ATSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 126, 15 July 1880, Page 3

ATSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.)

Melbourne, July 10.

Arrived -P. and O. Company’s steamer Hydaspes, with inward Suez mails, dated London, June 4. It now transpires that the older Reilly, leader of the Harrow gang of bushrangers, has a grudge against Mr. Herne, the magistrate, and this is said to be the cause of bailing Jiim up. It is believed that Reilly is insane

Melbourne, July 12.

Magistrate Hearne, when returning from church at Harrow, was stopped by a gang under the leadership of a man named Reilly, who threatened to shoot him unless he obtained a cheque for L3OO. He was incarcerated with his family in a deserted hut, but one escaped and gave the alarm. The police arrived at the hut and surrounded the Reillys, who refused to surrender, threatening to shoot Hearne. The gang has been arrested, after waiting four hours, without a shot being fired. Melbourne, July 13. The French warship Rhine has sailed for France.

The P. and 0. Company has purchased Messrs. Money Wigram’s steamship Norfolk. The Victorian Government, are cooperating with that of New South Wales for the purpose of adopting preventative measures in regard to Chinese immigration. A conference will probably be held. Sydney, July 13.

Arrived—Arawata, from Auckland. Parliament was prorogued to-day. The Governor made a lengthy speech on the occasion, but the failure of the Government to carry the proposed new taxes was only briefly mentioned. INTERPROVIN Cl All Auckland, July 13. A fatal accident occurred at Orarimu. Two men named Fahey were killed by the fall of a rata tree, which struck them between the head and shoulders, causing instant death. The inquest on the body of James Mills, who was drowned in the Waipa river, resulted in an open verdict. Auckland, July 14. At the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company, held this afternoon, the Director’s report|was After providing for all ascertained losses, and writing off L 3,554 as depreciation on investments, there remains a sum of L22,G79 available for division, which the Directors recommended should bo appropriated as follows : —To payment of dividend, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, LIO,OOO ; to bonus at five per cent., L 5,000 ; balance carried forward, L 2,679 ; total, L22,G79. A bonus of five per cent has now been declared, so as to equalise the dividend, five per cent, only having been paid to the shareholders in the preceding half-year. Warrants for divident and bonus will be issued at the head office to-morrow, and at the several branches and agencies on the receipt of advices.

At the inquest on John Bakman, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidentally suffocated ” on board the cutter Tweed, by fumes of charcoal. His mate, Johnson, the survivor, is still confined to his bed. At the Auckland Timber Company’s mill, Thomas Frestone had three fingers taken off by a circular saw. Rev. Mr. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, has paid a visit of inspection to the Industrial Home, preparatory to commencing an enquiry into its management. Wellington, July 13.

The jury, in the case of Wilson, for indecent assault, were locked up all night, and returned to Court at ten o’clock this morning, with a verdict of “ Not guilty.” The foreman stated that there was a doubt, and the jury gave the prisoner the benefit.

Wellington, July 14.

At the Bankruptcy. Court an order was made for the Superintendent of the Wellington Police to deliver up twenty diamond rings, seized from F. Gleich, alias Fisher, when arrested for fradulent bankruptcy at Adelaide. In re D. P. Davis an application was made for a rule nisi to show why and his wife should not fca-- committed to prison until they should disclose a certain sum of L 390, paid to the debtor’s wife by the New Zealand Insurance Company. The defence to the motion was that the money did not belong to the debtor, but by virtue of an assignment made by him in her favor in March, 1879, it was the property of his wife. His Honor said he did not like to take such an extreme step at present, and provided witness promised to reveal what had become of the money if allowed time, he would adjourn the case, which was ultimately done until Friday. Dunedin, July 13.

A London telegram, dated July 3rd, states that Hanlon is dangerously ill from gastric fever. Fears are entertained of the result. The cause is attributable to his rowing in a recent regatta at Rhode Island against the direction of his medical adviser.

'lnvercargill, July 10.

A preliminary exhibition of articles for the Melbourne Exhibition is proposed to be held at the Athenaeum, and will include a collection, prepared by Mr. Daniel, of Upton, and made up as follows : —Dressed freestone, from Matthew Holmes, Castle Rock ; bluestone, from Oreti, rough dressed and polished; geological specimens of stalactites and petrification, from the limestone caves ; large collection of rabbit furs, the latter highly interesting as showing the development under the influence of New Zealand food and climate of many furs of rare beauty utterly unlike original stock.