CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10257, 27 January 1894, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS.

An American writer (eaysMi G. A. Bala) 'baa.conoelved the following ‘‘novel plan! for the world of society Midi! disseminating the much-needed instruction in the graces of love-making for; the fur-! iterance of matrimony." I have quoted his own words. This is his idea: "Let’ f> number of clubs be organised, consisting’ of married couples, whose matrimoniall venture is apparently a success, and of young men ana women who are meditating-matrimony-I—the married to be active, the unmarried honorary members. Let the meetings be monthly, semi-monthly or weekly, and held in autumn at the houses’ of the married members. At the meeting: let the married pair, at whose residence the meeting is held, give for the entertain-’ ment of the assembled guests, and more especially for the instruction of the un-; married members, a faithful and realistic rendition of the principal scenes in their pourtship, ending the performance with the grand and effective scene in which the ’thrilling, soul-stirring question was put find answered."

A Bendigo telegram saysA serious stabbing affray occurred at Axe Creek to-day (Jan. 9). An elderly man named James Crosaley, a marine store dealer, this morning met a labourer named Ernest Dow in the city, and the latter asked Crosaley, wno had' a horse and cart, to drive him out to Axe Creek to get some old iron. Crossley, who says he never knew Dow before, adds that when eix miles out in the bush near Wellsford Forest he stooped to pick up something in the bottom of the care, when Dow caught him by the head and stabbed him in the neck with a penknife, and attempted several times afterwards to stab him further. Crossley asked Dow what he was going to do, and the latter replied, " Pm going to murder you." Crossley said if Dow wanted his money ho would give-it him. Aftsr a struggle Dow was thrown out of the cart, aud then he viciously stabbed the horse in the neck several times. Crosaley endeavoured to appease Dow, and they drove on, but soon Dow again jumped down aud stabbed the horse several times. He endeavoured to further injure Crossley, who being alarmed then ran away. Dow getting the reins drove towards the city at a great pace, the horse bleeding profusely. Arriving in Bendigo, he caused a great sensation by his extraordinary conduct. Constable Kelly seized the horse, and after some trouble arrested Dow, who, when placed in the cell, began tearing his shirt into strips. He was then placed in a straight jacket. Crossley has been brought into the hospital by the police, but the doctors could not say whether the wound’ in his neck has injured his spine. The horse was stabbed in fourteen places. Dow will be charged with maliciously wounding Crossley, and maliciously wounding & * horse, unlawfully using a horse and furious driving. He is only twenty-three years of age, but has frequently been in gaol.: Some time ago, according to a police 1 report,he tried to drown himself in the' Yarra. Ha only returned during the Christmas holidays, aud it is said he was only recently released from gaol.

At the inquest at the Melbourne Gaol into the circumstances attending the death’ of Thomas Walker, alias Thomas Jones, alias William Perrins, the public executioner, who committed suicide by cutting! his throat with a razor at the Melbourne' Gaol, Frances E. Walker deposed that the: deceased was her husband. His name was; Thomas Walker, otherwise Thomas Jones.; His age was thirty-five years. He had; left two children. He had been drinking; for the past month, and was unable to : sleep. He objected to bang Mrs Enorr,; and said he would commit suicide sooner than do so. Witness had said that she; would not live with deceased if he hanged; a woman. Robert J. Burrows, governor of; the Melbourne Gaol, deposed that bespoke to deceased about 3 p.m. on the previous'; Friday. Whilstspeaking deceased went into; an hysterical fit of crying, and was a long time recoveringhimself. He spokeoftheexe-! cution about to take place, and said his life was a misery to him, owing to the state or affairs at his home and the constant annoyance he received about going to hang Mrs Enorr. He said that there was an echo in; the house which said, "If you hang Mrs; Enorr you will suffer." He asked witness’ for enough money to leave the colony after, the hanging was over, as he thought his' life would be endangered. Witness then arranged that deceased should come into!, the gaol the next day, and remain until after the execution. Witness reminded; the deceased that he had to be at Pentridge the following' Tuesday, and he said! he would be there. Deceased started; drinking before Christmas. The jury,' after a short consultation, found that the deceased, Thomas Walker, alias Thomas Jones, came by his death in the Melbourne (jfaol on Jan. 6, by cutting his throat with a razor whilst of unaound mind.

The Melbourne Age says The request Tor a bonus for the establishment of an ; '-Antarctic whaling centre at this port has aroused ,soma opposition. This .suggestion; emanated from Messrs Trapp, Blair andj Co., who are prepared to go into the’ industry very thoroughly, and have a. Norwegian steamer coming out for tha| purpose. They have asked the Customs 1 authorities to give a bonus for a steamer' bringing in a certain quantity of whale' .oil within a given time, and the depart-; merit recommends a bonus of £IOOO to be paid for a stipulated quantity, to be fixed, ; delivered in twelve months. AMr Hassell; who is engaged in the South Pacific whale, fishing, placed his views before the Customs authorities yesterday, objecting that the; bonus would be unfair to those already established in the trade. Mr Baker; pointed out that it would be open for them' to compete for the bonus as freely as anyone else, to which the reply was that the' bonus was for steam whalers, while those; in opposition had only sailing vessels, and; would not be able to compete in tbo matter! of time. It was also contended that the' establishment of the industry would do no' good to this port j but Mr Baker explained; that it was a condition of the bonus that' Melbourne be made the head-quarters of the fleet, and all fitting and equipment should be dona here, and that there would! necessarily be a benefit through various! indirect channels. Mr Baker to' fully consider the views put before him, but he was was strongly of opinion that the establishment of the whaling industry, here would be a most desirable thing.

The sharks about Sydney harbour are just now unusually lively. The other! morning a man sent a fine Newfoundland; dog in for a swim. The animal had not been long in the water before a large; shark rose under it, dragging it down, and,'biting the poor brute in half, swallowed’ the bind portion and half the body. The fore half drifted on to the rocks, when it! was seen that the bite was a clean one, aa if done with one stroke of a sharp cleaver, showing that the fish must have been of ’ considerable size. Someone who went to the spot later found the half of the carcase 1 on the rocks at the point and pushed it clear. It was carried by the current some couple of hundred yards towards Farm I Cove, when a shark, variously estimated to be from 12ft to 16ft long, rose to the carcase; and took it under. For a few seconds the’, fish seemed to be "worrying” the morsel,; lashing oat with its tail, which xt showed' well above water, and then disappeared,! there being no further trace of f shark or dog.