INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4172, 4 August 1874, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

VICTORIA. A young man named George Evereste, the manager of the Bank of Victoria at Malmshury, has been apprehended on a charge of uttering a forged cheque, drawn in the name of a customer of the Bank, for £4OO. A lucky “find” (the Ballarat Courier ‘states) was made by a stone-breaker on Eriday. He was “ cracking diamonds ” on the road near the Winter’s Freehold, when his hammer turned up a specimen of gold and quartz conjoined, for which subsequently Messrs. Wittkowsld Brothers, of Bridge Street, gave him £2O. The specimen, including the quartz, weighed Boz. 6dwt. As is generally the case with these discoveries, the finder was in very straitened circumstances, having a large family dependent upon him for support. EXTRAORDINARY STORY —-A MAN WOUNDED AND A BURGLAR SHOT. The Ballan correspondent of the Ballarat Courier writes :—-“On the 17th July, Mr. H. Densley, of the Horse and Jockey Hotel, East Ballan, and Mr. W. Thompson, farmer, of the Pentland Hills, went with some horses to put into a paddock on the Ingliston run. When they got to the hut of the man in charge of the paddocks (who is Densley’s father-in-law) he was from borne, and Densley got down the chimney and made up a fire to boil the billy to make some tea, until his father-in-law should come home. After being in the hut some time, he said to Thompson, ‘ Let us see what the old man keeps in here,’ meaning a room off the one they were in, with an old sack nailed up for a door or screen. He had just lifted the bag when he heard a voice say, ‘Yes, you , take that,’ and the speaker fired a gun, the shot passing close to Densley’s legs ; he immediately seized the gun (a doublebarrelled one), and ultimately wrenched it out of the man’s hands. The next thing he found was a pistol pointed to his breast, and heard the click of the cap, but it fortunately missed fire. He then got possession of the pistol, and immediately after felt himself stabbed over the eye. He closed with his antagonist, and, after a very severe struggle, succeeded in wrenching the knife from him, but not before he received eight or nine severe stabs on the back and arms, and one over the heart, but the blade was fortunately turned on one side by a rib, otherwise the wound must have bean fatal. During the struggle, Densley gave the man several cuts with the knife he was using against him; and when he thought he had taken all his weapons, and had exhausted him, he left Thompson in charge, and rode into Ballan to get his own wounds dressed and to inform the police. After Densley left, the fellow fired two shots at Thompson, and then made a run for it, but Thompson covered him with the gun and shot him. ■ The police arriving soon after, saw it was all up with the man, as he only just turned his head-in the presence of Senior-constable Kilfedder and Constable McGrath, and soon after expired—of course it is not known if from the wounds inflicted by Densley or Thompson. The man is a perfect stranger in Ballan, and was armed to the teeth with a double-barrelled gun, a Colt’s revolver, and a horse-pistol, besides a sharp butcher’s knife. From information gathered in Ballarat, we learn that the deceased slept in th'e hut of the paddock-keeper (Pierrepoint) on Thursday night, and he stated he was going to Macpherson’s station. He is supposed either to have been an escaped lunatic, or a fellow who was resorting to the pursuit of bushranging, but got his career cut short in a somewhat providential fashion—although it is feared that the consequences may yet prove fatal to Mr. Densley, who acted throughout in a very courageous manner. The deceased was a man of about forty years of age, of stout build, fair complexion, and wearing beard and moustache. The body was removed to Ballan. At the inquest, Pierrepoint, the owner of the hut where the tragedy occurred, said that the deceased came last Thursday morning to his place, and asked for food. Apparently he had no arms. He said that twelve months ago he had been shearing at Macpherson’s station, and that he owned a farm of two and twenty acres between Woodend and Gisborne. He said he had left his house on Wednesday, his wife remaining at the farm. Pierrepoint went a mile with him on the road to Macpherson’s. Other evidence showed that the deceased watched Pierrepoint away, and returned to rob the hut. He had a bundle made up in his blankets ready to decamp with. Thompson’s evidence was that after Densley left the man rallied •and called for water, and made two attempts to shoot Thompson. He came out of the hut to a fence, and crossed into an adjoining paddock, when Thompson fired, and deceased dropped. The medical testimony was that the immediate cause of death was the gunshot wound. A verdict of justifiable homicide was returned. Hundreds of people have seen the deceased, but none can identify him.” The following is a description of the weapons found on the deceased :—A double-barrelled gun, smooth-bore, marked D. Egg, apparently in good order but much worn, ramrod>of colonial lightwood, the mounting at end fastened with a nail, top having ordinary screw ; a fivechamber revolver (Colt’s), silver mounted, in fair condition, in an old black leather holster ; an old horse pistol without marks, in an old black leather holster ; an old butcher’s skinning knife, marked Williams, Smithfield; an old black leather pouch, containing eleven parcels of powder, two boxes of caps, a large buckhorn penknife