TASMANIA.

Southland Times, Issue 3297, 14 January 1879, Page 2

TASMANIA.

A serious gun accident, arising , from .ungovernable temper, caused by drinkitocpurred in the west part of Hobart. Town qhithe 30th ult. The Mercury reports that a well-known resident named Thomas . Hamilton ' aged 50, a watehmakeiy living ia-JPrederick stree fc, off Goulbourne street, - had; been, drinking for some days past. About 7.a;m„; while suffering: from the effects pf intoxication, he demanded some money from his wife to obtain more liquor. She refused to: comply, and Hamilton then ■ .''"sewed a loaded single-bar-relled gun. Tha^wbmancaUedfor assistance, and her two sons, who are well-grown lads, came to her aid,' 'and wrenched the gun from their father. The weapon was placedin a room whUe the man was being heldy but as soon as he got free he rushed into the apartment and, in the heat'Of passion, picking up the gun by the barrel, beat the stock on the floor to smash it. The charge exploded,' and the entire contents lodged in the unfortunate, man's abdomen, inflicting a gaping wound and dreadful interhalinjury. There is very little prospect of his recovery. QUEENSLAND. The steamer Katoomba struck on a sandbank in Moreton Bay. She bumped heavily and the stem lights being smashed, the water got into the : saloon. It -is said that tbe Chinese crew became panic stricken, aud rushed the boats. The Katoomba got off in a quarter of an hour. Three fans of- herpropeller were broken, and she has gone to the Flats to repair damages. '-..<'-.■■■ The revenue for the December, quarter amounted to £317,556, showing a decrease of £5995- on the corresponding quarter.- . The revenue for the half-year was £782,028, and the corresponding decrease is £41,586. The expenditure for the December quarter amounted to £510,883; being an increase of £_0,287 over that of the corresponding quarter of last year:. The expenditure for.the half-year is £840,403, with an increase of £7633. The loan fund expenditure for' December quarter is £261,764, showing an increase over the corresponding quarter of last year of £7424; the trust fund expenditure, £27,000, with an increase of £20,000; loan and trust funds expenditure for half-year, £553,575 ; increase; £77,000. Henry Saunders, who shot himself, died the other day.