AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 793, 15 November 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Nov. 9

A mysterious robbery was committed at (he General Post Oflica between eleven on Monday night and four on Tuesday morning, when several bags containing registered let'ers were abstracted from the mail-room. The bags were locked up as usual in tiio mail-room, and the key was handed to the watchman. In the morning the bags were missing, and some of the contents were strewn upon the floor. The contents are not believed to hav i exceeded LIOO in valu \ Roderick McMillan and J. W. Pember-

ton, both secretaries of Shire Councils, were found on Monday morning last with self-inflicted wounds. The former died, and the latter is in a precarious condition. The annual audit of accounts was about to take place. H.M.S. Nelson was to be docked on the Cup day, but the laborers could not be induced to work, though 30s a day were offered, so the vessel had to wait till next day. On Sunday last there were eight thousand visitors to see her. The crowd was so excessive that the marines had to fix bayonets to-keep back the rush. A sad affair occurred in the North-East-ern district. Two young men named Radcliffe and Fitzgerald quarrelled over a foot-race, and agreed to fight. Radcliffe struck Fitzgerald on the chest after fighting some time, and killed him. Both families are well-known in the district. A man named John Brenau drowned himse’f in the Yarra. Ho was a recent arrival from California, and a couple of days before had been robbed of a hundred pounds. The thought preyed on his mind.

The trial of William Hill for the Reedy Creek Bank robbery has been postponed till the December sessions in Melbourne. Miss Oliver, the proprietress of Garton’s Hotel, was summonsed by the police for allowing the use of a room for Millet’s sweep business. On Sunday last a boy found a bottle on the coast near Geelong containing a paper with these words, “ Loch Garry sunk oft Osway on the 2nd November ; all hands lost. The captdn was on the ship till the last moment.” It is r -ported that a ship of that name left Geelong for London on Wednesday ; but it is almost certain this is a hoax. Sydney, Nov. 9. A boat containing seven passengers, just landed from the Austral, was run down by a small steamer and swamped. All the occupants were picked up. One man was found to be internally injured. The composing room at the Herald office is now lighted by the Edison electric light. Charles Robertson, a wood carter, found guilty of attempting to murder a black tracker by giving him poisoned whisky to drink, was sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude. The enquiry into the circumstances attending the foundering of the steam (oilier Woniora resulted in attributing the accident to the weather and otner perils of the sea. Statements have recently been made, both inside and outside Parliament, that colliers and coasting steamers are shamefully over-loaded. Three Maori chiefs are passengers by the Ringarooma They returned from England by the Austral. During tha last two days Sydney has been crowded with firemen, nearly 800 having come from Victoria. A procession, with bands and torches, took place last night through the principal streets of the city. Four thousand five hundred people visited iho Art Gallery on Sunday. The examina ion of the Northampton shows a hole fifteen feet long. The vessel was saved by the cement being unbroken. Messrs Hudson Bros, have cabled Home for men, Mr Hudson stating the time had arrived when »mployers of labor should gove n their establishments as they think proper. The strike continues. The sentence of death on Henry Tester, the murderer, is to be carried out. Adelaide, Nov. 8. The Lower House has refused by a large majority to reverse the action of last session charging postage on newspapers. Tremendous heat has been experienced throughout the colony. Steps have been taken to ascertain the support likely to be accorded to the proposed exhibition in 1883. The master builders have agreed that the pay should be 10s a day for eight hours’ work to competent men. ■ Bkisbane, Nov. 8. A company is being formed to introduce the electric light. An official inquiry has been commenced at Maryborough in connection with the labor voyage of the Roderick Dhu, schooner.