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On this Page 29
GENERAL NEWS.
THE LATE MR. G. P. HITCHIN.—The death
of Mr. Gwyn Price Hitchin, Clerk of the Local
Court, Adelaide, took place at the Private
Hospital, North Adelaide, on Thursday after
noon. Mr. Hitchin was the only son of the
late Mr. K. W. Hitchin, Auditor-General.
He entered the Civil Service in May, 1870,
taking a position in the Customs at Port Ade-
laide. After discharging the duties of landing
waiter he was appointed to the Adelaide
Local Court in 1873. On the appointment of
Mr. W. Johnstone as Stipendiary Magistrate
at Port Adelaide, who succeeded. Mr.
Buchanan, S.M., when he was made Master
of the Supreme Court, Mr. Hitchin was pro-
moted to the Clerkship of the Adelaide Local
Court on September 14,1892, a position which
he retained up to the day of his death.
On February 6 Mr. Hitchin obtained one
month's leave of absence, as he had to undergo
a most serious operation for rupture, which
was the outcome of an accident he met with
when at St. Peter's College. A fall which he
sustained a few weeks ago acted upon the early
injury, and necessitated the operation, which
was performed by Drs. Hamilton and Way at
the Private Hospital, North Adelaide, but un-
favourable symptoms having developed on
Wednesday another operation was performed,
and the sad result was that Mr. Hitchin
succumbed, when only a week of bhs leave of
absence had elapsed. The late Mr. Hitchin
was of the most genial and cheery disposition,
and by his obliging nature and genuine charac-
ter made hosts of friends. The annoucement
of his death was received in Adelaide and
Port Adelaide with widespread regret, for he
was well known and esteemed. . The deceased
gentleman, who was about forty-three years of
age, leaves a widow and one son. Mrs.
Hitchin is a sister of Mr. W. Mussared, of the
Semaphore.
LOANS FOR VERMIN PROOF FENCING. —
Under the provisions of the Vermin-proof
Fencing Act of 1890 the Executive Council on
Wednesday approved of £154 as a loan to the
District Council of Lincoln.
DEATH OF AN OLD COLONIST.—Another
trustworthy public servant in the person of
Mr. David Rolla, who has held a humble
position in the Telegraph Department ever
since 1867, has passed away. Mr. Rollo was
engaged on Thursday carrying out an align-
ment to Way College. Having finished
giving directions to the men he fell down in on
apoplectic fit, and was carried into the College,
where he received prompt and judicious treat-
ment at the hands of some of the ambulance
class, who brought him round sufficiently
to allow of his being removed to his
residence, where, however, be died at 3 o'clock
on Friday morning. The deceased first
entered the Government service in 1867, and
was employed under Mr. (now Sir Charles)
Todd on the intercolonial telegraph line to
Victoria. He was also employed in the
Northern Territory, and had been in the
telegraph service continuously to the time of
his death. He was much liked by all with
whom he came in contact. Mr. Rollo was a
Freemason.
THE LATE MR. J. LINKLATER.—We regret
to chronicle the death of Mr. James Link-
later, J.P., of Glen Osmond-road, Frewville,
at the age of fify-four. The deceased, who
was carried off by consumption, was the eldest
son of the late Mr. James Munro Linklater,
and was a native of the colony. He was
educated at Mr. J. L. Young's' school, and
when a young man was in the employ of the
National Bank of Australasia fourteen years, for
a part of the time as Manager of one of their
branches in the colony. He left that position
to take charge of his father's sheep station at
Streaky Bay. Of late years his failing health
necessitated his withdrawing from active
business. The deceased, who was a Justice of
the Peace, leaves a widow and two young
children, for whom much sympathy is felt.
The funeral took place on Friday afternoon at
West-terrace Cemetery.
SUICIDE OF A MINER.—On Friday morning
at 1.45 William Davis, a miner living at
the Bushmen's Club, was found in an out
building in a dying condition. There was a
large wound in the throat, and a pocket
knife was found underneath the body. Dr. A.
A. Hamilton was sent for, but the man was
dead when he arrived. The deceased had
been drinking heavily. The dead man's
parents live at East Park, Port Augusta. His
age was between forty and forty-five. An
inquest on the remains was held on Friday
afternoon at the Elephant and Castle Hotel,
and a verdict of suicide was returned.
SHIPMENT OF FRUIT—We have received
from Mr. H. J. Scott, who is at present in
Tasmania, a communication dealing with the
exportation of fruit. In the course of his remarks
Mr. Scott mentions that Tasmania shipped some
400,000 cases of apples to London last season.
Some of the shipments were very profitable,
and others were not, and it was felt that the
charge of 4s. 6d. per case for freight of 40
lb. apples was too much, and militated
against the export trade. Referring to
the industry in South Australia, our cor
respondent remarks:—"I notice you beg
the Shipping Companies to reduce their
charges, but the abortive meetings in the
Chamber of Manufacturers, the deputations to
the Government, and the prayers to Jove do
not remove the burden from the shoulders of
the growers. Let them take a lesson from the
late Treasurer of Tasmania (Mr. Bird), who
has succeeded in obtaining freight for the first
shipment of apples this season from Tasmania
in the cold-air ventilated chambers of the
Port Chalmers at a reduction of from 30 to 40
per cent, on the previous charges of 4s. 6d. per
case for 40 lb. of fruit. The charges are 3s.
per case for small quantities, 2s. 10d. for 500
lots, 2s. 9d. for 1,000 lots, and in shipments of
not less than 10,000 cases the rate of freight in
cool well ventilated chambers does not exceed
2s. 6d. per case. This means all the difference
between a profit and a loss to growers of
fruit in South Australia, and if they cannot or
do not co-operate themselves in obtaining fair
rates of freight then no pity or sympathy need
be wasted on them, especially when it is shown
that if they choose to work together they can
make the growing shipment of fruit a profit-
able industry to the Colony," Mr. Scott sends
us a handbill issued by a leading firm in Tas-
mania, appointing places in the colony at
which their representatives will attend to book
orders for space on steamers given them by
fruitgrowers, an implied guarantee being
given that the space required will be avail-
able.
DEATH OF MR. A. J. EDMUNDS, S.M.—
After a protracted illness Mr. A. J. Edmunds,
S.M., died at the age of fifty-eight at his son's
residence, Barton-terrace, North Adelaide, on
Thursday morning. The deceased gentleman
when a lad came to the colony from England
in the ship Surrey. He remained with his
parents until the discovery of gold in 1851,
when he proceeded to the diggings. After
having tried his luck on the fields he joined
the Melbourne Police Force, and was for
