AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1889, 27 April 1892, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Tuesday, April 12. POLITICAL.

We are now in the thick of the election campaign in Victoria, and none will be sorry when it is over. It ia hard to say how things are going to turn out, but it has become apparent that the Shiels Government will meet Parliament with a fair majority at their backs. How long they will retain that majority is quite another matter. The Premier has put forward what may be termed a "drag-net" policy, in which he indicates to a large extent what "may" be done. He has, therefore, obtained qualified support from many quarters, and as parties are in a very mixed condition just now the Government as at present constituted must be maintained for a time. It looks as if the question of the suspension of the Railway Commissioners is ultimately to mark the dividing line between those who will be supporters and opponents of the Government. Notwithstanding that Mr Wheeler, the Minister of Railways, has made a speech intended as a justification for the suspension, unbiased politicians still maintain that the charges made against the Commissioners have to be proved ; and before any decision can be come to on the subject an inquiry must be held before a properly constituted tribunal, in which both sides shall be heard.

In his speech Mr Wheeler referred to a scheme approved of by the Deputy Commissioners for effecting a decrease in the expenditure and an increase in the revenue of the railway department. It is proposed to make a reduction in the train mileage of BSI.OOO miles, effecting a saving of L 69.000 per year. By the substitution of cattle pits for gates at level crossings wherever practicable an immediate saving of L 20,000 is to be effected, and farther savings are promised by subsequently extending the system. A considerable sum per annum can be saved by economy and the concentration of operations in the Government workshops. Further savings are also suggested of L 9,000 by the retirement of employes over sixty-five years ; L 4,000 in uniform ; and L 25.000 in salaries and wages. These reductions make a total of L 127,000 per year. On the other hand, it is proposed to increase the revenue by additional charges on the goods and passenger traffic. An increase of 10 per cent, on certain kinds of goods and 5 per cent, on live stock is estimated to bring in L 95.000. By charging the goods rates via Geelong instead of via Bacchus Marsh, between Melbourne and Ballarat and places beyond, the Commissioners expect an increased revenue of L 20,000. An increase of 7 per cent, is proposed on country fares, aqd -Id on single and Id on return tickets on suburban lines beyond the area of tram competition, as well as Is menthly on suburban tickets. By these means an increased revenue of L 202.000 is to be gained.

A DOMESTIC TEAGEDY.

A profound sensation has been created in Shepparton (Victoria) by a domestic tragedy, an old resident named Molamphy murdering his son-in-law by cutting his throat. The latter's name is Meaney, and his father-in-law resided with him. The Meaneys kept a restaurant, in the diningroom of Molampby was seated nursing one of the children. Hearing a scream from one of the inner rooms, and suspecting that Meaney, who had been drinking heavily, and who had previously threatened his wife, was ill- treating her, he ran into the room from which the screams issued, and found that Meaney had his wife by the - throat. Molamphy instantly took his penknife from his pocket and drew it across Meaney throat, with a fatal result. Having perpetrated the crime, he went direct to the police station and gave himself up, He was perfectly cool, and utterly failed to realise his position, Mrs Meaney is in a pitiable condition, the murder of her husband by her father having well-nigh distracted her. Molamphy, who is sixty-one yearß of age, is a very sober man. Hia son-in-law, who was about forty, leaves several children,

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A terrible railway accident occurred at Hampden, on the Sandringham railway line, last week. Mr Ignatius Moritz Feigl, formerly one of the proprietors and directors of the ' Evening Herald ' newspaper, left his home near Hampden to give his grandchild, a little girl of two years, named Stella Feigl Hoad, a run on the beach. They entered the wicket gate for the convenience of foot traffic, and had got as far as the centre of the up line of rails when the 5.35 train from Sandringham came round the curve, and waß upon them before either of them could get out of the way, The wife of the gatekeeper observed the approaching danger, but her warning was either unheard or unheeded. The train was stopped as quickly as possible, and assistance was soon available. It was found that Mr Feigl was dead, his remains being scattered along the permanent way. The body was terribly mutilated, the head being almost completely severed from the trunk, the arm and one of the legs being broken, and the back fractured. Fragments of the deceased's skull and portions of his clothing were carried a considerable distance along the line, and his watch chain waß fully a distance of 100 yards from the body. The little girl was found in an unconscious state on the permanent way, and at first it was thought that she was also killed. After a while, however, she regained consciousness, and. under the care of Dr M'Cansh seems likely eventually to recover, although she is terribly injured about the head and neck.

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A WIFE.

