Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3035, 6 November 1878, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(Peb fl.s. Tababua at the Bluff.)

(Peb Pbess A&bncy.)

Mblbocjbne, October 30.

The events of the week have been of an exciting character. In the first place, the joint committees of both Houses failed to come to any agreement on the Reform Bills, as generally anticipated, and the question will now probably be remitted to the Imperial Parliament. As an earnest of Mr Berry's intention to proceed to London, he in hiß correspondence with the Lords assured them that when the loan was being floated he would be in London to assist them with his advice. The Government anticipated the dosing of the session by the end of next week, but with the business before the Assembly that appears somewhat doubtful. On the extra Parliamentary days the chief has not been idle. On Friday he spoke at a political soiree at Ciunes, and on Monday night presided at an annual meeting of the -Reform League. He has promised not to let the matter rest until satisfactorily settled. On Saturday night last Melbourne was startled with intelligence from Mansfield that two constables had been shot dead, and that a sergeant of police was missing. It appears that two parties of police had been out in order to capture some bush* rangers headed by the two brothers named Kelly. Whilst a party of feur police were camped in father an inaccessible wooded country, the bushrangers, four in number, suddenly made their appearance and bailed ap two of the constables, one of

whom on attempting to draw his revolrer was shot dead. The other surrendered and presently the sergeaut and the other, man came in. One of the constables attempted to defend himself and was shot dead. Mclntyre. who was unarmed, and had previously surrendered, saw a chance and made his escape by jumping on horseback. Shots were tired after him and his horse was killed, but he escaped and reached Mansfield, a distance of 25 miles on toot, after hiding away tor some hours from his pursuers. Sergeant Kelly, who was left with the ruffians, has not since been heard of, although every search has been made, and it is believed he too has been shot. The affair is creating the profoundest sensation, and armed parties of police have been sent out in pursuit. The country is very wild, and the capture of the desperate gang may be a work of difficulty and danger. The bodies of Constables Scanlon and Lonergan have been brought in for burial. In August, 1877, a box containing five thousand sovereigns was stolen from the mail steamer Oarda. The police having got a clue to the robbery, have arrested Martin Wabert, formerly a carpenter on board the Oarda, who since his discharge from a vessel has been living on a selection on Sangal river, South Gippsland. His place was searched, and a number of sovereigns were found most cleverly secreted away in a carpenter's plane, and other tools in parts of a log hut. He has since made a confession, and another person is 'implicated. The prisoner stands remanded.

_ A terrific thunderstorm with very vivid lightning passed over the district on Monday. Messrs Cheyne and Petgers, overseers on W. J. Clarke's station, at Baldhill, about 20 miles from Melbourne, were struck by lightning and killed whilst superintending the working of a steam plough. Melbourne is getting full of visitors for the race meeting.

Intelligence has just been received from New Caledonia to state that further massacres of a most atrocious description have been committed by the insurgent natives. It is now evident there is no security outside the military cordon. South Australia, owing to what she considers a breach of faith on the part of Victoria, intends to have a separate ocean mail service at a cost of forty thousand pounds per annum. It is expected the South Australian Parliament will be prorogued at the end of this month.

Business in the Victorian markets is improving as spring sets in.