THE NORTHERN SETTLEMENTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 363, 21 November 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NORTHERN SETTLEMENTS.

(FEoai Tna tort dexison tiiies.) The arrival of the Percy with fifty Kanakas for the beche-la-mer trade is decidely another subject for congratulation. It is the first step towards the introduction of a most valuable branch of trade, and has, as far as it has gone, been successful. No difficulty has been found in getting natives on an eighteen months' engagement, and if the men are well treated, and faithfully returned to their chiefs within the stipulated time, we do not suppose there will be any difficulty in future. The Percy, as will be seen by Captain Harries' report, has made a very good trip, especially as she lost some three or four days at first starting by northerly winds. We learn that our French neighbors are assuming supremacy over some of the islands, where they have established commandants, and. prohibit the exportation of natives. This is the case, we believe, at the islands of Marie and Lefoo. Captain Harries has brought down a few curiosities, such as calabashes very neatly slung in nicelyplaited slings, sundry weapons of war, &c. ; also sugar canes for planting, taro roots, yams, bananiers, and pine plants — all of which are calculated to be of value to the country. Mr Fitzsimmons has kindly given us the following information about the Gulf country and the road clown : — Mr Sharkey, the commissioner, is on the Nicholson surveying the Landsborough River Company's run. Sickness had entirely disappeared from Burketown. Mr Fitzsiramons reports that labor is very scarce, several of the squatters having to shepherd their own sheep. Messrs Hardy and Nelson and Mr Gorry were erecting hotels at the township. Mr Butler had arrived with 2800 head of cattle from Bowen Downs for the Landsborough River Company. Mustering was going on on the Leichardt, the cattle being i:i splendid condition. Messrs Edkins had shipped ten tons of cured beef per Restless, for Batavia, and had about forty tons in the vats. Mr Edkins proceeded to Sydney by last Boomerang to procure a steam plant for the boiling-down establishment. It is stated that, notwithstanding the heat of the climate, the '• fat " sets remarkably well. No rain had fallen at the Gulf, but on the Flinders it began to rain hard on the 27th August, and continued almost without intermission till the 31st, George Creek running nearly bank and bank. Mr Betts had commenced shearing, and the lambing on several stations was nearly cent, per cent. Messrs Thompson and Murisou, on the table land, were short of water, but a great improvement had taken place in the grass since the rain, which reached thus far. At Messrs Armings' both feed and water were scarce ; and at Limestone Creek there was good feed, but very dry. The same all the way down the road. Two petitions have been sent down to Government by the inhabitants of Burke Town and Sweer's Island, praying that a sale of Crown lands may be held at both places, and also that the latter may be proclaimed a free port. CAPTURE OF TIIE BANK EOBBERS AND RECOVERY OF A PORTION OF THE MONEr. (from the armidale express, oct. 27.) Our Inverell correspondent, writing on the 23rd inst, announces the capture of two of the men who stuck up the Mackay branch of the Australian Jointstock Bank on the 1 2th of September last, getting clear off with L 746. Their names are Henry Ford alias Billy Billy, and William Chambers alias Yellow Billy. " It seems that Sergeant Doherty, of Warialda, was two or three days ago on a journey to the Barwan, and whilst stopping for refreshment at a public-

