AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6915, 16 January 1884, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

HORRIBLE CASE OF CAXXIBALISM. The following cannabalistic incident is related by the Cootamandra Herald :—"Two men quarrelled at Murrnmburrah, on Boxing Day over the sport 3 there, one being 'a pedestrian and the other a member of the committee of bandicappers. The former, in trying to escape a savage attack by the latter, had to mount a fence ; and he was getting over, the committee-man seized the pedestrian's calf with his tee;h and worried it like a dog till he tore away a good mouthful of Sestu" A SHOWER OF RED DUST. A phenomenon of a rare kind (say 3 the Tamworth News) took place in the "Uralla district on Thursday week, in the shape of s fall of impalpable dnst, of a reddish brown colour, which quickly enveloped everything exposed to" its influence. The dust continued to fall throughout the day, the atmosphere, especially in the morning, presenting the same nppearance os that usnailv seen in foggy or drizzly we.-.ther. "Water exposed to the failing dust changed to chocolate hue, and many who had linen drying on their lines were compelled to subject it to a second washing to get rid of the dust. Owing to the strange visitation, the sun and moon seemed to be obscured in a greenish haze. Some of the dust was sect to the Government astronomer, and the Uralla Times publishes the following letter : —Sydnev Obserratory, December 20, ISS3. B. Roman, Esq., J.P. My Dear Sir,—l am very much obliged to you for sending me the red dust : it appears t:> bs jesb the same as that which fell in the southern parts of the colony some time since. It probably comes from some dried up lagoon in the interior, from which in foe first instance it was carried up by a whirlwind, and then travelled a very long way before the. rainstorm brought it down at Urall3."