AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1889, 26 August 1874, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The R.M.S.S Jeddah arrived at Townsville, Queensland, on 12th August, at • midnight. The cargo of the Jeddah includes 40 packages of astronomical instruments for use in observing the transit of Venu3. The French expeditions due at Brisbane on Monday evening. .' The new mission steamer Ellangowan has been spaken in Torres Straits. • . The New South Wales Parliament has been further prorogued to the 15th of September. Madame Goddatd has not fulfilled her Bathurst engagement on the" ground of objection to one of the company. Tt is likely to cause a lawsuit. The following refers to the death of a well-known and much respected citizen of Melbourne :— On Thursday, 13th'iiugust, Mr Candler held an inquest at Campbellfield, on the body of John Sibbald Muir, landlord of the Onion Hotel, JBourke street. On Tuesday evening the deceased left the Oragieburn Hotel on horseback to go towards Melbourne. George Redmayne, telegraph-line repairer, a couple of hours afterwards, while driving in the same direction, found Muir lying insensible on the road, and had him removed to the Waggoners' Arms Hotel, Campbellfield, where he died about two and a half hours after being found. He never spoke. A person on horseback said he had met a saddle-horse riderless about a mile off. The deceased was neither sober nor drunk when he started, and was only about two and a half miles from the Cragieburn Hotel when found; Constable Boyd was going to take the deceased to the hospital, but before he could get a vehicle the man died. On the body the constable found Ll6 38, a cheque for Li, a diamond ring, and some papers. Dr Talbot, ; who had made a postmortem examination, deposed that the cause of death was fracture of the skull, and extravasation of blood. Medical assistance would not have availed. A verdict of death from fracture of the -skull, caused by the deceased being accidentally

thrown from a horse, was returned. A rather curious case came before the magistrates in the Oollingwood Police Court on 14th August. A cab driver named John Agnew was summoned by Constable Douglas for assault and tearing his uniform. The defendant had a disturbance in the street, with a man named Pollock at about 11 o'clock on Monday night, and the constable followed him into his own yard in order to ascertain his name, for the purpose of summoning him. Agnew demanded the constable's name and number, and as he would not give it, he shut the gate and kept Douglas prisoner, until a second constable came up and released nis comrade. Douglas was obliged to get over the fence, and in doing so tore his trousers. Douglas stated that Agnew struck him before he entered the gate, but though several persons were in the immediate neighborhood no one saw or heard the blow. Several witnesses were examined, who stated that Douglas, finding that he had " caught a Tartar, 3 ' wished to leave the premises, but that Aguew refused to let him out unless he gave his name or number, and this the constable refused to do. The only thing the witnesses saw Agnew do was to take off the constable's cap and go inside his house to see the number, when he immediately brought it back again. The bench fined Agnew L 2, with 26s costs, 15s damages, in default of payment one month in goal. The original offence committed by Agnew was entirely overlooked in the graver crime of taking a constable prisoner, and causing him to tear his garments by obliging him to escape by climbing. The "Arabian Box Mystery" as performed at the Sydney School of Arts is thus described :— " A perforated box is brought on to the platform in full view of all present. Four persons are invited and go on to the platform and inspect the box closely. The box is then locked and roped by two attendants, a good many folds of the rope being bound round it and knotted. The rope knots are sealed by the persons invited to the platform. Over this a canvas cloth is thrown and buckled closely,'and another rope is fastened round -- this. Mdlle. Zelinda is then brought on / the platform, and a screen is let down covering her and the box. In three minutes the screen is raised, and only the box appears, roped, as if untouched since last in view of those present. The knots of the rope are knotted with the sealingwax undisturbed. But the cloth and the ropes being removed by the attendants and the box opened, Mdlle. Zelinda is found within, bound in a bag. The roping and unropine: of the box occupies the attendants fully twenty minutes ; yet within three minutes Mdlle. Zelinda manages to get within it. How she gets there is of course unknown to any but the initiated ; but it certainly appears a very clever performance to the ordinary spectator, and on the appearance of Mdlle. Zelinda from the box she is greeted with warm applause." " Blondin's performance at Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, August 1, was, perhaps," remarks the "Courier," the most successful and