INTERCOLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Southland Times, Issue 1275, 5 July 1870, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL EXTRACTS.

An ample tribute was paid to the morbid vanity which forms so distinguishing a feature in Power's character, by the large attendance at the Beechworth Police Court on Monday. So excited had public curiosity become regardingthe scoundrel's appearance, that long before the usual hour crowds were to be seen in front of the court-house. As soon as the doors were opened a rush was made by those assembled, and but a few minutes., had elapsed before every seat and point of advantage were- occupied by expectant observers. When the magistrates had taken their seats on the bench, arid the prisoner was placed in the dock, the court* house presented an unusuaUy animated appearance. The gallery, jury-box, reporters-box, everywhere, in fact, where people could stow themselves, were filled as densely as they could be packed. In this gathering all classes and all ages were fairly represented. The local clergymen had mustered in strong force, possibly for the purpose of pointing a moral to their flocks on some future occasion; "Pious fathers were to be seen pushing their way through the crowd with their offspring, in order that the latter might have their minds and morals improved by listening to the details of a highwayman's career. The prisoner appeared to receive this homage with intense satisfaction. He knew he was the admired of all admirers, and comported himself accordingly. Jauntily leaning himself over the front of -the.dbck, he told the witnesses to speak up, and reminded one that he AiaA Moon able to *po*ic iou<i-^«<»«»Kfr^nr r a former occasion. Great care had evidently been taken in his get-up before coming into court; he was dressed in a clean and respectable manner, and there was little in his physiognomy to show that for yean he had led the life of a criminal. A middleaged man, <">f muscular frame, mild features, with hair and beard inclining to grey, Power as he stood in the dock presented more the appearance of a small farmer than that of a bushranger, whose name has been more or less a terror to the travelling public . for the last twelve months. During the examination his intense vanity was ludicrously conspicuous. In questioning the witnesses, the petty scoundrel invariably endeavored to elicit answers so as to make it appear, that he had— acted the part of -the chivalrous highwaymen, by refraining from_ robbing poor and. hardworking persons.- -The* evidence* - however, was strongly antagonistic to this. Inonecase it Was shown that he had taken 13s from a woman journeying to Bright— all that she had in her possession— but was generous enough to return her Is. to procure a little refreshment ori the road* The evidence in four charges, including the sticking-up of the Buckland coach on two occasions, was taken arid completed, the prisoner denying nothing that was brought against him, but now and then supplementing the witnesses' testimony. On three charges he was committed to take his trial at the General Sessions, to be held in August, and on the fourth charge he was committed to the Circuit Court, to be held in October. A discussion has taken place in the Legislative Assembly on the proposed withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops from all the Australian colonies. The Government declined to make any representations to the Commander of the Forces with the view of delaying the departure of the soldiers from Victoria, but will take into consideration the organisation of a permanent locaLforce. — — . ~. The new ground ou the banks of Yackandandah Creek, in the yincinity ofthe town, to which a small' rush took place a week or two back, is turning out very well, says the Ovens Advertiser. Campbell and party, who first set in, have had 'a partial washing up, and obtained a return of 48oz. of gold for three weeks' work for six men. Four, other parties have bottomed on payable gold. The ground now being worked has been walked - over for about eight yearsi without ever being tried, a fact which ought to lead to other likely-looking localities receiving ft thorough prospecting. \-> , * \ Theßacchus Marsh Express reports the death by drowning of Mr George Bookless, the well-known local importer :. of draught horse stock, just as he was about to sail from England with five horses. To make the occurrence more melancholy, his wife was on board, and had only been married to the deceased a day or two pre. viously. -.. : Y_. f ',7/p