MELBOURNE EXTRACTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 120, 4 April 1862, Page 3

MELBOURNE EXTRACTS.

The city coroner held an inquest yesterday at the Piazza Hotel, Spring-street, on tho body of Jane Rodgers, a woman, of very intemperate habits and dissolute character, who was found lying dead upon the ground close to the. door of an outhouso in rear of the premises in Little Bourke-street, where she resided. There was no marks of violence upon the body. Mr. Ford,' surgeon, made a post mortem examination, and stated the causes of death to bo consumption, with chronic inflammation of the brain, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. Deceased was about forty years of age, light build, dark hair and complexion, and of medium height.— Argus, March 21.

"The people of Ballaarat," says the Star, "are still painfully conscious that there is a great scarcity of water. The Swamp is almost dry, and 10s. per load is the orthodox charge made by the water-cavters. On Wednesday, a number of men were engaged at the Swamp cutting drains, so as to allow tho water to flow from the crab-holes to the filter beds."

One of Mr. Stuart's exploration party has returned to Adelaide. Our correspondent telegraphs that Stuart was loft six weeks ago, 280 miles beyond Chambcrs's Creek, all being then well. It will be seen from our Adelaide telegram that the Chief Secretary has stated that it is not tho intention of his Government to recommend a continuance of tho postal contract to King GcorgeV Sound after the expiration of the present contract, which terminates in October next. — Ibid.

Quarrels of Navvies.—On Sunday evening a row of some magnitude took place at Navigator's Village, among the navvies employed on the railway. A message came into town for the police, and four mounted troopers were despatched to the scene of the affray.— Ballarat Star, March 17. Sudden Death.—On Saturday last Mr. Carman, a well-known storekeeper of Maldon, appeared to be inhis usual, spirits, and was actually engaged in conversation relative to bringing his family to see the cricket match this day, when he suddenly fell forward, groaned, and expired. An inquest was held yesterday by Dr. Preshaw, and a post--mortem examination showed that death had been' occasioned by disease of the heart. Deceased was much respected on Tarrengower, and great regret is felt at his untimely and sudden fate.— Mount Alexander Mail, 17th, March. up a Road.—On Saturday last, while the Bathurst coach was passing through the Crowda Run, on its way to the Flat, a long lino of posts and rails was discerned, drawn up, all in the orthodox style, across the road, obstructing the progress of her Majesty's mails. The worthy .proprietor of the run was sitting sunning himself, like an opossum, on a rail, waiting apparently on the arrival of the coach, and evidently I desirous to have ocular demonstration of the perplexity of the worthy Johu, Mr Toohey. Jehu was a man in authority, however, having charge of her Majesty's mails,, and in the execution of his duty thought lightly of such a paltry obstacle as a three-rail fence, surmounted by a squatter with a flunkey on his Bank. Accordingly, having handed the reins to a passenger, Mr Toohey jumped from his box, and requested that the way might be cleared ; which having been refused he took an axe from the body of the coach and began to clear it himself. The squatter fretted and threatened in vain, while the posts gradually snecumbed to the blows of Jehu, and the rails fell ignominiously to mother earth. Away went the horses until they were brought up by fence number two, when the axe was brought into rcquisi- ' tton again, with similar results,' before Mr Prmg, the squatter, and his man could run up to witness sport On the return of the coach on Monday the same process had to be gone through, ths „ fence* having in the meantime been erected agam. , We understand the warden will have a word to say in this matter, and that the question ati to whether Mr Pring had a right to block np the road will be settled shortly in a court of law.— -.Xf,. „„.,„ Oimri.r. lMuroh JL_ ■ . ' ' ■' ' ■ ■