some time in the gold escort service.
After his return to South Australia he was
articled to Mr. Wren, solicitor, and completed
his articles with the late Mr. J. E. Moulden.
In 1859 he went to Port Adelaide, first occu-
pying the position of Town Clerk, and then
practising his profession for seventeen and
a half years. He relieved Mr. G. W.
Hawkes, S.M., now of North Ade-
laide, as S.M. on the Port Adelaide Circuit,
and subsequently Mr. W. B. Shepherdson,
S.M., at Wallaroo for about eighteen months.
From there the deceased gentleman went to the
Port Pirie Circuit (residing at Gladstone),
where he continued to act till he was granted
leave of absence on account of ill health. The
deceased, who entered the Government ser-
vice in 1876, was also Returning Officer
for the Northern District of the Legis-
lative Council and for the Gladstone
District in the House of Assembly.
For filling each of these positions the late
gentleman received £25 per annum and fees.
As Special Magistate to the Local Court of
Insolvency at Gladstone he was in receipt of a
salary of £50. Mr. Edmunds was appointed
to the position of Stipendiary Magistrate
of the Port Pirie Circuit on January
1, 1878, at a salary of £500 a year.
The deceased, who was a popular Civil
servant, leaves a widow, five sons—the eldest
of whom (Mr. A. J. Edmunds) is a solicitor of
this city—and five daughters, two of whom are
married, one being the wife of Mr. T. A.
Caterer, B.A., one of the masters of St.
Peter's College, and the other the wife
of Dr. F. Goldsmith, of Hindmarsh. The
relatives of Mr. Edmunds will be entitled to
£247 retiring allowance under the Civil Ser-
vice Act. Mr. Edmunds was not a member of
the Public Service Provident Fund.
OUR BUTTER EXPORT.—The Border Watch,
referring to the export of butter to England,
writes :—" We do not yet know the total
exported by the Mount Gambier factories, but
the Mount Gambier Company alone sent away
738 boxes, making up an aggregate of 18 tons
9 cwt. They had one box rejected owing to
its being badly packed, all the rest obtaining
a certificate of first class. The Company are
advised of the sale of the first three shipments
in London. The first realized 118s. per cwt.,
and the second and third 114s. per cwt. The
London selling and other charges and loss of
weight was about Id. per lb. The boxes
weighed 57 lb. on leaving the factory ; they
were weighed in London at about 55 lb. The
first three lots with the bonus will net the
Company within a fraction of 11d. per lb."
PROSPECTORS' HAND CRUSHER.— Mr. Ed-
ward Bowden, South Railway-parade, Good-
wood, has called our attention to a small
quartzcrusher for the use of mining prospec-
tors which he has invented. The contrivance
is a simple one, easily placed in position, and
apparently very effective. Quartz may be
crushed finely, and the machine may be ad-
justed for cement. The apparatus weighs
only about 15 lb.
RIVER LEVELS.—The following shows the
state of the rivers above summer level at the
undermentioned places at 9 a.m. on February
15:—Albury, 11 ft. 6 in.; Wahgunyah, 3ft.
9 in.; Echuca, 4 ft. 4 in.; Swan Hill, 3 ft. 6in.;
Euston, 12 ft. 3 in.; Overland Corner, 9 ft.
4 in.; Morgan, 11 ft. 7 in.; Renmark, 9 ft.
1½ in.; Gundagai, 6 ft.; Wagga Wagga,
5 ft.; Hay, 6 ft.; Balranald, 10 ft. 6 in.;
Wilcannia, 13 ft. 5 in.; Menindie, 14 ft.;
Pooncarie, 13 ft. 7 in.; Wentworth, 9 ft. 2 in.;
Goodoga, 3 ft.; Mungundi, 3 ft. 2 in.; Mogil,
low ; Namoi, 3 ft. 5 in.; Barwon, 9 ft.; Bre-
warrina, 5ft. 6in,; Bourke, 5 ft. 6½ in.; Louth,
9 ft. 2 in.
ENCAMPMENT IN THE SOUTH-EAST —The
Border Watch of February 7 writes:—''Cap-
tains Wilson and Howland and Lieutenants
Locke and Marshall, officers of the Mount
Gambier Volunteer Companies, met last
Saturday afternoon to make arrangements
for the holding of an Easter encampment at
Mount Gambier. They resolved that the
companies should go into camp on Thursday
evening, March 22, and remain in camp until
Sunday night at 10 o'clock, when tents will be
struck. The encampment will be held on the
Moorak estate if Mr. Williams, the Manager,
will grant permission. On the first night of
the encampment tents will be pitched and
other necessary preliminary work done; on
Friday and Saturday there will be drills and
possibly a sham fight; and on Sunday a Church
parade will be held at the camp. Efforts will
be made to get the united choirs and several of
the ministers of the Churches to take part in the
Church parade service. The necessary camp
equipment will be supplied on loan from Ade-
laide. The camp will be open for the recep-
tion of visitors on Sunday afternoon, March
24, from 2 o'clock until the retreat is sounded
at 6 p.m. Preparations for the Glenelg River
trip on the 22nd and 23rd inst. are proceeding
satisfactorily. It is expected a very large
number of volunteers will find their way to the
river. The Gawler Division of Mounted
Rifles have again written stating that they will
visit Mount Gambler for the purpose of firing
a match with the local division early in March.
The rifle match between the Mount Gambier
Division of Mounted Rifles and the Adelaide
Lancers and Yankalilla Mounted Rifles is fixed
for the afternoon of the 21st inst., and in
order that the three teams may fire at once,
and that the match may be finished at a
reasonable time, a canvas target will be erected
for the 200 yards distance. A pool target
(400 yards) will be on the range all the after-
noon. '
A GOVERNMENT PROSPECTING PARTY.—The
half dozen Government prospectors are still
plodding along at Wadnaminga. They are
now working in pairs in Lovely Gully. Last
week two men obtained 4 dwt. of gold between
them, but the other four were no more fortu-
nate than to strike rough colours.
RAILWAY REVENUE.—The railway revenue
for the week ending February 10 amounted to
£21,092. That for the corresponding week of
1893 was £25,218, showing a decrease of
£4,126.
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS. —From July 1, 1893, to
February 10, 1894, the Customs receipts
totalled £326,652 8s. 3d., or £28,489 6s. 3d.
less than was collected during the correspond-
ing period of the previous financial year. ,
ILLNESS OF A VETERAN CLERGYMAN.—The
many friends of the Rev. John O. Symons, one
of the oldest Wesleyan ministers in Australia,
who has been seriously ill for some months
past (says the Melbourne Age), will regret to
learn that his recovery is considered hopeless.
His medical advisers think that he is not
likely to live many days longer. Mr. Symons
was a Wesleyan minister in South Australia
prior to the discovery of gold in Victoria. He
went to Victoria shortly after gold was found,
and had the honour of helping in erecting the
first Church on the goldfields, at Wesley Hill,
near Castlemaine.
IMPORTED ORANGES AND MUSSEL SCALE.—
Mr. G. F. Ind, J.P., the well-known fruit
grower of Paradise, called at the Observer Office
on Thursday morning and directed attention,
