THE KELLYS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1003, 8 July 1879, Page 2

THE KELLYS.

A telegram from Benalla, dated June 21, in the Melbourne Herald, says :—" It is rumored that theKellys and their mates are still in close proximity to Mansfield. Mrs. Skillian and Lloyd were in Benalla yesterday, and took away a drayload of provisions with them in the evening. Wild Wright is here to-day, having come from Mansfield. He tells his friends that he is going up to the Murray. He spent money freely at the hotels. The police and black trackers express an opinion to the effect that the outlaws will not attempt to travel until the dry season sets in, as it would be a very easy matter to follow their trail in the present heavy state of the mountains. The relations and sympathisers have daily been in and out of Benalla. In conversation with one of the publicans, he remarked that the township would have been in a state of insolvency long since had it not been for the Kelly outrage. Only two hotels are visited by their friends, and at both of these everynight a kind of free-and-easy concert is carried on, in which some of the most prominent fr'ends may be seen. They generally leave the township late at night, and return between noon and four o'clock in the afternoon. A Melbourne photographer here offers a good sum if he could get an interview with Kate Kelly, Mrs. Skillian, Wright, and Lloyd, for the purpose of inducing them to sit for their portraits. They consented through a friend to do so, and the sittingwas to take place to-day. When the party returned from Melbourne they proceeded to one of the public-houses mentioned, and were shortly afterwards called upon by Superintendent Sadlier and a party of police to produce their luggage, which they readily consented to do. The only articles found to have been brought from Melbourne consisted of some wearing apparel and a small quantity of good tobacco. These things, of course, could not in any way be interfered with. Several questions were asked by tlio officers, but the friends were not at all communicative ; and upon the officers leaving tliey were asked to have a drink, which was refused. Immediately afterwards the concert was started, and kept up very late in the morning. The person whom the detectives lost sight of in Melbourne arrived in Benalla late on Thursday night, but did not come by train. Ho was met at the house by a largo 11111111)01' of friends, and congratulated very warmly for the manner in which he had hoodwinked the polioe, A communication was received from Kate Kelly, stating her : intention of again visiting Melbourne shortly ; and she averred that tlio | authorities should not have the oppor- ; tunity of seeing her at all."