Australian Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 797, 20 June 1870, Page 3

Australian Items.

Tho Melbourne Age says : —Constantly there are proofs turning up of the faithfulness and intelligenceof shepherd's dogs. The following from the Northern Argus is a most extraordinary one:—"A short time ago a shepherd on Buugaroo run lost hb dog, and having bid eyes at the time, could not leave his hut for a few days He also had not seen liis goats for some time. However not fearing about the latter, as they were most likely on the hills, lie thought but of the dog, which was a good and faithful one, and became anxious to know what had become of him. After making inquiries, he at last learnt the dog's whereabouts, and to his amazement found him herding the goats, which hehad been doing for nine days, and what was more, he had been seen to round them up at sundown and try to get them home, but could not do so on account of the fences, so he camped with them every night. The dog was seen to do this by the neighbors, and had it not been for one who had watched his manoeuvres and attachment to duty, and taken him some meat, he would, in all probability, have perished with his charge." Tho following revolting story is extracted from the Melbourne Leader of the 14th :—James M'Donald, a wool-presser, has been living in a wretched tenement in North Williamstown with a woman named Maria Cox, this woman's mother, and several illegitimate children. The general morale of such a household can be easily conceived. The two women went to market on Saturday night —returning, according to their wont, in a state of druukenness. Arrived at home, they Had more beer. Then it was agreed that they should have supper, and for that purpose, a fire was lighted in the centre o* the apartment—the fire-place having long since become useless. Then, of course, inoie beer, until all were pretty well stupified. At length M'Donald retired to bed in another room, leaving the women jnoring about the fire, M iria Cox having in her arms a baby seven weeks old. Some time afterwards, M'Donald —awakened by the scri-anis of the child—returned to where 4ie had left the women, and there beheld a spectacle which ought to change the tenor of tho worst villain's life. The poor little infant had rolled out of its mother's arms into the fire, its face having been burnt away, and its skull burnt, though not to the brain. Both women were fast asleep, and when he wanted them to go for a doctor, they said it was too late at night, and contented themselves with putting oil on the child's head. An inquest was afterwards held, and the mother committed for trial for manslaughter.

A Sydney telegram in the Melbourne Argus dated May 23, says an inquest was held at Arimdale to day on the body of the bushranger Thunderbolt, when a verdict of "Justifiable homicide " was returned by the-jury. It seems that Constable Walker chased the outlaw for seven miles before bringing him to bay. Thunderbolt tried to make his escape across a piece of water, but Walker came up and shot his horse. The constable then summoned him to surrender but he refused, saying " I'll die first." Walker replied, " Then it is you or I for it," and fired, shooting the bushranger through the left breast, dead. The Colonial Secretary has ordered that Constable Walker shall be promoted and a reward granted to him. It is contemplated to strike a gold medal for the reward of members of the police force performing similar services. A later telegram says that Walker is to receive £SOO in addition to promotion.

On the night of the 25th ultimo, the Legislative Council chambers, Hobart Town, had a narrow escape from fire. A rocket sent up from the City of Uobart steamer fell through the skylight of the chambers and ignited the matting. The fire was fortunately discovered and extinguished before much damage had been done.

Mr M. Prendergast, once a prosperous member of the Victorian bar, was recently brought before the magistrates at Wadderburn in that colony, under the " Vagrant Act." Mr Prendergast had been wandering about in the bush for about five days without food. The unfortunate gentleman was in a state approaching imbecility, and had lost his way.

The population of Victoria on 31st March last was—males, 401,316 j females, 314,214; total, 715,530.