INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4317, 21 January 1875, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

VICTORIA. A letter-carrier named Henry Riley has been apprehended for stealing a letter xvhich contained a cheque for thi'ee guineas. Robberies of money letters have been very frequent, and hitherto the police have been completely baffled in attempting to trace or check them. Michael McGuire, a lately discharged Sunday xvatchman at the Long Tunnel Company’s works, Walballa, has been arrested xvith txvo hxmdred anti thirty ounces of gold in his possession, which he is supposed to have stolen at various times from the company. Two nuggets, one xvorth' £9O, and the other £4OO, have lately been found in Cobbler’s Gully, Caledonia —xvithin fifteen miles of Melbourne. The biggest of the txvo xvas got at a depth of six feet. A steamer named the Darwin, of eighttons, and eight horse-poxver, and having a crexv of seven men, has left Melbourne for Port Darxviu. Instructions have been given to Lieutenant Stanley, R.N.’, of the Admiralty Survey department, to prepare a report on the silting up of Hobson's Bay, xvith the object of ascertaining xvhether it is of a temporary or permanent character, and the steps which in his opinion ought to be taken to prevent it. If the 6th of January, says the Melbtncrnei Daily Telegraph, was not the xvarraest day of the sxunmer, the earlier portion of it xvas as uncomfortably hot and close as any few hours of the season. There was no wind during the forenoon, and though the sun was partly obscured, the heat xvas like that experienced xvhen standing on the edge of a lime kiln. The glass reached 101 in the shade and 144 in the sun when at its maximum. About two o’clock there came a change, accompanied by a slight thunderstorm and a little rain, and. during the remainder of the afternoon andevening the temperature xvas tolex-able. A melancholy case of droxvning occxxrred near Rochester on Sunday, January 3, by xvhich txvo children, named William John Caddaye and Clai'a Minday Oaddaye, aged five and three years respectively, lost their lives. The two children left the house of their father, a farm laborer, living close to the banks of the Campaspe, on Sunday after dinner. They did not return home at dusk, aud that night and next morning search was made for them by the parents and neighbors, as it xvas supposed the children had wandered into the bush and had * got lost. They were not found in the bush, and on the river being dragged the bodies of the two poor children were found at a portion of the river where the bank xvas very steep. There was no evidence to account for the melancholy and fatal accident to the children, and the jury could only return the ordinary verdict of “ found dx-oxvned.” A sad accident, which terminated fatally, occurred on Tuesday, January 5, at Mr. Jones’ bonded stores, on the San'dridge road. A carter came with a dray to take delivex'y of several cases of plate glass, txvo or three of which were safely placed in the dray. One of them xvas resting up against a xvall, propped up by a piece of hardxvood quartering. Txvo men xvere standing, by this, one of qwhom— Gustave Oakroot by name—removed the prop, causing the case, xvhich weighed about a ton, to fall forxvard. Oakroot tried to get out of the way, but xvas unsuccessful, and the case fell on him, crushing him doxvn to the ground and injuring his back and hips. He was at once extricated from under the case and taken to the hospital, hut died on the road there. A most deliberate suicide xvas committed at Echuoa, by a man named Thomas Furley, a painter. Ho got up from table, and with a common knife inflicted a terrible cut in his throat. He held a paint-pot to catch tho blood. The only reason assigned is, that he xvas suffering from periodical attacks of acute rheumatics. He died in a few minutes, and before medical aid could be obtained. He was an old resident of Echuca, and greatly respected. / A. W. Cruden, late manager of the Union Bank at Rochester, has been brought up at the local police court charged with embezzling the sum of £lO5, and was committed for trial, bail being taken, himself in £2OO, and two sureties of £IOO each. A daring robbery, with violence, has taken place in a first-class carriage on the Echuca line, by two men, xvho attacked two fellowpassengers, and robbed them of their gold watches, purses, and tickets. The robbers were seized and secured by a fifth passenger and tho police after violent resistance. A gentleman recently arrived in Melbourne per Sobraon, from London, to act as agent for a first-class silk house at Manchester, for the purchase of Victorian cocoons. On the 22nd December, tho gentleman referred to visited Mrs. Ann Timbrell's pioneer silk farm, Flontyroad, Coliingwood, and purchased from her a trade parcel of Victorian cocoons for exportation by tho outgoing mail to the firm ho represents. He pronounced the sample to bo of first-rate quality. On Hospital Sunday the sum of £5680 was collected in Melbourne, although the weather on that Sunday was most unfavorable to church-going. One of the most destructive tornados (writes the Geelong Advertiser), that has been xvitnessed

