AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 539, 16 August 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Mr. George Barker, the Member for Collingwood t has brought forward a motion for the suppression of Betting- List Shops. A match has been made between Mr, Mailing, the New Zealand amateur, and F. Hewitt, the English pedestrian to run three distances—l3o, 20‘* and 300 yards, Maoing to receive 5, 7 and 10 yards start respectively. The Ballarat Post publishes some satisfactory intellig nee respecting the trout hatched out at Ercildoun ‘1 A few days since Mr. S. L. Learmonth had a small pond, situated just below the hatching boxes, cleaned out for the purpose of destroying the weeds that had accumulated therein. It was necessary to pump out the water, and as it was known that a few trout had escaped just after being hatched and were in this pond, the workmen employed in pumping were instructed to be cautious, and to keep a good look' out for any young fish that might- be still alive When nearing the bottom of the pond a considerable agitation was ob erved in the water, and after a little time about one dozen trout were caught in a small net Some of the fish were, Mr. Learmonth states, between eight and nine inches in length, aud at least three inches in girth round the shoulders. Others were smaller> the smallest being from five to six inches long, and thick in proportion. All were as lively as possible, and in prime condition.” zEgles, in 'he Australasian, says:— “ There are about a dozen miniatui-e larrikins who haunt the Collins-'street pavement under the pretence of selling matches. A cast of tire police net would probably land them in the'industrial schools, where they might at least haVe occupation, and learn trades. One of those young scamps the other day walked into a business office, asked if the proprietor kept dice, and offered to “ grab Hint for a shilling.” A favorite trick of this particular youth is to cannon against the legs of a passer-by, and then lye down and feign injury, so as to export a. consolatory shilling. One of these little arabs persecuted a new arrival the other day to buy a box of matches. After repeated refusals the pestered stranger said,- “ I have told you no, a" dozen times already. Do you think I look like a fool?” Well,” said young Scapegrace, “ as you ask me, I think you do. ” A little amusement was caused in the Melbourne City Court in. a case heard recently, by a witness’s answer to the question of a lawyer. Mr. - Gillott, solicitor was defending a youth who was alleged to have stolen a pair of trousers from a shop A shopman said that he ■ had m'ssed'the trousers, and Mr. Gillott asked him to- describe lie raiment. “ Well,” said the witness, looking round the Court, and - finally resting his gaze on Mr. Gillotl’s nether ha" bilhnents; “ they w'ere just the same colour and pattern as those you have on—might be the same for all I know.” The solicitor said he hoped they were hot, and took another line of cross-examination. Mining news at Sandhurst is very dull the following is extracted from the Autralasian's own Correspondent’s letter of the 24th ultimo:—-‘The market is still panicstricken. Stocks on all sides are falling, andnothing will stop the current at present. Sandhurst hj s been always noted for a rise in everything at the same time or % fall in everything', and until something extraordinary happens to turn the current, the market wil continue to he of a depreciating character, and stocks may not recover much strenth. But that the market is as unhealthy as it was ever known to be, is indisputable, and that a change is likely to take place is not at all improbable, and then again everything will ho iu favor. Bowever the market has not weakened without some cause, when it is taken into consideration that but a few weeks ago an immense bussiness was being done in a favorite stock, and that at steadily advancing figures, everybody being informed that the prospects of the claim referred to were magni ficent—such, in fact, as to warrant anv of the figures paid for the shares—and everybody seemed to be buying and becoming shareholders, not only in this market, but those of Melbourn, Sydney, and Adelaide; and the question never seemed to I e aske i where were the shares coming from and how was it they were so easily obtained if those who knew most and held the largest interests were so satisfied that their property was of such a value as they stated. If they had not been so easily purchased, there might have been some grounds for supposing the prospects were equal to what was stated but when some 18,000 or 20,000 shares must have passed from local to other hands, there were good grounds for suspicion. The shares have failed from 9/, down to 2/, and even less, and we find that there is at present a prospect of no further dividends for a time, or perhaps but one or two and then the claim may be looked upon almost as a prospecting claim. The only shareholders that have,to be sympathised with;are those who have not seen the underground workings for themselves, or b“en made actual prespectors The present prices are certainly legitimate value for the property situated as it is on so valuable a line, and from which such returns have been taken, ■'and warranting the belief that other runs must exist below which should give them, and that it may be not before long, further handsome returns. But it is not wise to anticipate anything with regard to mining but to wait till the prospects are actually obtained. The fall in this stock has certainly had the effect of weakening the stock of the company, but this is not a just cause for the prospects are not in the slightest degree changed, excepting for the better. That the stock may have advanced to fictitious value is not unlikely, when it represented,s6o,ooo/, but there is ..every reason to believe that shareholders at present quotations will receive a magnificent interest for their mhnef.