LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1474, 6 November 1878, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS

[BY SUBMARINE OABLE.j AUSTRALIA. Melbouene, November 5. The Mansfield bushrangers are still uncaptured. [Per Tararua, via Bluff.] Melbouene, October 30. The events of the week have been of an exciting character. In the first place the joint committees of both houses have failed to come to any agreement on the Reform bills, as was generally anticipated, and the question will now probably be remitted to the Imperial Parliament. As an earnest, of Mr Berry’s intention to proceed to London, he in his correspondence with the Lords assured them that, when the loan was being floated, he would be in London to assist them with bin advice. The Government anticipate closing the session by the end of next week, but with the business before the Assembly that appears somewhat doubtful. On the extra-Parliamentary days, the Chief Secretary has not been idle. On Friday last he spoke at a political soiree at Clunes, and on Monday night presided at an annual meeting of the Reform League, and on both occasions the Reform question was the great theme, and he promised not to let the matter rest until it was satisfactorily settled. On Sunday night last Melbourne was startled by the intelligence from Mansfield that two constables had been shot dead, and that a sergeant of police was missing. It appears that two parties of police had been out in order to capture some bushrangers, headed by two brothers named Xelly. Whilst the party of four police were encamped in a rather inaccessible wooded country, the bushrangers, four in number, suddenly made their appearance and bailed up two of the constables, one of whom, on attempting to draw his revolver, was shot dead. The other surrendered. Presently the sergeant and the other man camo in. One of the constables attempted to defend himself, and he was shot dead also. Mclntyre, who was unarmed and had previously surrendered, saw a chance, and made his escape by jumping on horseback. Shots were fired after him, and the horse was killed, but he escaped, and reached Mansfield, a distance of twenty-five miles, on foot, after hiding away for some hours from his pursuers. Sergeant Xelly, who was left with ,tho ruffians, has not since been heard of, although every search was made, and it is believed ho has been shot. The affair has created tha profoundest sensation, and armed parties of police have been sent out in pursuit. The country is very wild, and the capture of the desperate gang may bo a work of difficulty and danger. The bodies of Constables Scanlan and Lonargan have been brought into Mansfield for burial. In August, 1877, a box containing fivo thousand sovereigns was stolon from the mail, steamer China. The police having got a clue to the robbery have arrested Martin Wabert, formerly a carpenter aboard the China, who since his discharge from the vessel has been living on a selection on Sangal River, South Gippsland. His place was searched, and a, number of sovereigns found, most cleverly secreted away in a carpenter’s plane and other tools in various parts of the log hut. He has since made a confession. Another person is, implicated. The prisoner stands remanded. Terrific thunderstorms, with very vivid, lightning, occurred on Monday. Messrs, Cheyno and Petigears, overseers on W. J. Clark’s station, Bald Hill, about twenty miles from Melbourne, were struck by lightning and killed whilst superintending the working of a steam plough. Melbourne is getting full of visitors for the race meeting. Intelligence just received from New Caledonia slates that further massacres of a most atrocious description have been committed by the insurgent natives, and it is now evident that there is no security outside the military cordon. South Australia, owing to what she considers the breach of faith on the part of Victoria, intends to have a separate ocean mail service at a cost of £40,000 per annum. It is expected that the South Australian Parliament will be prorogued at the end of this month. Business in the Victorian markets is improving as spring sets in. NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. [PEE PHKBB AGENCY.] Auckland, November 6. A claimant has arrived here from California, who sajs ho was here thirty-live years ago, and claims a large amount of suburban property,

including the city waterworks, part of Survey Bill Estate. It is supposed to be an old native claim. The secretary of the Acclimatisation Society reports that the 3000 brown trout received from Otago were in a very bad condition, and 80 per cent, were useless

Dunedin, November 5. At the m eting of the City Council to-day, Hawkins and Norris forwarded an account for a hundred guineas each for inspecting the corporation books, and reporting 1 hereon. Specifications were submitted for saltwater baths at Ocean Beach. t L A young lady named Dunbar, resident at Palmerston, sustained concussion of the brain through jumping off the train whilst in motion.

[FBOM THE COBBESPONDENTB OF THE PBEB3.J Auckland, Novembers. Messrs Larkins (of MacArthur and Co.) and E. Graham have declined to become candidates for the Mayoralty. The Harbor Board have called the attention of the contractors to leakages at the dock in order that it may be taken over. A motion at the Harbor Board to give the Bank of New Zealand a year’s notice of the termination of the agreement was defeated by eight to five. An Irish-Ynnkee has turned up here, known as the Ponsonby claimant, who on the strength of a land purchase made by him, it is said thirty years ago, when resident here, claims 850 acres of the fashionable suburb of Ponsonby, half the Surrey Hills estate, owned by Hon. J. "Williamson, the Western Springs, and city gas works, abbattoirs, &c., and some miscellaneous properties running northward to Coys Creek, and through Spring Bank up to Ponsonby. Surveyors with theodolites have been going about in all directions. It appears that the claimant h'«s been waiting for the ‘‘unearned increment,” and feels perfectly satisfied with the reward of his patience. There was considerable excitement here over the Melbourne Cup, as two sweeps were floated of .£2OOO each

Wellington, November 5. It is reported on good authority to-day that the Government have placed the reclaimed land in the hands of Mr R. J. Duncan, for immediate sale. It is estimated to realise .£IOO,OOO. Dunedin, November 5. The “ Star” published a second edition with the Cup results, which surprised all the knowing ones. The holder of Chester in the big sweep had resolutely refused to part with his interest. In the District Court, to-day, a boy named Williamson sued Mr Borrie, one of the largest landed proprietors in West Taieri district, for assault. It transpired that people had been in the habit for years of crossing through defendant’s land, and that the owner, catching the bov trespassing, thrashed him with a whip. The townspeople took np the matter on the score that it was cowardly to punish a lad for what his elders did with impunity, and volunteered to raise funds for the case. Mr Bathgate read the defendant a severe lecture, and fined him 10s and costs. _ Through the floods, provisions are becoming very dear at Queenstown and Cromwell. Meat (when it can begot) is 7d to 9d; fresh butter, owing to heavy losses of dairy, as well as other cattle, is looked upon as a luxury, as it can rarely be obtained for love or money, whilst potatoes, which a year ago could be bought in any quantity for £i a ton, can scarcely be had for .£l2 to £ls a ton, in fact sellers there hardly know what to ask. Crom well district is less fortunate in having been until the present week entirely cutoff from the outer wor d as regards wheeled traffic. The Cromwellites have not seen a potatoe since the beginning of August. In Dodson’s sweep Donald McCrea, a barman at the Empire, bolds Calamia, which be purchased for .£7 Ids. To fillup the sweep Spedding, auctioneer, yesterday took a hundred tickets, which includes Tom Kirk, worth =£2oo, and eleven others.