Late Australian News.

Hastings Standard, Issue 216, 9 January 1897, Page 4

Late Australian News.

The amount of probata duly paid by the executors of the lute Mr Thomas Backhaul at Sydney the other clay was £15,000. A man named Alfred Reynolds was found drowned iu the Tumut River (X.SAY.) recently. The deceased had had a disagreement with his employer, and said thnt he wished he was dead. Anions his effects were English testimonials, including one from Sir H. E. Roscoe, and recent letters, signed by Lord Brassey's private secretary, stating that the bearer was desirous of proceeding Home as assistant steward. Close upon 200 applications have been received by the Victoria Mines Department from mining companies and prospectors for assistance under the Mines Development Act. Circulars are at present being sent by the Melbourne Public Service Board to all departments of the public service, the Education Department included, with a view of eliciting information as to how officers of the State fill up their spare time. If that time be utilised so as to secure monetary remuneration, no matter to how small an extent, an embargo is at once ordered. The public servant must not sing in a choir or play a church organ for a fee, and to contribute to the Press in ever so humble a way for remuneration is a high misdemeanour. An acknowledgment of any work done outside the service immediately brings forth an order that it must be discontinued. Permission has even been refused to some school teachers in remote districts to act as occasional Press correspondents. Eight young men drove up in a drag to a San Souci (Sydney) hotel, and made matters lively there by assaulting the proprietor and two men who were in the place. While the affray was at its height Sergeant McColl arrived on horseback. Taking in the situation, he drew his revolver, walked among the rioters, and ordered the eight men into their drag. They demurred, but, seeing that he would stand no nonsense, they at length took their seats in the vehicle, lie then ordered them to drive to the Kogarah Police Station, and, keeping them well covered with his revolver all the way, had the satisfaction of safely locking up the whole band. The reports by Mr Pounds of his experiments in the inoculation of rabbits with chicken cholera are shortly to be published in Brisbane. The Minister of Lands states that they establish to the fullest extent the fact that the chicken cholera method of poisoning is to be preferred to any other so far as tried for cheapness and efficiency, and that the results obtained are totally at variance with those obtained by experts in New South Wales. At Sydney the other day Harry Williamson, 52, was charged with stealing certain records, documents and writings from the public offices of the Supreme Court. Detective Clough, who arrested accused, stated the latter admitted removing the papers, some from the Court and some from the library, and selling them as curiosities. Accused was committed. Mr I. T. Carslake, the well-known horse-trainer, of Caulfield, drove to St Kilda with a horse and gig, and visited a bathing establishment. On his return the horse and vehicle were gone. Constable McCarthy, of Prahan, accosted three lads seated in a gig in Chapel street. The constable congratulated the trio on the excellent appearance of the turnout, and suspecting nothing wrong, allowed them to drive away. They were subsequently arrested. A strange case of mistaken identity was dealt with at the Glebe (Sydney) Police Court. A man named Frank Le Breton was charged with having burglariously entered the house of Captain Wood, at (.Hebe Point, and stolen jewellery valued at €ll ss. The accused was given into custody in the street, some time after the burglary had been committed, by Mrs Butcher, who said she was positive that the accused was the thief, and she also picked him out at the Police Station from among four other men. For the defence it was shown conclusively that Le Breton whs in Newtown playing billiards at the time of the robbery. He was di-'charged. The peculiar circumstances revealed rec-t ntly concerning the registration of tin- Rev. Charles Jones as pastor of " the Reform Church of England," Abbotsford, are still under investigation by the Yictorian Attorney-General. The parson is a member of a firm of undertakers, and in addition to burying the dead offers his >ervices to perform the funeral rites, lie also advertises himself as prepared to Celebrate marriages at nominal rates. Mr Jones complied with the law, which, the Attorney-General -a\>. is in a very unsatisfactory state, by presenting to the registrar-general a petition signed by 10 persons alleged to be worshippers in what is called the Reform Church of England, and it then followed, as a matter of course, under the Marriage Act, that a certificate should be issued to tiie piu'-on of the dock, entitling him to celebrate marriages. Confidential negotiations are in pro-t/tv.-s bf tweeii the Australian and Imperial postal authorities with reference to the future mail contract. Under the existing contract the I'. and O. and Orient Companies maintain a «.e*-kly Anglo-Australian service for a - ib-.dv of i; 170,000 a year, of which the British Government contributes C'". tx*>. and the colonial administrations tT-VMXi. It is practically nettled that this subsidy shall be continued in consideration of an accelerated and more uniform service b« iug given, ami the only point in dispute is a.s to tht continuance of bhuk labor on the 1' anil O. steamers. The lmpi-rial au thorides have su far shown all indis position to give way in this matter, and it would seem as if the eoloniet will have to permit Lascar sailors U. be employed as heretofore.