in the Capo Otway Forest passed through the densely timbered lauds at Jan Juc about a week ago. On Txxesday, the 23rd December-, Mi*. Gundry, and some of the other residents were surprised by hearing what appeared like the noise of distant thunder. The phenomenon was all the' more remarkable because the day was fine, and had been somewhat warm. Gx'adually the noise, which was continued, became louder, and then a strange crashing and crackling, with heavy thuds that almost shook the ground, assailed the ears of the fear-stricken listeners, A few minutes sufficed to explain ail, for the wind came with a force unexampled and unknown, sweeping everything befox-e it. Trees with trunks that a man could not span with his aims were snapped through several feet from the ground, and the tops can-ied, in some instances, a distance of thirty yax-ds before they fell. Forest giants vvex-e fobbed of their bi’anchos, and left as bare of foliage as a flagstaff ; while willows had their branches twisted and txxrncd in evex-y possible shape. The wind came fi'om the direction of the Leigh, axvd swept toxvards the ocean, making a tx-ack through the forest half a mile in width, and sweeping everything before it. Al! along its course the ground is noxv covered with dead and decaying timber. Cape of Good Hope advices represent the Australian diggers lately arrived as doing well. The revenue returns for the quarter are published to-day. They are not so satisfactory as they might be, as they show a deficiency of £15,575 on the same quarter of the previous year. The deoi-ease is entirely due to a further decrease in sales of land by auction, so that Mr. Service could have made the revenue up easily enough if he had required it. It was to be expected also that importers would hold back at the end of last year, in order to avail themselves of the reduction of duties which afterwards came in force. Bishop Perx-y has abandoned the idea of returning to this diocese on a flying visit. He has bid good-bye to Victoria for evex*. Reports are current in toxvn in well-informed circles that the recess is not likely to pass over without important changes in the personnel of the Ministry. The cariy resignation of one of our Judges has been already mentioned, and is again alluded to. MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT PRAHRAN. At Prahran, jv man named Edward Hall has been brought before a local magistrate, chargedwith having murderously assaulted his wife. The man is in good circumstances, having lately been left a legacy of £20,000, Sergeant Pax-kinson heard that Hall had attempted to murder his wife. The sergeant ascertained that the woman had been violently beaten about the head with a champagne bottle, and that she had lost a great quantity of blood. Sergeant Parkinson sent the woman at once 1 to the Alfred Hospital, and the same car conveyed Hall to the Prahran lock-up. During thetransit Hall behaved vex*y violently. The man had been alloxved out on bail in personal security of £IOO, and one surety of £SO. Hall when arrested xvas very flippant and cool when spoken to. The sufferer Harriet Hall lost a great amoxxnt of blood before medical attention could be obtained, but fatal results are not anticipated. EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE. The news of the death of Mis. Honora Stanhope, who hung herself at her residence, Mepunga, xvas heard in Warmamhool with regret. Deceased hud been an old inhabitant of the district, and xvas over sixty years of age. No reason can be assigned for the rash act, as she xvas a xvidoxv in good circumstances, and lived xvith her son (a cripple, of xvhom she xvas devotedly fond, having several times expressed a wish .to live long for his sake). One of the xvitnesses, Samuel Broxvn, her son-in-law, said he had seen symptoms of mental derangement in the deceased on one or txvo occasions, but this had not been noticed by her sons. Deceased xvas of very sober habits, and xvas never heard to threaten to take her life. An inquest xvas held at the x-esidence of the deceased, xvhen the following evidence xvas given : —Stephen Stanhope, son of the deceased, about 13 years old, sworn, stated: The deceased, Honora Stanhope, was my mother. She xvas a xvidoxv. I last saxv her alive betxveeu 11 and 12 o'clock yesterday (Saturday) morning. She