AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1917, 28 June 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Rumours affecting the solvency of Mr Hugh squatter ami station owner, hare been current. A satisfactory arrangement, however, has been arrived at between Mr Glass and the banks, who have agreed to carry Mr Gla s on for two years, as owing to the low price of wool and the depreciated value of station property, a realisation of the estate at the present time would he impossible. The balance sheet laid before the hanks interested, though the estate was estimated at a very low valuation, showed a surplus of upwards of L 270,000. A telegram from Sydney states that Pearson, the bushranger, who was sentenced to death, has been respited for a week, pending inquiries respecting the confession he has made since his condemnation. The prisoner, it is alleged, was formerly in the army, and belongs to a distinguished English family. Velocipedes are likely to become as much the rage in Melbourne as they appear to be in Parts and London. A number of these machines of the different varieties known—-try-cycles, bi-cycles, and nni-cycles are in course of manufacture, and the appearance of a vclocipedist in the streets will no doubt soon cease to be a novelty. Messrs Vail and Mallam have contracted for the construction of 200 of these and kindred machines on a new plan of manufacture, which has been patented for all the Australian colonies. It is intended that these shall be off-, red to the public for sale or hire. A higher rate of speed, it is asserted, will be attainable upon these patented machines than on all others previously in use. At the approaching athletic sports there is to be a velocipede race, for which no less than twenty-nine entries have been made. The initiatory steps have also been taken for tlie establishment of a velocipede club. The publication of the weights for the Melbourne Cup caused a considerable improvement in the bett ng market ye-terday, and a large amount of husm ss was transacted. The horse that met with most support was Sheet Anchor, about whose chance many peop'e appeared to be particularly enthusiastic, He was backed to win something like LIO,OOO, at prices ranging from 1,000 to 30, to 1,000 to 50. Detective was backed at 100 to 6 ; The Earl at 100 to 5 ; Marksman and Manuka at 100 to 4 each ; Barhelle at 100 to 3 ; Barwon and Shenandoah at 1,000 to 20 eaeh; and Strop, Cymba, Phosphorus, and Salem Scudder at 500 <o 10 each.

Nothing more has been clone with regard to the great privilege question. By the last mail, despatches were forwarded for the purpose oc retaining Sir Hounded Palmer and Mr J. D. Wood to appear before the judicial tribunal of the Privy Conned on behalf of the Legislative Assembly. Stops are to be taken to bring under the review of the full Court here the judgments given in the case of Mr Hugh Glass and Mr Quarterman, so that the appeal may be from the decision of the Supreme Court, and not from that of an individual judge ; but to the initiated it is not yet quite char what form the app -al can take, or bow the full Court can be moved on the subject. The Leader publishes some curious statistics with regard to the 14th Regiment, now stationed at Melbourne. It says that for the last two years her Majesty’s gaol has been more like a barrack than a prism. Thirty is the average number of soldiers of the 14th constar-tly bivouacked within its ■walls. Although this is the average the total number of military confined is enormously greater. Last year no less than 673 were sentenced and incarcerated.