with two blades, an old clay pipe with wooden stem, two old blue blankets, a small tin pannikin, with the initials “N. T.” in Roman capitals recently scratched at the bottom. ' The latest accounts represent Densley as likely to recover, though he is seriously injured. Detectives attended the inquest from all parts of the Colony, but could not recognise the dead robber. The theory that he is lately out of Pentridge is thus quite negatived, and it still remains to be shown whether the man was a dangerous lunatic, or some desperado commencing a career of crime. NEW SOUTH WALES. According to a pamphlet circulated last week in Sydney, almost one-half of the children of New South Wales are receiving absolutely no education at all. Parliament has been prorogued to 23rd August. The whaler Sapphire, and the barque Nairamissie, came into collision forty miles from Capo St. George. Both vessels put into Jervis Bay to repair damages, the extent of which is unknown. The Commercial Bank has declared a dividend of 20 per cent., and carry £15,000 to the reserve fund, and £13,000 to the next account. Mr. E. R. Cox, of Fernhill, and Mr. Leopold De Salis have been appointed members of the Upper House. Mr. Moore has been, elected for East Sydney. The Alexandra has been chartered to take the Torres Strait mails. QUEENSLAND. The Parliament has been prorogued till tho 21st of September. The Governor’s speech stated that his Excellency’s present advisers had but limited time at their disposal to prepare measures last session. Bills, however, were passed materially affecting the interests and future. advancement of the Colony. Every care had been taken to faithfully carry out the provisions of the Elections Bill Regret was expressed at the action of the Council in relation to the land measure, which had left the demand for agricultural settlement unsatisfied. Every means would be taken for the recovery of tho portions of tho public estate fraudulently acquired. " Confidence was expressed in the efficacy of the Goldfields \ Act to "remove the obstructions hitherto placed in the way of mining development. The new tariff was working satisfactorily, and was promoting the increase of commerce. The surveys of the new lines of railway authorised would be immediately commenced, as also new telegraph extensions. ■ The measure to authorise payment of members would again be submitted. The Assembly was thanked for the liberality of its grants for the public service, for the encouragement of education, and the support of charitable institutions. A Royal Commission to inquire into the working of ihe educational institutions was essential to practical legislation. A Commission would,

therefore, be appointed to inquire into and report upon the whole system. Mr. Rickards, second mate of the steamer Balolutha, fell into the hold, and dislocated his heck, causing instant death. . TASMANIA. Parliament has been opened by His Excellency the Governor. The speech delivered by Mr. Ducane referred to the highly satisfactory state of the revenue, and stated that no additional taxation would be proposed. Alarge scheme for the construction of public works is promised in districts outside those enjoying the advantage of railway communication. Bills will be introduced to amend the laws relating to life assurance and real property, and for the constitution of a marine board. A lighthouse is to be erected at Eddystone, and the survey of Bank’s Strait is to be undertaken. The speech is considered satisfactory. A ROMANCE OP THE SEA. (From the Tribune.) One of the most extraordinary instances of a sudden change in social position has just occurred to a young seaman on board the whale ship Asia, and who was brought up at the Police Court yesterday morning on a charge of desertion from that vessel. The alteration in the circumstances of the youth, who has been following the sea for the last five years, is of the most extreme character. On one day a blubber hunter, and on the next a baronet, with £20,000 at his command, and large estates in England and in Wales for his patrimony. Mr. Hawthorne, the shipping master, received an announcement from England, to the effect that Theophilus Davis, who was supposed to be on a whaling cruise out of the port of Hobart Town, was entitled to a large fortune. An order for £IOO for present expenses, accompanied the information, and when the Asia came into the river, the youth was apprised of his good fortune. Without another thought of the delightful associations and responsibility of a foremast hand, he hailed a Chinaman’s boat that was passing, jumped into it, and proceeded to the boarding-house of Mr. Hanlin, who went with him to Mr. Hawthorne, who advanced him £lO for a respectable rig out, which was obtained before proceeding to the residence of Captain Bayley. On arriving at the house of the skipper, whom the young man expected to surprise, he was, instead of being congratulated on his good fortune, given into the hands of a constable, and consigned to durance, almost as vile as that of a whaler’s forecastle, for the night. Next morning he was brought up before Mr. Tarleton, P.M., and in spite of the efforts of Mr. Graves, who was retained for the deserter, and in opposition to the suggestion from the Bench that the charge should be withdrawn, the prosecutor insisted on the case proceeding. It failed for want of legal evidence. We have been courteously put in possession of the facts of the case, but refrain from mentioning the name of the baronet, who was uncle to the youth who now succeeds him in title and estate. We, however, may say that he was the head of an ancient Welsh family, and owned estates upon which there are valuable mines and slate quarries. Two sisters, whom the present baronet left at home when he started on his cruise, are also well provided for by a legacy of £20,000 each. As the subject of the present remarks stood before his accusers and made the necessary replies to the questions put to him, it was evident from his appearance and manner that he, at some time, had had different experiences to his recent ones in the whaler. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The steamer Moolgewanke, bound to Wentworth, was blown up twenty-six miles below Blanchetown. Two men were lolled and several injured. An action has been tried, Burt v. Elder,, arising out of Major Warburton’s expedition. Burt claimed £SOO for wrongful dismissal, and judgment was given for £230. A teamster named Bushy was killed on the overland line by a dray accident near Daly Waters. His wife, who is in Adelaide, held a conversation with him by wire up to within an hour of his death. A TRAGEDY IN THE NORTH. News has arrived of a sad bush tragedy in the north. An unfortunate drover named William Nation has perished in the neighborhood of the Limmen Bight, Gulf of Carpentaria, and has had a rough tomb erected to his memory in the very heart of the wilderness. The unfortunate fellow, with a companion named Elvey, quarrelled with the leader of a party engaged in driving stock from Normauton to Port Darwin and set out to make for the Roper. Becoming entangled among the mountain ranges and watercourses skirting the Gulf, they wandered about for nearly a month without making any sensible progress towards a place of safety. As a desperate alternative, Elvey at last struck out to the eastward, leaving his comrade in an exhausted condition on the Limmen Bight River. Providence directed him to the Daly Waters Telegraph Station, and his distressing tale was soon communicated to the authorities in Adelaide. Instructions were at once forwarded to Mr. Knuckey, the officer in charge, to proceed to the relief of Nation, with such a party as he could muster on the spur of the moment. No time was lost in organising an expedition, which included not only Elvey, but also the leader of the Queensland party, who had found it expedient to desert his herds and seek refuge at Daly Waters. After nine days of hard travelling through difficult country, studded with spinifex and intersected with rivers and rivulets, Mr. Knuckey happened upon the spot where Nation had been left three weeks before with uothing.to sustain him but 141 b. of dried horseflesh. As was to have been expected, the poor old man had succumbed to fatigue, exposure, and want several days before the expedition arrived, and all that could be done was to raise a cairn of timber and stones over him, deposit in the pyramid a canister containing a statement of the name of the deceased, and the supposed date of his death, and inscribe on the bark of a tree in thfe vicinity a plain cross. As a further memento of the melancholy event, Mr. Knuckey named the watercourse and range of hills near to the spot where the body was found the “Nation.” Having completed Iris sad task and spent two or three days in endeavoring to assist Elvey’s former leader, Mr. Lautone, in mustering his stock, the relief party returned to Daly Waters, and gave in their report. As a recognition of his valuable services in this affair the Government have presented Mr. Knuckey with a month’s salary. Whilst speaking of the perils of the “ North Countrie,” I may mention that the munificent sum raised by private contribution towards maintaining tho wife and family of Mr. Stapleton, the operator killed at Barrow Creek five months ago, is to bo supplemented by the Government to the extent of £IOOO. It is expected that Mrs. Stapleton will have a sum of £3OOO in all placed at her disposal. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The Parliament was opened on Ist July, and Mr. Barloe, the Colonial Secretary, is carrying all before him. A sum of £15,000 has been voted for a telegraph wire to Eucla, contingent upon South Australia commencing a line to the Western Australian boundary. > INDIA AND THE EAST. At tho Colombo Gas Works, it has been proved that Australian coal is far better suited for gas purposes than English kinds. Coffee is rising in price, and is expected to go as high as it did towards tho end of last year. A united conference of Christians of all denominations was to be held at Colombo in July. Tho latest news from India is reassuring. Favorable rains have fallen; tho crop prospects were good, and all danger of wide-spread famine was at an end. The Government had begun to take steps to guard against the illeffects of pauperisation. Some of tho relief works were costing far too much. Tho numbers employed still remained very large, but would be gradually reduce^. Affairs in .Afghanistan are threatening, and attract attention. Russia’s attitude towards China and Turkestan, too, is not very assuring/: ' ’ i

A telegram has been received announcing the murder by the Simalis, at Zanzibar, of Mr. Arthur Nelle, representative of a Hamburg house. The Dutch do not feel secure in their position in the Kraton at Acheen, and reinforcements have been called for. The Japanese have commenced operations in Formosa, assisted, it is said, by the Chinese, against the Natives. The Japanese mean to occupy and colonise alongside the Chinese. Two engagements have already been fought.