to the great risk to which the gardens of
the colony are exposed owing to the
careless manner in which the regulations
dealing with fruit diseases are enforced
at the Semaphore and Port Adelaide.
He left at the office an orange which he had
just purchased in a Rundle-street shop. It
was one of a recent importation by a mail
steamer from Italy. The peel is speckled all
over with the obnoxious mussel scale, which
buries itself in the fruit. Mr. Ind says that
our orangeries are free from this pest,
but there is no likelihood of. their
remaining so, seeing that it is a
common thing in the fruiterers' shops in Ade-
laide just now to find imported fruit badly
affected with it. In one shop he visited on
Thursday the assistant declined to serve
him with a " scaly" orange, but desired him to
take one, the skin of which had been cleaned.
The practice, says Mr. Ind, is to clean
off all the scale, and polish up the
fruit before placing it in the windows.
The scale is scattered all about the floors of
the shops, and some of it will be found in the
fruit cases. Thus it will be an easy thing for
the pest to be conveyed to our gardens and to
obtain a hold in the colony. We have too
many fruit pests already to battle against
without being open to another, owing to care-
lessness of Government offioials. Since de-
cember 1 last the Government Gazette has
been directing attention to the proclamation
in the Government Gazette of September 25,
1890, prohibiting the introduction into this
colony of the "mussel scale." On Thursday
afternoon the attention of the Treasurer was
called to the importation, and Mr. Playford
has ordered a report. Since the above para-
graph appeared in the Journal of yesterday
we have received the following note:—"I
should like to contradict Mr. Ind's statement
that I 'declined' to serve him with the orange.'
Mr. Ind evidently wanted some soaly oranges.
Such we had not in the shop. He asked me
for the one I had in my hand. I gave it him,
and Mr. Ind not seeing any sign of scale then
asked for a dirty one. I showed him one, and
this also being free from scale he declined to
buy, and left me standing in the shop after
all my trouble without even buying one
orange. Our motto is 'serve every one with
civility.' I trust the gentleman in question
will not try to do me such an injury again."
LETTERS FROM PARAGUAY.—Within the last
few days (says the Sydney Telegraph of Feb-
ruary 13) several letters have been received in
New South Wales from members of the New
Australian settlement in Paraguay. One of
these letters was read at the meeting of the
Shearers' Conferenoe. It was from "Jack"
Black, a wel-known Darling shearer, to a
mate named Woods, of Bourke. Black
says that they had got rid of three or four
"bad eggs" who had been drinking. His
views with regard to the condition of the
settlement are clearly indicated in a part of
his letter, in which he says :—" You can
mention to several old mates of mine to come
across as soon as they can. This is the best
country I ever was in, and I think the best
in the world. Keep back all drinking men.
We bar them at any price." A letter has
also been received from another pioneer
named James Gilbert by a relative at
Surry Hills. Gilbert, who followed the
occupation of a butcher in this country, states
that he has been acting as butcher for the
settlement, and has also to look after the com-
munity's pigs, some fifteen in number. He
advises all his friends to go across as soon as
they can. He reckons he is a "howling toff,"
as he smokes cigars which cost him 7d. a
hundred, and "puts in" forty oranges a day.
All the rest of the settlers were housed at the
time his letter was written, and his house was
to be begun the next day. Gilbert's wife, who
had never previously been out of Sydney,
writes in much the same strain, and in-none of
these letters are there any complaints of bad
management or statements as to the scarcity
of the necessaries of life.
CAVES AT NARRACOORTE.— Residents at
Narracoorte entertain the opinion that there
exist near their town more caves than are at
present known. The known caves containing
deposits of commercial guano, as they are de-
pleted they are more appreciated by farmers,
and it is hoped that if any further caves are
discovered they may also contain wealth in the
form of bat guano. Towards the end of last
session the Hon. F. Krichauff carried a motion
in the Legislative Council to the effect that
£100 should be spent in searching for further
caves. The House of Assembly, however, did
not provide the wherewithal when the Esti-
mates were under consideration, and the con-
sequence is that no extensive search can be
made. Mr. Redan, who has charge of the
forest reserve whereon the caves are situated,
has, however, been instructed to follow up as
far as possible any surface indications of
caves.
THE MARINE BOARD AND THE NORTHERN
TERRITORY.—Some time ago a proclamation
was issued transferring certain functions of
the Marine Board in the Northern Territory
the Government Resident. Some doubt was
expressed at the time as to what the Board's
power in the Territory would be in the future,
and now a case has arisen, in consequence of
which the Marine Board has decided to seek,
through the Treasurer, the opinion of the law
officers of the Crown as to how far the
powers of the Board have been taken away.
The master of the Red Gauntlet, a small
steamer, made application to the Marine
Board to be allowed to go to Wyndham with
an uncertifciated engineer, none other being
obtainable at the port in the Northern Ter-
ritory from which he was sailing. The Board
was not clear whether it still retained power
to grant the request, and so decided at the
meeting on Thursday to take action as indi-
cated.
LYRUP VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.—Matters are
progressing favourably with the Lyrup Village
Settlement. A meeting of the members was
held on Thursday afternoon, when the Board
presented a report of what had been done. All
the members who intend to go are requested
to get necessary instructions at the Secretary's
office before taking their stock to the goods
shed, where it is wanted not later then
4 o'clock on Monday afternoon next. The
party will leave on Tuesday morning by
special train and take the boat at Morgan.
All the stores and implements have been
obtained.
THE LATE MR. JOHN HILL.—An old
colonist in the person of Mr. John Hill died at
his son's residence, St. Leonards, Glenelg, on
Thursday afternoon. The deceased was a
native of Cheddar, Somersetshire, and arrived
in the colony in the ship Douglas in January,
1850. Mr. Hill formerly resided at Angas-
street, Adelaide, but for the past few years
lived with his son at Glenelg. He had been
ailing for some time past, and his death on
Thursday was not unexpected. The late Mr.
Hill, who was seventy-nine years of age, is
survived by his two sons, Messrs. J. and T.
Hill, the well-known horsetrainers.