A Melbourne paper thinks that Victorians have a “down ” on a certain royal personage, and alludes to an incident, which occuned during the performance of the “Lady of Lyons” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, one evening, as confirming that view. Claude impresses on his friends that “ Princes should be generous, a burst ot applause rather significant than aesthetic, showed that they were not thinking of an Italian Prince. The comments of Beauseant and Glavis on this truism were also applauded. . , The Melbourne police reports furnish another illustration, of the career of a ‘ fast youth.” A lad named George Burn, aged about 19, a ledger-keeper in the Commercial Bank, was charged with forgery. The extent of the forgeries was LI4OO. The prisoner had a confederate, who used to present the cheques to Burn, who then initialled them as being correct and they were paid. This game was carried on for some time ; and Burn having obtained leave of absence visited Sydney. Not turning up at the proper time, he was sent for and was arrested just as he was about to make Us departure for California. He had been committed for Rascals of a very deep hue occasionally turn up among the miscellaneous elements of colonial society, but we have seldom heard of one more deserving the lash than John William Manuel, just convicted of bigamy. Having a wife in England, a respectable woman, judging from the certificates read in court, this ruffian represents himself as a single man, secures the affection of a respectable young girl in Kibnore, and effects her ruin through the mockery of a marriage. Time brings round the exposure, hut who are the first and most deeply afflicted sufferers ? The injured girl’s father, in order to punish his child’s seducer, has to face the ordeal of that crowded, gaping, prurient court ; while the victim herself, perhaps happily bereft of sense as well as honor, is the inmate of a lunatic asylum, bow, what punishment is adequate to the wrong-doing of such a criminal as this ? It is a downright pitv that the law would not allow the villany to be lashed out of him before he is again set loose upon society. SYDNEY. The proceedings against the Daphne for slavery have been iffi-Latcd hy the official libel being posted in the Exchange. It requires an appearance to be filed by Monday next, or sentence of condemnation by default will be pronounced. The inquest on the body of Elizabeth Moore, found in Brougham place, has terminated in a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner Mason, and ho has been committed for trial on the coroner's warrant, Thomas M’Grath, formerly well known in rowing matches as the champion puller, and lately as proprietor of the Rainbow Hotel died suddenly. Henry Staas, proprietor of the Post-office Hotel, has been found drowned. At the wool sales, only a small lot ■was offered, for which, late prices were sustaintd. In the case of the Daphne, the legality of her seizure for slavery is to be contested, an appearance to the libel having been entcied. The cutter, Mary Wading, has been wrecked at Broken Bay. Crew saved. Ti,o capital sentence passed on Yep Seung has been commuted to fifteen years’ penal servitude. The Executive have declined to decide resnccting the fate of Captain Hovell uiuil the reserved points have been decided by the full Court. . Advices from Mauritius received here are to the 11th May, and report the state of the coming sugar crop to be very good; and that former estimates of the yield, now that the season has further advanceed, were considered too low. Shipments of the new crop would probably commence in August next. We learn from Rockhampton that Palmer, Taylor, and Williams have been committed for trial on the charge of having inivdeml Mr Halligan, and have been forwarded to Brisbane. The evidence adduced levealed an organised system of horse-stealing in which others are implicated. The R.M.S. Avuca takes 135,000 sovereigns and 12,000 ounces of gold. The ship Racer, which was not able to enter Newcastle, but was sighted all safe off Port Stephens yesterday morning, has arrived here safely. The court-martial held at Auckland, on board H. VJ.S. Virago, according to advices received here, has acquitted .Lieutenant Armit, and dismissed Lieutenant Jackson from the ship. A private meeting of members of the Chamber of Commerce favorable to the conference resolutions has been couven- d to-morrow, to consider ivhat action should be taken as regards the proposal to rescind the recent vote of the Chamber thereon. Californian papers received here are to the 29th March. They report breadstuff's falling, and quote wheat I.GO dob, aud flour at 3.75d0i. to sdol. There was nothing loading for Australia. A meat-p eserving company on a large scale is projected. Two of the Goulburn mad robbers have been tried, found guilty, aud sentenced to eifflit years’ hard labor. "The commission to enquire into the bona Jldes of the Austral.an claimant to tho Tichborne baronetcy commences its sittings next week, , . .. The Chamber of Commerce met, and the motion to rescind the resolution in favor of the commercial customs umon of the colonies was submitted. After rome discussion the motion was negatived. Detective Powell has discovered a plant of most of the proceeds of recent burglaries, and has captured a person who is believed to be the principal thief. A Townsville telegram reports that there are quite as many d ggers at the Gilbert goldfields as can find claims, and the number is amply sufficient to thoroughly try the ground. Water is getting scarce, aud a good deal of sickness prevails. fa ADELAIDE. The application made by Mr luglesby for the admission of Mr Michic, of Melbourne, to practise at the bar of the Supreme Court hi the case of Galbraith v. Hughes was refused. Tho acting Chief Justice suggested that there should be free trade in lawyers, as in other matters, throughout the Colonies. A Railway Carrying Company has been formed, and they have purchased the plant of Mr Rounaevell, the late contractor. The Port Augusta Railway Company has been finally formed, aud registered under the English Companies Act. Ihe engineers to the company will proceed to Port Augusta m a few days to commence the necessary surveys, and prepare the specifications, with a view to the early commencement of the works.

Some very fine specimens of natural history have been received by the Gulnare, from the Northern Territory. They were sent by Mr Schultz, naturalist to the expedition. There was a heavy frost last night, with ice on the hills. The office hours of the Civil Service have been altered from ten and four to half-past nine in the morning and half-past four in the afternoon. During the last three months since the new Land Act came into operation, only 5,470 acres of land, out of 400,000 open for selection, have been taken up under the deferred payment arrangements. Mr W. J. Brown, of Moorah, has applied to the Government for a grant of one million acres of land in the Northern Territory for seven years, rent free, with a view to its ultimate purchase, his stated object being to test the capability of the soil for the growth of sugar, coffee, and other tropical produce. His application, however, has been refused. The Provincial Gas Company have offered to light the city lamps at a considerable reduction on the rates formerly charged by the old company, and there is, therefore, some prospect of our streets being again illuminated at an early date. The northern extension of the railway as far as Forrester’s wiU be opened during the first week of next month. There were special services in the Episcopal churches, in memory of the late Dean Farrell. It appears from his will that the bulk of bis property has been left to St. Peter’s College. Another testimony towards the excellence of the preserved meats sent from the Booyoolee station has been received, to the effect that the parcel forwarded to England by steamer arrived in first-rate condition. A large number of new miffing ventures are being started. The new tariff for the carriage of goods on the railway is considered an improvement upon the last, but does not give general satisfaction. Parliament has been summoned for the despatch of business on the 31st July proximo. >Sir James Fergusson has intimated to the committee of the proposed Hunt Club his acceptance of the position of patron, and there is now every likelihood of the club being successfully established. The corn market is firmer, and sales ©f wheat are reported at 5s Ljd. ra.Sfi/i.C. The Immigration Bill has been read a second time, Archibald, the publican, who was arrested with three others for the murder of Mr Halligan, has turned Queen's evidence against his accompiices. Since their arrest each prisoner has been confessing to a share in the crime, hut shifting the blame of the actual murder from his own shoulder. Archibald’s confession is considered the most reliable story of the atrocity. The Legislative Council recommend the immediate extension of the telegraph to the Gulf of Carpentaria. ROCKHAMPTON.

Palmer’s cou"ession asserts that Williams shot Halligan, and threatened to shoot him (Palmer) for giving Halligan a drink of water. Williams gagged his victim, and Palmer rode to town for a doctor. Archibald, however, interfered, and said “Let him die. and throw him in the river.” M'Nevin, a negress, has been arrested as an accessary.