complained of headache and of a pain in her side, aud said she thought she would go and have a sleep. At about 4 or 5 p.m. I* xvas in the gax-den, and through a loose slab I saw my mother’s hat lying on a bench in the dairy. I then looked betxveen the slabs into the dairy, and saw my mother hanging to a beam xvhich ran across the ceiling. I tried to open the door, but could not do so, because there was a cask behind it xvhich prevented me. Sent for my brother-in law, Samuel Broxvn, who came in the course of half an hour. Broxvn pushed open the door of the dairy, and I afterxvards saxv him bringing mother into the house ; she appeared quite dead. My mother xvas of sober habits, and was perfectly sober that morning. On the night before last (Fi-iday) she xvas restless, and was up occasionally through the night. Samuel Brown, farmer, son-in-laxv of the deceased, stated that he found the deceased hanging to a beam from the ceiling. She was quite dead and stiff, her feet being about a foot from the ground. She xvas a sober xvoman, and in good circumstances. After a short deliberation, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide, but there xvas not sufficient evidence to show the state of her mind at tho time of her death.— Warmamhool Standard, sth January. ANOTHER NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL AT LAROE. No sSoner do our magistrates dispose of one celebrated criminal than another turns up to be dealt with. One morning lately Charles Dyson alias Brereton, or as he is perhaps better known, Velvet Ned, was charged at the City Police Coux-t with being illegally at large in Victoria. The career of bills man is somexvhat extraordinary. At the April sittings of the Central Criminal Court, London, in 1865, he xvas sentenced to fourteen yeax's’ transportation to Western Australia for being concerned in the great jewel robbery from Mr. Walker’s shop, in Cornhill. The robbery was perhaps one of the cleverest aud best planned on record, the thieves effecting an entrance through the roof of the house, and descending story by story, by cutting their way through tho flooring. Mr. Walker's shop, like many in London, xvas lit up all night, aud large panels being taken out of the shuttex-s, the constables or any one passing xvas enabled to see the whole interior. Velvet Ned and his companions, hoxvever, eluded the vigilance of all, and mapaged to carry axvay an immense amount of jewellery, valued at thousands of pounds. A large reward was offered for the apprehension of the robbers, who were after some time traced, arrested, and convicted, a portion of tho property, which was thrown by them over London Bridge, being recovered by divers from the bed of the river. Velvet Ned came to Western Australia, and after serving a considerable portion of his sentence, was allowed out on a ticket of leave. Ho took this opportunity to escape from the colony and came to Victoria. A year ago, being convicted here of felony, he. xvas sent to Pentx-idge for twelve months xvithout being recognised. On leaving the gaol, Detective Lomax, xvho had discovered who the prisoner really xvas, tapped him on the shoulder and again arrested him. On being brought before the court Lomax briefly related tlie above-mentioned incidents in the man’s life, and then applied for a remand. Detective Upton, xvho xvas formerly a warder in Western Australia, whei'e tho prisoner was undergoing sentence, recognised him at once as Velvet Ned, and gave evidence to that effect. The prisoner asked tho Bench to let him go, and ho xvould clear axvay from the colony in fortyeight hours, or if they thought bettor, he wished them to keep him in gaol until they fouud a vessel to take him axvay. The police, hoxvever, pressed for a remand, which was granted for seven days. NEW SOUTH WALES. Tho barque Miranda has become a total xvreck at Cape Byron. Tho crew lost everything. Tho Havilah, from Noumea, has brought 62 tons of nickel ore. Thomas Phillips, a fax-mer, xvhile fishing off tho rocks near Kiarna, slipped into the water, aud the body never rose. Bush fires are very prevalent. Tho Newcastle Pilot reports that on tho 2nd January, between five and six o’clock, a fire was obsex'ved by the residents in tho immo-

