Australia.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 8, 29 December 1869, Page 2

Australia.

At Ballarat there was during the past tquartqr a depression in mining matters, and the returns of gold obtained and dividends paid show a falling oil'. The former item, however, reached the not insignificant figure of 55,139 ozs,, and the latter reached -£69,201. At Buniuyong a nugget, produeiug 126 ozs. of gold when smelted, was found in the Wobbville claim, 110 feet from the surface, and close to a quartz deader. “ It is worth recording,” says a Bendigo ■paper, “ that kerosene is efficacious .in •many instances of vermin poison ; and in this hot weather, when reptiles arc usually ■lively, the antidote should always he applied. The curing properties of kerosene were tested with complete success one day 'last week by a daughter of Mr Beresford, Bullock Creek, who happened to place her -hand accidentally over a scorpion, which immediately bit her on the palm. Feeling the i'palm, Miss Bcrosford concluded that there -was something there that ought not to be, mud she unflinchingly crushed the vermin lifeless. The pain of the wound began to dart hither and thither, and kerosene was .■applied, which gave instant relief, and not a trace of the wound could be found on Hlie following morning.” A most disgraceful movement at Sydney lias been a proposal to hold a festive meeting at Clontarf (where the attempt was made to murder the Prince), to which a number of Irishmen were invited last month, who a few weeks ago wore State (prisoners. A circular was read in various iHoman Catholic chapels in Sydney, stating that the men who had proposed the meeting were doing all they could to discredit - the Roman Catholic faith and honour, and • calling upon members of the Homan Catholic Church to hold themselves aloof. The ■ outrage upon decency, however, was prevented by the Government, who prohibited the demonstration.

This episode in the night-life of Mel bourne, as described by a local paper, suggests many a lesson ;—Not long since, one of the llashest of the demi-monde of Melbourne was seized with a mortal sickness. During her illness conscience was at work, and she unceasingly longed for the rites of matrimony to. make her an horfest woman, to use the expression of the unfortunates. A brute, who lived on the poor girl’s earnings, to satisfy her scruples married her in the evening. During the night hex illness rapidly increased, and before morning she died. Immediately upon hearing of her death, the husband of the poor creature went to her residence and literally stripped the corpse of jewellery and clothing, and then abandoned the place to any comer. Eventually the frail sisterhood subscribed among themselves to give the corpse a decent burial, while the spoiler of the dead refused to disgorge any of his prey for the purpose.

A Hamilton journal states that a strange incident occurred lately at Mr M'Kellan’s Strathkellow station, on which are some deer running. It seems that a fine buck, by rubbing his antlers against the fence, had succeeded in removing some palings, and escaped from his enclosure through the aperture so made. James Catton, the gardener, went up to the animal, which was usually very quiet, and had succeeded in placing his hand upon him. The stag suddenly turned on him, and ripped the poor .Tel low’s stomach in a frightful manner. <«eorge Lindsay, the groom, who was on horseback at the time, came up to render assistance, and for that purpose dismounted from his horse. The buck then attacked him, and plunged his antlers into his left breast above the heart, penetrating a couple •of inches. Had not the groom managed to scramble on to his horse and gallop away, worse might have befallen him, for the stag was preparing to renew the attack, and chased him some distance. On getting otf his horse, Lindsay found there had been considerable loss of blood from his wound. Loth men, although confined to their beds, .are progressing towards recovery.

The latest advices from Queensland state that Charles Frederic, George Palmer, and John Williams, the murderers of the goldbuyer (Mr Halligan), were executed at .Rockhampton on the 24 th ult. Palmer went to his doom silently, and with apparonfc resignation. "Williams persisted to the last in proclaiming his innocence. In 'his dying speech he invoked curses on the heads of the judge, the jury, and the witnesses—in fact on all who had been instrumental in procuring his condemnation. The scene is said to have been terrific. A storm was raging. The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, the tropical rain descended in torrents, as the unhappy wretch —the halter around his neck—poured forth his vehement denunciations. Even after the cap was adjusted, the voice of Williams, strong and determined, was again heard through it, saying, “Justice will yob be done to me in the world. I leave you my death, and the shame of it.” Tho executioner drew the holt, and two of the murderers of Patrick Halligan were launched into eternity.

• Penis M‘Kinliiy (a Sydney merchant), has been sentenced to five years’, Patrick MTvinlay to two years’, and Rogers and O’Brien to five years’ hard labour, for conspiring to defraud.