AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3669, 25 November 1874, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Prom statements in the ‘ Cornwall Chronicle,’ it would appear that Tasmania has very narrowly escaped the commission of a judicial murder. About twelve months ago a man named Mayne was convicted of a criminal assault upon a young girl, and sentence of death was passed, but eventually commuted to penal servitude for life. Within the last few weeks the prosecutrix has voluntary stated that the prisoner was entirely in* nocent of the charge, and that she made it at the instigation of a man by whom she had been seduced, and who promised to marry her if she would lay the information. The whole case is now being investigated by order of the Tasmanian Government. THE WORKING MAN’S PARADISE. It is pow (writes the ‘Sydney Morning Herald ’) some years since the vqiqe of “ the unemployed ” has been heard in our streets • but for many mouths past we have been accustomed to the lament of employers in all parts of the Colony, and in nearly every iai dustry, over the dearth of labor. Men they said were not to bo had to reap the harvests which were ready to be garnered in different parts cf the Colony, and the railway contractors can only prosecute their enterprise by the importation of hands from the neighboring Colonies. There has for a long time past been great activity in all the building trades, and although the price of labor and materials are from 50 to 100 per cent highet than those which were highly remunerative three or four years ago, still it ia next to im&efc adequate supply of one or the other. From a f statement made in the Legislative Assembly by th*

Public Work s, it seems that the Government are in a similar plight to private individuals —they are constantly calling for tenders; but so busy are the mechanical trades, that there are no tenderers to answer them. This state of things has now become chronic, and those who are acquainted with the state of the labor market entertain no hope of an improvement. BENCH AND BAR IN SY‘ N Y. The following scene between a magistrate on the Bench and an attorney took pi ce, the * Sydney Empire’ states, at the Central I’olice Court ;—“ A'prisoner who was charged with stealing from the person was defended by Mr Carrol], who, in the course of his*cross-exa-sanation of one of the witnesses, took exception to a remark made by one of the justices (Mr Solomon). Mr Carroll asserted 'that the justice was misstating the evidence, to the prejudice of the prisoner, and said that there was'very little justice for any prisoner whom he might be defending. The following is a sample of the dialogue that occurredMr Solomon: ‘You are very insulting, Mr Carroll.’ Mr Carroll: ‘I can’t help it.’ Mr Solomon : *lf you go on in this manner I will not hear you at all.’ Mr Carroll : ‘I don’t care if you don’t hear me.’ Mr Solomon s ‘You have no right to go on in this strain, and it must be put a stop to.’ Mr Carroll: ‘ Some people don’t like to have their corns trod upon.’ Mr Solomon : ‘ What would yon say if I ordered you to be put out of court ?’ Mr Carroll (sitting down): * I defy you, and I would like to see the policennn who would put me out, except on your Worship’s responsibility ; and I know you can’t stand powder and shot.’ Order was then restored, and the proceedings were carried on without further interruption.” * TELEGRAPHING THE CUP RACE. The occasion of the race for the Melbourne Cup in Melbourne gave the locol telegraph authorities an opportunity ©f testing the, speed with which the news could be distributed to the various stations throughout that Colony. A public notice was sent from Melbourne giving the names of the first three horses, and this was forwarded to all stations in South Australia, including those on the overland line and Port Darwin. The race was finished in Melbourne at 4b. 9m., Melbourne time, or 3h. 43m, Adelaide time, and was known at all the principal telegraph offices in South Australia and Port Parwin at 3b- 4§m. Adelaide time, being about five minutes from the time the horses reached the winning post. A WOMAN AND THREE CHILDREN POISONED. The * Mackay Mercury ’ of the 31st ult. reports that a lamentable accident occurred in that district on Saturday the 24th October, which resulted in the sudden death of four persons—a mother and three children. The woman was heard by some people who resided in the same house making her children take some medicine, and she told her neighbors immediately afterwards that she had given each of the children salts, and taken some herself. The eldest try then started to a house a short distance off to cet some milk, bat when he got there lie fell down arid rolled over in great pain. The mother then came over to look at him, saying at the time that the youngest child was very bad. Before she herself could get back to her bouse shqiell down struggling on theroad. ' and had to be carried in by two of her neighbors. Meantime Mrs Esbmann (to whose bouse the boy had gone for milk) carried the boy home, and started at once for Or Harriets, who came up immediately and sent to Mr. Dalrymple’s for some strong emetics, meanwhile administering mustard as an emetic, but without avail, and within half-an-hour the mother arid her three children, two boys and a girl, were all dead. It appears that -the deceased woman’s husband, a man named Geunerick, was living in a hut on the other side of the river, with three other men, about a year ago. While there, he one day found, in the thatched roof of the hut. a small bottle with some white stuff in it. He showed it to bis mates, remarking tint he had found some Epsom salts, and that they would do for his family, little suspecting that it was strychnine. Geunerick accordingly took the bottle home to his wife, and told her he had found some salts. She appears to have tiken the bottle and put it away Without saying any more about it, nor was it <qieii£d again until the fatal morning, when the 'unfortunate woman mixed it in water and gave some to her children, taking part of it herself.