AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9438, 9 June 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

-Tress Association—By Tele.qpraph—Copyright. THE WEATHER. Sydney, June 7. The high winds and coastal storms last week proved the precursor of regular winter rains, which this year are unusually late. The fears of a dry winter, however, have been effectually dispersed by a week's almost continuous downfall of tropical copiousness. The rain was almost general, even the droughty Northern Territory participating. Locally the weather is again clear, but there are evidences that winter has fairly commenced. Heavy frost and snow is reported from the high lands. AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. Opportunely at the commencement of the wet season Mr Russell, the Government astronomer, announced the discovery or rather rediscovery, as he alleges it was previously known and acted upon by the ancient Jews and Egyptians, of a weather cycle system. In an interesting paper which he read before the Royal fciociety he undertook to demonstrate periodically, good or bad seasons, dating' his calculations back to e.g. 1705, the time of Pharoah's famine, and taking the world as a field for his observations, with special reference to Australia from its foundation to the present day. He arrived at the conclusion that all historic data, both ancient and modern, point to the fact that pronounced droughts recurred regularly every nineteen years. He quoted numerous authenticated instances in support of the nineteen cycle. Mr Russell added the comforting assurance tbat the drought years were always preceded and succeeded by good years, and forecasted such good seasons for 1897 and 1898. Scientists will be specially interested. in the statement that as Mr Russell's investigations proceeded the weight of evidence gradually converged upon the moon as the exciting cause. He never had any sympathy with the theory of lunar influence on the weather, and received the evidence against his will, but the logic of facts left no alternative but to accept' the moon as the prime motor. VIOLENT DEATHS. The week produced a heavy list of violent deaths, suicide predominating. At y Rocius a crime of a quarter of a century ago was revived by the suicide of the instigator. During a festive gathering in the Gerogery district a man named Ebel poisoned wine with strychnine, in order to kill his wife, who was a guest, and, but for a miscalculation in the quantity of poison, a large number of persons would undoubtedly"*- have fallen victims. Ebel's death sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. After serving twenty years he was released. A young married woman mysteriously disappeared in the Albury district, and foul play is suspected. At Newcastle an, old shipmaster named Captain Alexander has disappeared. Wyndham, Westralia, contributed a tragedy. Dr. Bannerman, a resident medical officer, shot the assistant postmaster dead. The doctor fired a shot through the window. The assistant closed with him, and in his endeavour to wrest the revolver from his gfasp jt was discharged, killing him instantly. A verdict of death; by misadventure was returned. A suicide at Kalgoorlie, one at Melbourne, and another in this colony complete the list. THE MEAGHER CASE. The Meagher defence searched history for a precedent and served up Lord Brougham's observation in defence of Queen Caroline that an advocate, by the sacred duty he owes his client, knows in the discharge of that office but one person in the world, that being his client, and none other; and to save that client by all expedient means, to protect that client at all hazards and cost to all others is the highest and most unquestioned of his duties, and he must not regard the alarm, suffering, torment or destruction which he may bring upon any other. He may, separating his duties as patriot from those of advocate, and casting them if need be to the wind, go on reckless of the consequence if his fate should be unhappily to involve his country in confusion for his client's protection. THE BURNS CENTENARY. The centenary of Burns's death called forth 'a memorial wreath from the Scotsmen of Australia. The floral tribute is frozen in a block of ice, which rests on a cedar pedestal, and inscribed

