AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3310, 29 September 1873, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

A nugget, weighing 170 ozs. of fine gold, has been unearthed in the Eldorado claim at Smythesdale, at a depth of 155ifeet. In the Victorian Assembly, on the 10th inst., Mr Francis stated that he had received by the last mail a communication from Captain Gilmore, who anticipated at no distant date that some of the enterprising English shipping firms would arrange for a line of ocean steamers via the Cape of Good Hope, without the payment of any subsidy by the Government. Mr Bayne, a Justice of the peace, and a member of the Sandhurst City Council, was assaulted by Mr Meader, of the Beehive Exchange, in the Benevolent Asylum Gardens, after a meeting of the Asylum Board, which both had attended. The cause of the fracas arose out of the recent municipal election. Mr Bayne called Mr Meader a bully and coward, and refused to withdraw the expressions. Mr Bayne intends to bring an action against Mr Meader in the Supremo Court for damages. The tale of a marvellous escape from death conies from Beeohworth. A girl named Millie Cogan, aged ten years, who was “ assisting ” at a sluice-box at the Wood’s Ravine Mine, fell over, and was swept away as if a feather. After being carried a distance of 900 ft., she was washed over a “dump” lift, high, falling into another sluice-box 700 ft. long. Passing through the latter, she was swept over another “dump” 20ft. high, falling among rough, jagged rocks. Here she managed to crawl out a few feet from under the heavy body of falling water, and was shortly after rescued by Mr Bartlett, foreman of the mine, Lovers of the marvellous should be delighted with the doings of the Sandhurst circle, as recorded in the Harbinger of Light: “At one sitting, five of the members felt the spirit of J olm King’s long bare arm and hand, with a ring on one of the fingers. The arm was larger than the ordinary size, was warm and soft to the touch, and the ring felt just like any other ring. Katie King’s beautiful soft hair was passed across the tapes of several of the members, and one member was promised a lock on Sunday. The spirit-lights were vivid and very beautiful, being luminous and apparently held and waved about by a spirit hand, which seemed to be covered with gauze. The medium took hold of the chairman’s hand and passed it across his face, which was very cold, then guided it down to his knees, and placed it with the palm open upon an upturned face which felt quite warm, and the lips kissed the hand.”

A few days after the Gothenburg left North-, ern Australia, the south-east monsoon began to blow bitterly cold at night, so much so that people had to use blankets, and general complaints pf the excessive cold were loud and numerous, The sudden change of weather excited surprise, and old residents were unanimous pi declaring that they had never experienced such weather since the occupation of the territory. A few days more, and fever made its appearance, and thou the effects of the sudden change of temperature became apparent. In a fortnight or three weeks no less than forty-five people were down with it in Port Darwin alone, and accounts from the country were also bad. Seventeen men were laid up in one restaurant, and in fact every hotel became an hospital. Very few in Palmerstofi had escaped. Four deaths had occurred, and the fever was still raging when the mail was despatched. As there is only one doctor there -the AotingGovermncnt resident, Dr Milner—he had ha:l his hands full.

Not many days ago there was left on the doorstep of a Dr Barrett, at Emerald Hill, a living baby. The foundling was a male child about six months old, and was dressed in respectable clothes, which were the worse of wear, but nevertheless clean. A piece of paper was found pinned to its clothes, containing the following I did not neglect this child wilfully. I had no means to support him. Chill him Borty Stephens. I will try and get him again when I can afford to keep him.” The special meeting of the Australian Mutual Provident Society took place at Sydney o« August 25, the large rnfihl being crowded. After an opening speech by the chairman, Professor Smith explained the nature of the changes proposed, The most important related to the

distribution of profits. This has been lately so extra liberal to old members that in the last quinquennium they got more in bonuses than they paid in premiums—a state of things quite contrary to the essential principle of life assurance, which is that those who live long pay for those who die early, Mr S. A. Joseph, on behalf of the old policy-holders, proposed that the existing method should apply once more to the old policy-holders, seeing that the five years was nearly complete ; but he admitted that they would find compensation for their diminished profits in the increased stability of the society. He also argued that, though there was no legal obligation with existing members to divide profits on the present plan, there was an equitable one, inasmuch as many persons had been induced to join by the exhibition of the bonus table. But to this was replied that all such persons were new members, who would be benefited by the change. The report was unanimously adopted, that not being considered to bind the meeting to anything more than a general approval.