L A.TEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 26 June 1869, Page 2

L A.TEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Three fresh cases of smallpox, or at least chickenpox, have been reported to the Chief Medical Officer, Melbourne. The victims in this case are three inmates of the Farmers' Arms Hotel, Flemington road. James Ritson, the prisoner now awaiting trial in Melbourne for the murder of the Rev. Mr Hill, notwithstanding that he has been closely watched, has not exhibited the slightest indications of insanity since he has been confined in the gaol. The Friendly Societies of Melbourne are now on a fair way of getting the Norih Botanical Reserve as a recreation ground. Persons interested in the preservation of meat for exportation from these colonies will learn with some drg.'ee of satisfaction that a Fellow of the Chemical Society of London is on his way out here, with the object, partly, of making investigations in connection with the best processes to be adopted. A public meoting to inaugurate the "National Short-hours' League" — a new association formed for the purpose of extending the operation of the eight-hours' movement — was held on the 7th inst. at the Foresters' Hall, Smith street, Collingwood. There were about 250 persons present, almost all of them being workingmen. Mr John Everard, M.L.A., occupied the chair A considerable number of mercantile men, captains of vessels now in the bay, and other gentlemen, attended on Mon-

day, the 7th inst., at the Criterion Hotel, to inspect and test some mutton which was preserved according to the tinning process last year by Mr P. Hayes, at hia works on the Saltwater river, The meat was shipped per the steamer Somerset*I shire, for London, on the sth August last, and re-shipped to the Colony for the purpose of being tested, in the ship Philosopher, which arrived here in April. There was simply one opinion expressed on the quality of the mutton, namely, that it was in perfect preservation, and extremely palatable, When meat such as that opened on Monday can be placed on the London market and purchased without bone at 6d. per pound, there need be no anxiety respecting its sale, for it cannot fail to find purchasers with the general public as well as with the shipping interest, "The number of bachelors returned from Australia who vegetate on their means in London is remarkable," observes the writer of a chatty series of papers in the European Mail. "They have their favorite resorts, where you can always find them. Some of them patronise the restaurant of Messrs Spiers and Pond at the Ludgate-hill railway station, and look in during the evening at the Napier Hotel, Holborn, to enjoy their ' nobbier' and a 'pipe.' The tribe haVe various other favorite resorts, but wherever you find , them you soon recognise them by their manners and conversation. They have generally a free and easy ' don't care for anybody' sort of air, and are very fond of relating their marvellous adventures in the Colony to credulous, audiences. They are generally, however, good fellows, but seem, somehow or other, to have missed their way in the world, and not to know how or where to settle." " On horror's head horrors accumulate.'* The catalogue of crime, which has been largely added to within the last three or four weeks, receives augmentation every day. For some time it appeared as if Victoria waa doomed to acquire a bad preeminence in this respect, but the recent telegraphic intelligence from New South Wales and Queensland bears, evidence of the wide prevalence of the moral epidemic. In Sydney the murder of a woman nnder circumstances of sensational atrocity waa followed by a murder within the walls of a prison, the events following each other as their counterparts did here. These have been followed by the suicide of the Spanish Consul and by the revelations concerning the murder of Halligan in Queensland, The latter occurrence illustrates the disadvantage at which a brave but reckless man is placed in contending with unscrupulous and bloodthirsty assailants. Halligan had a pistol in his hand, but he hesitated to use it so long as there, was a possibility of avoiding bloodshed. He hesitated too long, and his assailant had" the first shot, which proved fatal. How often does the same thing happen I If the traveller, acting on the first alarm, fires too soon, he may be guilty of murder. If he hesitates, he may be murdered him- . self. The possession of a loaded pistol thus makes a man irresolute at the moat critical moment. Surely the homicidal mania which seems to be raging will wear itself out. After such an outburst as, there has been, it is to be hoped that there will be a long lull. Adelaide, June 7. The Gulnare has arrived from the Northern Territory after a passage of only thirty days. Her arrival was quite unlooked for at this early date. The news she brings is of a very favorable character. The captain confirms the favorable rjport of the excellence of the harbor at Port Darwin. He states the entrance is two miles broad, and that the water is deep enough to enable a line-of-battle ship to beat up as far as the site chosen for the chief township. The survey party were all in good health, and working amicably. One half of the work had been accomplished; three townships had been laid out, and 43,000 acres surveyed. Mr Godyer, the surveyor-general, was confident of being able to complete his task by October next, and proposes sending back a portion of the party by the next trip of the Gulnare. A Malay proa had' been wrecked at Escape Cliffs, and out of a crew of forty-three only two had been saved, twelve having been murdered by the natives, the rest perishing in the sea. The two saved have been brought on here by the Gulnare. A London telegram reports the death of Dean Farrell, of Adelaide, at Malvern, on the 26th A j>ril. By his death the colonial chaplaincy is virtually extinct. The Governor's visit to the south-east has been quite an ovation. His Excellency has been received everywhere most enthusiastically, and when last heard of was a guest of Mr Eiddoch, of Yallumpark. The weather is fine, with breezes from the north-east. The corn market is firmer ; wheat, 5s o|d. Commercial news by the mail is considered favorable. Melbourne, June 12. The Parisian, ship, of Dunedin, from London, arrived on the 10th inst. Benjamin Tindale, an old colonist, died yesterday of heart disease. The Nightingale has arrived with ninety returned passengers from the Cape Goldfields. A partnership has been entered into betweenLysterand Smyth, who introduced the Japanese, to introduce an Opera Troupe. Lyster proceeds to Europe by the next mail for that purpose. The telegraph line connecting Tasmania with Australia was open to the public for the first time yesterday. Flour is quoted at\Ll3 10s. Stocks are light. Wheat is inquired for at 6s to 6s 2d. Offers for large parcels at extreme figures are declined. Oats are improving, as stocks are light. They are now quoted at 4s Id. Sugars are firm. Sales of Hennessy's brandy are mentioned at 8s 4d. Sydney, June 11. The legality of the seizure of the Daphne for slavery is to be contested. Tbe cutter Mary Wading was wrecked in Broken Bay. Crew saved. Den Manuel Quintana is appointed Spanish Consul at Sydney. The sugar market easier. Breadstuffs dull. Adelaide, June 11. Ebenezer Ward, editor of the Smith Australian, appeared at the police court, charged with assaulting the Hon J. Tusford. He was fined L 5. The corn market is firm. No transactions. Hobart Town, June 11. The Launceston Western Railway is in a difficulty, owing to a disagreement with the engineer,