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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 660, 12 April 1870, Page 2

We take the following items from our files :— - There has been no change in the political position. But few persons were in town on Saturday, and scarcely any protjress was made in the formation of a Cabinet. It is desired, if possible, to; bring about a fusion of parties, and to form a Ministry composed partly of the old M'Culloch section and partly of moderate Constitutionalists. It cannot be concealed that there are considerable difficulties in the way, but it is hoped that before the Hmi3e iu»ets Mr Macgregor will be in a -position to announce that N something definite had been: done. A . ; Before leaving office Mr M'Kean was determined to do something whereby he should .be remembered. He has succeeded

■ by spoiling one of the principal reserves in the city — Carlton-gardens. A notice in Friday's Gazette proclaims a road j through 'the gardens from Queensberry to jCiertrbde streets. ] The^ City of Adelaide arrived on the Srd^mst, and the racehorses have been -lately landed. Barbarian is a shade better, and Detective is also advancing. Tim Whiffler is backed for the Cup at 7 tol. "*T4r"fefcal" ■sccident~happened4n"H somewhat remarkable manner on Saturday morning, 2nd inst., near the battery on the beach, at Emerald Hill. Between "nine~ and ten o'clock, a person' "was observed by the signal man to undress and go into the water as if to bathe, taking with him a bottle. After wading out a little, he drank from the bottle, which he then threw away, and no further attention was paid to him till about a quarter of an hour afterwards, when his body wjw seen floating near the beach. As the man was evidently dead, information was given to the police, who took out the corpse, which was found to be that of an elderly man named James Latchel, residing in Cobden street, Emerald Hill. It was at first thought that he had taken poison out of the bottle, but the smell from his mouth showed that the last thing he had taken was brandy or rum. The deceased, it is said was not a drunkard, though he was not a total abstainer, and as he was quite black in the face when taken out of the water, the police believe the cause of death to have been apoplexy— this supposition being strengthened by the fact that he had been twice previously attacked by apoplectic fits, the last seizure happening quite recently^ The recent sculling match between Hickey and Rush at Sydney, is thus described in the Sydney Mm-niiuj Herald of Monday, 21st March :— The race on Saturday was pulled in heavy waterman's skiffs, Hickey laying L2OO to L 15 0; he also staked L6O to L4O that he would beat Rush by 50 yards. At half-pasi 4 o'clock the men pulled up to the bawpghouse) from which the start was to take place, and were loudly cheered by their respective friends. Both men looked admirable stripped; and Hickey's pinched-up face proved that his training had not been neglected. Shortly? before 5 o'clock the anxious spectators on board the various steamers screamed out "They're of,"- and such was the case; both boats coming along at a smart pace, with Rush leading. This fact caused a good deal of consternation amongst the friends of the champion, who expected that he would never be headei throughout the race. Off Kissing Point, Rush had increased his lead to two boats' lengths, rowing much quicker than his opponent, who pulled a long sweeping stroke, which he never altered from the start. The same distance separated the boats until the first half of the course was pulled, when the backers of Rush were beginning to fancy, :as their man had headed Hickey for a mile and three-quarters, that, barring accidents, it was his race ; but alas for the frailty of human hopes, Rush at this portiou of the race dropped his head, and began to show signs that his exertions to keep ahead had pumped all his steam out, leaving none to finish the race with. Hickey, maintaining the same long, steady, telling stroke, gradually drew alonside, and was loudly cheerea as his sculls were seen to dip ahead of Rush, who rolled on his seat, rallied again; aud pulled a ; couple of wild strokes, and then dropped the sculls, leaving Hickey.to row the remainder of the course at his leisure. The stakes were duly paid over on Saturday night, when another match was made between Richard Hickey and Rush, the former laying L3OO to L2OO, to be pulled in heavy boats on the Paramatta river, on Saturday, May 21. f " ?