MELBOURNE NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2118, 18 November 1868, Page 3

MELBOURNE NEWS.

(T/tc Argun.)

Among tho brilliant assemblago that filled tho dress-circle of the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, was a gentleman of very youthful appearance, who seemed to divide his admiration about equally beween Mr Akhurst's burlesque and two elegantly-dressed women who sat on cither side of him. Evidently they were all enjoying themselves heartily, tho gentleman having the look of ono who had been endeavouring to do the samo thing all day. Two other gentlemen were also present, who, though thoy wero not so highly finished as to dress, nor so conspicuous by their conduct, wero obviously much interested in tho comfort and enjoyment of their young friend. Ono or other of them kept tho party in view during tho entire performance, and at its conclusion, whilo tho ladies were in tho cloak room, stepped up to tho gentleman, and asked for a littlo conversation with him. A look of startled Burpriso broke over the youth's face as ho inquired tho reason of th" roquoAt. ; but. hn thought it prudent to comply, and followed his his new friends downstairs without further remonstrance. Shortly after, the ladies reappeared, lookingin vain for the gentleman whoso society ihcy had found so agreeable, and regretted to lose so suddenly. They evinced, strangely enough, less concern for him than for themselves, when informed of tho circumstances under which he had disappeared, and got away as quickly as posaitde. Tho lad's journey was not a long one—ho had fallen into tho hands of Detectives Daly and Christie —it is not many stops from tho vestibule of the Royal to the detective-office, and but a short walk thence to the watchhouse, where his wanderings ended for that night. Ho had taken the liberty of appropriating another man's purse to his own uses that ho might have a grand day at the races. Tho purse contained Lls, and was stolen from tho pocket of a gentleman who waa staying at Brunton's Temperanco Hotol, and occupied a room with tho prisoner. Tho latter gives his name as James W. H. Parr, says ho is a draper by trado, and an American by birth. When fairly off with the money, ho'; set to work to "knock it down" as quickly as possible, and succeeded in getting through the whole of it except some 30s. Ho bought himself a gun, and his fair friends some knick-knacks, and went to tho races, paying the piper pretty stiflly, finishing up at tho theatre in tho unpleasant manner already described. Tho youth, James W. H. Parr, who was arrested at tho Theatre Royal when leaving the dress circlo on Saturday night, was brought up at tho City Court yesterday morning, and remanded until Wednesday. He had stolen Lls from Brunton's Tempcranco Hotel, and supplied a bill of particulars as to his disposal of the money :L4 ho had spent for a gun, Ll for a boat on tho river, 12s (id for a seat on tho Grand Stand at the races ; a similar amount for seats at the Royal ; 33s spent in trifles on the race-course, and the balance in what might be fairly called " luxuries," as scent, pin, scarf, stick, &c. A sad caso of noglect came before the Castlemaine Bench at the Police Court on Monday morning. A girl named Elisaboh Curry, aged thirteen, was brought up as a neglected child. She had been arrested by Constable Crowley at the house of a common woman at the Chinese camp, and sho made the following statement :—" My name is Elizabeth Curry. I am thirteen and a half years of age. My parents live at Frycrstown, Spring Gully. My father is a miner; hi 3 name is Wm. Curry; ho is my step-father. I have been living with Jenny . Wagstaff at the Chineß6 camp eight weeks. I get a half-crown per week. Jenny Wagstaff is living with a Chinaman named Ah Kee.. .He gets his living by gambling. Myself, a girl named Hughes, Jenny Wagstaff, and An Kee occupy the house, which contains four rooms. lam employed as nurse. Ellen Hughes docs nothing, but stops in her room ; she pays Jenny for hor board. Ellen Hughes is twenty years of age. A little girl named King sleeps with me. Ellen Hughes occupies a room .to herself ; Chinamen visit the house at different times, both night and day. There are often Chinamen in the house when Igo to bed. Sometimes the Chinamen are with Helen Hughes, in her room, and sometimes with Jenny Wagstaff, in her room. I have often seen Chinamen in Ellen Hughes's room, on the bed, smoking opium. I have often seen Jenny Wagstaff with Ah Kee and other Chinamen lying on the bed smoking opium. Jenny smokes opium. I have often seen Lucy Evans go into my room with Chinamen, and smoke opium. Lucy Evans is about thirteen years old ; her mother is dead. Tbe .Chinamen and Lucy used to lay in my bed to smoke. I can neither read nor write. I know no

prayers. I don't know tho meaning oif tho word religion. I have never been toscho d." Sho was sent to tho Industrial School for two years. •John Lambert, a young man belonging to tho steamship Otago, now Iving afc Sandndgo, narrowly escaped a " fearful death on Friday night. Just as tho last train for Sandridgo was leaving tho Melbourne station, he came dashing through | tho station, across tho platform, and attempted to enter one of the moving carriages. Finding that the doors wero all locked ho made a leap at tho window, but got in only his head and shoulders. Tho train w:is at onco stopped by signal o£ thoso who had witnessed this mad freak, and tho man wns taken into ens ody. Had it not been for tho watchfulness of the officials and their prompt atoppago of tho train, his fato would have been » frightful ono. A few yards in advance of tho spot at which tlie train was brought to a standstill is tho bridge over tho river, and against this structure ho must havo been daslwd to pieces. Ho was taken lo tho watch-house, and brought beforo tho magistrates in tho City Court next day, when ho wns severely reprimanded, tho folly and danger of "his rashness beingpointed out. He expressed great regret forhaving acted in such a reckless manner j and this, in connexion with his havingbeen locked up all night, procured his release on payment of a fino-of 5». Tho charge against him was that of committing a breach of the bye-laws of tha company.

fiJAt the police court of Tumut, in NewSouth Wales, a man named Byrnes- ha» been fined Lo for an "indecent assault** —so at least the cr hue was described iii. the calendar, but it really was "kissing^ Flora M'lntosh against her will."

