AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2017, 11 August 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegbaph.J [Per b.s. Wakatipu, at Wellington.] •MELBOURNE, August 4. The preliminary investigation into the chargee against Kelly takes place at Beechworth on Friday next. It ie expected that the Kelly sympathisers will make a demonstration, in which event the examination will he held inside the .'gaol. Kelly hag been .very quiet since his arrival at Beechworth, and is only visited by his solicitors. Sis sudden removal rather surprised his Greta friends, and many visited Benalla to confirm the statements made by the press. An attempt will be made to obtain a postponement of the trial for a week. The witnesses to be examined on behalf of the Crown will be Constable Mclntyre (who shot Kelly at Glenrowan), Senior-Constable Kelly, and Constable Bracken. The last-named will give evidence with regard to certain statements made by Kelly at Jones’ public house, Glenrowan, previous to the arrival of the police. It is also expected that a witness will he brought from Jerilderie. Kelly’s demeanour in the train was more extraordinary than at first reported. His hatred for Sergeant Steele was very marked, and on the way up he sprang on him, and had to be thrown down on the seat by two oonetables. Off Euroa he looked out of the train and pointed to the fence saying—" That’s where Steve Hart hung up his horse when he saw the policeman coming. The fool passed him, and Steve said ‘ Good day’ to him, but he did not drop to him.” At Glenrowan Kelly told Sergeant Steele that he would like to have him in the bush and he would shoot him, and also that whilst in the bush he made his own powder. With regard to the proceedings at Jones’ Hotel, he said that he and Byrne started firing from the verandah, as Hart and Dan Kelly were too alow in coming out. After the police had fired, they fired again from the chimney, and it was then that he was wounded. Ho then went into the house and searched under the beds for Constable Bracken, to shoot him, but could not find him. Having done so he walked out through the back door, and told Byrne he would break through the police line. At daylight, when he commenced firing, ho expected the gang to come out and join him. Subsequently, he said, he was sorry that he and the others had not rushed the station when the train came in, for if he had done so ho was certain that they would have killed all the party. Messrs Higgins and Wright, railway contractors, filed their schedule to-day. Their liabilities, are over £25,000, and their assets .•nil. The cause of the insolvency is said to bo the failure of the Provincial and Suburban Bank. ADELAIDE, August 4, Art unusual scene occurred in the Local Court to-day between Commissioner Downer and Mr Kingstono, barrister, the latter accusing Downer being interested in a case. The Commission ordered Kingstone into custody, but afterwards allowed him to make an explanation. After a warm 'discussion the Commissioner said that he would not allow objeotiouß to be made against him, and in future he would treat attempts of that kind as contempt of Court. BRISBANE, August 4. The House wont into Committee on the -mail contract. The Premier, in reply to Mr •Griffiths, stated that he had telegraphed to the British India Company, and had received a reply that they would stand to the contract for another month should obstruction tactics be resumed. The Opposition urge now that there is no excuse for finishing the contract before another business. The Premier made a proposal to settle the political difficulty, and promised to make the financial statement on Wednesday week, provided that the leader of the Oppoeition would pledge bis party to a fair consideration of

that statement and the legislation arising therefrom. That would leave the Government eight days before September 6th, for the mail contract to be met fairly when it was brought on. Mr Griffiths asked time to consider the proposal, and the House adjourned for that purpose. The House again went into committee to consider the mail contract, and Mr Griffiths in reply to the Premier’s offer made proposals which, though not accepted, will probably lead to an understanding, as a conciliatory spirit is being shown. Between 4000 asd 5000 people attended a popular demonstration against the mail service last night. A large crowd afterwards went to the Assembly and presented the resolutions to the leader of the Opposition. The crowd remained outside for some time cheering and hooting loudly. Meetings have been held in various places, and resolutions adverse to the Government have been carried unanimously.