INTERCOLONIAL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 180, 6 January 1875, Page 4

INTERCOLONIAL.

VICTORIA. The Minister of Bail ways in the Assembly, sayS the Argus, in moving for leave to introduce a bill to authorise tne continuation of the Gipps Land line from Oakleigh to Melbourne, notified that the decision arrived at by the Government was in favour of the outer-circle line, Mr Gillies described the other routes that had been proposed, but pointed out that in regard to most of them it would be necessary if adopted to take running powers over the Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay line, or to purchase this railway outright. As the negotiations for the purchase of the line had fallen through, owing to the high value placed by the company on the property, and as the House had expressed a strong objection when the question was previously submitted, to running powers being taken over the line, these routes were placed outside consideration. The connection of the Hobson’s Bay station with the Spencer street station would involve an expenditure of £96,000, Two direct routes from the Spencer-street station to Oakleigh had been surveyed, but these would require a bridge over the Yarra, which would seriously interfere with the shipping on the river. The adoption of the outer-circle line was therefore the only alterative. Mr Gillies expressed his belief that in view of all the facts, this route would be found to be most suitable. Considerable opposition was manifested to the proposal of the Government, and there is but little probability of the measure being passed this session, as it was hinted that the forms of the House would be used to delay its progress. The House will meet at 2 o’clock to-day, to consider the second reading. We understand that the council of the University have adopted the sensible course

of entrusting the appointment of a mathematical professor to Professor Adams, of Cambridge, the celebrated astronomer. No limitations are attached to the appointment, and Mr Adams will be left to the unfettered exercise of his judgment in selecting the best man. We may add that Mr Adams was a very ©ld' friend of the late Professor Wilson, and was in frequent correspondence with him, and is therefore likely to be fully acquainted with the duties of the vacant post. A discovery of coal near Casterton is reported by the Hamilton Spectator ; —“ It has bfeen known for many years that coal existed in the Wannon Valley, but the question whether a payable seam would be found has hitherto been enveloped in doubt. Possibly a discovery which has recently come to light may furnish a solution of the question, although the mineral must be properly tested, and the extent of it defined, before a positive opinion can be formed. According to our information, there is a landslip on the purchased ground of Mr J. R, M Pherson, exposing the lay of the strata. Some ten feet from the surface there crops out what appears to bo a seam of coal about four feet in thickness. This seam has been traced some distance by digging into the bank ; but, pending analysis, Mr M‘Pherson does not intend to go to much expense or trouble in the matter. Submitted to the common household test, the mineral is found to burn with a smouldering heat like peat, but its exact quality and capacity for usefulness will be known when the analytical chemist reports upon it.”

A young man named James Ballantyne committed suicide yesterday, says the Argus of the 22nd ult, in Carroll’s Royal Mail Hotel, corner of Bourke and Swanston streets. He had been stopping there nearly three weeks under the name of Chirnside, representing himself as the nephew of the squatter of that name, Mr Carroll advanced him several sums, amounting to ,£4l, and he gave a cheque for £45 which proved valueless. He was told this on Friday, and said it would be all right. He left the hotel for a day or two, but Mr Carroll met him, and spoke to him. He said the cheque would be all right, and Mr Carroll told him there was no need for him to go away if that was the case. At a little after midnight on Sunday he went to bed at Carroll’s. Yesterday morning, at about 9 o’clock, the waiter was sent to his to his room to ask if he would have breakfast, and returned reporting that Ballantyne —or, as he was known at the hotel, C himside —was in a fit. Mr Carroll and a gentleman went up and found him dying. They sent for Mr Jenkins, who found the man was dead. A bottle of strychnine was discovered under his pillow, and the symptoms were those of poisoning by strychnine. There appears to be considerable difficulty in carrying out the decision of the City Bench in the case of Sullivan, the New Zealand murderer, so far as relates to his transport to New Zealand. It was intended to send him by the Alhambra ou Saturday, but the owners of the steamer refused to allow him a passage. Steamship proprietors and owners of other vessels are naturally averse in their own interest to carry such a scoundrel on board their vessels. Sullivan still remains in confinement in the Melbourne Gaol.

The Argus of the 21st ult says A shockresulted in the death of a mother and her child. It appears that Mrs Kate Morgan, wife of Mr It. It, Morgan, residing at Spring street, Sandridge, retired to bed with her youngest son, Frank Edward, a child fifteen months old, and, at about half-past eleven o’clock she was alarmed by the sudden explosion of a kerosene lamp, which had been left burning on a table in the bedroom Finding herself and the child surrounded by flames, which had ignitedthe bedclothes, Mrs Morgan screamed for aid. Mr Morgan, who was sleeping in an adjacent bedroom with some others of his children, being aroused by the screams, hastened to ascertain the cause. Upon reaching the door of the room in which his wife and child had been sleeping, he met Mrs Morgan rushing out of the bedroom with the infant in her arms. Both mother and child were enveloped in flames. Mr Morgan instantly procured a bucket of water to quench the flames, but had to take the victims to the watertap in tbo b«okj<»ia uerore he could succeed in doing so. The cries of Mrs Morgan attracted the attention also of a lady residing next door, who speedily effected an entrance into the house by jumping through one of the windows. She assisted Mr Morgan in his endeavours to succour the victims of the explosion. It was soon ascertained that the child had been most severely burned, and that Mrs Morgan’s injuries were also of a dangerous nature. Medical aid was procured with all possible despatch. Mr Malcolmson, who attended the sufferers, at once expressed his opinion that there was no hope of the child’s recovery, and that Mrs Morgan’s injuries were of so serious a character as to render her chance of recovery very slight. After lingering until half past four o’clock yesterday morning, the unfortunate child succumbed to the injuries he had received, and Mrs Morgan only survived her infant some twelve hours, having expired yesterday evening at about five o’clock. The sad occurrence has spread a gloom over the neighbourhood, while the husband, children, and numerous relatives of Mrs Morgan are inconsolable at the loss they have sustained. Mrs Morgan was thirty-five years of age.