INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4129, 15 June 1874, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Out of files from the other Colonies, which we have received per s.s. Albion, we take the following extracts ; VICTORIA. It is stated that the Royal Arcade in Bourke street, Melbourne, which cost £20,000 in building, has returned its entire cost in rents in four years. The Costerfield Gold and Antimony Mining Company have struck rich gold-bearing stone, and antimony ore of the finest quality, in their 020 feet workings. The medical officers appointed to examine Mr. Bntchart have decided that he is now of sound mind. Ho still remains at the Cremorne Lunatic Asylum, and is under surveillance. Mr. Bntchart is charged, it will be remembered, with an extraordinary attempt to obtain money by passing forged cheques on the Bank of Victoria, Chinese skilled labor has entered into successful competition with European on Ballarat. Tenders wore advertised the other day for fitting up a shop in Bridge street, to bo used as a restaurant, and a party of Chinamen, being the lowest tenderers, secured the job. They are now busily engaged at the work. Thomas Skchan was killed on the Allansford road on Saturday night, May 30, whilst riding towards Warrnambool. Ho came in contact with a horseman travelling in an opposite direction, and on falling to the ground his neck was found to bo broken. At the inquest a verdict of accidental deatli was returned. This is the third fatal accident on the same road during the past month. Tlie now public buildings in Melbourne are to be erected cm the foundations which wore laid some fourteen or fifteen years ago in the Treasury Gardens. They will cost £139,767, which is £233 under the estimate of tho Government officials. On the 2nd of May last no less than 1250 merino wethers wore stolen from Mr. Brown, at tho Anakies. £IOOO reward was offered for the recovery of the sheep and conviction of the thieves. Tho police have got on the right, track, and will very shortly have both tho sheep and the robbers in safe keeping. Judging from tho fact that tho dividends at Sandhurst for tho past week largely exceed tho calls, it would seem as if a turn of the tide had taken place in tho Bendigo district. Tho calls made during tho past week amount to £1375, whilst the dividends declared come to £7003 65., exceeding the calls by £3228 6s. The Mining Department offers a reward of £IOO for tho discovery of a safe and efficient moans of signalling between tho top of a shaft and tho several entrances to it, and between the several entrances, and between each entrance (separately) and tho surface. Tho examination of the invention will bo conducted by a board to be appointed, and the reward

will not be payable until the invention approved by the board shall have been tried for six months. A graceful acknowledgment has been made by H.'R.H. the Duke of Genoa of the hospitalities he received during his biief visit to Victoria and Tasmania. On his return to Italy he ordered two handsome lockets to be made for presentation to Lady Bowen and Mrs. Du Cane respectively. Each contains the donor’s portrait, and the face of the locket exhibits his monogram T.S., Tomaso di Savoia, in brilliants and pearls, surmounted by the Crown of Italy similarly enriched. The Duke has also sent a magnificent breast pin, composed of brilliants, arranged according to the foregoing design, to Mr. Robertson, of Echuca, as a souvenir of his visit to that gentleman’s residences. The presentations have been made through the Consul-General for Italy, and the value of the gifts has been greatly enhanced by the good taste and kindly feeling exhibited by the young Prince in his mode of transmitting them to their recipients. ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A CONSTABLE. A prisoner succeeded in freeing himself during the night from his bonds, while in custody of Constable Brennan, at the Shady Creek, Gippslaud. The Inspector, Mr. Kabat, was communicated with, and when he reached the scene he found the constable (Brennan) in too low a state to be spoken to, but being subsequently permitted to see him, ho was enabled to gather the following particulars : —The last time the constable was seen on Tuesday night by anyone about the hotel where the assault took place, was about 11 o’clock, shortly after which it is presumed that he handcuffed the prisoner to his bed. The constable and the prisoner occupied the same room, the beds being opposite to each other, and about three feet nine inches apart, the window of the room being on the side where the constable’s bed was placed, which would have to be crossed before the window could be reached. Ou retiring to rest, Brennan placed his trousers, in which were the keys of the handcuffs, at the foot of his bed, and the prisoner must have secured the garment and freed himself, as the constable when he awoke, as he thinks about five o’clock, by a heavy blow on the head, saw the prisoner standing over him with a tomahawk in his hand, with which he again struck him, and then made for the window. Brennan jumped up and endeavored to prevent him from reaching the window, when the prisoner commenced using the tomahawk freely, and a very severe struggle must have taken place between them, as there are eight cuts on the constable’s head, all in different directions, one of