AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3011, 24 December 1896, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

A shocking fatality occurred at Solforino, Grafton (Now South Wales), recently. Two miners named Ernest Qaffin and William Gerrard were engaged in alluvial mining on the bank of the Nuggettygar Creek, when a, largo quantity of eanli fell on Gaffin, cruMiing him to death inatautfy, apd completely covering him, with tho exception of his head and arms. His mate obtained assistance, and, after throe hours’ exertions, they extnoated the lifeless body of Gatlin, who never spoke after the accident. The deceased was .only 21 years of age. In the Hobart Supremo Court the other day, Vivian It. Butler, solicitor, a partner in the firm of Messrs Young and Butler, was suspended for six months and ordered to pay all coats on a charge of nefarious dealings with a client in a matter of coats. A painiut scene took place in Court when judgment was given, Hassell Young, tho accused a partner, became violently excited, shouting, ” My God, an unjust sentence. * Ho was forcibly removed by tho Court officials, suffering fropi prolonged hysteria. Mrs Cocilo Anderson, who is serving a sentence of imprisonment for life for tho murder of John Fraser, on tbo 19th June, 1894, made a statement of the circumstances surrounding Fraser’s death. This statement was mad<3 the basis of a petition to tho Governor of Victoria for tho woman’s release, but ho, on tho advice of his Ministers, declined to grunt the request-of tho petition. Advices from Port Pirio (S.A.) state that a terrible accident happened last week, resulting ia tho death of a labourer named Joseph Gartner, who was engaged with. a, horse shunting timber at - tho Intercolonial Wharf. Whilst pulling two trucks together he ran between them to couple them,, and apparently forgot that the timber overlapped, His head was caught between the projecting logs and crushed, death being instantaneous. The schooner Clara Ethel, which arrived at Cooktown from Woodlark Island last week, brought 500 oz gold, and a report from Captain Oates, of the cutter Kockly. Oates says he has been trading in tho vicinity of tho place whore Mao Donald and party were supposed to have been drowned or murdered in Colling wood Bay. Ho secured from the natives many articles, including rifles, which showed no signs of having been in salt water. He was assured by tho natives from the neighbouring tribes that tho whole of MacDonald’s party were murdered while cooking their dinner ashore. Much doubt has hitherto existed as to whether MacDonald and party were drowned or murdered* but Captain Oates* latest report settles tho matter. In connection with the Sydney disappearances further particulars are to hand respecting tho movements of Butler, or Harwood, at Yulgilbar, whither ho went from Grafton, accompanied by three others. Three wont on to Solforino, but Butler declined to go further, as his horse knocked up. He camped iu a lent with a young man near the river, and said ho was so .well pleased with the diggings that ho intended returning. Ho gave the young man a railway rug and a mining map of Now South Wales. The latter was apparently much used, and boro the name “ F. U. Harwood, Ballarat,” written in back-hand style. Butler told the young man that if ho did not return in a week ho could keep both tho rug and tho map, which aro now in tho hands of tho polioo. Butler also stayed a night at Barratt’s Creek. Ho was very talkative, and asked if there was good shooting ia the locality, promising to return with his gun after a short interval. A lad named Tucker, whilst riding to Port Adelaide one night last week, mot with a terrible death. A pony ho was riding bolted towards the Grand Junction railway crossing on tho Port Adelaide lino. It rushed into tho last carriage of a passing tram. The boy’s log was out off, and ho was also out about the face, and died in the Hospital shortly after ho watt admitted. Tho pony after tho accident turned, but after going about 200 yards it fell dead. Concerning tho Bourke tragedy alluded to in the New Zealand Times tho other morning, tho jury found that the body found at Brennan’s Bond was that of the fisherman Fdward : Smith, who was wilfully murdered by the man before tho Court, Thomas Moore. Tho jury added a rider complimenting the polioo on tbo masterful way they had collected and presented tho evidence. Moore was committed for trial to tho Central Criminal Court, Sydney, or such other place as the Attorney-General may appoint. A man gained Peter Ainken deposed th at when camped at Buckley's Bend, down tho river, ho saw-the accused camped with an old man answering the description of the murdered man. .Witness obtained a fishhook from tlio man, who took it from a bag similar to the. one produced, and found in Moore’s ‘possession. Witness , asked tho accused what his name was, and ho replied, “ O’Brien.” Witness said, “ Why, your name ia Moore, isn’t it ? ” and tho accused admitted it, was. Deceased's clothing was found in the possession of accused, against whom the case looks very black. Tho Now South Wales Minister for Works, Mr Young, • has returned from his trip to Wyaloug. greatly impressed, amongst other . things, with the urgency of the need for taking active steps to ohook tho rabbit pest. Ho says a great number of representations wore made to him that owing to the rabbits it was almost impossible for anyone to attempt to raise agricultural produpo in tbo districts through which ho passed, and that it would bo most beneficial if a law wore enacted providing for tho compulsory erection of wire not fencing, and providing also the advancing by the Government of the money for tho construction of those fences, tho advances being made a first charge on the property. Even though many properties wore alpeady mortgaged, it was urged that the wire net fencing would so improve tho security of tho first mortgagee that it was very unlikely that bo would object to tho State’s stepping in in this way.