AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 213, 14 June 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The governor of Yass gaol lias received intelligence that his Excellency the Ad minislrator of the Government has been pleased to commute the sentence of death passed upon the Chinaman Te Kean, at the last Yass assizes, to imprisonment with hard labour for life.

On Saturday, June 1, constable McLaughlin apprehended a man between Yass and Bu rowa (says the Courier ), who gives his name as Henry Wedge, alias Christy, for the abduction (in March last) of a ghl under 16 years of age, named Margaret Buckley, whose parents live at Tangmangaroo.

Mr B. L. Farjeon’s new story “ London’s Heart,” says the Home News, seems likely to create a sensation when it is presented in a complete form. The incident of a clergyman of the Church of England refusing to say prayers over the body of a Methodist has attracted much attention, some papers going so far as to state that Mr Farjeon wrote it for the express pu> pose of supporting Mr Osborne Morgan’s Burial Bill. Mr Farjeon, on the other hand, asserts that the incident is taken from actual fact, and brings forward printed evidence of the occurrence, which took place a few months ago in a parish churchyaul near Gravesend. Mr Farjeon, in addition to his literary labours, has struck out a course which is not unusual with popular authois. He has read “ Blade o’ Grass” twice during the present month ; on the second occasion to a very numerous audience. He met with a most gratifying and exceptional success. “ London’s Heart” is now being published in the Sydney Mail. Some considerable excitement prevailed on Wednesday last among the “ soft” sex, as Sam Weller hath it, of the Fijian race, on account of the marriage of H.R.11. Ratu David, a son of his Excellency the late Tui Levuka, to Sarah, also a descendant of a noble house. If there be any chann inseparable from the dusky fair at the interesting period at which the blushing bride had arrived, we do not doubt but that she possessed it; and although our advertising columns have not been o-raced by a formal announcement of the royal uuptials, we bestow our blessing and congratulations upon the happy couple. Yesterday morning, his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, accompanied by the Hon. Henry Parkes (Colonial Secretary), visited the chief offices conneeted with the Colonial Secretary’s department, and the Land’s department. He visited the Exchange, and examiued apparently with much interest the gold, copper, tin, and other mineral specimens, which are displayed there. His Excellency also visited George-street: and we understand he expressed a very favourable opinion of the streets architecture gen rally, and thought George-street a very fine, though somewhat narrow thoroughfare.

The Rockhampton Bulletin states a double murder was committed on the Barcoo by the blacks on the 24th April. The particulars only reached Rockhampton ou Thursday, move than three weeks after the occurrence. In a letter received by Mr Stevenson the following particulars are conveyed :—The victims were Mr Welford, the owner of s cattle station adjoining Isis Downs, and his stockman. While engaged in crosscutting a tree, they appear to have been struck from behind by the blacks, and to have died without a struggle. Messrs Harries and Rowe happened to be visiting the run afterwards on business, and finding no one in the hut, aud that it had been rifled of all the firearms, ammunition, saddles, and rations, their suspicions were aroused. They made a search, and found the place where the murders were committed. They afterwards discovered poor Welfoid’s body in a deep watcrhole. The stockman’s body had not been fouud, but no doubt is entertained that he too was foully murdered. Complaint is made that the crime is traceable to the insufficiency of police protection, and to the want of a proper patrol on the roads of that district. - Another letter received in town, dated Tambo, May 10, supplies the following extract: —“ We have had very sorrowful news here. Poor Mr Wolford'and his stockman have been murdered by the blacks, two hundred miles lower down the river than we are. I have known him for the last six years. He bad country taken up, and was cattle

farming. It seems that he and the stockman had been falling some timber, perhaps to make yards, and as they bent over their work, the blacks came unawares and killed them. They must have been some time dead, for when the body of Welford was found it was floating on the top of the water. He must have been killed, and afterwards dragged to the waterhole, and thrown into it. The body of the stockman is not yet found.”