DIARY OF THE KELLY GANG BESIEGING GENERAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 970, 8 November 1879, Page 4

DIARY OF THE KELLY GANG BESIEGING GENERAL.

The following excellent "skit" upon the doings of the police now engaged looking for the Kelly gang of bushrangers is taken from the People's Advocate (Gulgong), having been contributed to that journal by a correspondent adopting the nom rfepJwme "Candour." He says:— I have not had an opportunity of personally inspecting a report from the officer in charge of the constabulary forces, which, for the last six months, have been vainly endeavoring to capture the Kellys, but I imagine it would read something after this style : Monday.—Got up at 11 a.m.; after breakfast inspected the whole force under my command ; found that several of the men were looking bloated and unhealthy through over-gorging and lolling about in the tents; advised them to take a little more exercise, but by no means to wander far from the camp or they might be attacked by the outlaws. Numerous complaints with regard to the inferior quality of the grog and tobacco, and the scarcity of cards and dice. No news of the Kellys. Tuesday.—A miserable cold wind blowing ; did not rise at all to-day myself, but sent orders to the men to keep within their tents and wrap themselves up in their blankets. They grumble a good deal at not being supplied with feather beds. Heard nothing of the Kellys. Wednesday.—Left a party in charge of the camp and went out with the remainder of the force in search of kangaroos ; shot eleven—hind-quarter splendid eating; heard some noises in the bush ; think they very probably came from the outlaws, but as I had only 224 meu with me and only a few thousand rounds of amunition thought it most prudent to retire ; three sermons and six traots by a bush telegraph to the Kellys. Thursday.—Finding that the men were becoming listless and mopifh for want of employment, got up various kinds of sports for their entertainment; some of the foot races were capital, and taken as a whole this impromptu affair could scarcely have been excelled in Sydney or Melbourne. A man whom lam well assured is in constant communication with the Kellys was present at the sports ; sent a letter by him to Ned Kelly expostulating with him upon his obstinacy and hardness of heart, and beseeching him and his mates to come into the camp and surrender to the power of the law. Expect them to-morrow or the next day. Friday.—Men very Btiff with the racing and jumping of yesterday ; recommended them to rub themselves with iguana oil and rest their limbs by lying all day in a reclining posture ; no result as yet from my urgent appeal to the better feeling of the Kellys. Saturday.—Remarking that the horses were becoming unmanageable through too much corn and too little work, ordered the whole of the force, with the exception of the camp guard, to ride a few mile 3 through the level country in our rear. It would of course have been positive cruelty to have taken the horses up ihe ranges in our front, they are so awfully precipitous, and besides there would have been a risk of having both horses and men fired at by the outlaws. Send up champagne, cigars, and the latest novels. The Kellys have not yet surrendered themselves. Sunday.—The whole force, with the exception of the cooks, breakfasted in bed ; read the church service to the men in the afternoon ; niggers complaining that they are running out of blacking and paper collars; will write to the Kellys again tomorrow, Would it not be advisable to send a minister of religion to reason with them upon their disrespectful inattention to my former letter, and to explain to them that some 300 men are kept away from their wives and families, and compelled to live under canvass through their most inconsiderate conduct.

Mr James R. Lyddy. of New York, publishes in the Celtic Monthly for July a faper on his personal impression of Pope eo. He gives the following description : ' The head is bald over the front, and well back, with a fringe of silver hair over the ears, and cont nuiog round the back of the head. The brow is a perfect dome from an unaginery line drawn from the junction of the eyebrows across the face to the middle lobeof the ear, and the upper portion of the head seemed three times the nize of the base His carriage was singularly quiet and geatle, but there is a world of strength and firmness m the mouth and chin, and' square though dedicate jaw. There is no physical index of power, as ÜBually understood ; on the cont ary, everythin t speaks of tendernw», delicacy, and willingnes. I should say that, above all things, Pope Leo XIII. will be much beloved by all who come in personal contact with him." A rather amusing incident occurred recently at a church at . The clergyman desired to call the attention of bis congregation to the fact thot it being the last Sunday in the month he would administer the rite of baptism to children. Previous to his having entered the pulpit, he Had received from one of the church officials, Who b> the way was a little deaf, a notice to the effect that as the children would be present tnat evening and he had the new bunday school books ready for distribution he would have thtm there to sell to all who desired them. After the sermon the clergyman began the notice of baptismal service thus:—"Alt those having children and desiring to have them baptisd will bring them this, afternoon." At this point the deaf official hearing the mention of children, supposed it was something in reference t • hit books, and rising said—" All of thoße having none and desiring them will be supplied by me for the sum of one shilling."