BRITISH COMPARED WITH SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
RAILWAYS.—The Commissioner of Public
Works has drawn our attention, to some inte-
resting figures in " Whittaker's Almanac for
1894." They show that the capital cost of the
railways of the United Kingdom is
£944,357,320. The working expenses are

£45,717,965 per annum. Taking interest at
4 per cent., which the South Australian
Railways are earning, that on the
capital cost would amount to £37,774,292
Interest and working expenses together would
come to £83,492,257. The receipts from traffic
on all these railways are set down at
£76,529,314, showing a deficiency for the year
of within a few thousand pounds of five
millions sterling. Mr. Holder thereupon
points out that our railways have some years
past paid better than the railways of the
United Kingdom in spite of the spareness of
our population.

CUSTOMS RECEIPTS.—The amount collected
in Customs dues in South Australia from

January 1, 1892, to February 4, 1893, was
£342,470 16s. 5d., while this financial year the
receipts have so far totalled £314,506 11s. 4d.
This, year's figures thus show a decrease of
£27,964 5s. Id.

LADY KINTORE COTTAGES..—Mr. J. Moss
Solomon, the Hon. Secretary of the Lady
Kintore Cottages, has received the following
letter from Lady Kintore:—"Keith Hall,
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, December 29,1893.
Dear Mr. Moss Solomon—Among all the
pleasant Christmas letters I received none
gave me greater pleasure than those that
conveyed the information that the Lady
Kintore Cottages were an accomplished fact.
Is speaks volumes, I think, for the energy of
the committee and those who so kindly and
generously interested themselves in the
scheme that so much should already have
been done in spite of the depression. I can
only hope that they will really go on and
flourish and be a real help to the poor,
struggling women, whose lot in life is often a
very hard one. I shall always like to hear
news of them, and it was most thoughtful

of the Lieutenant-Governor to send me such
welcome information through you. Please
accept my thanks, and, wishing you a very
happy New Year, believe me yours sincerely,
Sydney Kintore."

DEATH OF AN OLD FINNISS IDENTITY.—The

Southern Argus reports:— Mr. Ewen Cameron,
sen., an old resident of the Finniss, and a
colonist of nearly forty years' standing,
died somewhat unexpectedly on Tuesday
morning last at his residence, near Queen's
Own Town. The deceased, who was born
in 1820 at Fort William, in the heart of the
Scottish Highlands, was a direct descendant
of Lochiel, the great chieftain of historical
note. Mr. Cameron, who came to the colony
in the ship Admiral Boxer, first settled at
Sandergrove, but soon afterwards removed to
the Finniss on land adjoining the river,
where he had resided continuously during the
past thirty-eight years, carrying on farming
pursuits ever since. The interment took
place on Wednesday, a goodly number follow-
ing the hearse to the Strathalbyn Cemetery,
where the burial service was read by the Rev.
W. J. Bussell, of the Anglican Church. The
deceased, who had been a widower for about
eleven years, leaves a grown-up family of two
sons, one of whom is married, and two
daughters.

FLOODS IN THE FAR NORTH—On Feb. 9 the
Telegraph Stationmaster at Charlotte Waters
telegraphed to Sir Charles Todd:—"The
North mail, which arrived at 1 p.m., was
delayed by heavy floods in the Hugh and the
Finke. Over 8 inches of rain fell at Her-
mannsberg and 9 at Glen Helen. Creeks are
still running strongly." A message from our
Charlotte Waters correspondent appears else-

where.

WORKING WOMEN'S TRADES UNION.—Mrs.
Zadow, of the Working Women's Trades
Union, desires to acknowledge the receipt of
£3 from Miss Harris Browne, £1 from A
Friend, 5s. from A Friend; G. B E., 5s.;
Twelve, 5s,; A Friend, 5s.; A Friend, 1½
bags flour ; A Friend, 1 bag potatoes, 2 case,
grapes; Two Irish Lads, 12s. 6d.; A Friends
parcel of wearing apparel; Anonymous,

parcel of clothing; Mr. Crooks, £2 2s. ;
employes tailoring department workroom,
Donaldson, Andrews, & Co., £1 18s.;
Mr. Madley, £1; A Well wisher, 5s.;
W. R. Randell, M. P., Gumeracha, £1
1s.; A. H. H., Gawler, 10s.; A. M.
Nicholls, Kapunda, 5s. ; a parcel cloth-
ing from Mitcham; three pairs wild ducks
from Milang; F. Kruse, 12s.; "Wool," 5s.;
A. R. Brown. £2; W. G. Torr, £1 15s.; C. C.,
5s.; J. H. Richman, £9; Mrs. Kither, one
parcel clothing. Mr. Cocking, carrier, offers
to carry all parcels free that are sent to Mrs.
Zadow.

UNEMPLOYED FUND.— C E., 9s.; H. M.,2s.

DISTRESSED WOMEN'S FUND—We have re-
ceived from Mr. Alexander McCulloch a
cheque for £10 for the Distressed Women's
Fund. Will the Secretary please call for the
amount?

A LIBERAL DONATION.—Mr. J. M. Rich-
man, of Watervale, has forwarded to us a
cheque for £20 to be divided as follows:—Un-
employed men, £7; Mrs. Zadow, £9; Sick
Poor, £4.

BENEVOLENT FUNDS—Received from C. C.
10s. Sick Poor Fund, 5s. Strangers' Benevo-
lent Society, 5s. Mrs. Zadow's Poor Fund.

A RECENT ACCIDENT AT QUEENSCLIFFE.— In
the Register of February 3 appeared a para-
graph relating to a narrow escape from
drowning of two lads—George Anderson,
aged thirteen, and Arthur Price, nine—whilst
out in a small canoe at Queenscliffe. It was
stated that Anderson swam ashore, leaving
his friend to shift for himself. A brother of
Anderson writes to say that the facts are as
follow:—Directly the boat capsized George
Anderson caught hold of young Price and
placed him on the boat, and told him to hold
on till he came back. He then swam ashore,
which was as much as he could do, as he had a
fishing line entangled about his legs and body.
Mr. Winckler, a visitor, rescued Price. The
boat was only about three yards from the
shore, and in about 4 ft. of water. Mr.
Winckler denies having heard Price say to
Anderson, "You fool; what made you do
that?" The words were used by Anderson to
another lad who had swum out and caught hold
of the boat, thus causing it to capsize. Not
many months ago Anderson rescued a lad
much older and taller than himself at great
risk of his life.

BISHOP O'REILY.—Our Port Augusta cor-
respondent wrote on February 9 that the
health of Bishop O'Reily was improving.

ENTERTAINING VISITORS. — The Ministry
entertained at luncheon on Tuesday at Par-
liament House the Hon. D. Gillies, the newly
appointed Agent-General for Victoria, and
two visitors from Western Australia, Messrs.
S. H. Parker, Q C. (Colonial Secretary),
and R. A. Sholl (Postmaster-General). All
the members of the Ministry were present, as
well as the Speaker (Sir Jenkin Coles), Hon.
J. H. Howe, Mr. J. G. Jenkins, M.P., the
Mayor of Adelaide (Mr. C. Willcox), and
Messrs. J. H. Finlayson, J. L. Bonython, and
H. B. Taylor (Chief Justice's Associate).

THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA.—His Ex-
cellency the Earl of Hopetoun arrived at
Murray Bridge by the Melbourne express on
Wednesday morning, and he has been spend-
ing a few days on the Murray shooting,
fishing, and cruising as the guest of Mr. W.
A. Horn. It is probable that His Excellency,
will go to Marble Hill to-day as the
guest of the Lieutenant-Governor, returning
to Melbourne on Monday.

SMALL BLOCKS AT PORT MACDONNELL
SWAMP.—The South-Eastern Star of February
13 says:—Mr. Stewart and another surveyor
having arrived on Friday to assist in making
the necessary surveys in connection with
the proposed South-Eastern drainage scheme,
Mr. James Cook, M.P., has arranged
that they shall inspect the swamp at
Port MacDonnell to ascertain whether
it can be so drained as to make it
available for working men's blocks, for which
purpose it has been surveyed. It is said that
there is a fall of seven feet between the swamp
and the sea, and that there is not the slightest
danger of the land being inundated by the sea

even at the highest tide in the event of drains
being cut. If this is found to be correct there
should be no difficulty in draining the land
and making it fit for occupation. The area to
be dealt with extends from the woolwash on
the eastern side of the township to the creek
near the springs on the west.

POTATOES AND STOCK FROM MOUNT
GAMBIER.—The export of potatoes from Mount
Gambier ia steadily increasing, and for the
week ended February 10 364 tons were for-
warded by rail to Adelaide. Prices have
remained unchanged throughout the past fort-
night (says the South-Eastern Star), and
growers are still quitting a fair quantity at
£2 per ton, whioh figure is likely to rule for the
present. Last Friday morning another special
train left Mount Gambier for Adelaide with
three trucks, containing twenty-seven head of
cattle consigned to Messrs. Bennett & Fisher,
and also received a further addition of fourteen
trucks of sheep (1,400) at Glenroy, consigned
to the Dry Creek Boiling-down Works.

A HANDBOOK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND
ITS GOLDFIELDS.—We have received from
Messrs. George Robertson & Co. this useful
handbook of the " coming colony," which con-
tains a mass of information compiled chiefly
from official documents. The author is Harold
G. Parsons, who after dealing with the colony's
early history gives details of the country and a
mass of information relative to the mining in-
dustry, which is now in the course of develop-
ment. The author in his introduction says
that although Western Australia has been
lately rediscovered by Sir John Forrest and
given responsible government by the House
of Lords, it yet remains to be founded.
" Victoria began with Bendigo and Ballarat,
Western Australia must begin with Cool-
garodie — or not at all." Mr. Parsons
winds up his exhaustive and well-
compiled work thus—" Australia's depression

is ' Westralia's' opportunity, and the pick of

Viotoria, of New South Wales, and of Queens-
land, disgusted at the miseries into which the
too great haste to be rich of the elder colonies
has plunged them, is hurrying round not only
to gather up the nuggets, but to stock her
stations and to till her fields."

SUPPRESSION OF WAGERING.—At the Ade-
laide Police Court on Wednesday morning
William Bruce Scott was charged on the in-
formation of Inspector Sullivan that on
February 3, at Adelaide, in a certain public
place, to wit the East Park Lands, he unlaw-
fully bet by wagering on the result of a certain
horse race called the Handicap Selling Steeple
chase, contrary to Section 2 of the Totalizator
Repeal Act. Defendant pleaded not guilty.
William Headen, a small boy, was at the race
course outside of the enclosure on the day
in question. Got a ticket from the defendant
on one of the horses in a race. Paid a shilling
for the ticket. The horse he had the ticket
on won the race. Constable Jones said the
defendant was walking about among the
crowd issuing tickets and receiving money.
Gave the last witness a shilling with which he
purchased a ticket on Wilpena from the de-
fendant. Fined £5 and costs, in all £6 5s.
George Gillford and Sim Lyons were simi-
larly charged, and fined in all a like amount.
Lyons said if he had had a fair trial he would
have been found as innocent as any man
breathing. The S. M.— I will send you to gaol
if you insinuate that you have not had a fair
trial. Gillford and Bruce, on application,
were allowed a week to pay the fine, but the
Court would not grant the same concession to
Lyons on account of his impertinent remarks.
RABBIT DESTRUCTION. — The work of
destroying rabbits is now being carried on
vigorously throughout the South-Eastern Dis-
trict. The rabbits are very numerous, and
are in excellent condition, owing to the abun-
dance of grass. It is a great pity (adds the
South Eastern Star) that so much excellent
food should be wasted while hundreds of
families in the city are without the means of
obtaining a meal.

RAILWAY APPOINTMENT.—The South-Eastern
Star says:—" Mr. W. Whitton has been ap-
pointed to the position formerly held by the
late Mr. McGibbon as district foreman on the
lines between Penola and Beachport. Mr.
Whitton was formerly on the Nairne and
Callington line, and is said to be a very
efficient officer."

SOUTH AUSTRALIA BORROWING AGAIN.—
The Treasurer has sold to the Savings Bank
of South Australia £200,000 worth of the 3½
per cent. bonds under the Loan Act of 1892 at
£92, The first payment of the purchase money
has been made, and the final one is due on of
before December 1. interest is to be allowed
by the Government from the date of each pay-
ment. The Act under which this money is
borrowed is 549 of 1892, which authorized the
Treasurer to borrow £1,013,279 to oarry out
various public works as follows:—Railways,
£489,639; telegraphs, £5,300; harbour im-
provements, £9,540; waterworks, £3-9,200;
pastoral leases, £159,000; school buildings,
£10 600. Previous to the placing of the last
amount £500,000 of the sum required had been
issued in Treasury bills in two issues of
£250,000. The Act under which the bills were
issued stipulated that the money raised
should be in substitution of and not in addi-
tion to that provided under the Public Pur=
poses Loan Aot of 1892.

MR. W. CARTER.—The friends of Mr. W.

Carter, late head keeper at Cape Willoughby

Lighthouse, will be pleased to learn that he

has quite recovered from the effects of the

injuries received as the result of a fall within
the lighthouse in December last. Since the

accident Mr. Carter has been staying at the
Port Casualty Hospital under the care of Dr.
Teichelmann, who at first expressed doubts as
to the recovery of his patient. Mr. Carter has
rallied wonderfully, and was enabled on Tues-
day to leave the hospital and proceed to his
home at the Semaphore, where he intends to
reside, having severed his connection with the
light service.

