ESTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4050, 5 November 1874, Page 3

ESTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

From the Australian files to the 24th, received via South yesterday, we extract as follows :— The Sydney Labouring Men's Union has notified its intention to demand 10s for eight hours' work, after Ist December next. Mr. Brazier's deep-sea dredging party has returned to Jarvis Bay after a cruise. A public meeting was to be held at Syd- ' ney on the 25th to establish a model lodginghouse. I _ There is a dearth of labour at the claims in the Northern Territory, and it is reported that men are not to be obtained in the country at £5 a-week, and several good claims are idle. The Hobart Town woollen manufactory's first sale was held in the Town Hall on the 23rd. There were offered TOOpairs of blankets, 700 yards of tweed, 3000 yards of flannel, and GO woollen shawls. There was a large attendance, and much interest was shewn. The blankets fetched from 50s to 70s. ; the flannels averaged 2s 3d, and tweeds Gs Gd to Ss Gd per yard. A despatch was telegraphed from Sydney to the Imperial Government announcing the cession of Fiji. -VI- de la Richerie, Governor of New Caledonia, has arrived at Sydney from Noumea. It is reported that he "has been recalled, in consequence of Admiral ILibourt's enquiry, and that M. Allergerou has been appointed his successor. Several Sydney offices have lost large insurances on the l-Cingsbridge. O'Ferr ell's reported appearanec in America, is unlikely, he having been seen in New Caledonia lately. Captain Aldren, of Newcastle, was found dead in his garden, having burst a blood vessel. A telegram received at Sydney reports that exchange on England has been reduced to J per cent, premium. The telegraph between Madras and Cal cutta has beeu interrupted by a cyclone, which blow down 50 miles of wire. TXIE PALMER DIOOIXGS. A letter from the Palmer correspondent of the Coohtown C'ltirl'-rcontains the following respecting the state of affairs on this goldtield :—

It would almost appear that the very enterprising merchants of Cooktown had conspired together to draw the entire digging population of the Palmer to the port, by stopping the supplies ; otherwise why have not arrangements been made for adequately provisioning these diggings ? Paris was scarcely worse off during the latter days of the seige than the Palmer is at the present moment, except in the matter of beef, which at Is a pound, is the only cheap tiling we have on the diggings, and the only thing that keeps body and soul together. Flour (when obtainable) is per lb., 3s Gd to Is; damper (to travellers) per lb., 4s ; beef, Is ; tea, Gs; sugar, 3s 9d; tobacco, 12s ; rice, 4s ; English potatoes, per lb., 3s (on Stony Creek 4s Gd per lb.); pickles, per bottle, 4s ; jams, per tin, 3s Gd; blucher boots (according to quantity on diggings), 25s to 45s per pair; brandy, per bottle, 20s ; porter, 10a ; vinegar, 20s; salt, per lb., 3s; candles, per lb., ss; apples, per lb., 3s 9d; preserved potatoes, per lb., 3s Gd; oatmeal, per lb., 3s 9d; horse-slioeing, 30s ; and other goods at correspondingly crushing prices. At Pine Creek the blacks made a reconnaissance in force recently, and commenced spearing horses in every direction, until they were right in the midst of the tents, where at least eight horses were seen to fall at their hands. The blacks were supposed to number no less than 200 or 300, and on more than one occasion men in search of horses were encountered by them, and compelled to run for their lives. Tilings began to look serious, and diggers were naturally apprehensive that at any moment a regular raid might be made on the camp. At last, when it was known beyond the shadow of a doubt that at least 50 horses had been speared, it. was resolved to put a stop to this wholesale massacre if possible. With this object, 22 diggers, well armed, mustered one evening, and proceeded up the creek in quest of the blackfellows' camp. After travelling nearly all night, their fires were at last sighted, and the avengers, dividing into two parties, and posting themselves conveniently for the work of dispersion, waited patiently for the dawn. When at last day broke, something like 200 blacks were seen squatting about the fires. The white men soon made their presence known, and in a moment the yelling of the backs, thus taken by surprise, was horrible They did not show fight, but ran right iu the direction where the second party, who had not yet shewn themselves, were posted. . . .