attractive he has ever given at Brisbaue, for the difficulties he had to contend agaiust was very great. In the first 1 place, the wind was blowing almost a hurricane, making the feat of rope travelling, at an altitude of 80ft, even to one so experienced as the hero of Niagara, anything but a holiday pastime. Again his spirit must have been sorely troubled by witnessing the fact that twothirds of his admirers were enjoying an excellent view of his performance from a position only a little less advantageous than that occupied by those who had the honesty to pay at the gates. The number in the gardens, musthave been considerably over a thousand. M. Blondin nevertheless went through his programme of dangers in the most praiseworthy manner. One of the most remarkable feat 3 performed by him was that of partaking of a fruit and wine desert on the rope. He carried his chair and table, the former in front, on which his pole was balanced, and the chair slung across his shoulders. Having placed them in position, a bottle of champagne and plate of fruit were pulleyed up to him, and these he partook of with evident enjoyment. The cork of the bottle not yielding readily to the corkscrew, he coolly knocked the head off with a knife, leaning over the rope at an acute angle to do so. Instead of carrying over his secretary on his shoulders, he performed that office for Mr Shepperson, the bookseller, who weighs over list. Blondin's live burden seemed as unconcerned as himself, bowing to the spectators in the most nonchalant manner at several points on his aerial journey. On his descent, Mr Shepperson received quite an ovation." ' The " Melbourne Argus," of Monday, July 30, says : — " A touching instance of sisterly affection was witnessed yesterday in the Melbourne Cemetery. While the late Gunner Dagwell's coffin was being lowered into the ground the people rushed over many of the graves, and in some instances, trod upon flowers which had been placed upon them. There was one freshly-made grave which, though unprotected by any railing, was. tastefully garnished with bouquets of flowers, showing that whoever has been buried beneath was remembered. Guarding the grave was a little girl, dressed in deep black, who, though quite alone, was bravely trying to keep the crowd from treading upon it. On being asked why she showed so much, solicitude about the grave, she said that her only sister, who was dead oaly a short time, was buried beneath it. Every one present seemed touched by the care evinced by the little girl, and she had little trouble in preventing the crowd from stepping over the grave which wa3 sacred to her." The following disgraceful case of tin kettling is reported by a Melbourne contemporary : — " Sydney street, Kilmore, was the scene of wild excitement on a recent Saturday evening, about 400 persons, men, women, and children having assembled for the purpose of giving an ovation to a newly married gentleman, whose first wife had been placed under the sod, but a short month previously, and whose open manifestations of grief on the occasion seemed unbounded. There was scarcely a single instrument in the town, from a penny whistle to a bullockbell or a kerosene tin — indeed anything that would emit a sound — that was not brought into play, and willing hands having plied the several instruments, it may be imagined how attractive the melody proved — indeed, the harmonious strains of ' music ' were heard three miles from the centre of operations." The "Brisbane Courier" says :— " The recent death of Mr Christopher Porter, of

Mooraee, Doughboy Creek, has made another vacancy in the fa3t diminishing ranks of our old colonists. Twenty-three years ago, Mr Porter arrived in the neighboring colony of Victoria, from England, with a large familj. He invested some thousands of pounds in that colony; and like many other men of enterprise who speculated about the same period, lost heavily during the reaction which followed the gold fever. Not prospering according to his wishes, Mr Porter, with 13 sons and daughters, migrated to Queensland, where they arrived immediately after its separation from New South Wales. Shortly after his arrival, Mr Porter was appointed city surveyor for this municipality. After holding the position for some years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public, he gave it up to commence farming at his late residence at Doughboy Creek, in which pursuit he was engaged up to the time of his death, a few days ago, at the good old age of 73 years." A miuers' strike has occurred at Ararat, the men having demanded a higher rate of wages than that previously paid. One of the first steps taken by the men was to form a branch of the Stawell Miners' Association. A correspondent of the •' Pleasant Creek News" supplies the following information regarding the proceedings : — " Mr Chamberlain proposed the first resolution — ' That it is desirable to form a branch at Ararat of the Stawell Miners' Association, and to adopt their rules and regulations.' 