AIR JENKIN COLES.—Sir Jenkin Coles,
Speaker of the House of Assembly, is confined
to his bed through illness, and telegraphed
to us from Kapunda on Wednesday that he
would be unable to attend the funeral of the
late Mr. A. E. Wilby, Clerk Assistant and
Sergeant-at-Arms in Parliament.

RETURN OF MR. W. STORRIE. —Mr. W.
Storrie, of the firm of W. & J. Storrie, re-
turned to the colony by the steamer Britannia
on Monday , from a twelve months' trip to
England. Mr. Storrie, who was accompanied
by Mrs. Storrie, has returned in good health
and has enjoyed his holiday.

THE REV. G. E. ROWE.—This Wesleyan
Methodist minister.was a passenger from
Western Australia by the steamer Britannia,
which arrived on Monday afternoon. The
rev. gentleman left this colony in April, 1893,
for Perth, to which place he was appointed
by the Wesleyan Conference as Superintendent
of the Perth Circuit and Chairman of the
Western Australian District. He has now re-
turned to Adelaide for the purpose of taking
part in the forthcoming Church Conference,
and his stay will extend for about a month.
Mr. Rowe says the unemployed difficulty in
Perth is not very severe. In fact, the people
appear to be well to do. The Government
works and the construction of the Midland
Railway has relieved any pressure there
may have been in the labour market.
He warns people against travelling to Western
Australia in search of employment. There is

no demand for labour except at the gold mines,
Regarding the work of the Methodist Church

in Western Anstralia, he speaks cheerfully of
the progress made, and he points out that

during the last ten years the denomination has
been doubled. Mr. Rowe is accompanied by
the Rev. A. C. George, and during his absence

from Western Australia he will visit Victoria.

He has accepted several engagements to
preach while in Adelaide.

A LONDON COUNTY COUNCILLOR AND
PHILANTHROPIST.—Mr. F. N. Charrington,
the Hon. Superintendent of the Tower
Hamlets Mission, London, and a member of
the London County Council for Mile-End,

was a passenger by the P. & O. mail steamer

Britannia, which arrived on Monday afternoon,
Mr. Charrington has long been noted for his
work among the poor of the East-End of

London, where by means of the Tower Hamlets,
Mission, as it is called, he has been enabled

with the help of others to effect vast changes

in the social condition of the masses. At an

early age Mr. Charrington relinquished his

share in a large brewery and entered into the

the work of teaching the children in the slums,
a work which has grown as the years have
gone by. Temperance and evangelistic meet-
ings are now held in one of the largest halls
in the world, right in the centre of the East
End of London, where it is no uncommon
sight to see 5,000 persons seated. The work
of rescue has been proceeded with in earnest,
and the progress made has been undeniably
great. Mr. Charrington has been suffering
from ill-health, and is now making a trip
through the colonies to regain strength after a

severe attack of influenza.

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR CRAFERS.—A Sad

fatality occurred on Saturday evening on the
Crafers-road. Percy Keen, aged about twelve,
son of Mr. W. A. Keen, fruiterer and carrier,
of Woodside, was travelling home from the
city with his father in their van. The lad
was driving, and when between Crafers and
Aldgate he slipped and fell at the horses'
heels, and before the father could bring the

horses to a standstill the front wheel of the
vehicle had passed over the little fellow, and
death was almost instantaneous. A Iocal

doctor arrived immediately, and pronounced

life to be extinct. An inquest was deemed

unnecessary. Young Keen was of great help
to his parents, for whom much sympathy is
expressed.

DEATH OF AN OLD COLONIST.—Mrs. Kilsby,
wife of Mr, G. Kilsby, farmer, Gambier
East, died on February 9 after an illness of
several months' duration. The deceased
(according to the Border Watch) was a colonist
of thirty-five years, and settled at Mount
Gambier with her husband about thirty-three
years ago, since which time she uninterrup-

tedly resided there. The cause of her death

was an internal cancer. She leaves, besides
her husband, a family of three sons and six
daughters and numerous grandchildren. Mrs.
Kilsby was in the sixty-eighth year of her age.

A LABOUR LEADER.—Mr. Josiah Thomas,
who retired by effluxion of time from the posi=
tion of Secretary of the Broken Hill Branch of
the Amalgamated Miners' Association last
week, is at present in Adelaide. He says that
business is very dull at the Hill. All the miners
who have money are leaving for Western Aus-
tralia. Mr. Thomas considers that the mines
at the Hill are generally in a bad state, con-
sequent upon timbers giving way.

AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.—The following
letter, with a cheque for £5, has reached
us:—"Port Lincoln, Saturday.—Dear Mr.
Editor—I thank you for printing the

reports of the S.A. Creche in the Register,

which mother reads and explains to
me. As it states that more money must be
collected soon or the good work will be

hindered, and as I have some money in the
Savings Bank that I can spare, I send you £5
if you will please send it to the Creche, for I
don't know who the Treasurer is or where he
lives. I am sure there must be a lot of little
girls who would give some of their money to
help the poor little children if some kind lady

would offer to receive the money that is now
doing no good.—Yours obliged, Dory
ALTMANN" We shall have great pleasure in
passing on the cheque to the Treasurer of the
Creche and in commending the noble example
of the giver.

"THE GOLDFIELDS OF WESTERN AUS-
TRALIA."—We have received from Messrs.

Frearson & Brother a neatly got up pamphlet

containing a lot of valuable information con-
cerning the Western Australian Goldfields.
Geological reports and particulars from official
documents, besides extracts from the Register
and Argus, bearing on the subject are set out
in a handy form, and to increase the useful-
ness of the publication a coloured map of the

country is presented.

EN ROUTE TO ENGLAND.—Among the many
passengers who left on Wednesday by the
ocean steamer Himalaya was Mr. David
Tweedie, who, in conjunction with Mr

David Murray, intends to submit the Mount.
Charlotte claims in the Coolgardie district to

English capitalists.. The claims were dis
covered by Mr. Charles Porter, and the rich
specimens obtained were a few months since
on view at Mr. Ferryman's, King William
street. Since then the development of the
property known as Mount Charlotte is said to
have been attended with very favourable
results. Mr G. P. Doolette is also a passen-
ger by the same boat, and Mr. Z. Lane (late
Manager of Block 11 Broken Hill Mine) is to
follow him, both being on pleasure and mining
business. Of lady passengers, one is a niece

of the late John McDouall Stuart, Aus-
tralia's premier explorer. She, in company
with friends, visited the Council Chamber at
the Town Hall on Tuesday for the purpose of
inspecting the portrait of the deceased ex-
plorer. They were received by the Town
Clerk (Mr. T. Worsnop), who did the honours,
and the visitors expressed themselves as being
much pleased with the mementos of early Ade-
laide then shown them. Another passenger is
Miss Ellen Thornber, one of the principals of

the well-known ladies' school at Unley Park.
Miss Thornber is going for a well-earned
holiday, and takes with her the best wishes of
past and present pupils for an enjoyable trip.

