AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3847, 23 June 1875, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

VICTORIA IN THE BACKGROUND. . py the mail letters were received by the Proper* Mr Kerford, from the Hon. J. Q. Francis, in which he states that his health was much improved by the voyage, but that the cold weather in England did net at all agree with hum He finds that the cold affects his lungs, and threatens to produce a return of the old symptoms. The hon. gentleman evinces a warm interest in the fortunes of Victoria and the * Argus ’ states:—“ He mentions one aigni* Scant fact }< which strongly impressed itself upon his mind, viz,, that while no opportunity is lost of du-ecting public attention to the other Australasian Colonies, more especially to New South Wales and New Zealand, Victoria is allowed to remain completely in the background.

THEWARRAGUBRA OUTRAGE. Lute on Sunday night (reports the ‘ Bega Standard ) the town was startled by the report that a diabolical outrage had been perpetrated bv an aboriginal upon the person of Mrs Murpbxn, during the absence of her husband at church, and upon information reaching*the police, constable Preston was at once despatched to arrest the offender, and succeeded after a long ride in securing him on Monday morning, *p^Bi n g lum in Bega gaol. It would seem that JvicUrath, who is known as a lawless desperado, was m town on Saturday, and received his share of the annual distribution of blankets; and being m possession of a little cash, found it no hard matter to procure drink, hotwiththe prohibition against sailing liquor to the aborigines, and was wandering about “PJf 11 Sunday in a state Of drunkenness. After dusk on that evening he started towards W allargoot, and called at several houses* evidently with his devilish purpose in view,.but, fortunately he found the master ” at-home at each place. Going on towards his destination, ho called at Mr Murphin’s, and asked.for a light, aim inquired if the master was in, Mrs Murphin informed him that her husband waa absent, and that he must call to-morrow* Her only companion at the time was her son, a led of about eight years of age. Without the least notice of his intention, McGrath seized the unfortunate woman. and dragged her from the house, a distance of nearly 100 yards to a creek, where he committed a capital offence. The house stands in an isolated and the victim’s screams could bring her no aid. After the commission of the offence, Mrs Murphin regained her house and locked the door, when the wretch endeavored to force an entrance, but was deterred by hearing the footfall of horses approaching, and presently'Mr Murphin’s daughter, who''had accompanied her father to church, prode up. M. lirath then jumped on his horse’ and '*galloped down the lane mid past Mr Mar-

phin, who had remained behind to pat up the sliprails, and made his escape. M'Grath, after leaving the scene of the outrage, went to a hut at Mr Gowing’s and boasted to the occupant of the crime he had committed, but the man thinking it was a boast only, suffered him to leave ; but he did not remain long at large, as he was arrested, as mentioned, early next morning. On Monday Mrs Murphin was in a very precarious state. She is advanced in years, and has of late suffered ill health. Dr Shiela was sent for, and found she had been most brutally used, and was in a very weak state. It was also thought necessary to take her depositions. A CAUTION TO DREAMING MOTHERS.

The > ‘ Carcoar Chronicle’ (N.S.W.) has the following amusing narrative of the effects of a dream :—Most at some time of their lives have known what it is to dream. Sometimes they find themselves journeying across the sea, and at other times across the land. One night perhaps they wake up laughing, on another orying over some scene which has {}assed through their active brain; bat the folowing strange story of a married woman in this town was this week narrated to us:— u She and her husband had retired to rest, and both were enjoying what might have been supposed sound sleep. The wife had in her arms her child of a few months old. It happened, however, that on this particular night she dreamed a dream. She thought that both she and her husband were travelling across the country, and that she was carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms, when they at last came to a stream. She imagined that her husband bad crossed the stream and was waiting for her on the opposite bank, and he had told her to throw the bundle to mm, and she saw his arms outstretched to receive it. The woman immediately threw the bundle and was commencing to cross the stream herself, when suddenly she was awakened by hearing the child, which was supposed to be nestled closely to her, screaming at % fearful rate in the middle of the floor, and her husband crying out ‘ what’s the matter ?’ On sitting up in bed the thought immediately flashed across her mind that she bad been dreaming, and that her poor little babe had been thrown from her instead of the handle of clothes. As may be very easily imagined, after it was ascertained that the child jjras not hurt, both parents had a hearty laugh over the affair. The mother has made up her mind not to dream any more dreams.” MISCELLANEOUS. It is currently reported that Judge Dutine is bringing an. action for libel against the * Maryborough Standard ’ for having accused him of being intoxicated on the Bench. It appears to be fashionable to use strong language in tbe New South Wales Assembly. On June 16, Mr Davies called attention to the fact that Mr Hill had on tbe previous night, within the precincts of the House, called him a > scoundrel. Mr Hill, in reply, admitted the-language, and said if he had hia wish he would put a whip in every man’s hand tolash such a rascal naked through the worl ’. It has been decided to celebrate the O’Connell centenary in proper form in Melbourne. Last week a Chinese doctor made application to the Victorian Medical Board to be regarded as a legally qualified medical practitioner, but as he did not produce sufficient evidence of having gone through a proper course of study, and not having studied anatomy, owing t© dissection being forbidden in China, the application was refused. However, the matter is to be brought before the Supreme Court, as Yee > Quock Ping holds a Chinese diploma, of which the following is a copy “At a meeting of the College in the distnet of Chung Low ; We, the doctors of this district, hereby certify that we know you, Quong Hung San San Nen Yong Ah Kan, &c., No, 42, Yee Quock Ping, and we hereby testify that we nave correctly examined you, and find that you have studied for six years, and understand the seven external and eight internal pulses, together with the liver, heart, • lungs, kidneys, stomach, bladder, spleen, and pericardium, big and small bowels, with their pulses; that you are thoroughly conversant with all the pulses in all parts of the body, and that you haye studied medicine for four years. We hereby certify that, having passed your examination satisfactorily, yon are entitled to practise as a doctor in every- district, and. we hereby bear witness to your general and thorough knowledge of medicine and the pulses.” The correctness of this translation was certified by Charles Ah Yon, the Government Interpreter.