house on the way he noticed an unusual plethora of the circulating medium in the shape of gold and* bran new banknotes, and being somewhat curious in the matter he made known his observations to the landlord, remarking that they of Warialda scarcely ever saw money in any other shape than that of cheques and orders. The latter then let the inquisitive sergeant into the secret by informing him that he had the good luck to entertain for a short time lately two young fellows who were not only possessed of becoming spirit, but also the where withall to maintain it, which they did right merrily whilst under his roof. On getting a description of the men, he at once recollected that he had met them, and immediately connected them in his own mind with the robbery in Queensland, of which he had read an account but a few hours before. He then, without loss of time, wrote to the police at Moree, describing the men, ' and giving his suspicions. This letter led to the arrest of one of them, for in , the meantime they had parted company. This one was secured in a rather novel manner. The police came upon him while asleep, handcuffed him, and withdrew from his belt a formidable revolver without ever disturbing his innocent slumbers. On finding that he was secured, Doherty set himself about tracking the other, which he did to Inverell, in company with Constable M'Dowell. Upon arriving here on Saturday, he let Senior-Constable FarnsAvorth into the secret of his visit. They then went to the several public houses, ostensibly to nobblerise, but really all eyes for their game, which they failed to discover just then. Senior-Constable Farnsworth, to whom Chandler is very well known, next suggested a likely place ■ some miles from town, and where it seems the predatory mulatto has an affair of the heart, but to make sure that he was not in the township they crossed the river about twilight to have a glance into Lunney's public house, which is in an isolated position from the township. As soon as Farnsworth entered the bar he saw his man, who, upon recognising him, cordially held out his hand, with a ' How are you, Mr F. ?' 'Oh ! how do you do, Chandler ? ' replied Farns- j worth. He retained Farnsworth's hand till he had pulled him up to the couuter and called for nobblers. Just then Doherty, unobserved, slipped in and whispered in Farnsworth's ear, ' Is this he ? ' and upon getting an answer in the affirmative he laid his hand on Chandler saying, ' You are my prisoner.' The latter at once thrust his hand into his pocket, and drew a revolver, which Senior-constable Farnsworth immediately seized by the muzzle with his left hand, and with the other drew his own and struck the prisoner three or four blows on the head with it, which had the effect of < bringing him to the floor with Doherty | under him. Tn the meantime Constable Cunningham had joined them, and it was as much as all four could do to keep him down and prevent him from using the weapon. Cunningham and M' Do well were straining every nerve to keep him down and wrench from his hand the pistol, which he held with a death gripe, and the muzzle of which he continually kept striving to direct at one or other of his assailants, but Farnsworth, at the risk of his life, retained his hold of it, and , continued to guide it in a harmless direction. While things were in this position, the difficulty was how to get the handcuffs on, for everyone had as much as he could do. At last Seniorconstable Farnsworth dropped his own revolver, and managed to get them attached to one arm, and then with some difficulty on the other. This operation was performed with one hand, as the other was doing important service in holding the muzzle of Chandler's revolver. The worst was now over ; they soon wrenched the weapon from his grasp, and escorted him to the lock-up. On searching his person they got LI 2 10s in gold, 6s 3d in silver, and in his swag L 305 in notes, making a sum total 0fL317 16s 3d. Chandler was taken to Warialda, escorted by Senior-con-stable Farnsworth, Sergeant Doherty, and Constable M'Dowell. He is a mulatto, and a strong powerful fellow." The " Tamworth Examiner " of same date publishes a somewhat different version of the capture of these despe- < radoes, of whom it alleges there wore three — two only having entered the bank — the third being employed as outside guard. That paper says :—": — " Sergeant Doherty, of Warialda, and con- 1 stable Doherty, of Moree, having crossed the border into Queensland in search of j other offenders, learned from the " Ex- ; aminer " that this robbery had taken place, and also that four mounted men, whom they had met near Moree, had passed a number of notes corresponding with those stolen, and were displaying large numbers of others of a like description. The sergeant sent a message to constable M'Causland, at Moree, to arrest them, and hurried back by forced marches of nearly sixty miles a day for seven days, in company with constable Doherty, to assist in the capture. Suspicion attached to one of the party then in Moree, and the sergeant apprehended him. He gave his name as Alexander Robertson, and on his person was found a note supposed to have been stolen. In the meantime constable M'Causland, having received the sergeant's message, followed up another man to Pallamallawa, and arrived there about daybreak. Having ascertained that the man j was then at Mr Corrigan's Hotel, he requested to be shown into his bedroom, the door of which was, however, found to be locked on the inside. A gentleman who was sleeping in the same room took the key of the door from under

the man's pillow, and opening the door, admitted the constable and others, who were prepared to render assistance if necessary, but before the man awoke he was handcuffed and secured. On searching him he was found to have a Colt's revolver, capped and loaded, slung round his body, and handy for immediate use ; and under the pillow, in a valise, waß found the sum of L 249, the whole, with the exception of about L2O, being in notes of the bank which had been robbed. He gave his name as E. H. Ross, and he appeared to have been one of the principal actors in the robbery. The money recovered by the active exertions of the police is about L 50 0; the balance of the amount stolen, has, no doubt, been spent since the robbery"