CABLE JNTEWS- —. "In memoriam, Bobert Burns, dieJune 21st, 1796; a tribute from the Scottish Societies of Australia." The novel memorial has been despatched by the mail steamer. RETIBEMENT OP MILITARY OFFICERS. Two old military officers, Colonels Spalding and Airey, who had seen Q active service in various parts of the a world and who took part in the Soudan contingent, retire from the $ Government service at the end of \_ June. D NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. Parliament is devoid of interest, tf The most important matter was a c motion for the second reading of the - Lands for Closer Settlement Bill, but a the motion was adjourned till next s week. The Treasurer gave an indis cation that when the Budget was delivered he would declare a surplus on the year's work. A NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL. Melbotjbxe, June 7. With the exception of the younger generation, New Zealanders will recall tbe thrill of horror occasioned by the brutal murder of the 1 Dewar family at Cumberland street, Dunedin, the sensational trial of Butler, his acquittal owing to weak 2 evidence, and his subsequent conviction for burglary and arson at Stam--3 per's residence. Butler's arrest led * the Press to recount the acts of L this notorious'criminal. Since his re- - turn from Maoriland Butler has been 3 shadowed by two detectives. The ex--3 convict was apparently well aware of , this espionage, and at times eluded his . followers by cunning devices. The * McPhee robbery, which bore a 3 close analogy to the crime perpetrated by Butler in New Zealand, together with the fact that several daring burglaries had been recently perpetrated, led the authorities to exercise the power possessed under the Criminal Influx Act, which precludes a prisoner entering Victoria for three years after 3 his release from gaol, and Butler was f arrested. McPhee identified the f criminal as his assailant, aud several T other charges of burglary will be pref ferred against him. ; A SHARP SENTENCE. McKay, the raider of offices, on his [ trial wished the Judge to make his f sentence short, sharp and decisive. \ The Judge cheerfully granted his request and gave him two years' im- [ prisonm'ent with hard labour, with solitary confinement. TYPHOID AND SCARLET ■ FEVER. . Typhoid and scarlet fever are ra__- [ pant in the city and suburbs, and the hospitals are sad!y overcrowded. At I the last meeting of the Melbourne j Hospital Board ifc was stated that during the fortnight eleven fever I patients had been refused 'admission . owing to overcrowding. Others had * been discharged in a condition which *, certainly was dangerous to the com- [ munity. There were so many new « cases that they were obliged to send t many away fa. too early. A depufcation was appointed to wait on the Go- . vernment to point out the urgent necessity for a fever ward and a proper ambulance. The doctors state that j ifc is impossible at present to cope with the disease or take proper pre--3 cautions. • TIRED OF TEETOTALISM. I Adelaide, June 7. > The Renmark irrigation settlement so far has been run on strictly cold I water lines, the Acfc under which it • was established stipulating that no place for the sale of spirituous bever- ; ages would be allowed to exist, but i the settlers, tired of enforced tee- • fcotalism, are now petitioning the > Government to consent to the grant- ' ing of a license. They are willing to ' content themselves with the GothenI burg system for their local circum- > stances permit of it. CHAFFEY BROS.' ESTATE. An application by the liquidator of Chaffey Bros, to deal with certain 1 assets brought to light further startling facts as to the condition of the management of the irrigation colonies. By an agreement between the liquidator and the Trustees, Executors andAgenoy Company of Victoria, the liquidator sought power to sell certain assets of the Gompauy now at the Renmark settlement, which the Trustees Company contended were specifically charged in favour of certain debenture holders. The evidence showed that a mortgage bond, under which the claim arose, was executed in 1891, but was kept secret and. unavailable till the Company went into liquidation. The Secretary was even unaware of its existence. The position arose owing to the fact that Chaffey Bros., though they had to state their assets in Adelaide, were a foreign Company having their domicile in Victoria. Taking advantage of this a mortgage for -2100,000 on Renmark was, executed, but not registered. The Adelaide Court was asked to decide whether the deed ought to have been registered, and whether, under the circumstances, it secured to the debenture holders a oharge over all the assets not otherwise charged. The Chief Justice held that the mortgage did not require to be registered locally, and the Trustees Company were entitled to the assets in question. HEAD-HUNTERS THRASHED. Bmsrane, June 7. The Tiigeri, a New Guinea tribe, notorious for their head-hunting exploits, are reported to have received a terrible thrashing at the hands of Sir William Macgregor and his party. Several of these undesirable gentry were killed and fifty canoes destroyed. It is believed that their power is broken, and they will give little trouble for a long time to come.

I CABLE NEWS. I