AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 418, 22 April 1870, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

“ It is a long time,” remarks the “Ararat Advertiser,” “since the colony of Victoria has been subjected to a season of. such drought as has been experienced lately, and which has not yet altogether passed over. In the extensive pastoral disti iot through which the Wimmera was wont to traverse, which extends over the whole of the extreme North Western portion of the colony; the drought has had the most calamitous results. This imniense district, consisting for the most part of extensive and hitherto wellgrassed plains, lias for many years past

reared hundreds of thousands of sheep, bn? now, the country 'beitig completely burnt up, there remains scarcely a particle of verdure for their support. No doubt past experience will now induce the residents in this dry and parched up district to erect dams of sufficient capacity to retain enough water to save their flocks from the fearful effects of another season such as the present.” A scandalous scone ensued at the Board of Land and Works, Melbourne, on the 31st ult,, between the Minister of Lands and Mr. W. Frazer, M.L.A., which terminated by the latter gentleman calling the Minister a “liar,” and the sending for the police. Before their arrived, Mr. Frazer had very judiciously quitted. A man of the urine of Adolph Rodolph who was convicted of assault and robhery> and sentenced to live years impsisonment, With the a idition- of twenty-five lashes, received the latter in the Melbourne gaol on the 6th instant —The ‘‘ Australasian ” concludes thtfr report of the above as follows: —“As crimes such as that of which lie has been convicted appear, unfortunately; to be gel ting more common, the executioner is becoming more dexterous in the use of the “cat” and though as wielded by him it is not so fearful an instrument as it is in the hands of some of his trade, at the same time the street ruffian has no reason to regard a flogging in Melbourne Gaol as a farce.” Another story about Power is contributed by the “Ovens Spectator” “We understand that the irrepressible Power has again turned up, and that this foolhardy bushranger, on Saturday, had actually the impudence to call in broad daylight, in fact about noon, at Mrs. Watts’ Hotel, at Longwood, fronting the main road, and not a stone’s throw from the local police station, and that he cooly ate his dinner, paid for it, ’and then made off. It is a wonder that ho did not invite two or three of the local police to join him in a sumptuous feed. That probably will be his next move, and after all the money and goods be has obtained lately, he could surely afford to act liberally.” The English pedestrians, Hewitt, Bird, and lopley, make their second appearance at Ballarat on Saturday, March 26. Both Hewitt and Bird were beaten, the former in a quarter-of-a-mile race, and the latter in a one-mile race. Toploy won his match, a two-mile Walking match. They have since gone to Sydney. From all accounts, they have not given all the satisfaction that was anticipate' l . Mr. Charles Matthews, the comedian, has been well received, and was to appear at the Theatre Royal on the Oth in sc.