AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8124, 22 March 1887, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

fßr Teleqbath.J (Per b.s. Manapouri, at the Bluff.) [feom oub own coebesfondknt.] VICTORIA, A BACINCI BOW. Lord Deerhurst, one of the aides-de-camp to the Governor, appeared at the Melbourne District Court on March 10 to answer a charge of assault preferred against him by a well-known bookmaker, named Robert Sutton. There was a counter charge in which Lord Deerhurst complained of having received grievous bodily injury at the hands of Sutton. Mr Panton was accompanied on the Bench by nearly a score of honorary magistrates, and the Court was crowded to suffocation. Mr Purves and Mr Stawell appeared for Lord Deerhurst, and Mr Duffy for Sutton, both charges being heard concurrently. The facts appeared to be that during the last Christmas holidays,' Lord Deerhurst met Sutton at a pigeon match at Hurlingham, and lost a wager to him to the extent of JB2BI. Some delay occurred in settling the debt, and Lord Deerhurst was pestered by Sutton for the money. At length Sutton threatened to post Lord Deerhurst at the Victoria Club as a defaulter. Lord Deerhurst replied, offering terms of settlement, and adding that if Sutton did not like to accept these he_.could. Mat Jhim afterwards paid; but on Feb. 19 Lord Deerhurst was in the back parlour of an hotel in Bourke street, in company w i*n a friend, when Sutton entered with two companions. Sutton shortly afterwards demanded from Lord Deerhurst an apology for an expression contained in a letter. This resulted in a disturbance. No blows were struck, but both parties considered they had been technically assaulted. A few days ago Sutton was expelled from the Victorian Club at the instance of Lord Deerhurst, and the first charge of assault was laid by Sutton next day. The hearing of the case occupied nearly the whole day. The Bench decided that Sutton and his friends had gone to the hotel with the deliberate intention of inciting a quarrel, and sentenced him to fourteen days’ imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given. Sutton had taken his passage by the R.M.S. Carthage for England, and intended to join the vessel at Adelaide next day. The decision excited great surprise in Court, and a suggestion has been made that it should form the subject of a public meeting. It is held that both parties should have been imprisoned or both discharged. SUICIDE. James Wright, a carpenter living in Collingwood, after making an unsuccessful attempt on the life of his wife and child, committed suicide by cutting his throat. It is believed that Wright had been sunstruck, as he complained of pains in his head. THE APPIEMATION QUESTION. The Minister of Justice has been interviewed by Joseph Symes and a number of Preethought adherents, who asked that in giving evidence in a Court of Justice their affirmation of the truth of their statements should be accepted as of equal value to the customary oath. Mr Cuthbert replied that he had not, as an individual, formed an opinion as to whether anything ought to be done to give the proposition legal effect, ‘but he would bring it under the notice of the Attorney-General and other members of the Government, with the view that they should consider the propriety of taking action. He understood that were the provisions of the New Zealand Affirmations in Lieu of Oaths Extensions Act of 1884 brought into force in Victoria, it would meet the requirements of the deputation. Mr Symes said the adoption of the New Zealand system would be acceptable.

NEW SOUTH WALES. AN ELECTION DIFFICULTY. When Parliament assembled, the first point of interest arose in connection with the swearing in of members. The writ for the election in the Wentworth electorate had not been returned, but as the Returning-Officer had officially declared the result, Mr J. P. Abbott, who was elected as one 'of the representatives of that constituency, claimed the right to be sworn, and to sit and vote. He said if the Commissioners declined to administer the oath, he would take the oath himself, and if requested to leave the House, would respectfully decline. He would allow force to be used in expelling him and test the question in the law courts. No attempt was made to interfere with Mr Abbott, who took the usual oath himself amidst Opposition cheers, and was allowed to take his seat undisturbed. At a later sitting the Speaker ruled after five hours’ debate, that Mr Abbott had no right to sit till the return of the writ. Mr Abbott ultimately withdrew, and a few days after the writ was returned and the member sworn in in proper form. INSURANCE COMPANIES. An important paper has been read before the Insurance Institute of New South Wales by Mr J. C. Remington, who advocated a combination of the whole of the Insurance Companies of the Colonies, with the view of taking measures to protect themselves against fraud and bogus Companies, which are now being extensively floated. ALLEGED ARSON. In the case of the Rev H. S. Britten, Anglican clergyman of Eyde, who has been committed for trial, after a protracted hearing, on a charge of setting fire to St Anne’s parsonage, which was occupied by himself and family, the evidence tends to

