GENERAL SUMMARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2978, 11 January 1881, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Sydney, January 6

The mysterious absence of Mr Dalton, the magistrate at Torbe, from hie duties is causing surprise. It is six weeks since Mr Dalton sat on the bench, and nothing has been heard of him. Ministers have ordered a further search at Goulburn.

At Mount Werong diggings a small diamond has been found of one and a half carats weight, and valued at fifty shillings. Several sapphires have also been found. The finder was formerly on the Cape diamond fields, so that there is no mistake.

Melbourne

The Government have decided to take proceedings to recover the duty on estates which are under valued.

It is expected that the jurors awards at the Exhibition will all be in by the third week in January. Two young ruffians, who were- recently acquitted by a jury for assault and robbery on a Chinaman, have been re-arres-ted for an offence of a similar nature.

A return shows the quantity of wool offered this season to be 146,002 bales, of which 108,953 balales were sold, closely approximating the quantity of the previous year. The shipments show an increase of 36,665 bales, and a total of 250,664 against 204,009 bales last season. Adelaide.

•On Thursday last a fire occurred on a farm near Franklin Harbor, by which Mrs McCarthy, ber daughter and son, were burned to death. No assistance could be rendered, the house being surrounded Ly dense scrub. The father was engaged reaping, and tried to get home, but was driven back by the flames, which were at times forty feet high. When McCarthy was enabled to return home he found nothing but the ruins and remains of his family.

Bliss and Co., a New York firm, has offered to supply the Government with 75 bushels of Defiance wheat, which is alleged to be rust proof at four dollars per bushel. A sample of the Defiance grown here is showing bad signs of rust. The Commissioner of Crown Lands asks the opinion of practical farmers before buying from America.

Brisbane

The captain and officers of the French warship Diestress have been entertained by the Mayor of Cooktown. The captain said he would protect and assist vessels of other nations on the coast of New Guinea if necessary. An experienced trader, Captain Johnson, accompanies him as pilot. He is thoroughly acquainted with the Lousiade Archipelago, and knows the ringleaders of the Brooker Island pirates. It is hoped the visit will thoroughly destroy tbe piratical nest.

It is reported at Dalby that the Goondiwindi mail was stuck up near Woondwool on Thursday by a highwayman, who took the mails and two horses.

The Duke of Manchester left Bimgeworgarai on Saturday. A police inspector accorarapanies him on his Western tour. They go to Mitchell Downs, Barenda, Lambo, and Blackall.