AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2359, 8 October 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The Melbourne “ Telegraph” says the continued and summary dismissal of old public servants is creating as may be supposed, great dread and uneasiness throughout all the departments. The uncertainty as to whose turn it may be next is demoralising the officers individually, and destroying the morale of the service to an irreparable degree. Temora is proving a veritable Tom Tiddler’s ground to the favorites of fortune, who have been picking up nuggets from 340 z 12dwt 13gr, to 12oz and lOoz. One party banked, as the week’s proceeds, 350 z in nuggets, and handed each man £22 as his dividend, after all expenses had been paid. The Melbourne Exhibition Commissions has negatived a resolution to open on Suuda} r s. The difficulties are increasing for the night opening, but it is believed that nothing will be done until the question receives further consideration.

A rush has set in to the Bega diggings. The Bega is a few miles above Twofold Bay, Hew South Wales. It is stated that there are 200 or 300 people at the place, and the}' are obtaining about 12 dwt of goldfrom each dish. The mineral is being found ,on the surface, among the sand on the shore. Those on the ground are said to be earning about £BO per week each. A telegram from Sydney, dated September 25, says: —“ Accounts from Bermagin, near Bega continue to be favorable, and seem to indicate that there is a considerable area of payable country. Many are arriving from all parts of the district around Bega, and a number of miners’ rights have been issued.”

The Victorian Government intend to call tenders immediately for a contract to finish the frontage of Parliament House at £IBO,OOO. The stone used will be freestone, obtained in the Grampian quarries, near Stawell. The old adage of “ a fool and his money soon parts ” was strongly illustrated on Sept. 21, when a person named Alfred T. Abbot was robbed of a sum of £1,570. It appears that Mr Abbot recently received a draft from England for a considerable amount, and on Tuesday morning he converted the bill into cash at the Bank of Australasia, and proceeded to enjoy himself. During the day the complainant went to a hotel in Bourke street, having in his possession at the time 15 £IOO notes and some £7O in other money. He appears to have remained in the hotel for some time, and made no secret of the wealth in bis possession, although repeatedly warned of his foolishness by several persons who were willing to take care of his money for him. The complainant appears to have taken no notice of the good advice offered him, the result being that later in the day he discovered that he had lost the whole of his money. The matter was reported to the detectives and inquiries are being made. Messrs T. and A. Chirnside, of Werribcc Park, have given £I,OOO towards the endowment of Ormond College. Mr Marshall Wood’s original marble statue, “ The Song of the Shirt,” has arrived at the Melbourne Exhibition.

The ball given by the Mayor o£ Melbourne at the. Town Hall on Sept. 23 was one of the most.brilliant gatherings which have been held in the city for some years. Amongst the company, which numbered at least 1,300, were most of the foreign and intercolonial Commissioners connected with the Exhibition, and the naval uniforms of France and Italy mingled appropriately with the costumes of the officers representing Great Britain. The Marquis of Normanby, Duke of Manchester, and Bir William and Lady Robinson were present.