INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 503, 6 April 1869, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

The great bell of St. Patrick's Church, Ballarat, was to have been rung for the first time on Easter-day. It has been raised forty feet from the ground, and the weight of the bell is within three or four pounds of a ton. One of the greatest curiosities in connection with the reptile world — a snake with two complete and perfect heads, two mouths, four eyes, the heads equal in size, and the one as perfect as the other,' has been caught at Harwood Island, New South Wales. The premises of the Tiverton Quartz Mining Co., Maldon, were burnt down the other night, and the expensive and powerful engine almost completely destroyed. The accident happened at a most unfortunate time, as the reef had only just begun to show indications of payable gold. There is no idea yet as to how the fire originated, and unfortunately neibher the building nor the machinery was insured. A very curious phenomenon was visible in Hargreaves street, Castlemaine, on Saturday morning, 13th ult. A huge body of dust formed itself in a spiral column of one hundred feet in height, and of no more than about ten or fifteen yards in circumference, and travelled with great swiftness, in circular movements, a radius of a quarter of a mile in extent. " What makes the matter extraordinary," observes the Daily News, "is the fact that there was scarcely a breath of wind blowing at the time in the immediate neighborhood of the column." " Most of our readers," says the Ballarat Evening Post, " will remember the smart swindle in which two 'fast' young men, named Dobson and Hatton, .figured some years since. Both of the men got clear off, leaving many unfortunate victims of over-confidence in smart business-like appearances to lament their departure. As the affair caused no small stir at the time, it may perhaps be interesting to learn that William Hatton, the junior partner in the wholesale business the firm carried on in Armstrong street, has turned up in California, where he is 'doing well' — as we learn from a private letter." From a Ballarat contemporary we learn that the Sunken Vessels Recovery Company is not yet dead, or rather that a new company is risen from the ashes of the old one. "A liquidator has been appointed to wind up the old company, and a new company proposes to buy up the old one and pay twenty shillings in the pound. We understand that 600 shares have already been taken up, and it seems probable that the energy and enterprise shown will meet with support." There seems to be no limit to the spirit of enterprise which animates some folk, and which ill-natured people would no doubt designate a sentiment of innocent credulity." Three Chinamen were walking across Pennyweight Flat, Kemp's bridge. Guildford, lately, when their garrulity was arrested by something splashing in an old shaft, and on looking to ascertain the cause, a little girl was seen struggling in the water. One of the Chinamen jumped down the shaft, and succeeded in keeping the child's head above water until assistance arrived. The water was deep, and John held himself up with difficulty by pressing his feet against the slippery sides. Mr E. B. Sinclair and Mr W: Dolphin, with others, happily were near, and teing in intelligent hands, the little girl, an adopted daughter of Mr Brocchi, was, after a time, restored to life. A man named John Hannaford committed suicide on Sunday, 14th ult, near the Pioneer Company's shaft, Ballarat. Deceased had for some time past been in the drapery business there, and was formerly at the establishment of Messrs David Jones and Co, Criterion House. He was. missed from the house during the evening, and on a search being made, he was found at about ten o'clock in a kind of covered waterhole on his own premises. At first it was thought that he might have slipped in accidentally, but on further examination it was found that he must have previously attempted to cut his throat before jumping into the well. The latter was only six or seven feet deep, and had a sort of lid opening into it, through which he could only have squeezed his body with great difficulty. There does not appear to have been any direct motive for the deed, unless a somewhat intemperate habit may be considered one. He was respectably connected, being cousin to a wheat merchant in Adelaide of the same name, who committed suicide last week, and a wife and three children are left to mourn and suffer for the mad act. The Bank of Victoria has been worsted in the Equity suit which it instituted for compelling a transfer to its credit of 550 shares in the Golden Gate Mining Company, the scrip of which were deposited by its customer Eisenstaedter as security for an overdraft. If we are allowed to pursue metaphor to such an extent as to say that a bank's fingers are burnt, the, comparison may be applied in this instance. And the Bank of Victoria is one of the trio which have just applied for enlarged powers, to enable them "to do legally what they are obliged now to do illegally," as an influential shareholder coolly informed one of the meetings recently ad hoc. Mr Justice Molesworth on Monday, in giving decree, which was against the Bank of Victoria on all points, with costs, took occasion to remark that the bank could not consistently with its Act of Incorporation etnbark in mining even in companies where the liability was limited. His Honor's judgment was, however, chiefly based upon the conduct of the bank in playing fast and loose with the shares, just as the prospects of the i claim looked bright or otherwise. It is a comfort to see one of these institutions outwitted for once in the game which they play so often. The Melbourne correspondent, of the Wagga Wagga Advertiser tells the following story about Mr. Walter Montgomery.

