AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3283, 28 August 1873, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Profuse liberality, and a contempt for the luxuries obtainable for money, seem to go band in hand in Sandhurst. Mr William Heffernan, at a considerable expense, has purchased a prize-carriage in Melbourne, which he intends placing at the disposal of the Governor during his forthcoming visit to Qaartzopolis. The panels of the vehicle are emblazoned with armorial bearings, and a distinctive motto. The makers wrote to Mr Heffernan to know if he wished the embellishment to be retained, or if be would rather have the doors decorated his own crest. “ Any crest will do for me,” replied the unostentatious host. M I wouldn’t ride in the blessed thing at any price. I would sooner ride in a wheelbarrow. ” *! appy Mr Heffernan, with a luxurious carriage at his command, that ho can content himself with such a primitive means of locomotion.—Leader.

For a young girl of some sixteen summers to plough a twenty-acre paddock for seed, handling a team of horses as if she were “ native and to the manor born,” is certainly not an every day occurrence. Such a feat in agriculture has been accomplished by the daughter of an aged couple, residing about four miles from Seymour, Victoria. The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydneij Morning Herald write* A circular

has been forwarded to those employed in the various departments of the public service, inquiring whether they have insured their lives, and if so, in what offices ? No rcaso s are given for this inquiry, but it is possible that the Government may have in view the establishment of an insurance office for the benefit of those who derive their pay froni the State. The action is no doubt taken in consequence of the appeals made to Parliament every session in favor of the families of deceased* civil servants who have been left unprovided for.” The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes “ One of the mysteries of the old golden days remains a mystery still, namely, what has become of the owners of all the gold and valuables which came from the different diggings by escort, and which have remained unclaimed in the hands of the Government. Some little time ago a commission was charged with the examination of all the parcels which had accumulated in those times, and which still lacked owners. The first parcels opened were heavy ones, but, instead of gold, three of them were found to contain lead, and the rascally manipulators had so altered the addresses that the parcels were never asked for by their proper names. Another batch of tight packets was then opened. They had been carefully packed and securely fastened, and bore all the appearance of genuineness, but, instead of rolls of bank notes, they contained closelypacked brown paper and foolscap. Still, however, a large amount of property has been discovered in the heap ef unclaimed pickets and bank notes which have slumbered for years, have been put iuto circulation, and the gold-dust has been placed in the crucibles of the Mint after its long inaction —the whole being placed to the credit of the Colonial trust funds, for the benefit of whom it may concern. Probably, when the whole list of addresses come to be once again advertised, it may occur to some former denizens of our goldfields, now in vour Colony, that they have an interest in the treasures now for the second time exhumed.”