AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 537, 2 August 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

On the morning of the day appointed for the Steeple-chase at Caulfield it was discovered that the top rail in every fence had been nearly sawn through, but the fences were made strong as ever previous to the race, no doubt to the discomfiture of the individual who cut them. For the Melbourne Cup there are no less than seventy horses nominated, Victoria 43 New'Sonth Wales, 20; South’Australia, 6; New Zealand, 0. Hamlet is the favorite and the betting is very spirited. Mr. Anthony Trollope is expected' wil pay a visit to New Zealand. The fi'st through message hy telegraph from England was, from a partner to a Melbourne'firm. A well known merchant, noted for his unreasonable prejudice against the Hebrew race, was asked the other day for a subscription to the Persian Relief Fund. He at once assented, and said, ‘ What shall I give you—two guineas or five?” The canvasser desiring to move his sympathies, and unaware of his prejudice, replied, “ Well, the more the better ; the poor Jews are starving there by hundreds, and ’> “ Jews starving ! that’s a very different maticr— that’s a dispensation tef Providence. Couldn’t interfere. The European Mail states that Australian meat is getting more generally into consumption in England, an d goes on further to say that, it is to he seen in most of the re tail grocers’ and oilmens’ stores. In same shops', they sell it by the pound, half pound, and quarter of a pound, which is a great convenience to the poor. The following is the total length of cable and land whe which join Europe with Australia -Lengh of cable, 9,140 miles; Overland wire, 3,104 miles-Total, 12,250 miles. An amateur, who has lately arrived from New Zealand, has challenged the English runner, Hewitt, to run him three sprint races, Hewitt to give him a short start in each event, and the race to take place on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The following is the challenge—For a gold cup, three distances, viz., 150, 200, and 300 yards, with the ’following start in each event, C, 8, and 13 yards. vEgles, iu’the Amlralasion has the following “ Another stampede to the doctors for vaccine lymph. A very proper precaution, no dcuht, hut why wait till the enemy is at the door ? The police were mustered in ranks and vaccinated (contract job) hy *hs dozenj a few ‘years ago. It is said that they are ail to be again operated upon. Why are they pi*died upon more than the twopenny postmen? Are they considered more liable to infection because they are under the Civil Service Act ? So sweeping were the instructions on a farmer occasion that even men who had had small pox couldn’t secure exemption. The Mayor of Sandhurst, who has taken energetic measures to isolate infected persons, tells me that thc peoplo near the new sanatorium accuse him of a desire to finally get rid of them because they didn’t vote for him at an election some‘time ago !” “ Opposite to me, at Scott’s, there sat the other day at luncii a remarkably tall young gentleman, who formerly hailed from the neighborhood of Melbourne. (When he stood up I couldn’t be quite sure whether be was Cft. Gin. or 7ft. high.) He had, however, a long reach, which served him in good stead, upon a late occasion. Riding in the bush of New South Wales (where he manages a station) he was unexpectedly hailed up by an armed bushranger. With a pistol at his head resistance was useless, so he submitted todicing rifled of his watch, money, and valuables. The bushranger was, however, slovenly in his work, and did not tie his victim’s hands, and with unprofessional carelessness came within range. A swiftly delivered blow sent the robber to earth senseless, and the tables were at once turned. The squatter re-po:sessed himself o f his own, hound his assailant hand and foot, tied him JJoross his own horse, and delivered him without any fuss or ceremony at the nearest police-station. The new theatre in Bourkc-street, now being erected by Mr. Hoyt in Melbourne, is rapidly approaching completion. The Royal is being rapidly pushed forward, and is expected to be finished and opened in the course of three months. The question of the liability of the Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay Railway Company for tire accident that occured at the Richmond Station about 18 months ago to a gardiner named Uhas. Williams was argued in the Supreme Court on Wednesday Williams, while crossing the line on the level, was knocked down by the train and so injured that it was necessary to amputate his leg. Ho obtained from a jury a verdict for 250/, but it was contended on Wednesday on behalf of the company that be had no business to been the line; that he should have crossed by a bridge that was erected for the convenience of the public and that the gate through which ho crossed was merely intended for the convenience of the officials of the company. To this it was replied that the public had been allowed to use the gate without objection by the company or its servants that plaintiff himself bad used it on other occasions that he might therefore reasonably entertain the belief that it was intended for the public. The Court reserved judgement. In the case of Hogg v. Chalk, an action for not delivering 100 scrip in the Golden Fleece Company the Court upheld a verdict returned by the jury for the plaintiff but in the case of Grant v. Chalk, also for not delivering shares, where a verdict was also returned for plantiff the Court held that Grant had parted with his interest in the property to another firm and conld not, therefore maintain the action.