INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1218, 9 October 1874, Page 2

INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

The Ilobarton Tribune says:—" Tlie consumption of meat in this city is something wonderful. Nor is it confined to the wealthier classes, but all who can indulge in it to do so, and to an extent which in England would be scarcely credible. Let any one of our readers only cursorily notice, on Saturday mornings, the large supplies which may be seen in the shops of Messrs Eady, Stevenson and Clark, Sharp, Maddocks, Sherwin. and other butchers, and afterwards visit them towards evening ; they would then find that the huge piles of meat of all kinds had vanished from the shops, having been disposed of during the day. This is particularly noticeable at Messrs Eady's and Stevenson and Clark's ; and the marvel is, where does it all go to ? Wc are informed that the last-named butchers sell, upon an average, every Saturday, about luOOlbs of sausages alone—a quantity, one would suppose almost sufficient for half our population. Whether the consumption of so much animal food is conducive to health or not, we must leave our medical friends to decide ; but, perhaps, the peculiarities of our fine climate may render it more innocuous than it otherwise would be."

At a recent banquet held at the Government House Hobarton, among the silver plate displayed was a heirloom, owned by his Excellency, in the shape of a fine silver cup, which bore the following quaint inscription : " Given by order of the court for the Hospital of Bridewell and Bethlem' London, to Bcnjamino Du Cane, Esquire, as a mcmoriall of their thanks for his grate care and paines in building of jNew Bethlem and Bridewell, and likewise far his faithful discharge of the office of treasurer to both houses. 27th April, 1(3b7." At the first sale of woollen cloths manufactured at the Waverley Mills, Lauuceston, the prices ranged from seven to fifteen shillings per yard. Blankets, weighing nine pounds each, fetched £2 10s.

The cnmpuUory sequestration of the estate of Harry Kickards, the comiquc, was moved lately, the petitioning

creditor being Mr J. Hickinbottom, upholsterer, who has assisted to furnish a residence for correspondent at the pleasant suburb of Jolimont. Some lover of tho " good old English" sport of fox hunting a few years ago turned out a pair of foxes in the vicinity of Ballarat. They have since increased to such an extent as to become a nuisance and the cause of great loss and annoyance. Some New South Wales juries are almost eccentric as the County Court judges in Victoria, In one country place the juries are so merciful that they take good care not to let a prisoner get into the clutches of the judge. In a distinctly proved case of cattle-stealing, said a district judge the other day in his charge : —Although the case against the prisoners is the clearest one I ever heard I should not be suprised if they were acquitted. And they were. That jury didn't understand sarcasm. The Armidale Express reports the following occurrence at the Court of Quarter Sessions : —" The Court adjourned for an hour. On reopening at two p.m. his Honor Judge Meynott said he wished to make a remark. He had invited several ladies to a seat on the Bench that day, and he had done so because he had considered them worthy of the honor. He had the pleasure of having known Madame Carandini for twenty-four years, and her daughters since they were children. He knew that they were ladies in every sense of the word. He knew no lady more entitled to the support of the public than Madame Carandini, for the admirable way in which she had brought up her daughters, and he expressed high esteem for her and her daughters. Mr Docker thought he could, on behalf of every member of the Court, express the great pleasure that had been felt in the Court having been graced by the presence of these ladies.