Int iprobintrs.
We learn that the Committee for the formation of Public Parks and Play- grounds have purchased Enham Hall estate, at Harpurhey, the residence of bft. Jonathan Andrews, for a sum of 7,250/. A few weeks ago they purchased the Lark Hill estate, in Salford, from Mr. W. Garnett, for 7,0001.; and we believe these two properties will be laid out as parks, and ready for occupation in the coarse of a few months.—Manelzester Courier.
A number of farm-labourers at Nether Compton and Over Compton, in Dor- setshire, struck work last week, in consequence of their employers proposing to reduce their wages from seven to six shillings a week. Some time since the pro- prietor of the land there took off ten per cent from the rent of the tenants, but he recently replaced half of this; and the farmers say they cannot pay it without reducing the wages of their labourers. The men have returned to their work, but the matter of payment remains unsettled.
A duel, which will probably prove fatal to one of the combatants, was fought an the sea-shore, near Gmport, on Tuesday evening. The parties were Mr. Seton, late of the Eleventh Hussars, and First Lieutenant H. C. M. Hawkey., of the Royal Marines. "From all we can glean," says the Times," it appears, that at a soiree held at the King's Rooms, on Southsea Beach, on Monday evening, Mr. Seton paid somewhat marked attention to the wife of Lieutenant Hawkey; and was afterwards, in the public room, most grossly insulted by Mr. Hawkey, who called him a blackguard and a villain, and told him, if he would not fight him., he would horsewhip him down the High Street at Portsmouth. At the time these words 'were used, Mr. Seton was endeavouring to leave the ball-room; when Lieu- tenant Hawkey, who was sitting upon a sofa, rose, and attempted to kick him as he passed. The consequence may be anticipated." The seconds, Lieutenant Byron G. Bowles, R.N., for Mr. Seton, and Lieutenant Edward L. Ppm, R.M., for Lieutenant Hawkey, placed their principals at fifteen paces asunder. The word vas given; when Mr. Seton fired, and missed his antagonist. The pistol of Lieu- tenant Hawkey was placed in his hand by his second at half-cock, and conse- quently Lieutenant Hawkey did not have his shot. Other pistols were, however, supplied to the combatants; the word was again given, and both fired. Mr. Seton immediately felL Lieutenant Hawkey, without waiting to see the result of his fire, or going up to his antagonist, immediately fled with his second, saying,: I'm -off to France.'' Mr. Seton was carried on a shutter on board a yacht in waiting, and conveyed to the Quebec Hotel, on the water's edge. Surgical assistance was called in; and it was discovered that the patient had been wounded dangerously on the right side of the abdomen, the ball passing through and coming out on the left side. Mr. Seton, like his opponent, is under thirty years of age, is married, and has one child. But slight hopes are entertained of his recovery. "Lieu- tenant Hawkey and his second are said to have practised about an hour before the duel at Sherwood's Shooting-gallery, in High Street, Portsmouth !" The seconds made no attempt after the first fire to reconcile the parties. Lieutenant Rowles has written a letter, intended to be made public, giving the same account of the origin of the duel as that stated by the Times.
The adjourned inquest on one of the persons who were drowned by the fall of the suspension bridge at Yarmouth was resumed on Wednesday. Mr. James Walker, the civil engineer, had been sent down by the Home Secretary to examine into the causes of the disaster; and he read a long statement to the Jury. He -narrated the history of the formation of the bridge; which had been widened, . without any increase of the suspending power. Examination of the iron bars forming the suspending chains proved that parts were of bad construction • being imperfectly welded, and made of iron inferior in .quality. A "bar was taken for the purpose of testing it as to fibre; and it broke in pieces just in the ways carrot would do, and did not bend like a piece of stout fir timber, which it would have done had it been sound." The immediate cause of the accident was the great con- course of people pressing. on one side of the bridge: had the material and work- manship been good, it might have borne the weight, but still at a hazard. Much greater crowds had been collected on the bridge at former periods, but then they tad been distributed over it; besides, "when a bridge has been frequently loaded lo the utmost which it will bear, it becomes weaker and weaker each time; and it may ultimately give way, although at first it was sufficiently strong to resist the weight put upon it." Mr. Walker gave the following as the results of his investi- gation— I. I consider the immediate cause of the accident to have been a defect in the joining or welding of the bar which first gave way. "2. That the quality of the iron and the workmanship, as far as I have been able to -examine them, are defective ; and I believe that the accident would not have happened lad the work been properly examined at the time of construction.
"3. That the widening appears to have been made without sufficient reference to The original strength of the bridge, and the weight which it had to support ; and there- -fore that it acted as an aggravation of the evil. 4. That in the original construction of the bridge, the casualty of a great load all on one side does not appear to have been contemplated : If it had been, I think that the links on that side would have consisted of more than the two bars ; any one of Which was unequal to the load Which the bridge was likely to carry." A verdict was given in accordance with Mr. W commending the Messrs. Cory, the present owners conduct since the disaster; adding an opinion, "that ev has been taken by the original proprietor; and that had the clerk o performed his duty in the proper examination of the work, the calamity which they now deplore would have been prevented."
Isabella Pilkington, a married woman of Salford, whose husband is out of work, has drowned her infant child in the river havell. She walked into the stream and dropped the child into it. A man observed her in the water; and on his threatening to send his dog in after her she came out, and then admitted that she had murdered her child.
Peacock, a young man, member of a respectable Northamptonshire family, has been murdered, at Stourton in Wiltshire. He was shot through the neck while walking in the grounds attached to the rectory. Two men are suspected of the crime; one a shoemaker, and the other a groom. Last autumn, Peacock's wife suddenly disappeared, and the shoemaker is supposed to have had a hand in the abduction. It is not known at present whether the woman is alive or dead.
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