AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 774, 16 February 1877, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

On the 20th ultimo, at Castlemaine, a smart shock of earthquake was felt. About twenty minutes past 10 p.ra. a prolonged rumbling sound like a roll of passing away thunder was heard, and it was accompanied by a vibratory movement of the earth, apparently passing from south to north. Scarlet fever (says the advertiser) has again made its appearance at Ararat, and in one case has proved fatal. There are eleven cases being now'treated. The decision of the licensed victuallers in Meibonrne to strictly close their houses on Sunday, though carried out hy a large number of the trade, has not been complied with by all. Some forty publicans in the city and suburbs have been reported to the Licensed Victuallers Committee as having broken the agreement. The Hobart Town Mercury states that the Governor of Tasmania, on the 10th ult., succeeded in landing the largest salmon yet caught in the Island. It. weighed eight pounds and three 'quarters. 'lt was killed with spinning bait. The Belfast correspnndent of the Warrnambool Examiner writes :—“ A narrow escape from being bitten hy a shark occurred at Boarding-school Bay a few days ago. It appears that a number of ladies were enjoying a quiet dip, when all of a sudden a monster shark put in an appearance, but, fortunately, its dorsal fin was observed above the water by one of the bathers. As soon ‘as the monster was seen, the lady screamed out, and warned her companions of their dangerous position. Of course a rush was made for the shore, but one of them, who happened to be out a greater distance than the rest, was attacked by the shark, and received an ugly wound near the ankle. She was 'attended to as soon as proper assistance could be obtained. The wound is not of a dangerous nature. The length of the shark was about 6 feet.” An act of great presence of mind and courage on the part of the engine-driver Thomas Bren, who lost his arm on Saturday through it coming in contact with the sweeprod connected with tho pumping gear of the New Chum and Belle Vue Railway Reserve Company, Sandhurst, is described by the Inglewood correspondent of the Bendigo Advertiser. The accident happened in the night, when'no-one was near, ami the first Bren thought of when his arm was crushed to pieces were the men'down below, whose lives would probably be endangered if he fainted, or went away and left the machine in motion, so, notwithstanding the great agony he was in, and tne stream of blood pouring from him, he Walked round the room, carrying his shattered arm in his other hand, and stopped the engine, and after seeing that all was safe, he went out, and walked home about two hundred yards, arriving at the door of which he called out to his wife to let him in as his arm was smashed He then fell down from weakness caused hy loss of blood, but stili remained sensible. The poor woman on coming out found her husband lying down at the door, apparently bleeding to death, the wounded limb laying across the left shoulder. She hastily bound it up with a sheet hut that having no effect she screamed for assistance, and some neighbors coming they tied a ligature above the wounded part, and got the sufferer convened to the hospital as soon as possible. On arriving at bis lodgings, after the amputation had been performed, a telegram from Inglewood was placed in his hands summoning him to the deathbed of his mother. A young man named Benjamin Richards was drowned in the Murray at AVahgunyah on the 29th ultimo. He had come over from New Zealand to settle some business about property in this town, and having dene so was about to leave by the midday coach. Singularly enough, the young man’s father was drowned in nearly the same spot some eighteen years ago. Tho event has caused a deep sensation in the locality. A gentleman named It. 1 Campbell, from the neighborhood of Gedlbng, who while suffering from sunstroke, took passage from Meibonrne to Sydney in the Maoedon on the Bth ultimo, mysteriously disappeared, leaving avalise anil other articles behind in his berth. The English Eleven will probably play another match at Sydney after their return from Now Zealand. Two thousand sheep were sold in the Adelaide market lately at Is. per head. It is feared that the general wheat average in the Adelaide country will not exceed five bushels to the acre. A number of immigrants who have been hut a short time in Adelaide complain that they cannot get work, and that the Government won’t give thorn work. The Government reply that they have had work. A large number of miners from tho Victorian gold-fields are leaving for Van Dieman’s Land, mining news from there being of an encouraging nature. Tho bakers of Melbourne and Suburbs have been compelled through the continued advance in the price of flour, to raise the price of bread. The cost of the four pound loaf is now Bd. Prospecting parties are being sent out by the Victorian government in various localities,

Tho Hobart Town Mercury says:—“lt is rumored in Hobart Town that a salmon, weighing 2811)., had bctti'caUght on the 21th ultimo in tho Derwent, at Now Norfolk. That well known property known as tho “ Criterion Hotel ” situate in Collins-strcet Melbourne, was put up to auction recently. LISOO was the highest bid, and the property was withdrawn from sale by the Auctioneers. Tho Melbourne correspondent of the Hamilton Spectator states There is some doubt whether we shall ever see the old Great Britain in these waters again. She was expected hero some time ago, but letters have come to the effect that it was found impossible to sail her with profit on her old route, so many now vessels with greatly improved machinery having entered into competition fob the trade.” There was a horse the other day at one of tho Sandhurst suleyards which attracted the attention of a buyer. Upon inquiry this gentleman ascertained that the animal belonged to an acquaintance from the Campaspe. Meeting the latter in Pall Mall, he said, “Hike the look of that horse up at Blank’s. They inform me he belongs to you. Tell me, like a good fellow, what is his fault?” “ Well,” said the owner, “ho has a fault, 1 admit. If he's loose in a hun-dred-acre paddock its shorter to walk a couple of miles than to try to catch him.” “ Oh,” said the other, “ that wouldn’t matter. He would be stabled with mo, and would never have the halter off except when he was in use.” A couple of hours afterwards these two met again. “Well, said the gentleman of inquiring mind, “ I bought that horse at your price, and Blank said I might as well pay you direct. Here’s a cheque for the amount.” “Come in and have a drink,” said the innocent from the Campaspa. “Landlord, is that a good cheque ?” “ I’ll give you cash for it,” said tho landlord—which was duly done. As they finished their friendly libation, said the countryman, “By the way,” I’ve just thought of another fault in that horse.” “ What is that?” eagerly asked the new owner. “You know I told you he was hard to catch.” “Oh, yes, I remember that.” “Well, on second thoughts, he’s not worth having when you do catch him !” —Angles.