George Farmer, a bacon-curer, made a brutal attack on his wife at Ballarat on Thursday last. For some weeks Farmer, who is about thirty-eight years of age, had been drinking heavily, and at times his condition bordered on delirium. Mrs Farmer used her utmost endeavors to reform her husband, who, having a large and lucrative business, is in good circumstances, but without avail. In nearly every case her pleadings met with a harsh rebuff. The police, too, have complained of the riotous behaviour of Farmer, and the neighbors have been terrified at his eccentric conduct. About ten o'clock on Thursday morning he re turned to his home. When he entered the house Mrs Farmer and the servant girl, Mary Fitzgerald, were in a bedroom inspecting a new dress belonging to the latter, and the man stepping into the room, asked " Where is my dinner ?" Mrs Farmer replied Dinner is not ready yet, it is only ten o'clock," and Farmer said "I will have a drink then," and Mrs Farmer replied " You will not get one." Farmer then became greatly excited, and addressing bis wife, he exclaimed " I will do for you." He left the bedroom and went towards the kitchen, and arming himself with a long dinner knife he returned to the sleeping apartment in which were his wife and servant girl. In the meantime Mrs Farmer had placed several clothes trunks at the door to bar it. Farmer forced his way in, and knife in hand he made towards his wife. Mary Fitzgerald gallantly stepped in between him and his intended victim, and endeavored to seize his arm. Farmer thrußt the girl aside, and, clutching his wife by the throat, threw her on the bed. The poor woman, who was about thirty-five years of age and of slight build, struggled with her infuriated husband and screamed for help. Farmer cried " Shut up, shut up ! " and thrust the blade of the knife into his wife's mouth, the full length of the steel going below the root of the tongue. . Serious wounds were inflicted and blood flowed in streams from Mrs Farmer's mouth. Farmer made off, and when the woman waa ae«a moving about the yard by a

neighbor shortly after the brutal affair the knife was still embedded in her neck, the handle protruding about two inches. Feeling weak from loss of blood, Mrs Farmer staggered to the house of Mr Dowtar, a miner, where her neok was bandaged, and the flow of blood temporarily checked. The sufferer having been put to bed, Dr Salmon was summoned, but owing to the peculiar nature of the injuries he was unable to make an examination of the throat. The condition of the patient would not permit of her removal to the hospital, or of her transfer to her own home. If the hemorrhage can be permanently checked there will be a possibility of saving the woman's life. Farmer was arrested by Constables Campbell and M'Pherson on a charge of attempted murder.

MURDER IN QUEENSLAND.

A young man was arrested at Tallebudgera, near the Tweed River, on Friday afternoon, ob suspicion of being the murderer of Rudolph Wissmuller, whoße body was found near Hemmant. He gave his name as Frank Davis, but he afterwards admitted that his name was Frank Horrocks, He has been identified as a person who left Brisbane with Wissmuller last Tuesday, the two having been staying at the same boarding-house. The examination showed that there were a number of blood-stains on various parts of his clothing, and the back of his shirt was mutilated and torn as if the wearer had been engaged in a severe struggle. He waß brought to Brisbane on Saturday night, and a large crowd thronged the railway station in order to get a view of the prisoner, the news of his arrest having caused a great sensation. The accused is a little over seventeen years of age, and he only left school in Brisbane about a year ago. Since then he has been employed as a stockman on two stations in the north. He had only 7«}d in his possession when arrested.

GENBRAL.

A disgraceful scene took place in the lobby of the Queensland Assembly on Tuesday night last. During a speech by Mr Hoolan Mr North kept up a running fire of interjections. Mr Hoolan finally retaliated by charging Mr North with organising a banquet and then repudiating his share of the expenses. When the House rose for dinner Mr North went up to Mr Hoolan in the lobby and demanded the withdrawal of the statement. Mr Hoolan declined to withdraw, whereupon Mr North struck Mr Hoolan on the nose, felling him to the floor. Mr Hoolan then rushed at Mr North, but several members separated the combatants.

A gas explosion occurred in Sydney on Sunday night. Mrs Berry, the wife of a builder, noticed a smell of gas in one of the front rooms of the house, and ascertaining that the cause of the escape was want of water in the gasalier, poured some in, and immediately attempted to light the burners. An explosion followed. The doors and windows of two of the rooms were blown out, and Mrs Berry received such serious burns to the face and body that when she was removed to the hospital it was considered advisable to keep her there. Her husband, who was in the room at the time, also sustained severe burns, but in his case no serious results are feared.

At the Walgett (N.S.W.) Police Court last week Mrs Breneger, of Eumanbah, was charged with having shot at a man named Ryan, whom 'she found on her premises during Wednesday night. It appears that Ryan had made an appointment by letter with the daughter of the accused to meet him at a certain place near her house. The letter fell into the hands of the mother, who went out about half-past one o'clock in the morning to meet the accused with a loaded shot gun. Ryan was lying on Mb face on the grass when Mrs Breneger appeared. He, thinking her daughter was approaching, whistled, and Mrs Breneger said " It's all right," and immediately afterwards fired at Ryan and slightly wounded him in the legs. Ryan got up at once and ran down to a public-house situated a short distance away. The publican sent him to the Walgett Hospital. The accused was committed for trial, but general sympathy is expressed with her.