AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2514, 11 April 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

(Per Ringarooma at the Bluff.)

VICTORIA,

Melbourne, April 5. John Sergeant, late temperance caterer at the Exhibition, committed an assault yesterday on Mr James Munro opposite the “ Argus ’’ office. He struck him with the ring finger on the eye, knocking Mr Munro into the gutter. He was pursued and finally arrested. He is unbailed.

The Torpedo Accident Board sits daily. They visited (he Cerberus on Thursday arid examined the scene of the accident and the electric apparatus used, and also inspected the hulks where the explosives are kept. They there found a parcel of dynamite, which had not been entered in the book. Doyle, a member of the corps, stated he had seen dynamite on the binnacle stand of the Cerberus on the day of the explosion, tending to lead to the conclusion that it was placed, with a quantity of guncotton, which was lying about, in the torpedo, thus causing the accident through exuding from the cartridge. The Lusitania brought two tons of frozen fish which is now being retailed by the Melbourne fishmongers at 4s for turbot, salmon, and soles, and Is fid for haddock. The fish is of excellens flavor and is well preserved. Another freezing experiment was recently made on the P. and O. Company’s Kaiser-i-Hind, which took frozen meat from London to Calcutta and back, occupying four months. It was finally eaten and was found to be perfectly sound and sweet. Superintendent Hare before the Police Board on Friday, said Superintendent Nicholson, whose place the former took in the north eastern district in June last ordered the police at Beechworth to discharge all spies and agents employed in the district. Superintendent Hare countermanded the order in time to save serious embarrasment. The Enquiry is continuing daily. The colonial Governments are communicating regarding regulations for the quarantine of imported stock. A conference of inspectors.is suggested. Mrs Elizabeth Petrbvitz, wife of an artist who has been for five years paralysed, shot herself dead with a pistol on Friday morning. A doctor recently told her that her husband might die at any time, and it is believed this preyed on her mind, prompting her to commit the rash act.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Mount Browne diggings are stated to be a complete failure. Less than ten men are now making wages. The finds of gold are greatly exaggerated. The roads are execrable, and dirt must be carried ten miles for washing. A telegram from Mount Poole says five men nearly died of thirst near the Burke track, where there is no water within 120 miles. Numbers are leaving the diggings. Though some rain has fallen, it soaked through. The Orange Slaughtering Company have contracted with the agents of the Orient line for the whole space available on their steamers fitted with frozen chambers. The first cargo of 300 tons of frozen meat will be despatched from Orange, and will consist of a consignment sent by squatters on their own account.

Laycock was brought overland from Melbourne. A procession of boats escorted him from Shark Island to Circular Quay, and thence he was driven to the Town Hall, where the Mayor presented him in public with an address.