diate neighborhood of the Parading Ground, at the dwelling house of Mr. Hogan,-an old and much-respected resident in that locality. They at once proceeded to the spot, but did not reach it however until the flames had taken fast hold of the premises. They also discovered that Mr. Logan had thrown out a feather bed, and had re-entered the house for the purpose of dragging out a large box which was in his bedroom, and was supposed to have contained a largo sum of money and valuables. He had reached' within a few feet of the front door when the roof fell in, and he was burned to-a cinder, and all that the house contained. Mr. Logan lived by himself, and had been dining out that day with some neighboring friends, and returned home about four o'clock. It is supposed that the fire originated from a log of wood which had been left on the fire having rolled out on the floor ; but it-is only a supposition, as there was no one present to tell how the fire originated. Mr. Lomm was a married man, and between sixty and seventy years of age. His family are grown up, and have some large sugar plantations near Maryborough, Queensland, where his wife had gone to spend a short time with her children. Mr. W. E. Shaw, of Raymondterrace, coroner for the district, held an inquest on Sunday at the Parading Ground schoolroom on the remains of the deceased. The Parading Ground'is a small township situate near the Cabbage Tree, and about ten miles south of Stocktqn. The Sydney Evening News of the 29th December, writes “To-day, as a passenger train from the Southern line ran into the Sydney Railway station, an accident occurred which resulted fatally. As the train was passing on towards the first platform, a fireman, named Andrew Maguire, employed on another engine, attempted to cross the line, but failing to do so in time, was knocked down by the engine and ran over. On the unfortunate man being picked up it was found that his right aim, and right foot from the ankle, were cut completely off ; his skull was fractured, his chest was crashed, and his body was otherwise very much mutilated. He was insensible, and suffering a great loss of blood. He was carried to the infirmary, where he died a few minutes after admission.” A man named Spence dived for a wager at the Corporation baths, but never rose again. The body was found afterwards, jammed under a rock. A small steamer, the Norseman, from London to Rockhampton, 222 days out, has put in for supplies. The mystery respecting O’Hea, one of the members of Hume’s party, has at length been cleared up. The following telegram reached Sydney on the 30th ult., from Bourko,:— « O’Hea’s body has been found by the blacks, hot far from Hume’s, and buried by Mr. -Tilbury, manager, of, JNocatunga station. Thomson starts for Sydney via Bourke on the 3mt instant. S. J. Dcnne, Bulloo River, Queensland.” Professor Smith has been re-elected president of the Council of Education. A MADMAN AT LARGE. (Newcastle Pilot, 24th December.) A case which discloses a want of common humanity on the part of some persons that ishardly creditable was reported to the police •yesterday. Yesterday morning, while Mr. Joseph Vickers, of the livery stables in Wattstreet, was driving a party of ladies to Lake Macquarie, and when about seven miles from Newcastle, a man in a state of hudity, except that he had a piece of shirt round his waist, ran from the bush into the road, and snatched at the horses’ heads. Mr. Vickers drove on, however, and after conveying his passengers to their destination, he immediately returned, and somewhat closer to Newcastle than on the previous occasion again met the singular being who had attempted to stop the horses earlier in the day. The poor' creature, who was then quite nude, and seemed to be almost roasted by the sun, was evidently a lunatic, and Mr. Vickers humanely endeavored to get him into the vehicle, but without success. On being questioned, the lunatic did not return an intelligible answer, but merely made a noise in imitation of a dog barking, and finally ran into the bush. Mr. Vickers at once drove into Newcastle, and reported the occurrence to Mr. Sub-inspector Thorpe, who, in order to save delay, at once despatched two policemen with Mr. Vickers in the buggy to capture the lunatic. On the way-out ip was ascertained that the man had been seen late in the afternoon much nearer Newcastle than where Mr. Vickers left him ; hup notwithstanding that the constables did everything possible to find him, they were compelled to return to Newcastle, last evening, after an unsuccessful search. It is, however, Mr. Thorpe’s intention to send out another party on horseback and on foot early this morning, when it is hoped the madman may be captured. The discreditable part of the affair is that for two or three days past this poor demented creature has been seen at large—wandering almost naked about the bush—by several persons, not one of whom has thought it worth .while to inform the police. What the sufferings of any one thus exposed—probably without food or water —to the terrible heat of yesterday and the previous days must have been it is difficult to imagine. The man is described as tall and largely framed, over forty years of age, with close-cropped brown hair and brown beard. QUEENSLAND. On Tuesday night, December 