THE HATFIELD AND KELLY BUSHRANGERS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 147, 21 May 1879, Page 3

THE HATFIELD AND KELLY BUSHRANGERS.

The correspondent to the ‘Otago Daily Times ’ gives the following particulars with respect to these gangs : Sydney, May 12. The four Hatfield bushrangers, some time ago gallantly taken by two police constables and an amateur for sticking up a store at Balranald and shooting with intent to kill, have been tried and sentenced to death. Hobbs, one of them, stated that he had been a sailor for 19 years, and had once narrowly escaped being burnt to death on a ship that was lost, and on another occasion fell from the topgallant mast. A recommendation to mercy was forwarded to the Executive, but the Judge said he could offer no hope with reference to the ringleader —Gorman. For the last few years, notwithstanding the extended occupation and use of the country, hushranging had been on the increase, and the question how it is to be suppressed becomes a serious one. The crime average in that respect for 1878-9 will be in excess of previous years, as I find from a return made during the administration of Sir Charles Cowper, the number of crimes for five years ending 1872 amounted to only 28, disposed of thus : Bushrangers shot by the police in attempts at capture, 12 ; bushrangers shot by run holders and others outside the police, 4 ; and 11 hanged. The famed Captain Moonlight, who some years ago stuck up a bank, has lately been released on commuted sentence, and the first use of his liberty he made was to lecture at Ballarat on the evils and crudities of prison discipline. From the road to the lecture-room is a transition not of common occurence. Frank Gardiner, once the hero of the fraternity, has again been heard of from California. It seems he has become reduced to the position of barman in a gambling and beer saloon in Ban Francisco. For some time, with many other estimable characters, he was on fortune’s ladder, through silver-mine stock ; but although unapproachable in bushcraft, he was ingenious and childlike in tho ways that are dark on the stock exchange, and was speedily plucked. Last week the Kelly sympathisers, 10 in number, were brought up for the last time, and, despite the efforts of the police fur further remand, discharged no evidence of any kind beyond hearsay being brought forward to implicate them. Actions are threatened against the magistrate for alleged illegal detention. To use a stock expression, “ conjecture is rife ” as to the whereabouts of the gang, who are mysteriously at large, despite troopers, trackers, rewards, placards, and volunteers. Some people think they are on the watch for another local bank should circurastances be favourable, and others that they are lying comfortably perdus awating the arrival of some shady captain who may, for money, place his ship at their service for Chili, or some other republic in South America. The Wagga Wagga Express supplies the following bit of gossip : — i£ If, however, wcknow nothing of Edward Kelly and his company, we hear from time to time something of those who have been brought into a forced contact with him, and compelled to make his acquaintance. For instance, at Jerilderie, where the gang robbed the bank and placed in durance the hanker, constables, and others interested in the security of the establishment, we learn that the local paper is offered for sale. Is this one result of the visit of the Kelys? Furthermore, Mr Tarletan, the manager of the bank in the township, has resigned, and is to be succeeded by Mr Meredith, a gentleman from Deniliquin, who, it is to be hoped, will not he interrupted in his duties by the sudden appearance of Kelly and Co. at the bank. From the Mansfield Guardian we gather that two miners have taken up their abode in the Wombat ranges, where Ned and Dan Kelly got their gold, and are making there a fortune in a small way. Turning to South Australia, where it was supdosed Kelly and 4 his merrie men ’ had made tracks, it is thought by some folk that tho gang are secreted somewhere in that Colony, but considering that this somewhere means 1000 miles or more from any given point, this conjecture is exceedingly wide.” At present the force of constables in the Kelly district numbers about 300. On a late occasion the extraordinary capabilities of the black trackers were tested in a marked manner in the case of a body of troopers whose slight track was given to them, and whom they trailed to every stopping-place on the route. The impossibility, as it seems to he, of putting them on the Kelly run leaves them idle, and dissatisfied with the cold weather approaching. Their present occupation is playing cricket at Government expense with the youngsters at Bonalla.

The iv i! o' uiv o. 1 ila'.iy Review ’ wru.es as follows of Dr Copland’s work on Socialism :—“This is a small book on a very groat subject. But as the author observes, l it may meet the desire of many who have not leisure to examine the subject more fully, and possibly may he useful as a guide to others who may pursue the study of the subject in greater detail,’ A perusal of the little manual satisfies us that the author’s words are weighed. In the first chapter there is a clear statement of the various schemes propounded by Babeuf, Cabet, Owen, St. Simon, Fourier, Louis Blanc, Marx Lassalle, with a discussion of the practical difficulties attendant on each of them. The second chapter is one of pure political economy, treating of wealth, property, capital, competition, aud wages. In the third chapter we have increase of labouring population, cost of living, employment of married women, and general improvidence assigned as the sources of our social disorders. And the remedies suggested are education, cooperation, and emigration. A strong appeal on behalf of New Zealand as a field for emigration is presented. We commend the work as that of one who has read widely and observed accurately, and who reasons forcibly on the important questions submitted.” The King of Spain, says an English paper who before his accession to the throne was a student at Sandhurst, is reported to be unremitting in his exertions to raise the standard of professional knowledge among the officers of his army. Some time ago conferences or meetings, at which papers on various military subjects arc read, were ordered to be held periodically in every regiment of the active army ; and now, by a recently issued decree, courses of instruction very similar to the garrison courses of instruction in our own army have been established in each of the fourteen military districts into which Spain is divided. Two of these courses are to he given every year in each district ; the one continuing from the Ist of February to the 80th of June, and the other from the Ist of September to the end of January. The course is to be superintended by a brigadier-general or staff officer, and the instruction is to be given bystaff officers or captains chosen from among those quartered in a military district. Two or three captains or subaltern officers from each regiment of cavalry and infantry stationed in the district will be ordered to attend each class, and a lieutenant from each reserve battalion may also he granted permission to join. At the end of each course an examination will be held ; and those officers who pass satisfactorily will if they belong to tho infantry be transferred to rifle battalions, or if they are in the cavalry to regiments of hussars or mounted rifles"? and in both arms of the service will he appointed adjutants as vacancies occur. The course of instruction in each class will comprise the elements of geometry, topography, field fortification, and military, art, history, and geography.