The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1873-12-27 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

GENERAL.  On Saturday afternoon, David Beardßail, a weaver, of Holmfirth, was crossing the line at Berry Brow, when a detached engine dashed IA), instantaneously killed him, and carried his mutilated remains on the buffers for a distance of four or five miles. The body was found laying on the down line in Brockholes tunnel, and the left leg and right arm were completely severed from the body. Deceased was 58 years of age. .  _ Lord Derby distributed the prizes at the Liverpool College, on Saturday. He observed that some of the most conspicuous failures had been those of men who had carried all before them at school and college, and dwelt on the superiority of systematic work over mere intellectual cleverness. He also urged the duty of those who enjoyed leisure and means to contribute to .the well-being of the community. The Globe is informed that Dr. Lyon Playfair threatened to resign if the Government would not grant an increased rate of pay to Post Oflice officials. The Government has, consequently, granted the increased scale vainly urged by Mr. Monsell. _  The Calcutta Government has almost completed its stores of grain. About half the usual food supply has failed, but no distress is yet felt. Lord Chief Baron Pigott died on Monday morning at four o'clock in Dublin, aged 68. He will be succeeded by Mr. Palles, Attorney-General, His lordship was born in 1805, and has presided in the .Exchequer since 1846. At an early hour on Monday morning an explosion took place in a boiler in which gas was- conumed at the tar distillery of Mr. W. Metcalf, at Attercliffe, near Sheffield. A man named Spencer was badly burned. Nearly fifteen tons of pitch were set on fire. _ _  In consequence of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company having failed to report several fatal accidents which have occurred to some of • the officials on their line, the Board of Trade has instructed the Treasury solicitor to institute legal proceedings against that company for the neglect. Before the Railway Commission, sitting on Monday, the case of Goddard v. the South-Western Railway Company was part heard. Mr. Goddard contends that the company allow an undue preference to Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, and do not give him a sufficient rebate to allow a profit. Dr. Hayman having written a long letter to the Times, defending himself both against the governing body of Rugby School, and against some statements which were published last Saturday, the Times says lie is evidently an unfortunate man; but his correspondence seems to display defects of judgment ,:nd mental accuracy, which render his failure i o means surprising. On Wednesday in • ,ing, Thomas Holt, blacksmith, Breiohtmet, -3manded by the Bolton County Magistrates, ch . fed with murdering his wife. About six o'clock n the previous night, the parties went into the FL, r and Hounds publichouse, Breightmet, and Holt was then heard to threaten his wife. They soon after went out at the back door, and immediately afterwards screams were heard. Mrs. Holt was found lying in an excavation off the road. The poor woman had been brutally kicked, and she •died in a few minutes afterwards. The will Of the late Mr. Thomas Baring has been proved under £1.500,000. The annual distribution of beef at the instance of the Prince of Wales took place in the large room .of the Royal Mews on Wednesday afternoon, in the presence of the Prince of Wales. The recipients were cottag,ers and workmen on the estate, in the parishes of Sandringham, Wolferton, Drewton, and Babingley. The widows of DerBingham, numbering about 150 families, were also recipients. About 70 stone weight of beef, (Sze., was distributed to 700 persons.