Robberies of gold, and other crimes punishable by law, are matters of daily and nightly occurrence on the diggings ; but not one mail in a hundred would go to the expense, trouble, and loss of time involved ill a prosecution, let the robbery be what it might, or whatever the nature of the crime. 1 have ouly heard of one ease, so far, where the services of Judge Lynch were called into requisition. This was at Stony Creek, where a mau was robbed of twelve ounces, in one of those detestable shanties that crop out everywhere, and suspicion falling on a fellow who was loafing about, there was a roll-up of diggers, and the supposed thief was taken into custody. The evidence against liim was held to be sufficient, and a rope having been passed around his neck, in true Caleraft style, ho wis about to be strung up, when he disgorged three ounces, and promised to make up the rest, at the same time protesting his i'nnoccnce. The pour fellow was so terrified by the fearful peril from which he had escaped, that during the whole of that night ho kept roaring like a mad bull. There are 110 police within twenty-five miles of the place. I'ccent prospecting has proved the existence of heavy deposits of black sand, containing a very high per-centage of tin, in the creel;s falling into the main branch of the river, from 30 to 35 miles above this camp (Edwards'). One man (a Stantliorpe man) who had saved a pannikin nil of the mineral, | informs me that lie could get as much as 5 lbs. weight to the dish, and that he met with nothing at Stantliorpe to equal it. The place is within 50 miles of (.'ooktown, and no doubt, in years to come the discovery will be turned to practical account. Here is further evidence of the richness of this part of the country in the most valuable minerals.

Notwithstanding the rumours that occasionally reach lis of machinery being landed at Cooktown for this pLace, and the freelyexpressed opinions of such men as llr. King and Mr. Parkins—both interested in machinery—that this will prove to be one of the richest quartz-mining districts ever opened in Australia, it appenr.s but too probable that another wet season will have come and passed away before machinery will be on the road for these reefs, from any quarter. This will throw the reel's back considerably. rvnrßPEit OF V JM.INO MAN. Nearly every resident hi !!achurst (says the Bathurst Free Press of October 14) must have noticed, (luring the prist throe years, the two old men—one blind, the other a cripple—who daily traversed the street* of Bathurst. They lived together in a hut 011 the flat near the river, and seemed to get along very comfortably until of late, when suuuis of quarrelling were occasionally heard riroeeeding from their dwelling. On last Saturday morning, the cripple--who is known ?•;. the name of " Yorkey"—went to the Court-house, and informed Senior-Sergeant "U'aters that old blind Joe, his mate, had been murdered. The sergeant at once proceeded to the old men's dwelling, and found the blind man lying on the floor of the bedroom on his back, with, his face and clothes covereil \uth blood. A closer inspection resulted in the discovery that his forehead had been lettered in with , some heavy blunt instrument, and as a largesized morticing axe lay at his reef; it is supposed that that was the weapon which had caused the injuries. Poor J ■ > was still alive, but unconscious, when tne sergeant-entered the hut, and after considerable trouble lie was partially restored to consciousness, and was able to tell the sergeant, in answer to as enquiry, that Yorkey had assaulted him. He became again unconscious, however s almost immediately, and in that state wafi removed to the hospital, where, notwith(Ftr continuation of neivt ste Svpplmcat,)

put forth, by the medical S tl Hm, he died earl, on the riav. Yorkey was arrested and crime, but he continues SticaUy to deny his guilt An inquest the body was commenced on Monday, t\- iter three or four witnesses had been in»Hl it was adjourned until this day in K: f™ tl 'j a t tlie police might have time to pro°Z nld'itional evidence. Yorkey is a very t hb old man, and almost an imbecile, but ie seems to feel his position very acutely. SHOCKING OUTRAGE. The Jfurrurumli Times of a r ; cent date rets .L-" One of the most horrible occurthat we have ever chronicled was wi»ht under our notice this week. Aman mcd Daniel O'Donnelly has been admitted to the hospital, to be treated for injuries Reived during a quarrel among his family ; 'miectioiis. It appears that a number of pouaintaneos had met together, when a dismitV arose between one of the men and his L,- e to whom O'Donnelly is related. The altercation becoming dangerous, O'Donnelly interposed in dcfonce of the weaker party, niicu the infuriated husband attacked him with a bottle containing a quantity of rum, qnashin" the bottle, indicting a number o£ ; ouII ,U upon his face, and spilling the liquor over the clothes and person of the unfortunate object of his wrath. Not content with this he threw his victim upon a fire which ' burning outside the house, when the spirits caught the flames in an instant, and the man was enveloped in fire. Unable to release himself frem the grasp of his insatiate assailant, who was also badly burned, the miserable man was only saved, from an excruciating death by another of the company who came to his assistance. He now lies in the hospital a bruised and wretched object of compassion; and months of torture to himself, and labour to the officers of the institution, must elapse before complete recovery from the effects of this inhuman deed."