AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7524, 14 April 1885, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per s.s. Waihora, via the Bluff.) [Per Peess Association.j VICTORIA. Melboubne, April 8. At the Easter encampment at Frankston the muster was 1190 men. The Metropolitan force arrived there on Friday last, but the country troops did not arrive till Saturday morning. The camp arrangements were • excellent. The Governor visited the camp on Saturday, Major Sargood accompanying him. At Port Philip Head the forts were occupied, and the Victorian fleet sailed down the bay and anchored near Sorrento. The men at the fort 3 had good ball practice, and a sham fight took place between the ships and the forts. A sham fight also took place at Mordialloc, one side attacking and the other defending the local railway station. Two large fires occurred in the city on Monday night, one being at Cohen's furniture factory, Lonsdale street. Two workshops and two cottages were completely destroyed. The loss is estimated at.£lsoo, and is not covered by insurance. The other fire was at John Sharp and Son's sawmills, Sandridge road. The fire commenced at about 5 o'clock, and was not subdued until Tuesday morning. The loss is estimated at ,£20,000, and is covered by insurance. A remarkable tragedy was discovered yesterday morning in South Melbourne. It appears that for some time past a man named Bowden has laboured under the delusion that he was perpetually surrounded by larrikins anxious to kill him. He carried about a revolver, and his wife, alarmed, asked the police to interfere, as she thought her life endangered. The police declined to do so unless a warrant was taken out, which the wife would not do. On Monday, the couple seemed on excellent terms, but on Tuesday morning, when the house was entered, their two bodies were found lying side by side, the husband with a revolver in his hand, with three chambers still loaded. It is supposed that the husband shot his wife and then himself. . NEW SOUTH WALES. A sham fight took place at the South Heads encampment yesterday. A deputation of wharf men waited on Captain Hixson. in reference to the enrolment of men for the Naval Brigade. Captain Hixson expressed his approval of the movement, and said wharf labourers were just the class of men required for the Brigade. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. H. L. J. Wilkin has made a claim on the Government for a reward of .£IO,OOO for the discovery of a workable coalfield. A syndicate has been formed to work the field, nearHergott Springs.