AUSTRAL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6093, 20 August 1881, Page 3

AUSTRAL NEWS.

A sad accident occurred on tho tramway-lino in Elizabeth street, Sydney, by which tho Hon. George Oakes, M.L.C., lost his life. It ai.pears that the deceased gentleman was; waiting at tho tramway-station, intending to return homo from tho Council, and tramcar for Itcdfern was approaching from the terminus in Hunter streot. A Waverley tramcar was coming at tho time from an opposite direction, and as Mr Oakes did not appear to get out of tho way quickly enough the driver of the motor attached to the approaching tramcars gave him a push. Through Bomo [means Mr Oakes tripped, and fell forward'heavily i upon his head on tho roadway, and when picked up ho was found to be insensible. Ho was immediately conveyed to the infirmary, and every means was resorted to in order to restore him to consciousness, but without avail, the unfortunate gentleman expiring two hours afterwards, never having gained consciousness after his fall. Tho hon. gentleman, who was OS years of ago, was one of tho oldest members of the Council. He was a native of Parramatta, and a. largo landed proprietor. For many years past ho has been extensively associated with pastoral pursuits. Constable M'Oann, at Coleraine, Victoria, has bacn served with a summons in an action to be tried la the I County Court at Hamilton, on the SOth inst., for maliciously causing the arrest and imprisonment of Lillian Allen or Reid on tho char*o of murdering a child at Hamilton about the Ist November. The plaintiff, it may bo remembored, was a member o( the Stray Leaves' Company, and wa« arrosted with Klla Carriugton. Tho damages are laid at £249. At the Adelaide Criminal Court John llarovltch was put on trial for tho murder of hta wife at Port Augusta three mouths &<o. The prisoner pleaded riot autlty, and was defended by Mr Kingston. Tho case occupied the attention of tho Court all day. The facts wero that his wife left home and went to live at Port Augusta with a railway navvy named Louis Thompson. Miirovitch followed them up, and taking them unawares, stabbed both of them, hia wifo dying shortly after Irom the injuries inflicted. Tho Jury brought In a verdict of guilty, adding a strong recommendation to mercy on account of tho great provocation rccoived. Sentence of death \va, passed oi- him, tho Chief juatico stating he would lay tho recommendation of mercy and v memorial drawn up in the pr soner's favour before the Governor. I A Maryborough (Queensland) telegram says :- 'An I inquiry has been held upon the drowning of Mr Bar- > licit s children, the rCEull being that Alice I has been urn milled fqr trial upon the charge c( I drowning Gertrude Ban/ett; and that Florence Barinctt was drowned accidentally. It is believed that Wommld mutt have been temporarily inbano from flight. Sho has n ade a full confeealon."

" Augur," in the sporting columns of tho Austral.

Asian, writes:—"Tho horses that are to fight for the honour of Maorlland during tli'e forthcoming campaign will shortly be hero. It is said that the) aro to be under the inanturt-meht of a vcr.i clever confedoraci. 1 need hardly remind the members thereof to bu very careful, for they may fall into the same mistake that brought Jl.-ita and Ray to grief. Tlie fact of a New Zealand racing club refusini to endorse the verdict of an institution like the V.R.C. may encourage some of the not very scrupulous to try tlieir hands once more. To tho creditof the Auckland Racing Club, it refused to follow the example sot |by tho Canterbury Jocuey Club, for it has endorsed itlio V..R.0. decision, and though Hay and Mata may figuro in the south of New Zealand, tho north is tabooed ground to them."

Tho Fish Comuiis linnets of Mdne have ndoptc-d the plan of maTkicg salmon to obtain data witti regard to tho development ar.d migration of those fisheu. Sovorol hundred salmon lately set froM in the l'aaohsO'it River have bofn labelled wi'h light meWtoges, tho number of euoli being leoinJ.d The (Jomniissioiuvs auk that whot'Vsr c&tofco a labelled salmon In any watvro oi the State, will forward to them thf fi;h, for which they wili pay an extra price.