'JLhe motion was seconded by Mr Daniel, and carried unanimously. Mr Chamberlain, M.M.8., in proposing the next resolution, said it was well known that an attempt had been made by a certain company (the Maryborough) to cut down the current rate of wages given to the miners, who were now on strike. He had written to the secretaries of the associations at Clunes, at Ballarat, and other places, informing them of the circumstances, and he had no doubt that no miners would come from those places. The resolution was — 'That the following be the rate of wages adopted by the miners' associated in the Ararat division : — Wet shaft men, L 2 15s per week ; dry shaft men, L 2 10s per week ; face and brace men, L 2 8s per week ; tuckers and trimmers, L 2 53 per week. Boys, as agreed upon, when doing boys' work. All the above to be eight hours per day, and not exceeding 48 hours per week.' There was scarcely any discussion ; the meeting seemed to be convinced of the soundness of the above scale. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. What was represented as a case of gross extortion, the "Kyneton Guardian " reports, " came before the Kyneton Bench on Tuesday, in an action by a man named John Fullarton to recover his wages. Fullarton stated on oath that he had been engaged as a ploughman at 30s per week by Mr C. E. Glass, the manager of a registry office in Melbourne known as the 'Employment Institute.' Before securing this employment he had been compelled to pay 20s, 5s on registering his name for employment, and 15s before the manager would give him his agreement. Fullarton had only been five or six weeks in the Colony, and paid the demand [ rather than be kept out of employment. Fullarton's solicitor requested the press to draw attention to what he deemed an extortionate charge, a request in which the police magistrate concurred. Whilst doing so, however, we are afraid there is no remedy, and that registry-office keepers are practically allowed to charge what they like. In the interests of the laboring classes and also of employers themselves we think it would be well if some statute were passed bringing them under the heel of authority." A few evenings ago, says the " Argus " of the 17th August, a young girl, about 12 years of age, was proceeding along the Sydney road, Coburg, between what was known some years ago as the Young Queen Hotel and the Pentridge Stockade, when she was overtaken by a negro of rather repulsive appearance, who commenced to ask her some questions, among the rest what her name was. According to the girl's statement, the man then put his arms round her neck and kissed her, at the same time informing her he would call and see her during the night. As soon as the girl got home she told her mother what had taken place. Late the same night, just before the family went to bed, a noise was heard outside tho door, when the girl said, in a frightened state, "Oh! mother, there he is now." The mother of the girl said in a loud voice that the gun was loaded, and whoever was there had better go away, or she would fire. Footsteps were then heard retreating. Next day information was sent to Sergeant Joyce, stationed at Coburg, who took - the girl to a paddock close to the Wheatsheaf Hotel, where fcur negroes were at work, but the girl failed to identify any of them as the man who accosted her. "It was reported in Maryborough," the " Standard " saya, "that a murderous assault had been committed by a European on a Chinaman. On making inquiries we were unable to ascertain the names of the parties, but learned the following particulars of the occurrence : — A bricklayer who is working on the railway line near Dunolly remonstrated with his wife some time ago for visiting a Chinaman's hut in the vicinity ; she pleaded as an excuse that she wesit to the place to get the Chinaman's clothes for the purpose of washing them, but her husband, thinking John's clothe j required washing rather too frequently, told her on Wednesday morning latt that he would not go to work, but would stop at home to see that she did not go to the hut. His wife at once set to work to calm his jealous fears. She told him she would not go again to the Chinaman's, and he then left, apparently satisfied with her assurance, saying he would go to his work as usuaf, but instead of going he went and concealed himself near the Chinaman's hut to watch the course of events. He did not long remain in suspense ; after ho had been in his hiding place a few minutes whom should he see approaching but his faithless wife. She at once went into the hut, which she had been forbidden to enter, and in a few minutes afterwards the Chinaman came out, and, thinking no one was near, he then went in again, and the door was closed. The injured husband then rushed in, and in a fit of desperation took up a chopper which was within his reach, and hit the Chinaman a couple of severe blowa with it on the head and neck. Immediately after the occurrence he gave himself up to the police, and was, we under stand, brought up before the Dunollj Bench and remanded."