Australian News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 42, 23 February 1904, Page 4

Australian News.

MELUOriiNE, Feb. l.'l. Mr John Cordon, the oldest resident of the. L-ancelield district, died nn J'amiary. 29, at the age of tiii. He an'ivedi in Uie colony in JBs2,and after a few years spent on the gold fields, came to the Lancefield district. An old resident of (lalYney's Creek, Mr Valentino l'ersse. luis died in the Wood's Point Hospital. The deveas- I e;l belonged to a highly connected I North of Ireland family, and was for many years correspondent of The I Age. Jonathan A-llbott, ail old age pensioner from Fitzroy, lately living in' Oeelong West, was found in a half nude state at Tyansl'onl last week, lie was brought '.before the Court for' vagrancy un'cl ivmandvHl until Ttiiursduy. He died in Cleefong- gaoi on Monday. A dastardly attempt to burn down u building owned and occupied by Messrs Colrtns, lti'os., of Koroit, has been made. A bag containing- inflammable material anil saturated with kerosene, was pushed underneath the floor, and then set lire to. Four of the brothers Collins were asleep in the house, and one of tSieni awakened in time to calif the- others and put the lire out before much damage was done. The matter is in the hands of the police. A curious 'discovery was made on Sunday in connection with a tire which broke out near Hamilton. Suspicion of having caused the lire fell oil a hoy named Stewart M'(!overn, fligod eleven years, who had Lfcen seen running awev from the spot. When questioned by Uie police lie not only aidmitted his guilt; but also led them to a stump situated on the Mount Napier Hoad, where he had placed eight boxes of matches. Some of the vestas were strewn about in such a way that they must have ignited under u strong sun. A prosecutionwill follow. At a* early hour on January 29 a well-dressed young woman named Mungaret Lynch was -found by thu city bellman holding on by a feiKe in Webster street, and crying loudly for help. On being questioned she said she supposed she had gone mad from the effects of laughing -gas she had inhaled tne previous evening before having some teeth drawn. She was taken into custody on the formal charge of vagrancy, as her mind neeined to be unhisnged. At the police court she was remanded to gaol for medicnl observation The story as to the lauyhinjl gas was a delusion.

A valuable mare belonging to Mr John H-ill, i'anrfbr. of Tarnagulla, was mutilated some time during the past two or i-hree daysi l>y some person at present unknown. . On January 28 Mr Ilill .jlut tlie horse into a! paddock about a mile from his house, ! and on going for it a few days ago louiVd it l>a ( d been so badly injured that it was necessary to desti'oy it. Several deep gashes hud been inflicted in its head, which had been split open with an axe, and the animal had been otherwise injured. Mr Hiil has placed the matter in the hands ol" th»» pjolice, und is offering a reward of £'lo for. any information which will leiud to Vhcdiscovery of the guilty person. Kx-Serg*eant H. J. Morr-ipon niwl ex-Trooi>er Hacker, who were members of the New Suubli Wales Bushmen's South African Contingent, left Adelaide on January 20 on bicycles on a long, prospecting tour. 'l'hey intend to go via Tarcoola and the Musgrave Ranges t-o Port Darwin, and intend to taku notes of the country they pass through. As long\ dry speMs may l;e the travellers have arPanged, stiys an Adelaide correspondent, to take a week's supply oi water in the tires of their machines. They will be absent about 12 months.