Australian Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 778, 14 April 1870, Page 3

Australian Items.

We extract the following from a recent issue of the Ovens Spectator, a Victorian journal:-—At the latter part of last week a miner brought into Beech worth a quantity of the richest auriferous quartz that has ever been found in the Ovens district. The gold and quartz are in about equal proportions—the latter being completely encrusted with the precious metal. These pecimens, which, we understand, are a fair sample of the stone generally which has been just discovered, are now in the possession of the manager of the Oriental Bank in Beechworth, Mr Hickling, by whom they were shown to us. Though the reef is only a foot wide at the top, it is likely to prove a fortune to the discoverers. Some years ago, a good deal of "chaff" was indulged in among the min-ing-brokers of Melbourne at the expense of Mr John Everard (then one of their fraternity) on account of his reported glowing description of a pet reef as being a "solid wall of gold." This, however, we are credibly informed, is really the appearance of the reef just discovered. The yield of such quartz to the ton was accurately calculated, and it would not be less than 11,946 ozs! The quartz which forms the matrix is almost white. At present, the holder of the claim wishes its precise locality kept a secret, but has no objection to state that it is within six miles of the township of Beechworth. We are informed, however, from another source, that it is situated in the ranges at the back of Hurdle Flat, and that the discoverer was a French miner, who, after taking about half-a-dozen ozs from the surface, thought that the reef had run out, and consequently abandoned it, and that it was afterwards taken up by Mr Michael Scandon (the well-known reefer, and discoverer of the celebrated Kerry Eagle Beef,) who is at present the fortunate holder. Such a find as this proves beyond doubt that the gold in the Ovens district is not worked outOur own expressed opinion has long been that plenty of reefs are to be found in the ranges near Hurdle Flat, Rocky Point, Yanckandandah. Wooragee, and elsewhere, which would yield at least one, two, or three ounces to the ton.

Some Chinamen who were robbing a hen-roost at Bendigo lately were surprised by a sudden whistle, followed by a voice in a startling tone demanding, " Who are you? Put him off!" The Celestials stayed not to answer the query, but with retiring modesty vanished, leaving behind them a bag and a pair of curious shoes. The speaker was a magpie.

Mr Lionel Edwards, veterinary surgeon, of lthynie, South Australia, attended a sale at Auburn on the sfch Maich, and entered iuto conversation with one of those present about the capabilities of a race-horse. One of the company, a publican named Sedgley, offered to bet with him, when he replied, iu a jocular manner, —" Your cheque might be like mine." Sedgley immediately struck him, and they went outside and fought. After a time Edwards cried out that he aad been struck with a stone, and fell to the grouud. He was picked up, and found to have received a cut an inch and a half in length, down the middle of the forehead. The skull was fractured, and on the sixth day after he died from inflammation of the brain. Medical evidence was given at the inquest that the blow could not have been given with a man's fist, and was not such a one as would result from a fall. The inquest was adjourned.

The Hobart Town Mercury notices the arrival of the brig Sarah, from Gbeyniouth. She took with her as ballast 50 tons of the Grrey Kiver coal, the first imported from New Zealand to Hobart Town.