AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5610, 17 February 1879, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per s.s. Albion at the Bluff.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 11. The railway to Horsham was opened by the Governor on Feb. 5, The Eev. Thomas Jones has, in consequence of failing health, recommended the Collins street Independent Church to find a successor. Signor Luigi Marinucci, Consul-General for Italy, died on Feb. 6 at his residence in. East Melbourne. The s.s. Kerangie was wrecked at 10 p.m. on Friday, near Cape Everard during a dense fog. The second officer and four men were despatched in a boat by the captain to report the occurrence at Gabo Island, and arrived there on Sunday. The steamship Victoria has been sent to the wreck to render what assistance may be required. There are four nominations for the vacancy in West Bontke, Mr Alfred Deakin (Government), Messrs Wm. Gaunson, Robert Harper (Opposition), and Mr Thos. Eldridge, The election takes place on Feb. 13. ADELAIDE, Feb. 11. The Anti-Chinese meeting at Tinley resulted in a fiasco. Extensive bush fires have occurred at Middleton, Strathallyn, Mount Pleasant, Echunga, and Mount Gambler. The Government intend having the Colony represented at the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibition. Rafferty, a contractor, was burned to death in a bush fire north of Port Lincoln. A strike has been inaugurated by ironworkers in consequence of employers requiring their men to work nine hours a day. BRISBANE, Feb. 11. The Premier has been re-elected unopposed. Another case of small-pox has occurred on board the Somersetshire. Captain Sykes and Mr Hartley were speared by blacks on Feb. 6, within five miles of Cooktown, and the former received dangerous injuries. The country is suffering from drought. A strange occurrence is reported to have taken place in Spring street, Melbourne, about 3 o’clock on the afternoon of Feb. I. A cab containing three women drove up to the new Treasury Hotel. One of the passengers called for a glass of water for one of the women, who appeared to be very ill, but before the person had time to bring the water the patient is reSrted to have expired. The cabman then ove off in, the direction of St Patrick’s Cathedral. The person who is reported to be dead appeared to have been removed from a bed hurriedly, as she wore only her nightdress and was wrapped in a shawl. It is also reported that the cab contained some luggage. It was subsequently ascertained that the person reported to be dead turned out to be a girl of the unfortunate class on her way to the hospitals She was in the last stage of consumption, and died by the way* , _ „ , A sturdy Irish dame, named B. Rodgers, who was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital suffering from fractured ribs and other injuries, thus describes how she received them: A man of her acquaintance called at her house and asked If a friend was there. She curtly replied “No,” and indicated that he was an unwelcome visitor, whereupon he lucked her on the leg. This violence raised her temper and her combativeness, so she nicked uy a pan of hot cabbage-water and gSdK[Tu. JO.■ Wr knocked her Mown and boked her on the ribs. Getting up she seized a small tub. and brought it down on hw head with some violence. For this he rave her another kick on the groin. Mr Scott, resident surgeon at the Bfoapital, reports that her injuries do not appear'to be of a serious nature. A case of deliberate self-destruction occurred in Baridy street, Footscray, when a man named' John Procter, a labourer, about fifty-six years of < age, hung himself with a saddle-strap. His daughter, who is engag as a Sunday school teacher, left him m the house between two and- three o clocxto attend school, and on returning found him sitting in bed with a strap round his neck, and fastened to the top of the bed, the

weight of the oody being thrown Forward so as to effect strangulation. ■-*■-* Pastor Chiniquy, the ex-priest who created some excitement in'Sydney by bis lectures;* preached for the first time in- Melbourne on Feb. 2. There was a great disappointment • instore for those who attended in- the * expectation of hearing sensational revelations, as the preacher’s sermon was a purely religious one, and had no reference to sectarianism. Mr Chiniquy is described by the Argus as an old man, who speaks English' fluently, but with a strong Dutch accent, and apart from the attacks he makes on the Roman Catholics his preaching would not, attract much attention.

William Lyster is expected back in a few weeks to inaugurate his new opera season. Some of the’ artists arrived by the Lusitania, and they are commencing a season in Adelaide. Signor Cagli will also be in Yiotoria in about two months, with an - Italian Opera Company, led by Tamburini Oby. Lyster’s star is Miss.Rosp Hersee. The dismal affairs called pantomimes still hold the Melbourne boards. The Theatre Royal production is very inferior. It nevertheless draws 'full houses. Sardou’s play of “Diplomacy” is underlined at the Opera-house, but it is wholly impossible for Mrs Lewis to cast such a drama with the resources which are available from the present theatrical inspectors and inspectresses of pavements, added] to her existing company. J. L. Hall returns to the Academy, and ought to draw money. Anew company will be engaged to support him. i One hundred and forty persons have been lately dismissed by the Minister of-Railways,’ in order to cut down the expenses of his department. Hadj Huno, the Arabian circus-tumbler connected with St Leon’s circus, was prosecuted at the Geelong Police Court on Wedheday for cruelty to an apprentice boy. It was proved that he had beaten the unfortunate lad till the blood came from the wales. Hadj Hamo was fined and ordered to at once send the boy back to his parents in Maitland. The Geelong Advertiser says Hamo has been dismissed from the circus. A rumour is current to the effect that the boy Ross, who some years ago was mysteriously stolen from Ms parents in Pennsylvania, U.S., is at present in victoria. It is, further said that Mr T. W. Lloyd, the proprietor of. a private enquiry office at Melbourne, has Had the matter in hand for some considerable time past and has discovered a clue .wkuon he Relieves will lead to the discovery of the lad, and his -restoration -to his parents. Enormous; rewards have from. time to time beam offered - for, information respecting the missing one, and Mr Lloyd, no doubt, will be a fortunate man in the event of his search proving" successful.

The Victorian Agent-General has- sent a letter to the Government, stating that he has purchased on their behalf an electric light apparatus for the Cerberus, similar to that now used on H.M.S. Isis.

The intense heat led to an extraordinary suicide at Sandhurst. The deceased (Julia Emery) was the only daughter of James Emery, merchant tailor. She, was twentyeight years of age, healthy, and of sound mind, and showed no previous indication of any suicidal tendency. She acted as bookkeeper in her father’s shop, and on Wednesday morning remained at her parents’ residence in Dowling street, as she complained that the heat was too much for her. Just before noon her mother found her suspended by a rope to the rafters, of an out-house. The manner in whioh the poor girl made away with herself 'shows great determination. A piece of frayed clothes-line was knotted in a loop over the rafter of the outhouse, and another loop (not a running noose, but a fixed loop), constructed at the other end of the rope, into whioh deceased must have placed her head and kicked away a box, which was found ’close by. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of felo de se, and added a rider that there was no evidence to show the state of the deceased’s mind when she committed the rash act.