VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 377, 7 December 1866, Page 3

VICTORIA.

(FROM THE MELBOURNE AKGUS.) Madame Lucy Escott, on the occasion of her last appearauee in Melbourne (Novj 23) was presented with a testimonia worth L 240, consisting of an article of jewellery, to be worn either as a bracelet, brooch, or necklet. The house on the occasion was literally crammed in every part, and even dressing rooms were appropriated to the accommodation of some who could not find seats elsewhere. Lady Manners-Sutton and family were present, and the dress circle was filled to overflowing, so that many had to stand during the performance. The reception given to the heneficiaire was overwhelming in its cordiality and enthusiasm, and everybody in the vast assemblage seemed to be vicing to make memorable the parting compliment to one who had so often charmed them by her eminent talents as an actress, and by the witchery of imperishable song. A very successful trial of Mr Nitschke's patent distilling apparatus took place in the eastern annexe of the Exhibition yesterday afternoon. The material used for the purposes of the experiment consisted of a quantity of v low wines," obtained at the manufactory of the Agricultural Distillery Company, Footscray, from beet and mangold wurtzel— substances which the company propose to use in the manufacture "of spirits for the colonial market. Judging from the results obtained yesterday, nothing better could be found for the purpose, and it was also shown that the new apparatus is a valuable invention, for it yielded from the " low wines" a gallon j every four minutes of spirits sixty overproof. The still is therefore capable of ' producing, if kept constantly at work, 550 gallons of proof spirit per diem — a much larger quantity than could be obtained by the use of any ordinary distilling apparatus. The spirit thus extracted from the fermented beetroot was pronounced by competent judges to be of the very best quality, being five per cent stronger than any yet distilled in the colony. We understand that it is the intention of the promoters of the Distillery Company to have a portion of this spirit prepared for consumption in (lie shape of brandy, rum, geneva, &c, in order to show that beet, &c, can be successfully employed in the place of the substances which aie more Commonly used iv the manufacture of spirituous liquors. — " Argus," Nov. 24. A miner ktely returned from New Zealand to Bendigo with a well filled purse, determined to give up gold digging and turn his attention to agricultural pursuits. With this object in view he drew from a bank at Sandhurst LlO, and started thence a day or two ago on foot, to select land on the Loddon. The day was very hot, and on his reaching the Red Lion Hotel, Sydney Flat, he entered, and had a " big drink '" of beer to quench his tnirst. Again he started on his way, but overcome by the effects of the beer or the heat of the weather, ho lay down in the shade of a bush, not far from the Hotel, and near a beer shanty. After sleeping soundly for some time he awoke, and prepared to continue his journey, but happening to put his hand into his pocket lie ' found that some attentive friend had relieve him of his purse containing the LlO • note, and as he could discover no clue to the missing money he retraced his steps, and gave information of the loss to the •police. — " Argus," Nov. 24. The "11. and D. Advertiser 11 remarks that " the unemplo3'ed, who have been so demonstrative in Melbourne of late, will find plenty to do for some time to come, if they will only consent to rusticate for a period. In Britain, laborers, mechanics, and petty tradesmen leave the towns and villages during the harvest time, and help to gather the produce of the fields, and thereby manage to save small suras because of the comparatively high wages that rule, and also improve their health by a few weeks out-of-door labor. Some of the farmers hereabout fear that notwithstanding the number of machines that are employed in the district to harvest the crop, the supply of labor will not be sufficient to gather Nature's bounties as fast as they ripen."' "The navigation of the Murray, so far as Albury is concerned, is now closed for the season. The water has fallen considerably of late," saysjbe " Border Post," .""and there is no more snow to come down, "and no more heavy rain to be expected. The Victoria got snagged last week coming up to Albury, and had to discharge her ' cargo on the bank about three miles below .Dight's. Two holes in her bottom were hastily stuffed with blankets, and she started immediately for the lower river, to i avoid being shut up. The steamers have left their usual remanets this season, in the bhape of gqods undertaken to be landed at Albury, or ' the nearest accessible point thereto.' Besides the Victoria's cargo landed on the bank near Dight's, there are about 400 tons of merchandise consigned to Albury, and now lying at Wahgunyah en route. All this is at consignees' risk, and they will have to fetch the goods the best way they can, and pay all expenses. How much more cargo may be still en route for Albury it is impossible to say." " It is not often we hear of a man's life being preserved by a twirl of his walkingstick," remarks the " Ararat Advertiser," " but such a circumstance occurred to a gentleman residing in this district during one of the hot days which visited us a little more than a week ago, The gentleman alluded to was returning from inspecting a piece of ground which he has under crop, and while walking through a patch of long grass was switching his cane about pretty strongly (a habit which is habitual with him), when he felt his foot pressing on a soft substance, and at the same instant his cane came sharply in contact with an obstruction that was not presented by grass or timber. Looking down, he found himself in a very perilous position ; he was standing on the tail portion of a snake, and the upper part of the body was lying on the ground disabled and broken by the. chance blow. The reptile, which proved to be five feet long, was soon despatched. Our informant has no doubt that the snake was arrested in springing on him by the Jucky stroke of his walking-stick,"