AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 796, 20 July 1877, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

—o The official returns of the gold yield fot the Sandhurst district during the month of May are 12,901nz. Ifidwt, 3gr. For the corresponding mouth in IS7C the yield was 28,- r )osoz. Advices from the Palme’ - state that there are hundreds of Chinese in the last stages of destitution, andhundreds more are pressing on towards the gold-fields. The wardens on the Palmer ask for additional police in consequence of the threatening attitude of the Chinese outside the camps. Plio late prize-fight between Thompson and Christie caused some little commotion in certain circles. The principal and twentysix of those present were summoned to the Police Court, when Thompson and Christie were bound over in sureties to keep the peace, while the others were let off, as there was not sufficient evidence to show that it was a prize-fight. . Mr Coates, who has upon several occasions acted as captain of the jNcw South

Wales team, has made his appearance in a match in England, and, though suffering from a had foot, the Sporting Life says ho bowled and batted well. The match was East Surrey v. West Surrey, and Mr Coates secured seven wickets in one innings, all being nut for 55 runs, t Mr Coates’s side made 157, of which number he scored 13. One of the severest shocks of earthquake which has occurred for a long number of years past in Victoria was experienced lately in Melbourne and the suburbs, as in localities more distant. At tho Observatory the shock was very decidedly felt at 25 minutes past 3a m, and is described as sufficient to rattle windows aud shako crockery. It lasted for about 10 seconds, but the direction of the wave could not ho observed, tho disturbance appearing to act vertically. At 22 minutes and a half to 4 a. m. Tho earthquake -shock was distinctly felt in most of the suburbs, and nearly all those who experienced it agree as to the time tho shock took place. An odd sort of theft was dealt with by the Sandridgo Bench on Thursday. A carter named James Brooks, employed by Mr Morlcy, of Sandridgo, to deliver coals, was apprehended on the 13th iust. by Constable Earnan for drunkenness. When his pockets' were searched they were found to contain throe silver knives aud forks—articles very unlikely to belong to his own household. They were discovered, by moans of the crest on them, to be the property of Mr F. W. Armytage, of Toorak. The prisoner delivered some coals at the house of Mr Amytago the same day. From the evidence it appeared that he had taken advantage of tho temporary absence of the butler, who left him at tho back door in order to sign the delivery-book, to walk into tho pantry and lift the knives and forks from the table. He also took some 'brushes and hid them in his cart under empty sacks. This was all done in tho absence of the butler, and so neatly that no suspicion attached to the prisoner when the articles were missed. The stolen property was valued at L 4. The prisoner was under the influence of liquor when he delivered tho coals. Tho Bench sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment.