LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 412, 3 September 1868, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

(From tho Aryus.) In the Legislative Council, on the 13th mat., MrSladen made a personal explanation in reference to tho Chief Secretary's contradiction of his assertion that Messrs M'Culloch, Sellar, and Co. profited to the extent of L 667 6s Bel by taking goods out of bond at reduced duties, in 1865, during the suspension of tho Revenue Act Mr Sladen entered into an explanation of the circumstances, and repeater! that the revenue had been defrauded of the sum mentioned, which Messrs M'Culloch, j Sellar, and Co. still owed to the revenue I of the colony. The election of Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Assembly took place on the 12th ult., and hon. members and the country generally may be congratulated upon the elevation of Mr F. L. Smyth, of rifle cracking notoriety, to that important position. There was no discussion on the subject, and Mr Smyth's election was secured by Mr Lalor and his friends. Mr Lalor was first jwroposed, and defeated by a majority of thirty-two to twenty-seven, and that gentleman then lent his assistance to Mr Smyth, who was consequently elected by a majority of thirty-five to twenty-four. A worse appointment it would be almost impossible to conceive. The hon. member has hardly any Parliamentary experience, and is utterly unfitted to conduct the deliberations of the committees of the House. Should the Speaker's chair become vacant, the Assembly would only be acting consistently by electing Mr M'Kean or one of the Copes to the highest honor it is in its power to bostow. Police-constable Kennedy had a very narrow escape from losing his life on the 13th ult., in a brave attempt to rescue a man from drowning in the River Yarra, just above Princes-bridge. White has been employed by Mr C. Wright, publican, as a waiter. The constable saw him descend the steps to the water, where he stood for a moment, then threw aside his hat and, with the words " Good-bye to the world," jumped in. Kennedy hurrit-d to the place, and boldly sprang in after him. A severe struggle took place, and, as the water was deep, the constable would in all probability have been drowned had he not been buoyed up by a cape he wove around his neck. With great difficulty he got the man to the bank, where he at once received assistance from Sergeant Summerhayes, who had by this time arrived. While Summerhayes detained the man, who was still endeavoring to throw himself into the river, Kennedy became insensible, from the effects of hi 3 struggle and immersion. He was taken to the barracks, and the man White to the lock-up. It seems that he was under .the influence of drink at the time. He has been remanded till Monday next, that he may in the interim recive medical treatment. His mad freak exposed a deserving member of the police force to imminent danger of his life.