LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 26 August 1869, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Two more fatal accidents on Ballarat ! One took place at the Great Gulf Company's claim, which was flooded out on Saturday morning, drowning one man, William Jenkins, and a number of horses. The remainder of the miners made their escape \ip the neighboring company's (Speculator's) shaft. The water came from the workings of the Alston and Weyrdale Company, which were tapped by two men working in the face. These men at once made away, and alarmed the remainder of the miners employed below, who, as stated, managed to get up the Speculator shaft. The water, however, overtook the deceased, who seemed stupid and paralysed from fright. The other accident occurred at the No 3 shaft of the Band and Albion Consols. About 8 p.m. on Friday night, a miner named Beard was at work when a cap-piece broke, and he was smothered by the descent of earth, which followed. Beard has left a wife and seven children. The Gympie Times of the 31st ult states that a most shocking accident has occurred to a miner named Robert Shields, at the claim No 4 south, New Monckland Reef. It appears that Shields and his mate, Robert Donnelly, had put in two slanting shots in the forenoon, both of which missed fire, and that after dinner they went down the shaft for the purpose of drawing the charges. The first charge was taken out successfully, and they had nearly finished taking ont the tamping of the. second charge when it exploded ; the hammer struck Shields, who had been using. it, with tremendous force on the frontal part of the skull, shattering the forehead in a dreadful manner. It is not certain that the drill did not also strike him. Donnelly's arm was slightly cut by it. As soon as possible, Dr Burke, for whom a messenger was despatched on horseback, arrived on the ground, and Shields was removed to the Hospital. Dr Byrne attended next morning, and a consultation was held over the sufferer, and we learn the opinion of the medical men is that Shields is in a hopeless state. Notwithstanding the serious nature of the injuries he has sustained, when addressed loudly by name he seems to understand he is spoken to. The temporal artery is severed, and a portion of the skull, comprising part of the orbit of the left eye broken off by the blow has been taken away. He has since died. Donnelly escaped with the slight bruises on his arm alluded to. The Age of the 7th inst. contains the following : — On Saturday a man named George Osborne, a plumber, residing in Little Lonsdale street went home in a state of drunkenness and commenced viol beating two children, (aged respectively three and six months), which were lying in the cradle. One of them was his own child, and the other was one his wife was nursing. The wife, coming into the room at the time, immediately seized her . own child, and he continued beating the other one until some neighbors alarmed by her cries came to her assistance, and the brute was then given into custody. The children were taken to the Hospital and there found to be shockingly bruised, but no bones were broken. On Monday the brute was brought before the city bench and charged under the 39th section of the Criminal Law and Practice Statute. The offence having been fully proved by the evidence of the mother, who said no one was in the house with the children but the prisoner, he was sentenced to the full penalty allowed by the act, viz. , six months' imprisonment, and at the end of that period he. is to find one surety of L2O for his good behaviour for a further term of six months. The poor little children were produced in Court and caused a sickening sensation to all present, their faces and heads being covered with bruises. The prisoner could only say in his defence that he was drunk, and when in that state he did not know what he was about. He seemed considerably surprised at the sentence passed upon him. Should he persevere in his propensity lie is not all unlikely to incur a penalty that may continue astonishing him all the remainder of his life. Numerous applications have been reo ceived for shares in the Mudgee GtTd and Diamond Mining Company. A telegram was received from Mr Butters, who is now in Sydney, and another from the solicitors of Mr Rouse, stating that the lease of the land had been accepted, and the arrangements were all right. It is likely that the Victorian Government will enter a nolle prosequi in the swamp murder case, as the evidence is at present insufficient. Another precious stone, supposed to be a diamond, and weighing twelve ounces, has been found by a Mr Ferres, but the locality from which it Avas taken is not stated, and has been purposely concealed. The right of members of the Victorian Assembly to order strangers to withdraw has been referred to the Standing Orders Committee of the House. The Hon. G. H. Francis has resigned the Acting-Commissionership of the Victorian Customs, and Mr M'Crae is appointed his successor. The Order of St. Michael and St. George has been offered to Messrs O'Shanassy and M'Culloch, for distinguished political services. Captain Colvin, of the barque Carringtou, after a drinking fit, swallowed an extra dose of ipecacuhana, and died suddenly. Lord Bertram Gordon died at Sydney on the 11th inst. The Arinidale diamond, about wlu'ch so much has been speculated, has been handed over to Mr Butters without

examination, and is supposed to be of little value. The Fenian Kiuneally has been examined at the Melbourne Police Court, and his case has closed. The judgment is that ho shall find sureties to the amount of £1000 that he will leave Victoria within one week. The inhabitants of Tasmania have universally testified their regret at the loss of so able a man as their late Premier, Sir Richard Dry, and it has been resolved to erect a fitting monument to his memory by p\iblic subscription. Governor Weld, who was for some time enjoyed the hospitalities of South Australia, sailed in the mail steamer Alexandra, for Western Australia, to take the reins of his new Government at Perth. The Admiralty Court of New South Wales have decided to exact .£15,000 from the owners of the Daphne slave ship. Mr Wentworth Murray has commenced a libel action against the Hon. Henry Parkes, of Sydney, and damages are laid at £2000.