AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2002, 5 October 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Among the novel industries recently established in Melbourne (says the Arum) is one for the manufacture of crystallised sea-salt, by the use of which persons living at a dis tance from the sea can enjoy at, a trifling cost the advantages accruing from a saltwater bath. Hitherto we have been dependent upon the imported sea-salt for this purpose ; but this, it is said, loses many of its valuable prop 1 rties on the voyage 'J he local article, which is produced at West rn Port, and of which Messrs d. Buchan and Co. have been appointed the Melbourne ag- uts, has been examined by the Government analytical chemist, who states that it contains the solid constituents of sea-water, and that by the use oD four pounds of the crystals to eveiy ten «p,Hons of water, a good saline bath may he obtained. The Macleay Herald relates the following :—A few days ago, a son of Mrs Hampson, of West Kempsey, aged about 11 years, who was minding sheep at Bob’s Point, for Messrs Danger and Smith, chopped down a Gee-Bung tree with a tomahawk. It fell against another tree, and the butt then shot over the stump and struck the lad on his log, breaking it below the knee. A lad named Hinder, who was present, wen" for his father, who lived about a hundred yawls away, and Hampson was carried by Mr Hinder to bis mother’s residence. Dr Locke set the leg, and under his care he is in a fair way of recovering. Some people undoubtedly have their share of this world’s calamities ; and among that number we might class Mrs Hampson. Her husband was kir eked against a tree, by a fall from his horse, and killed instantly ; her eldest son had his arm broken ; the second had his arm broken also, and had no sooner recovered from that than he was killed instantly, at Moonahah ; and now another son is laid up with a broken leg. Surely, these visitations are heavy for one family to bear. We sympathise with Mrs Hampson in her severe trials, and hope that this may prove the last. The Dubbo Dispatch, gives the following particulars of sticking-up by a bushranger, and a bravo resistance: Du Saturday, sth instant, an armed bushranger, supposed to he the notorious Rutherf.ird, stuck up, in the vicinity of Ca< nonbar, Mr John Egan, J.F., of Mount Harris. On meeting that gentleman, the robber presented a revolver, and in the approved sty e, ordered him to get off the horse he was on. Mr Egan, with a loaded pistol levelled at him, had no alternative but to obey, and the supposed Butherford at mice took possession of the horse, saddle, and bridle. After a few words with hie victim, the robber r>de off, thanking Mr Egan for the good mount he had provided him with. On Sunday the same ra--cal called at the Pine Ridge hotel —a house kept by Mr C. Beauvais,--situ-ated near Enawtna (Mr Eyrie’s station) and about half-way between Warren and Cannonbar. After looking around the bar he went into the dining-room, and asked “ who W-is the publican ?” Mr Banvais at once replied “I am.” The bushranger inquired if the landlord had any money, and he was answered rather jocularly hy Bauvais (who had no suspicion of the character of his interrogator) “ Any amount, how much do yon want?” The bushranger said “LSmdall iu notes.” Mr Banvais went into the b.ar saying “ all right;” and the bushranger while he was there, called for a nobbier of brandy, which ho leceived and drank. The publican waited to get the money for the grog, but instead he had a revolver presented to his head, and was gruffly spoken to hy his visitor who said, “ What about this L 5; 1 want it all in notes;” Beauvais was rather staggered at this, and could hardly believe he was stuck up, thinking it w r as some joke which was being played on him, for he said “ you you must be joking and not in earnest,” The robber, however, quickly enlightened him on that pont, for he said “there is no gammon about me, and if you do not give me the money at once, I will take all you have in the house.” Seeing that there was no alternative, mine host of the Pine Bulge Hotel prepar d to accede to the wishes of the scoundrel; hut as the money was in a box, the key of which was kept by his wife, who was in the kitchen, he would hive to go there first. The hirbranger did not object to this, hut he took the precaution to follow' him, keeping his pistol cocked the while. When they arrival at the doorway of the kitchen, Mrs Bcavais, according to his request, gave her husband the key. The bushranger, seeing two young men in the place, ordered them out, and while engaged with than, he took bis eye off Beauvais, and the latter observ ng this, spr ing like a tiger at the robber, seized ihc muzzle of the revolver with his left and the man’s throat with his right hand. A terrible struggle ensued, and in the midst of it; the bushranger pulled the trigger and shot himself through his low'cr right jaw. The two fell on the ground at the same time, but Beav.ds immediately got up uninjured. The other, howevtr, bled freely from the mouth, and never spoke from the moment he was shot, being insensible up to his death, which occurred at 11 o’clock on Monday. Mr J, 0. Eyrie, J.P. was at once sent for, and quickly arrived. On Monday morning, Inspector Norton, and Mr G. Cox, who had been running down the. bushranger’s tracks, came upon the scene. Mr Eyrie held a magisterial inquiry. The deceased, whom no one as yet can identify, appeared about twenty-two years of ago. The revolver he used, on being picked up, was found to have five chambers, four of which were loaded and one discharged. The brave jtoffluct of Mr Beauvais cannot be too praised. He acted in a most cool Amed manner, and certainly bis courage in trying conclusions with an armed ruffian is deserving of the recognition of both the Government and the people. Our Warren correspondent, writing- relative to this affair, adds It appears the deceased had become troublesome in the neighborhood. A few days before Ids death last week, he stole the racc-hoises Physician and Adeline from Mr Wild’s station, on the Merri Merri, Fortunately for the owner, the hoists got away, and returned home. It is said that if he had been successful at the Pine Ilidgo, he would have paid Warren a visit. Mr Black, says the Daylesford Mcrcurii, who formerly opened the Berwickshire reef, near the reservoir, has been remarkably successful at the Gympie goldfield. About four

years ago he left for New Zeal and, and niade his way thence. to Gvmpie last year. 1 here he was j.-ice I hy a nephew, ami, with two others, named Muir and Drew, took up a quartz chum. Wo observe hy the Oympic Tilin’:- of th -i 31st July, that the la«t crushing of tee four partners yielded 2.3(380z from ffliTl tons of stone, or an average o nearly 7oz 18 Uvt to the ton. In May they had another crushing that gave 2,0950z ; in February, 02ooz ; and in December, ICOOoz; or a total of nearly 7,000-z in less than eight months Five years ago Black was a p ough,nan in Scotland. A miner from_ Yandoit known as Boh -, also cleared LS,OUU last year at Gympie.