them fully an inch and a half in depth, and the others very severe ; one of Ins arms is also very much bruised. The constable, as may be supposed from the murderous nature of the assault, was soon rendered senseless. Since his re-arrest the prisoner has remained very sullen, the only information he has vouchsafed about himself being that he has a wife and family in Melbourne, to whom, at his request, Mr. Kabat has given him permission to write. Otherwise lie seems quite indifferent to what may be in store for him. The constable needs constant and careful attention. The unfortunate, who is held in great regard by his comrades, and esteemed by all who know him, is in a very critical state, and though there are hopes that he will ultimately pull through, there is too much reason to fear that the injuries that he has sustained may have a fatal termination. A STRANGE LIBEL ACTION. An action for libel, of a somewhat singular kind, has been disposed of in the County Court, Melboiune. The damages were laid at two hundred and fifty pounds ; and the libel complained of was an article called Bar Talk, which appeared in the Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette on the 2Xst February last, the proprietors of that journal being Messrs. W. F. and S. A. King. The case was tried before his Honor Judge Cope and a jury of four. The publication was admitted, but not that the plaintiff was the person referred to under the initial “ F .” The libel was to the effect that F (whose occupation and circumstances, as described, corresponded with those of the plaintiff) had lived with a woman who was not his wife, had ill-treated her, profited by her labor, turned her out of her own house, and almost immediately afterwards installed another woman in her place, who, in turn, expelled him from his home, after he had settled all his property on her. A witness was called to depose that the libel referred to Farrell. The plaintiff himself was put into the box, and was crossexamined at considerable length. He stated that he arrived in Botany Bay in 1826, and subsequently went to Launceston, where he was foreman for a tanner, but denied that he worked in a gang of prisoners at Bridgewater, near Launceston, or at Mount Dromedary. He was, he said, charged with stealing tallow from his employer there, but he was liberated as soon as an explanation was given as to his conduct. He denied all knowledge of John Jones, who was put forward as the overseer of the gang in which it was alleged Farrell had worked in Tasmania. He denied also that ho knew Mrs. Jones ; that he had lived in her house in St. John Street, Launceston, with Eliza Bass ; or that he had borrowed money from her. He was, he said, married to the last-named woman in Melbourne, but when her former husband turned up he agreed to give her .£3 a week as long as sho kept away from him. The jury gave the plaintiff a verdict for the full amount claimed

KESrONSTDILTTV OP MASTERS. The recovery of damages to the extent of £250 was sought in the County Court, Melbourne, before his Honor Judge Cope, and a jury of four, for an injured head, the plaintiff being William Miles, a laborer, and the defendant, John Dean, a contractor, who in the beginning of the year was erecting a dwelling house at Hawthorn, and the plaintiff was employed on the building. On January 33, Milos was hoisting a stone, weighing about 8 owt, by means of some shears. After it had got a considerable distance from the ground the shears gave way, and the stone, in falling, struck Miles on the forehead, doing him snob serious injury that he was removed to the hospital, whore he remained several weeks, and had to submit to an operation for removing a portion of his fractured skull. The medical evidence called proved that the injuries sustained by Miles wore serious, and likely to be permanent. The plaintiff’s contention was that the accident resulted from the negligent construction of the contractor's scaffolding. For the defence it was contended that if there was any negligence it was the fault of Miles’s follow-laborer, who fastened the legs of the shears, for which negligence the contractor himself was not responsible. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £l5O. NEW SOUTH WALES. Mr. Hume, a public school teacher, was washed off the rocks at Port Macquarie, and Mr. Gardiner, another teacher, in endeavoring to rescue him, was also drowned. The Winifred, for London, lias returned to alter the stowage of her dead freight. The Corporation has resolved to issue £33,000 on debentures, being the full extent of their borrowing powers. In the Intercolonial Chess Match, Sydney won two games and Adelaide one ; another was drawn) and throe unfinished. The particulars of a somewhat hard case, with Enoch-Arden-like surroundings, has transpired (says the Newcastle Pilot) at Waratah. Some thirteen years back the husband of a woman residing at Waratah, left his wife, who, by hard struggling, mannged to amass some little property, besides keeping and educating a largo family of children. After some eight or nine years had elapsed, tiro woman, not having heard from her husband during the whole period, advertised for the “ missing link," but without avail, and about three years back she married, for the second time, a respectable and industrious coalminer of the district. After two children had boon added to the earlier formed circle, the wanderer returned from another colony, and, it is said, claims some little landed property that had been accumulated during his absence. The additional hardship of the case is that noth the property is included a now house, said to