-MR. W. F. GOODSIR.—Among the passen-
gers to Western Australia by the steamer
Waroonga, which left Port Adelaide on Satur-
day afternoon, was Mr. W. F. Goodsir, late
Landing Surveyor in the Customs Depart-
ment Victoria. Mr. Goodsir was recently super-

annuated by the Victorian Government on
account of his age, and has since received
on appointment in the Customs Department

in Western Australia.

A CHILD DESERTED.—At about 6. o'clock on
Thursday evening a tall young woman of
respectable appearance asked two little girls
who were playing in Victoria-square if they
would nurse for a few minutes a baby she was
carrying, while she went to Gawler-place,
The woman said she would not be away
more than ten minutes, and the children
agreed to look after the baby, which is
a fine, healthy female child, about three or
four weeks old. The girls waited for some
time, but the woman did not return, so they
took the baby to the Police Station, where it
was cared for and afterwards given into the
charge of the State Children's Department.
The woman was of dark complexion, with
dark hair frizzed in front, and was attired in a
grey dress, supposed to be of tweed, wore a
black hat trimmed with black feathers, and
carried a black parasol. She has not since
been heard of, and the detectives would be
glad of any information concerning her.

FAREWELL SUPPER.—On Wednesday, Feb.
7, at the earl of Zetland hotel, a farewell
supper was tendered by the telegraph operators
in the chief office to two of their number,
Messrs. Gratwick and Merchant, who are
leaving to take charge of country stations.
Between seventy and eighty sat down. The
chair was taken by the Manager of the operat-
ing-room (Mr. J. J. Watson), and the vice
chair by Mr. S. J. Mitchell, LL.B. (President
of the S. A. Telegraph Operators' Association).
After ample justice had been done to an excel-
lent repast provided by Host Wicklein a good
programme of songs and recitations was
carried out. During the interval the Chair-
man spoke in eulogistic terms of Messrs.
Gratwick and Marchant, and on behalf of
their brother officers presented them each with
a handsome souvenir, appropriately engraved,
as a token of their respect and esteem. The
following gentlemen took part in the pro-
gramme:—Messrs. Field, Paltridge, Mitchell,
Griffiths, Supple, Klotz, Badger, Cavill, Lane,
Adams, Cathcart, and Jagoe. A most on joy-
able evening was spent, and the gathering
broke up at a late hour.

THE REV. DR. JEFFERIS.—On Fridday, Feb

2, the Secretary of the North Adelaide
Congregational Church received a cable mes-
cage from the Rev. James Jefferis, LL.D.,
who is now pastor of the Belgrave Congrega-
tional Church, Torquay, Devonshire, intimat-
ing his acceptance of the invitation extended
to him by the deacons to take charge of the
North Adelaide Church. The message ran
thus:—"Heartily accept; leave April."

CUSTOMS RECEIPTS.—From July 1, 1892, to
January 28,1893, the Customs duties collected
amounted to £326,151 17s., whereas during the
corresponding period of the present financial
year they were £299,837 Os. Id,, a decrease of
£26,314 16s. 11d.

VISITORS TO EUROPE.—Mr. W. A. Horn,
who occupied a seat in the last Parliament for
the District of Flinders, is contemplating
making a visit to Europe in a few weeks
time. Mr. E. P. Nesbit, Q.C., also intends
taking a trip to England at an early date.

THE GAMBLING RAID IN RUNDLE STREET.—
On Friday, February 9, J. R. Lammey
appeared before the Police Court on the charge
of unlawful gaming. After evidence of
witnesses and addresses of counsel, the
S.M, said that the prosecution had two
groundsupon which to support a conviction. On

the first ground that the game was prohibited
by the Imperial Statute he was against the
prosecution, because that Statute did not apply
to this colony. He found that by the common
law the game of hazard was not unlawful.
He did not find that there was any sufficient
evidence that Lammey's house was a common
gaming-house, although in justice to his col-
league (Mr. F. W. Wood) he must say that
that gentleman did not agree with that
decision. On the ground that there was not
sufficient evidence to support a conviction the
case would be dismissed. Costs were not
allowed.

THE ECZEMA PLANT. — A correspondent

writes from Hamley Bridge directing atten-
tion to letters in the Western Mail (Western
Australia) of December 23 under this heading.
The statements made highly commend the use
of the plant to persons suffering from skin
diseases. Mr. E. McLarty writes from Pin-
jarrah:—"The plant is very plentiful here.
My fields, which have not been cropped for a
season or two, have any quantity of it
growing in them. My wife put a good lot of
the plant into a large-sized saucepan and
boiled it well for a couple of hours, then
poured off the liquid and put it into bottles,
corked it up tightly and drank a wineglassful
three or four times each day. There is no
doubt it is a very valuable plant for any skin
disease." Mr. W. Padbury, of Perth, men-
tions instances of cure from the use of the

plant when doctors' medicines had failed.

THE PASTORAL BOARD AT WORK.—Messrs.
Strawbridge, Kelly, and Ifould, the members
of the Pastoral Board, held their first meeting
in the office of the Deputy Surveyor-General
on Wednesday. They made all the prelimi-
nary arrangements necessary. The most im-
portant decision arrived at was that they
should deal first with expired or forfeited
leases on which there are improvements.
Their first tour will begin on Monday next,
when they will leave for the South-East to
deal with Bangham and Diddicoclum. Mr.
Strawbridge will probably be away only for a
week, but the other members will be in the

South-East for two or three weeks. Their
succeeding trip will be to the Gawler Ranges.

THE LONDON WINE AND PRODUCE DEPOT.
—In Executive Council on Wednesday the
position of Manager of the London Wine and
Produce Depot of South Australia was con-
ferred upon Mr. E. Burney Young, one of the
most prominent workers in connection with
the Vignerons' Association. Every one inte-
rested in the wine industry knows Mr. Young,
who for years has been in business in Ade-
laide as E. B. Young & Co. He has
nearly all his life' been connected with
winemaking, and his father, Mr. C. B.
Young, has for years been one of our leading
vignerons. Since he has been in business on
his own account Mr. E. B. Young has had
great experience of the marketing of wines
for export to London, as well as
for the intercolonial and local trade.
Mr. Young went to England in 1891, and ever
since his return has warmly advocated the
establishment of a depot in London. About
eighteen months ago the Vignerons' Associa-
tion appointed a committee, of which Mr.
Young was Secretary, to confer with the
Government so that a practical work
ing scheme might be drawn up for
the establishment of the depot. Seve-
ral enquiries have been received from fruit
growers and others as to when the depot
will be open. Arrangements will be made for
Mr. Young's departure so that be may be in
London in time to receive the present season's
produce.