That modest individual appears to have been . better appreciated at Albury, that " horrid hole" as he called it, than at the Melbourne Club. The correspondent • says: — "Many of the toad-eaters who flocked around the Prince during his first -visit have attempted again to indulge their passion for snobbery, and : have been severely snubbed for their pains. Among these is the eminent tragedian, Walter Montgomery, Eaq. , who went down to Sandridge dressed in glowing and gorgeous raiment to worship at the Prince's shrine. The tender feelings of the Eminent were outraged by neglect, and he retirod. The day after, however, he made another effort, and was made the b\itt of the Royal party in consequence. He requested, I hear, to be made an honorary member of the Melbourne Club, in order that he might be near ' the dear boy,' and was refused. A good joke. There is an unhappy woman here who is insane, her insanity takes the form of matrimonial intentions with regard to H.R.H. She entered the club the other day and stated her errand. Mr Yorke heard her patiently enough ; but Montgomery — who had come up about his honorary membership — seized the opportunity for display. 'My good creature,' he said, 'you know that what you wish is impossible — but here am I, look at me— will not I do?' 'You,' said the indignant lady; with contemptuous emphasis, ' you ! — I want to marry a man, sir!'" ; . A rather peculiar case was heard in the City Court, Melbourne, the other morning, in which the complainant was a woman who had undertaken to adopt a child, and the defendant, the mother of the child, who had consented to the arrangement. An agreement of a unique character between, these two women was produced, by which Shoung A-She undertook to adopt the child as her own, and "stand as her paternal guardian and protector for life, and so long as the said child lives, in sickness or in health." Sarah Allen, the mother, signed this agreement, and the child was taken away by the woman with a Chinese name. But in the course of a few months the infant turned out a cripple and sickly, and then she remembered that the adoption was only to be contingent upon the child's proving an "interesting baby." The deformity knocked all the interest out of the child at once, and Mrs A-She took it back to the mother, who declined to receive it, standing by the agreement. Upon this the present complainant summoned Allen for deserting her child ; but this charge could not be sustained, and the unconscious object of all the disturbance was consigned to the Industrial Schools until other steps could be taken. Yesterday, the child was brought into Court to be dealt with, both women being present. The agreement relied upon by the mother was shown to be vaJueless, and she agreed to contribute a weekly sum towards the child's maintenance if it were sent back to the schools. The Bench made an order for its remission to that institution. "In a certain office of a certain town, which," says the Bendigo Independent, " shall be nameless, the following tragedy, comedy, farce, or melodrama — we scarcely know which — was lately performed with startling effect to one of the dramatis personce:—Scene, a lawyer's office ; Oily Gammon, the lawyer, sitting at desk ; enter client (an Italian). Lawyer : 'Good day ; pray be seated.' Client: 'Me want file my — what-you-may-call-it.' Lawyer: 'Oh! I know, your schedule. Client : ' Yes. ' Lawyer : ' What are your liabilities, and who are your creditors V Client : 'My baker, my butcher, &c. ' Lawyer: 'What assets have you V Client : 'Me have a puddling-machine, a dam, &c.' Lawyer : ' Have you no money V (A pause.) ' Come now, tell the truth.' Client (reluctantly) : ' Well, me have a little.' Lawyer : ' How much?' Client: '£53.' Lawyer :' Do ! you not know that you will have to go before the commissioner and swear that you have not got any cash? You had better give me the money, and I will arrange about your schedule.' Client : ' Oh, yes, : that will do ; you, Mr , give me the i>s3 again when me get my certificate.' Lawyer (with a grin) : ' Oh, certainly.' (Client hands over the ' needful,' and makes his exit.) End of Act 1. [A lapse of one month is supposed to have occurred, during which time the client had called — and called again — on the lawyer for his certificate, but did not— though wishing sincerely that he might — get it.] Act 2 — scene as before. — Client (getting tired of calling) : 'Mr , you give me my £53 and keep certificate.' Lawyer (with virtuous indignation) : ' Get out of my office, or I will have you prosecuted for fraudulent insolvency. I will call a policeman.' (Rises to call a constable.) Exit client in haste. Grand tableau."