AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2788, 1 March 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

At an inquest on a man who died in the Melbourne Hospital the jury found that be died from blood poisoning contracted in the Hospital, and added to their verdict; “We are of opinion from the medical evidence given before us that the hospital is in a very insanitary condition, that the wards are very much overcrowded, and the general management unsatisfactory.”

At a numerously attended and representative meeting of volunteer officers in Melbourne, resolutions were unanimously passed to the effect that the condition and organisation of the force was unsatisfactory; that legislation providing for a partially paid force of not less than 3.000 men in time of peace, and of 10.000 in time of war, was urgently required ; that the colony should be divided into military districts, each returning a fixed number of men ; that a small permanent force of garrison artillery be enrolled and stationed at the various batteries ; and that arrangements should be made with the English Government whereby the services of a suitable officer to command the local forces might be obtained every five years. Thirteen designs for a new Falls bridge have been commenced by the Victorian Public Works Department. In consequence of the drought, the Murray river has fallen to a lower level than has been the case at this season for many years. The snags are now showing plainly in the channel between Echuca and Swan hill, and with very little effort could bo removed. Owing to the low state of the river, boys are engaged in diving in the vicinity of the Murray bridge, and they recovered many articles lost whilst that viaduct was in course of construction. The rise in the Darling river and tributaries, consequent upon the tropical rains of Queensland and Northern Riverina, is hailed with satisfaction by Echuca shippers. It is believed that for the first time for 18 months the river will now be navigable, and the vessels which have been stuck for twelve and eighteen months in the Darling will be enabled to complete their voyages, The rains referred to were from six to twelve inches.

A nugget weighing UOoz was sold at the Bank of Victoria at Inglewood, having been obtained in the neighborhood of Rheola. It is a wonderfully pure piece of gold. A large deputation waited upon the South Australian Treasurer to urge that some steps should be taken to prevent work on the ocean steamers on Sundays. The Treasurer, in reply, said that the stoppage of work on Sundays would often lead to the Adelaide cargoes being taken on to Melbourne.

Mr Marston, Government Veterinary Inspector of Stock in Victoria, was recently despatched to enquire into an alleged outbreak of disease among pigs in the neighborhood of Sandhurst. Numbers of animals were dying, and Mr Mansion's report shows it was not to bo wondered at. He says :—“ I visited the slaughterhouse of Mr Moog, v here one pig was slaughtered in my presence, and was found to'be suffering from gangrene of the lungs, the result of blood poisoning, caused in my opinion, from inhaling the very noxious disease, producing vapours arising from the decomposing filthy matter lying in and around the yards inhabited by the pigs, the diluted filth of which yards flow directly into a pool at the foot of the hill, rendering the water totally unfit for the pigs to bathe in, much more to use for drinking purposes. Symptoms and appearances after death—watery effusion in and around the throat and muscles of neck, causing great external swelling ; lungs in one case, commonly speaking, rotten,

or highly congested and in a state of gangrene. I consider it an infectious disease and also contagious.” Several other premises are described as being in as bad a condition, and the disease was present correspondingly. A madman named Darque, who was recently discharged from gaol, was shot dead at Major’s Creek, N.S.W., while attempting to forcibly break into a store. A severe struggle took place between the manager of the store and the Innatic, the former using his revolver as a last resource. The accounts from the Mount Browne gold-fields (says the “ Australasian ”) reveal a deplorable state of discomfort and suffering, owing to the drought which has parched the country. The unfortunate diggers seem to be in danger of being as effectually shut up. at the nearest water supply, and isolated from the rest of the world, as was Sturt, the explorer, at the waterhole in Depot Glen, on the same ground, nearly forty years ago. Only an inch of rain has fallen since May last, and the consequences of bad and insufficient water have shown themsel vesin a large increase of sickness and mortality. It is deplorable to read of the mail-horses being unable t® get a drink for 90 miles, and of the squatters on the road being compelled to give notice to the mail contractors that they cannot possibly supply them with water. Then, again, we read that the water of Lake Cobham is almost poisonous, owing to the accumulation of its mineral ingredients as evaporation proceeds, and its effects are visible by the death of 50 horses around the edge of the lake. The fear is that the diggers may become reckless or panicstriken, and may start off to walk the homeward track, and if this is done before rain comes the consequences may be very serious indeed. In view of the danger of fires caused by sparks from the railway locomotives during the present dry season, instructions have been issued by the Minister of Public Works of New South Wales, that the gangers along the various lines are to burn paddocks to the extent of 60 or 100 yards outside the railway fences.