show that the prisoner acted in a most extraordinary manner, apparently during intervals of mental derangement. a"hoeeible case. A medical man at Gunnedah has written to the Minister of Justice, drawing attention to what appears to be an extraordinary case in the town of Breeza. It appears that a half-cast girl named Margaret Sampson, being in labour, called in and was attended to by an unqualified person. This man performed an operation on the woman, with the result that the woman and child died. The father and mother of the deceased made some statement to Dr Haynes of a horrifying character about the person who is said to have performed the operation. Dr Haynes states that he admitted that it was performed with carpenters’ tools. QUEENSLAND. A CYCLONE. Burketown was visited on March 9 by a cyclone, which lasted ten hours. Nearly all the buildings in the place were either unroofed or blown down, excepting the Custom-house and the Court-house. Destitute families were provided with temporary accommodation in those buildings. The river overflowed its banks, and submerged a portion of the town. Mrs Catherine Williams, Mrs Highman and two children named M'Gann, a carrier and his mate (name unknown), and a Chinaman were drowned. There were heavy losses in horses and stock. Telegraph posts were snapped like glass, and the line totally destroyed as far as can be travelled along. The post and telegraph office was wrecked. Many business people have been hopelessly ruined, and the loss is variously estimated at .£12,000 to -£20,000. ■ SOUTH AUSTEALIA. FATAL ACCIDENT. A boating accident occurred at Port Elliott, by which three men, named Trigg a builder, Charles Holden a coachman, and James Sallow, and a youth, the son of Page, a printer, of Adelaide, were drowned, two others were rescued. The boat was capsized by a squall not far from the jetty. Trigg sank immediately, not being able to swim, and a youth, named Knight, one of those saved, acted nobly in trying to save others. He gave up an oar he had hold of to another, and tried to keep the lad Page up, but without avail. WESTERN AUSTEALIA. SENTENCED TO DEATH. Franz Erdman, alias IJorning, a Kimberley digger, has been sentenced to death for the murder of his mate, named Johnston. Erdman shot Johnston while the latter was lying in bed, buried the body, took possession of Johnston’s effects, and fled for Derby. A digger passing the spot where the murder took place, felt the ground soft. He dug for rations,, and found • the body. The defence was that the prisoner shot Johnston at the latter’s request, after he had made a futile attempt to commit suicide. It is supposed that the condemned man was concerned in the murder of the Bank officials, Borrup and Anketell, at Eoebum three years ago.

[Per Press Association.] VICTOEIA. Melbourne, March 16. The other Colonies have returned favourable replies to the Victorian proposals to place legal regulations for ensuring proper regard for life-saving appliances on board ship on a common basis. The municipal authorities had an interview with Mr Gillies, with the view of joint out the proposals have hot yet taken a definite shape though they will include the illumination of the City and the erection of a statue to the Queen. Arrangements are now being made for a double pipe communication from the Tan Yean, so as to obviate the recurrence of a water famine. The Catholics held a meeting and resolved on a plan of welcome to the new Arch-Bishop of Melbourne, Dr Carr, on his arrival. The Hebden Telephone Company are in communication with the Government with the view of disposing of their patent. The Mayor of Fitzroy, Mr Clausien, gives a fete to 600 school children on Friday in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee. Progress is being made with the arrangements for the introduction of an inland parcels post, and the system will be brought into operation shortly. NEW SOUTH WALES, Experiments made in converting native grasses into ensilage have proved entirely successful, and probably silos will be brought into more extensive use in future. The unemployed are being gradualfy absorbed by relief works, leaving only the professional loafer element to keep Up the agitation for free rations and no work. The Premier is considering whether Sydney cannot substitute the cable tram system, as in Melbourne, for the present steam service.