AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2121, 9 January 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wc take the following items, of Victorian news from our exchanges by the Rotorua: — A brutal case of garroting has been reported to the Melbourne police. John Pilstokcr, a German, stopping at Ficka’s Temperance Hotel, Lonsdale street west, states that on the 30th. about midnight, he was assaulted and robbed near Goldsbrough’s store. Rourke street, by four 3 r oung men, who took from him £3 in cash, a pocket-knife, a pipe, and a passage-ticket for Wellington per Rotorua. A pointsman named McDermott, employed at the Spencer street Station found the complainant lying insensible on the footpath, and assisted him to walk to the detective office. Pilstokcr states that he was attacked at first by two men, with whom he struggled violently, when two other men made their appearance, and ho was thrown to the ground. His pockets were rilled, and he was throttled until he became insensible.

Michael Qately, the common hangman has been getting into trouble again. He was released from Pcntridgc the other day, and became a homeless vagrant, wandering about, the streets night and day as none would give him a lodging on any consideration. Subsequently he encountered his wife, with whom he had a row during which he drew a knife, but was fortunately arrested before any injury was done. On being brought before the City Bench he was sent to gaol for six months. The Argus has received a communication from Messrs Wm. E. Jackson and Win. Buttle, of Sandhurst, in which thc3 f state that they have discovered a great improvement in steam navigation. The improvement consists of a propeller of an entirely new description, by means of which they assert the voyage between this port and England could be reduced to 15 days. They invite the attention of capitalists to their invention. Throughout the colony the grape crop bids fair to be an unusually good one. The “ North-Eastern Ensign ” says :

“ We have often heard tell of the great height to which wheat and oat straws have attained in favorable seasons, but until - the present harvest, have never seen any of such extraordinary length as a sample of oats in the stalk now exhibited at this office, which has attained to no less than Bft 4in from root to head. This sample was grown on Miss Mary llyan’s selection at Goomalihee, about four miles from Bcnalla, and the yield is anticipated to turn out something great, the head being about 2ft long, well filled, and the grain full and plump. Several acres of the crop were of the same height and beauty, a large bundle being preserved for show at the next exhibition.”

Sir Charles Gavan Duffy purposes leaving Victoria for England on Feb. 20. The lion, g eiitlcman will probably be uwav for two years.

Messrs McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. have received a telegram informing them that the now steamship Te Anan, sister of the splendid s.s. Botomahana, left Glasgow on Thursday, Dec. 18, having a number of passengers on board.