AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 313, 2 May 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

A sensational accident occurred on the breakwater at Warmambool on the Bth April, when a huge wave struck the end of the structure, submerging it for a distance of over 50ft, and sweeping into the bay a man named Charles Wilson and a boy named Leslie Baulch, aged fourteen years, who were fishing on the pier. The contract of finishing off the end of the breakwater with concrete blocks is now m progress, and for this purpose the Titan crane and a donkey engine are stationed on the pier. The wave was estimated as high as the crane, or about 40ft from the sea-level. Wilson was coiling up his line when the wave struck him m the chest with great force, and a piece of timber a_6o hit him on the left cheek, inflicting a j&evere cut. The boy, a good swimmer, managed to grasp a stout barracouta line which was made fast to the breakwater. Wilson, also a fair swimmer, managed to reach the piles of the breakwater, to which he clung. !Both were rescued m an exhausted condition.

The Federal Auditor-General, m lii«s annual report, states that the collections for rent and charges on goods deposited by merchants m the King's warehouse have been short to an extent roughly estimated at £3,000, and that the discovery was only accidentally made some time ago. The mistake was made by a wrong scale of charges having been used, the officers having failed to discriminate between goods deposited m the King's warehouse "by order of the collector " and goods " warehoused." It was found impossible to recover the £3,000, as the goods on which it should have been paid had been sold •nnd consumed years ago. The Treasurer has agreed to the amount being written oil*.

Mr Thomas Walker, one of the Tallangatta district census collectors, has reported to the police that on approaching a house to collect cards he was assaulted by the owner. He is now suffering from an injured eye. One of the district census collectors, who has exceeded the time allowed for collection, states that m one houee, where twenty cards were left, not one was filled m correctly. At Melbourne recently Stanley Hughes Stott, a youth, was charged with having, while armed with a revolver, attempted to rob Bridget E. Kennedy of money belonging to the Postmaster-Gene-ral. According to the evidence, accused entered the post office at Elizabeth street north, and pointing a revolver at the postmistress said : "I'm going to shoot you." She said "What do you want?" and he replied "Nothing," but added later "I want money." The postmistress remarked that she had none, but accused said : " I know you haven't got any ; but it's there, and I am going to have it. There's a woman and her children starving up the street." The postmistress called out, and a woman who wa6 m the telephone bureau came out. Accused then disappeared. Accused admitted the offence, and was committed for trial.

The Deputy Mayor of Brisbane has received a letter from Mr Frederick Thoineon, chairman of the Douglas Shire Council, which states that it is impossible to exaggerate the damage done by the recent cyclone at Port Douglas. Goat flesh has been largely eaten at Mowbray, seven miles away. Havoc has been caused by floods and landslips, and the brunt of the distress has yet to be felt. At the Hay Circuit Court Reginald Johr. M'lntosh was charged with having solicited and incited Dr Hawley to administer a drug to Isabel Morgan. It was stated that M'lntosh, who is an actor, wrote from Mildura to Dr Hawley asking him to administer the drug. Mrs Hawley wrote and asked M'lntosh to come and see her husband, which he did. Sergeant Clark, who was hidden behind a 6creen m the consulting room, overheard the conversation which took place, and he arrested M'lntosh. A plea of guilty was tendered, and Mr Justice Gordon passed sentence of six months' imprisonment. A resident of Muckatah village settlement (Victoria), named Henry Callcutt, had a trying experience recently. While attending to a burning tree on a farm at Katamatite, a tree fell, and a branch pinned him to the ground. His left leg was badly smashed m two places. After a severe struggle the unfortunate man extricated himself, and, to avoid being burnt by the stubble m the paddock, he had to roll a distance of five chains before he reached a place of safety. A etrong wind was blowing, and the' man's crie6 for help could not be heard. It was not until five hours after the accident occurred that a neighbor found him and conveyed him to Cobram, where he wa6 operated on. Through stepping off a moving tram Mrs Jane Shurmer, fifty-nine, late of Darling street, Glebe, sustained a fractured skull, and died at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. The car was proceeding along Glebe Point road towards Glebe Point. About 50yds after it had left Bridge road stopping place Mrs Shurmer Tose from her seat and walked off the car. She was m the habit of alighting at Bridge road, and it appears 6he became excited at finding she had been overcarried.

On the induction of the Rev. J. Q. Davies to the Korumburra Presbyterian. Church it was decided, at his request, to place a box m the church porch, m which members of the congregation might place their contributions. Collections at the services were dispensed with, as also were other methods of raising funds for the church. The minister agreed to make no claim for arrears if the balance remained after working expenses had been paid did not amount to his salary. As an addendum to the financial statement m connection with the church for the quarter ended March 31. the Rev. J. G. Davies states : " It will be noticed that a stipend at the rate of £147 per annum is being paid. The Presbyterians of this district may be considered fortunate m having a minister who is content with less pay than others of his class. Some of you are thus able to keep your money, bo that you may. spend it on things you Teally value, or save it for your heirs to speculate with and scatter. Perhaps the minister, besides being cheap,, has, m your opinion, another quality usually associated with cheapness. Perhaps he will be very dear before he has finished his work anion'"you. Anyway, 'Better is a dry morse] and quietness therewith than an house ful] of sacrifices with strife ' (Prov. xvii.. _)."

Several years ago Mr Robert Campbell. who resides m London, bought a ticket ior a lottery for the benefit of the poor women m Pari6, and won a prize of £4,009. When he came over from England with tlio lucky number to get his money, he found that two men, a workman and a farmer, had stopped the payment of the money on the ground that they both held the ticket for the winning number, but that they had wet it. Mr Campbell went through all eorte of formalities, but m vain. He could not get his £4,000. Recently he decided to apply to the Court, and on showing his ticket to the Judges of the Civil Tribunal, they on Saturday decided m his favor, and ordered that the £4,000 should be paid to him.

Pence Congregationaiists are collecting a million pennies with which to provide a new church m the district.