QUEENSLAND ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1695, 26 October 1887, Page 2

QUEENSLAND ITEMS.

(FkOM A. CojRRESPONDENT. ) Onoe again I have to ohroniole the commencement of tammer, with lt» thandetatormß, excessive hoat, and a thouaand and cne plagues. Still we can't complain, for without the rain and the hoat we would have no grasa, and that Is the main orop In Queensland. As showing what a wet aurame? doe? fr»r the squatters, I may mention that 60,000 bales of wool hare arrived m RonUh»mpton. Compared with tho clips of 1883-84 85 — the dry summers— it la an Increase; uf 25,C00 bales, The country is looking grand jast now, sud if It getß a sammer like the laßt the aquattera wili have a pood Borploa m the bank instead of a defioit The weather has, daring the pa*t month, been generally fine throughout the central diatrlot. There wbb a slight hailstorm m the vicinity of Weatwood during the earlier part of the week, which I damaged the young buds to a great extent. Thunderstorms appear to bo hovering ronnd, and a copious downpour would bo refreshing, and probably lower the temperature. The Salvation Army has again started In Rcokbampton, and the R M. has bean I busy all tho week punishing the larrikins who won't allow them to conduct their services m peaoe. One of the offenders named James Kelly, was oommitted fcr trjvl for stabbing the captain m the hand with a knife. Another got 3 months for using obsoene language, and one was fined £2. A publlo meeting was held m the Oounoil Chambers for the purpose of taking Bteps to arrange a iculling matob, to be rowed on the Filzroy river, between E. Triokett, of this town (Rockhampton), and E. Hanlan, ex-champion oarsman of the world. The Mayor was m the chair, la opening the meeting the Chairman announced that SO names of influential residents had been obtained to a list for i provisional committee. A longthy discussion took place favorable to the Idea that a oonteab ehoa'd take place on our river, and the result was the passing of motions approving of the proposal, pledging the meeting to support it, and oontrlhute £500 as a stake for Triokett, and £100 towards Hanlan'a expenses. la the o utHe of the proceedings Mr Triokett. who was received with enthusiasm, said he was pleased to see Buch a large gather* Ing on his behalf. H<a wia m better health now than he had been for many yoare past, and if he could arrange a mitoh with Htnlaa he would do his best to win, Mr O. Smith, the English trainer, j has arrived m Rockharapton. It is stated : that Hanlan has deolded to write to Tfickett m reference to the proposed r«oe for £500 aside. As soon as the natroh Is definitely deolded Mr Smith will start to tra<n Triokett. An old resident on thf Oantral Railway, named Harry Scott, was bitten by a blaok spider with a red spot on its back, on Saturday, and for some tfma was m a vary critical oondition. Strong spirits were {iven him m l»r^e quantities, and evenually tho poiaon was counteracted and the patient recovered. If you ask an old bushman how you would atop a snake, while you went for a itick to kill it, he would mal probability toll you to throw down your hat, and the snake will watch it till you get a stick Che following shows tho truthfulness of the hat bus : ness. On Tuesday morning when we were crosfling the ranjje, a^out two miles from Rookhamptoo, a snake auout one yard and a half long, sunn<og trself on the footworn path, Beemad to iff rd a good opportunity for trying the sxperiment, When the hat was thrown near it, the reptile rained its head and eyed the blaok objoot, but remained motionless Chore being nn stick at hand, stones were picked up, andnoarlyadozen were thrown before it wan struck, and then only did it raoye off It was, however, killed, and handed over to tho Sohool of Arts Museum Yesterday morning another snake of the name Biza and species was seen m the aamo locality. Tho hat was again thrown, *od it raised its head and watched it. Thie time tho first stone thrown hit it m the middle of the body and damaged it. 'hereupon it made a florae attack on the hat, and the crack of its head striking the felt could bo distinctly heard. It wan atoned to death. On the hat being examined, the marks of the fangs could be noticod on the binding of tho rim, and beside them was a drop of poisoD. The snakes belong to the spotted-headed, or whip variety, and are very venomoas. I intend at some future period to Bond you tho history of the Gold Mountain of Queensland, commonly called Mount vl organ, estimated to yield £40,000,000, che process by which the gold is extraoted from the stone and other details of interest.