have been built ont of the hard earnings of husband number two. Whether the first husband intends claiming both wife and property does not appear, but the later consort is still in possession. QUEENSLAND. The Queensland Legislative Council is not in accord with the Assembly on the subject of payment of members. A Bill providing for this passed the Lower House by a majority of four to one : but although the PostmasterGeneral fought vigorously for the measure in the Council, an amendment that it be read that day six months was carried by sixteen votes to six, when the second reading of the Bill was passed on the 20th May. SOUTH AUSTRALIA, The S. A. Advertiser reports that on Friday, the 22ud May, Mr. E. M. Bagot held a sale by auction of thoroughbred horses. ££ The first one that was sold was a colt by Talk o’ the Hill, out of Levity, the dam of Don Juan. He was a beautiful animal all over, with a grand pedigree. Ho was started at over 200 guineas, and then the bids were heavy and rapid, South Australians and Victorians competing boldly till 500 guineas were passed, when five-guinea bids steadily brought the price up to 510 guineas, and the hammer fell, Mr. Hurtle Fisher being declared the purchaser amidst great cheering. A colt by Talk o’ the Hill, out of Miss Giraffe, was then put up, and sold for 235 guineas to Mr. Wilson, of Victoria. A splendid colt by Tregeagle, out of Zillah, by Stockowner, was next offered; and, after brisk competition, Mr. Murray became the purchaser, at 260 guineas. The last of Mr. Gorrard’s was by Talk o’ the Hill, out of Surprise, and Mr. McCulloch bought this for 100 guineas. Mr. Fairclough, the tragedian, has met with an accident. Mr. Lazar, Mr. Fairclough, and Mr. Lyster (Mi*. Fairclough*s agent) were returning from the race course, in a buggy, drawn by a pair of horses, driven by Mr. Lazar, the lessee of the Adelaide theatre, and were turning into King William Street from North Terraco, when a collision took place with a licensed waggonette, and the occupants of the buggy were thrown out with considerable violence. Mr. Lazar was picked up insensible, and at once attended to by Dr. Peel, who found that severe injuries had been caused to the hip joint. Mr. Lyster’s collar-bone was broken, and Air. Fairclough received several nasty bruises and a severe shaking. Notwithstanding his hurts, the latter gentleman fulfilled his engagement with the jmblic to play in Macbeth the same evening. Air. Lyster was progressing favorably. Air. Lazar remained insensible for some hours, but afterwards recovered consciousness, and showed signs of improvement. NORTH AUSTRALIA. A party travelling from Queensland to the Northern territory with cattle, under the management of Air. Lalor, had some disagreements ou the way which led to a separation of the party, the cattle having to be left behind. Owing to extensive floods, the diminished party could not push on, and they were obliged to consume all their horses for food except one. Elvey, one of the party, left his mate, Air. Nation, an old Port Lincoln squatter, and brother to the late Captain Nation, at Limmcu Bight, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, and, with the only remaining horse, pushed on for Daly Waters. When he left Nation, ten days before he reached Air. Kunckey’s camp, Nation had only 151 b of dried horseflesh, and was in a very exhausted condition. Elvey, having had to abandon his cattle, was expected at Daly Waters next day. Air. Knuckey’s first impulse was to go to the rescue of poor Nation, but he was in a difficulty, as most of his men were down with illness. The distance in a straight line from Daly Waters to Limmen Bight is 190 miles. It seems that Air. Nation had found means to telegraph to the Government resident at Port Darwin for help. A telegram announces that Mr. Todd has instructed Air, Knuckcy to organise a party, including Elvey and Lator, to start in search of Nation, and, if necessary, to go himself - in charge of the party. Those who know Air. Kuuckey will rest assured that no time will be lost in getting a party together and starting for the rescue of the unfortunate man. But for the overland telegraph the whole party would probably have perished. THE FIJI ISLANDS. By way of Sydney, we have news from Levuka to the 13th of Alay. The Fiji Times reports that a boat belonging to Air. Hetherington, of Dreketi River, with a number of foreign laborers in it, has been picked up between there and Vanua Levu. At the time it was observed it was upon the reef, and some of the men were busily engaged trying to push the boat off. They said that they were coming to Levuka to see the Consul, and that the white man (to whom they alluded is only surmised) bad killed or beaten two of their number. They can only speak indifferently, and whether they meant killed or beaten is not known. It is a curious fact that their women and children are with them, and that some of the men arc suffering from wounds supposed to have been caused by large knives. The people are now in Levuka in safe keeping, and the war schooner Renard will be at once despatched to make inquiries.