Intercolonial News.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 642, 20 October 1874, Page 7

Intercolonial News.

A slip of paper containing a singular statement has come into possession of a constable stationed at Franksto^n, Victoria (at which place it is said to have been picked up), and by him forwarded to Sergeant Parkinson, at Prahran. The i writer represents herself to be a woman who has been forcibly borne to sea by a ■seducer, and/who adopts the plan of casting the note 'over the vessel's side to make her case known. Her vague words call for the punishment of him by whom ! she asserts she has been betrayed. The paper is written in pencil, and bears the date of August last. It is pretty evident that the affair iB nothing more than a hoax.

The existence of deep leads in Gipps Land has been doubted, but an important telegram has been received by the Mining Department which would seem to show the dictum that the geological strata of the country negatived the probability of any such leads being discovered was incorrect. A telegram received from Mr Pepper, mining registrar at Stratford, announced the fact that the prospecting shaft at the Freestone Creek deep lead was bottomed at a depth of 128 ft on highly inclined slate, and rough gold was found. In the first dish a small nugget, ldwt in weight, was discovered. The fact is of importance, as an indication of what may be found in that district. Mr S. Kamsden has purchased the paper-mill erected by Mr Fieldhouse on the south bank of the Tarra, and will commence the operation of paper making in the new premises in about five weeks. The Victorian Government have bajl under consideration the desirability of establishing a labor bureau, the necessity for which was recently urged upon them by a deputation from a public meeting held in the Fitzroy Town-hall. The absurd views put forward by that deputation have been disregarded, but the Government have decided upou the appointment of a board to consider the question, and several gentlemen have been communicated with. That the institution should be made self -supporting is laid down as a sine qua own, out the Government are ready to offer every facility in their power. As at present telegraphic ship, ping intelligence is furnished to the public free of charge, so information concerning the state of the labor market in different parts of the country would be given free. An accident happened to Mr Ignatius Feigl, publisher of the ' Evening Herald.' He was adjusting the printing machinery, when his left hand was caught in the cogs of the rollers and was crushed. He was taken to the Melbourne Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the arm above the wrist.

It is announced that the Victorian Eetreat for Female Inebriates is now licensed, and open for the reception of patients. We (' Argus ') understand that Mr Callaghan— of the firm of Callaghan Brothers — who was implicated in the Sundercombo boot frauds, and was fined LIOO in consequence by the Commissioner of Customs, has been compelled to withdraw from the Wesleyan Church, of which he was a member.

Mrs Shepparde, the mother of the late Mrs Henry Hallam, died on Wednesday, October 7. The poor old lady never recovered the death of her daughter, who was all the world to her, and without whom life became all joyless. A poor little baby remains to represent this so lately happy family, A meeting of persons favorable to Sabbath rest was held lately in the Assemblyhall, Collins-street, Melbourne, for the purpose of adopting a petition to Parliament in opposition to the motion of Mr Woods, to be submitted to the Legislative Assembly, to open all public libraries, museums, &c, on Sundays. The chair was taken by Mr James Munro, M.L.A., and the hall was quite filled. Two motions and a petition to Parliament, embodying views altogether opposed to the opening of the public institutions, were submitted to the meeting, and adopted, with only a few dissentients, A curious trio of would-be suicides appeared before the Prahran Bench one day lately. Thomas Brown was preparing to hang himself in a barn ? when a constable arrived in time to prevent his carrying out his purpose. James Dosmond got a carving knife and went into his sweetheart's house, pushed her down on % sofa, and threatened to pat Lev thyqat and hie own afterwards, but; tionetable Long, who heard a disturbance in the hou.s§, prevented his (king either by locking him up. Thomas Williams went tQ the Prakran watchhouse, and mi that if ***" 6 Do^ ce didn't take him in - cUßtod he ' £ ould drown hun-^ aud he wa / accordiDglv .Coned up for the night. It appeared that in all three cases — which ha.d no connection with each p,th©r- — the men were intoxicated when arrested. After receiving a warning from the Bench, the prisoners were discharged.

An Indiana gentleman is now living in a house with his fifth wife and three mothervs-in-law, and yet he is not happy.

A Waterbury man has christened his daughter Grlycerine. He aays it will be easy to prefix " Nitro " if her temper resemble^ her ra, other's,

Smith, who was horrified to 2nd that he was getting very stout, was recommended by a friend to try gymnastic exercise, " You will find it an infallible remedy, my dear fellow, for this wretched embonpoint which annoys you so." The following day Smith betook himself to a gymnasium, eager to commence operations at once. "By all means," cried the professor," but first oblige me with your name and adclress." ]\£y address? What for ?" '• Why, if you Bhould meet with an accident, I must" kn.ow where to send; you. home !" .. Smith, doesn't mind gett&g stout,