 Church members present. A proposition was submitted — ' That Mr. Hope's resignation as Pastor of this Church be not accepted,' and also an amendment — 'That it be accepted,' which was lost by an overwhelming majority. On the proposition being put it was carried by 60 votes to 5. A vote of confidence and sympathy with Mr. Hope was carried unanimously. Buitd amd Deaf akd Dcxb Asylum. — We understand that the Mayor of Adelaide (Mr. Henry Scott) has just given a donation of £10 towards the funds of the above institution. EXFOBTBBS OF StTTD STOCK TO NBW SOUTH 'Walbs.— The Chief Inspector of Sheep, in this week's Gazette, calls the attention of exporters of stock to the following notice :— 'Department of Lands, Sydney, May 17, 1878.— The following regulation by His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, for carrying into effect the above Act, is hereby published for general information. — Jahbb S. Fahkeix : — ' No stud stock will be admitted into this colony from any other colony unless a certificate by the Chief Inspector of Stock for such other colony be produced to the Inspector for the port or crossing in this colony at which it is proposed to introduce such stock that they are the produce of some of the Australian Colonies or of New Zealand, and not of any colony or country outside of these colonies.' ' Ihqttest at thb Hospital. — The City Coroner held an inquest at the Adelaide Hospital on Thursday into the circumstances connected with the death of a drayman named Peter Clark, who died fr»m the effects of an accident received on the preceding day. It appeared that he was driving a wagon drawn by three horses along the Goodwood-road, when the animals took fright. He was thrown out of the wagon, and the wheels passed over him, inflicting such serious wounds that he had to be taken to the Hospital, where he died on Thursday morning. The Jury, after hearing the evidence, returned the following verdict : — ' That deceased's death was caused by injuries to the brain and a fractured skull, the result of an accident.' Thb Trade of Wkwtwobth. — In a late number of the Wentworth Telegraph is published a series of tables showing the distances by river from station to station between Bourke and Wentworth, the distances on a similar plan between Echuca and Albuiy and Wentworth, and also from Albury to Echuca. ' If,' says that journal, ' in addition to these tables our readers would take the trouble to scan a map of the Australian island continent the exceptionally fine position Wentworth holds as the natural internal junction terminus of the several colonial railways (including the transcontinental, which we may hope to have in due course as time and the progress of the colonies may require) will commend that place as the most eligible to be found on the map.' The article lhen draws attention to the advantages that are sure to accrue to the town from the projected line of railway to the Border by the Victorian Government, notwithstanding the difficulties which the present tariff of that colony places in the way of more favourable commercial intercourse, and remarks : — ' Nor are these the only advantages we hope to reap from this movement of our neighbours. The merchants and traders of South Australia have long had possession of a large share of tbe Darling trade, and if they mean to hold it against such competitors they will have to put forth efforts corresponding to the value of the share already held for the purpose of securing it for the future. To this end a movement for carrying out the oftentaJked-of railway from their present intended terminus on the Murray would be the most feasible project. It is one that commenda itself at once as calculated to meet the case to a very large extent. But it is not the only one that should be adopted. The Murray from Goolwa may be utilized to a far greater extent than it has been np to the present time. There is much room for improvement, both in the class of boats employed and the speed with which they may be worked. These are matters that should command the prsmpt and earnest attention of the merchants and statesmen of South Australia. The future of Wentworth is likely to be of considerable consequence to not only the colony in which it is located , but to both its immediate and more remote neighbours ; commanding as it does the greatest water highways .of the continent, its prosperity must contribute to their advantage.' New Flock Mill.— We are given to understand (says the Areas Express) that Messrs. J. Cowan & Co., millers, Gladstoneaod Two Wells have determined to meet the requirements of the agriculturists in the Hundred of Pichirichi by erecting in the township of Quorn a steam flour mill. The machinery is now on its way from Adelaide, and is very powerful. There will be four pairs of stones at work, capable of milling 120 tons 6f wheat per week. The successful tenderers for the erection of the mill are Messrs. J. Hoar & Co., of this town, and the work is to be proceeded with at once, so that it may be finished in time for the next harvest. Apturw Lajto w thb BrHRA.— Mr. Eounsevell wishes as to state that when in the course of his speech in the House of Assembly on Wednesday he said the District of Borra contained more arable land than all the other districts put together, he meant to have added the words ' at the disposal of the Government/5