LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1950, 5 August 1869, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A veritable trout has been caught at Distillery Creek, a small stream distant from Launceston about a couple of miles. It was one of a few liberated at the same place last year, and now weighed 41b. Unfortunately, it was killed, and taken to town, 'this was the more to be regretted, as it was full of Spawn, and females are at first but in small proportion to the males. Poor Pr L. L. Smith seems to have got into hot water by coming to Tasmania. Refused the use of the town-hall, he brought an action for damages against the corporation of Launceston. This be by letter assured the press he would proceed with, but a.communication from his solicitor to the town clerk notifies that his wiit is withdrawn. Proceeding to Hobart Town, the Rev. Mr Cox is caught pul ling down the doctoi’s bills, and is summoned to the police-office, but the doctor’s billsticker had not permission to use the walls he had emblazoned, and the case was given against the plaintiff; and now, to crown all, the doctor is practising as a member of the faculty, and taking fees, without having submitted his credentials to the medical hoard, and so that board is down upon him. The superiut’ ndent of police has served him with a summons for practising without having his name registered as a medical practitioner. Smh are the mishaps which may hefal a visitor to Tasmania. Sir James Fergussouhas again been speak iug vise and timely words upon Australian railways. At the celebration of the opening of the Roseworthy and Forrester’s line, which forms part of the line now in construction from Adelaide to the Burra, and which has cost about L 5,000 a mile, he de dared emphatically his opinion, founded on both personal experience of railway management in England and upon the system adopted after full consideration. for Indian lines, that railways of this character are the most appropriate for new countries. Given a large extent of country to open, and a moderate amount of capital for the purpose, the real question is. how can the money be paid to go as far as possible. Something must be sacrificed, and that something is speed. Safety, carrying capacity, regularity, and punctuality, are essential upon every railroad, and with them we cannot dis; ense But we need not insist upon travelling at the rate of fo ty or fifty miles an hour. Speed will doubtless come in good time, but that time is a long way distant yet. Sir James Fergusson also expressed in strong terms Lis belief that cheap railways, if they are properly used, will last as long as any railway can be expected. If, indeed, trains are driven at express speed over lines not intended to bear such speed, the lines will soon he destroyed. In India, the branch lines, as they are called, although they sometimes extend 500 miles, curry the same rolling stock as the main lines, hut at half the speed. “ So,” says Sir James “ I believe that all the traffic of these districts can he carried on them for tweu-y years with perfect safety and economy.” He farther ados that there are three conditions wiih which we must comply if we want to get value for our railway expenditure. The direction of railways must be determined upon their merits, and without reference to any political or party considerations. The surveys must he made by the mo-t compe tent men that can be found. The line must he thoroughly well constructed. In other words, railway engineering and railway construction cannot be either jobbed or scamped.

The foundation-stone of the new building now in course of erection at the extensive tannery of Messrs Brearley Brothers, Breakwater, was laid yesterday by the Mayor of bouth Barwon, in the presence of representatives frorp the three local councils, a number of the leading manufacturers and other gentlemen, and the employes of the establishment. There were present about 150 altogether. The declaration of the mayor that the stone was well and truly laid was the signal for repeated cheering—and, as indicative of the good feeling existing between employers and employes, a flattering addres was presented by one of the curriers, James Watson, on behalf of himself and sixty-six other workmen The foundation - stone bore the following insciiption ; —‘‘Brearley Brothers. Established October 1, 1852,” in which year the two partners were simply

working men, turning out some sixty or seventy bides per week, the total number of bids then tanned in the Colony being about 500 per week. When the improvements are completed, the tannery of Messrs Brcarley Brothers will he the largest in all Australia, and as it will be fitted out with the latest modern improvements, they calculate upon being able to supply the markets with about a thousand hides weekly, or twice the quantity which could be made in the Colony seventeen years ago. This clearly shows what may happen to men in Victoria if possessed of perseverance and enterprise.