Wo (Pastoral Times) have beforo ua: samples of tho wool produced at Wanga—• nella, by Messrs T. and G. Lang, ami Messrs Peppin and Sons, who havo foryears been in honourable rivalry in woolgrowing, their stations adjoining each, other. Messrs Lang havo stuck, through, good and through opposito report, to thar Australian nierino sheep. Messrs Peppin.have sought good blood in every quarteropened to them, and havo not confined themselves to any ono class of sheep. Tho clips from the rival stations have invariably commanded hifih prices, tho wool being oxcellert from each. Messrs Lang have undoubtedly, in tho samples beforo us, length of staple in their favour, ami perhaps fineness ; whilo Mcßsrs Peppin havo density, wavincss, nnd strength. It will be interesting to watch tho results of the sah.'s. Some of Messrs Lang's wool, which is washed in cold and hot water, but not spouted, was estimated by Mr Currio, tho well-known judgo of woohr, .-is worth 3s Od per pound. One of Messrs Peppin's samples sont tc our oilico is of nine months' growth off a Spanish merino ram, and is in tho grease. It is matty, of great body, and considerable fineness: Taken altogether, it may bo questioned whether any two adjoining stations im Rivcrina produce such marketable wools?. We have no doubt the prices will presently confirm our views of tho charac'.crof theso excellent clips.

A breakfast, at which wero gathered about forty or fifty of the clergy and laity of tho Church of England, was given yosterday morning to the Bishop of Lichfield at the house of tho Roy. W. N. Guinness1, South Yarra. In tho evening the bishop preached to a crowded congregation at St. Poter's Church, and, subsequently, addresses from tho clorgy and laity of the Church of Knglnnd wero prcf!<jnted to him. in the adjoining school-room. That of tho clcrtry, in thn absence through illness of tho Dean of Melbourne, was presented by tho Rev. Mr Chase; and tho Roy. John Potter, of Ballarat, spoke a forwards on behalf of the country clergy who wero unable to attend or to sign theirnames. This morning tho Bishop will celebrate tho communion in the church of St John's, Toorak, at eight o'clock, and will embark on board the mail steamer about one o'clock.

Mrs Charles Meredith, of Tasmania, has been honoured by a very gracious lettor, in acknowledgement of an album, containing landscape sketches, by herself, illustrative of His Royal Highness tha Duko of Edinburgh's visits to Tasmania, and Sydney, which Mrs Meredith forwarded to the Queen through the caro of His Excellency Colonel Goro Brown. Tho Duke of Buckingham's letter conveys " Hor Majesty's best thanks to Mrs Meredith for tho very interesting sketches, as well as for tho books, which sho haa so kindly sent for Hor Majesty's acceptance. Her Majesty has looked over tho sketches with much interest, and, though somewhat contrary to rule, will not refuse t<> accept what has been offered in so kinA aBpirif." From tho official return of the yield of" gold for the district of Bendigo for tho month of October, wo learn, says the Bendigo Advertiser, " that it reaches thesatisfactory amount of 10,98C0z lOdwfc 12gr. Taking into account a number of parcels which have not been reported, through the sourco whence tho present returns are derived, the total returns forthe month may be Etated to bo above20,000'>z, or an average weekly yield of over 5000oz. These facts and figures are indisputable' proofs of our gradually increasing mineral wealth, and it may bef considered a subject for congratulation, that, unaided by metropolitan capital—a* is tho case on other goldfields—tho mines of Bendigo are now the most prosperous, in the colony. Another instance of matrimonial infelicity among young people came befort*. the Bench at the City Court, on Saturday last. John Fraser married a wife at Brisbane, who did not prove " all his fancypainted her," and ho consoled himself forthe disappointment by giving her an occasional thrashing. It seemed strange to him that this should eflect no improvement in her, but apparently mako her liko him less than ever. He felt constrained, therefore, to increase tho severity of his castigations, and also their frequency. A very decided result was obtained by this means, for his wife refused to submit to such treatment, and camo down to Melbourne with tho intention of escaping; him altogether. Bnt he followed her, watched, annoyed, and threatened-her, and at last attempted to resume his rough; mode of correction by beating her. Thin happened on Friday night, when ho met hor at tho Varieties, in what company it is unnecessary to say. Ho began by pHlling a handsome brooch from the ncckf of her dress, but was thon prevented: going further by a constable, who cautioned hira and told^him to po away. About an hour afterwards ho turned upi again, and watching till " his Amelia" made her appearance, tore ber dress ofF in shreds, and would havo denuded her entirely, had he not been restrained by force. Then he threatened to en* her throat, and vowed all manner of hornbl* things against her. He wss given intocustody and brought before the Oonr. next day, when it was proved that he warn . most violent, and had nttered the nerewfc threats ; it was also said that ho had trie* to purchase poison at a chemist's. Th» . Bench ordered him to find one surety m L2O for his good behaviour tor "Jrea •months, and not beipg able to do thftt, i>« WW Mot to gaol.