22, a small lifeboat, containing two Frenchmen in blouses, made the lighthouse at Moretou Island. Their clothes are marked 5604 and 5117. They state that they are escaped communists, twelve days out from New Caledonia. They had only a pound of bread and a pint of water left when they made the land. The lighthouse keeper gave them a night’s lodging, and they left for Brisbane yesterday. The boat had only one oar and a sail made from bagging. Advices from the Palmer state that the new rush is very rich, but the rainy season had stopped digging. There were 600 on the ground. What is stated to be the fattest sheep that ever appeared in Brisbane, Queensland, was exhibited in a butcher’s shop in that - city during the holidays. It was one out of a flock of 1300 Leicesters purchased for Christmas requirements from Canning Downs station. It was placed alive in the scales, and turned them at 1831bs. CANNIBALS AT THE PALMER. In proof of the Palmer blacks being cannibals, a Queensland paper gives the following report, furnished by Mr. C. H/McDonald : “ On August 23 last, whilst myself and mates were prospecting one of the hehds of Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Palmer, we came upon a blacks’ camp, which had apparently only been deserted a few days, hnd there, to our horror, we discovered portions of two human beings who had fallen victims to the savages. It was only too evident that there, only about a week previously, two unfortunate men had been brutally murdered and eaten, for the bones were lying about the camp, showing unmistakable signs of having been roasted and the flesh picked off them to satisfy the morbid appetites of these human vultures. It seemed also that two of the horses belonging to these unhappy, men hail shared the same fate. Wo also found two tin dishes, two broken shovels, a revolver, flask, a portion of a double-barrelled gun, and some old wearing apparel. We gathered what wo could of the remains of the murdered men; and when wo returned to camp, branded a tea tree—‘Cannibal Creek : August 23, 1874.’ The first opportunity that presented itself, about six weeks afterwards, I reported the circumstance to'Mr. Commissioner Selhoira, who promised to enquire into.^the matter, and find out, if possible, who the deceased men were. I may add that this occurred about the same time as the massacre of thirty-five : horses on Pine Creek, so that,l have no doubt the same mob of blacks committed both acts." SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Kate Tatham has been chartered to load breadstuffs for the Cape. A Palmerston report from Pine Creok states that seven and a half tons of stone yielded 6090z5. of gold, and at the Union Prospectors seventy tons yielded 2500z5. Mr. A. B. Cooper, Deputy Surveyor-General, died on the passage out in the Carlisle Castle.

He was nephew to Sir Charles Cooper, late Chief Justice of South Australia. The revenue for the last quarter amounted to £238,000, making £1,003,000 for the year. A sum of £ISOO has been collected for an Inebriates’ Retreat. ' ■ . On Thursday evening, 31st December (writes the South Australian Advertiser) a very large gathering of the relatives aud friends of Mr. .Isaac Solomon met by invitation, at his residence, Elizabeth Villa, Kent Town, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birthday of his mother, Mrs, E. Solomon. During the whole of the day there were numbers of visitors, wishing to congratulate the centenarian. There were four generations represented at this meeting. The old lady has the use of all her faculties, and is well in health and spirits ; in fact, she is quite jolly, having her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all around her. In response to a telegram from Melbourne, at 9 o’clock precisely, the toast of the evening was proposed aud drunk with cheers, and was responded to by the old lady herself in a jocular speech. She kept up in capital spirits until the company left at 5 o’clock, a.m., Ist January, 1875. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The first post of the line of telegraph connecting with Adelaide was laid on New Year s Day. The Forrests and their party were enthusiastically received' at Bunbury, Freemantle, and Perth. A procession, public dinner, and a ball were included in the entertainment. A complimentary address was presented to Governor Weld at Perth. ’ Mr. Taylor, from Victoria, has been out exploring from Champion B-.y, and thence to the head of the Murchison. He reports the country to be equal to the very best in Victoria. The brig Centaur, belonging to Mr. A. J. Johnson, of Melbourne, has been totally wrecked on Little Island Reef, fifteen miles from Freemantle. The crew were saved, and the wreck aud cargo have been sold.