AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2384, 6 November 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Bv Telegraph.] (Per Wakatipu at Wellington.) NEW SOUTH WALES, Sydney, Oct. JO. The “ Daily Telegraph’s special reporter wires that the general idea at Bcrmagui, relative to the disappearance of Lament, Young, and party, is foul play. It is thought that the murders were committed at sea, and the bodies dropped overboard with stones attached. This opinion is supported by the unnecessary weight of stones remaining in the boat, which are too heavy for mere ballast; also, that the halyards and other running rigging are missing from the boat. A person calling himself John Cadman has been victimising people in Sydney by presenting letters of recommendation purporting to be from Sir William Eitzhcrbert, Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Assembly. The letters are believed to be forgeries. Sir Alfred Stephens intends prosecuting the person referred to, who is now in custody on another charge.

The trial of Mulhollaud and Bradshaw for the Bank robbery at Quirindi last June has been commenced, over 10 witnesses having been examined. The case has already lasted a week. VI CTO IMA. The Postmaster at Sandhurst, whose services were lately dispensed with, has been arrested for stealing money from a drawer in the office, lie was seen by a detective. The wife of a man named Herbert, mentioned in a cablegram as having murdered his paramour at Finsbury Park, is residing at pootseray. Herbert went Home in the Orient live months ago to obtain money left him. Jane Messenger, the murdered woman, is Airs Herbert’s sister, and was to have participated in a portion -of the money received from the property in England, which is said to be worth £200,000. Herbert lias resided, since he has been in England, with Ins wife’s relations at Islington. He is said to he on good terms them. While in the colony he was always eccentric. The AActorian brewers have raised the price of beer 10s per lihd owing to the new duty. The King of Portugal is sending a largo photographic portrait of himself for presentation to the colony. Legal proceedings have been taken by Sergeant, late caterer to the Exhibition, against Mr Munro, Vice-president of the Commissioners, for assault. Sergeant is confined to his bed and is attended by three doctors. Mrs Sergeant defies the Commissioners to eject him. The Exhibition Commissioners decided to allow no provisions to be sent to the caterer.

A large number of unemployed have consented to accept work at breaking stones.

At the Supreme Court on Thursday, before Sir It. Barry, Edward Kelly was arraigned for the murder of constables Lonergan and Seanlan at Mansfield. An immense crowd assembled outside the Court. Mrs Skillian, Mrs Lloyd, Kate Kelly, and other sympathisers were among them. A strong force of armed constables with loaded revolvers kept back the crowd, Messrs Smythe and Chomley prosecuted, and Mr Bendon defended the prisoner. Several challenges of jurymen were made by the prisoner and the Crown. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. He was allowed a scat in the dock. The chief witness was Constable Mclntyre, whose evidence was identical with what he gave in former proceedings, and this was unshaken by cross-examination. The general evidence traced his career from 1878. The trial lasted till 11 pm, and being unfinished, the jury were locked up all night. On the following day it was continued, and when terminated the jury were twenty minutes absent, aud then found a verdict of guilty. The Judge was interrupted by the prisoner while passing sentence, Hod assumed the rolr of an injured martyr, and when removed seemed quite unconcerned.

At the third annual sale of Mr Samuel Wilson’s Ercildown merino sheep, there was a large gathering of representatives from all the colonies. The total sum realised was £10,01) ). Jacob and George Price are missing from Colac under circumstances which lead to the belief that they have committed suicide. Both intimated that such was their intention. They left their house armed. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. An unprecedented scene occurred in the Council. Mr Walsh, an ex-Miuis-ter and Speaker ot the Assembly, made a trenchant comment relative to the manner in which Mr Luken, of the “ Courier,” had obtained a certificate of insolvency, and charging the Hon E. Browne, formerly a partner of Luken’s in the Courier and a member of a legal lirm with collusion to circumvent most of Luken’s creditors. The following day Mr Browne came into the House and made a furious rejoinder. He said he had been told in the street it was useless to contradict a drunken liar. Mr Walsh retorted savagely,calling Mr Browne a miserable crawler. The Acting President interfered and brought the scene to a close. The subject of the trans-continental railway to Port Darwin was brought forward in the Assembly on the 28th. and hopes were expressed that the Premier would consider it during the recess. The Premier said he was convinced that the only feasible plan during this generation would be the concession of land grants to capitalists willing to undertake the construction, QUEENSLAND. The Police Magistrate on Thursday Island reports that Polynesians attacked the brig Lady Denniston, and that the body of a European has been found on an island in the Ilcrvcy Group ; also, that a ship’s boat has been found broken up. The discoverers subsequently found a camp, where four men had apparently remained several days; probably' they were part of a wrecked crew, or New Caledonian escapees. The Police Magistrate at Cook Town reports to the Colonial Secretary that during an oflicial visit in the Conflict to the scene of the recent murder of Chinese at New Guinea, ho saw on the beach quite 2000 natives. He is of opinion that the density of the native population m New Guinea must always oppose greatly the occupation of the island as a European colony. He found no vestige of anything belonging to the captured junk.