FAREWELL LUNCHEON TO MR. D. MURRAY.
—The Commercial Travellers and Warehouse
men's Association on Monday tendered a fare-
well luncheon to Mr. David Murray, J. P.,
who is leaving for England by the P. & O.
steamer Himalaya on Wednesday. The func-
tion was held at the Association's rooms,
Grenfell-street, and Mr. J. W. Annells,
the President, was in the chair. Among
those supporting the Chairman were—Sir J.
W. Downer, Q.C., the Mayor of Adelaide
(Mr. C. Willcox), Messrs. C. H. Goode, J. H.
Finlayson, J. L. Bonython.and G.C. Knight,
and the Rev. James Lyall. The company
was large and representative. After the
Chairman had proposed the loyal toasts he
submitted "Our Guest," and paid
a high tribute to Mr. Murray'a upright-
ness and integrity as a commercial man.
The Mayor of Adelaide, Mr. C. H. Goode,
Mr. Ellery (an er-President of the Associa-
tion), Mr. G. C. Knight (an ex-President),
Mr. J. H. . Finlayson, and the Rev. James
Lyall supported the toast. Mr. Murray re-
eponded in suitable terms. Sir J. W. Downer
proposed "Ourselves," and the Chairman
responded. The toasts of " The Press" and
" The Chairman" concluded the proceedings.

DEATH OF A PIONEER.—On Sunday, Feb
ruary 11, the remains of Mr. James Miller a
very old colonist, were interred in the family
vault at St. Mary's, South-road. The de-
ceased arrived in South Australia in the
Buffalo in 1836. He entered the service of the
late Captain Boucaut, and afterwards worked
for Mr. Justice Boucaut. He was one'
of the earliest contractors under the Road
Board. He leaves four sons—Messrs. Hillary
Miller (President of the Carters' Association),.
Sidney Miller, John James Miller, and Frank
Miller—two daughters—Mrs. J. J. Tupham
and Mrs. Choat—and twenty-eight grand
children. The funeral was largely attended.
Messrs. Hillary and Sidney Miller, Mrs.
J. J. Topham, Mrs. F. Choat, and Messrs.
J. J. Topham, F. Choat, O. Fuller, George
A., W., and J. Rodgers were the chief
mourners. The Carters 'Association were re-

presented by Mr. J. Bickle (Vice-President))
Messrs. G. Bickle and C. C. Mathews (Secre-
taries), Mr. C. Hawkins (trustee), and twenty
others. The funeral arrangements were in
the hands of Mr. Hennigs.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN POLITICAINS. — The
Colonial Secretary of Western Australia
(Mr. S. H. Parker, Q. C.) and the Post
master-General (Mr. Sholl), who are to
represent their colony at the Postal
Conference to be held in New Zealand,
arrived by the Britannia on Monday. Speak-
ing to an Observer reporter as to the question of
conserving water for the gold fields Mr. Parker
said that recently the Director of Public Works,
the Engineer-in-Chief, and a party went out
to inspect the fields, with a view of determin-
ing how to conserve water, and the Govern-
ment have begun expending a large sum of
money in making dams and tanks. The rain
fall is very fair (about 10 inches), and it is
only a question of expense as to how to con-
serve water either by dams or tanks.
The party went out with full authority
to take in hand the necessary
works, and it included competent men who
are to get everything in readiness for the
next rains. The water will only be conserved
on the road to Coolgardie and about the
known goldfields, such as Coolgardie and
Hannan's find. Boring operations are also
being undertaken, but the Government Geolo-
gist reported unfavourably as to effective
boring. About Southern Gross and the vicinity
he does not think artesian water can be ob-
tained. There is a great scarcity of fresh
water at Southern Cross, although there is a
large amount of salt. Mr. Parker understood
from the Director of Public Works that the

railway right to Southern Cross would be
opened at the end of the present week. The
distance by coach to Coolgardie is only about
120 miles, and as camels, coaches, and
drays are continually going to that
place there is no difficulty in getting
there from Southern Gross. There is a
fair road, the country being almost level.
At present the great scarcity of water makes
it very unwise for people to flock to the field.
The Warden has been specially instructed to
grant exemptions in consequence of the
scarity of water, so that the leases and
claims will not be forfeited for non-com-
pliance with the labour conditions. The idea
about Perth is that the Murchison is equal
to Coolgardie for reefing purposes, and a great
many leases are granted, several of which are
being worked by machinery. In all cases
they have turned out very well indeed, the
return being from 2 oz. to the ton upwards.
Mr. Parker anticipates that the Murchison
will be the biggest and most successful field.
All are clamouring for railways, and Mr.
Parker expects that if the fields turn out as
they are expected to the next session of Parlia-
ment will authorize the construction of a line
from Mullewa to the Murchison, about 240
miles, and from Southern Gross to Coolgardie,
about 120 miles. Mr. Parker says these lines
would tend to wonderfully develop the place.
Messrs. Parker and Sholl proceeded overland
to Melbourne on Tuesday, and thence they go

to New Zealand.

A Romantic Stout.—Our Burra correspon
dent writes:—'* Daring the past two or three
days rumours of the most absurd nature have
been circulated as to the discovery of soma
treasure that had boon hidden about forty
three years ago. Amongst the various state
ments made was one that £30,000 had been
found, and another that a BuppoBed murder of
a man who bad disappeared had come to light
in the finding of his skeleton. The faote of
the case are as follows:—A few years ago a
very old resident of the Burra communicated
to a friend that in the year 1851, at the time of
the outbreak of the gold-diggings in the adja
cent colonies, he, in compauy with others,
left for the diggings; but previous to doing eo
he had deposited a very large amount of
valuable epeoimens underneath the floor
of a oertain house that he had oooupied
in Pax ton's - square, Kooringa, and that
the same, as far as ho kuew, had not
been disturbed. The affair had almost
been forgotten, but within the last few days
the party who wore in possession of the in
formation thought it might be worth investi
gation, although very faint hopes were
entertained of suooess. On Wednesday last
operations were begun, and the floor of a room
was taken up, but the search proved -unavail
ing. Ou the following day operations were
continued in another honse, and very 60on the
place indioated was fonnd; but after removing
the ddbris from the exoavation the supposed
hidden treasure was not to be found, neither
the £30,000 nor the skeleton of a man. A lot
of rubbish, however, consisting of old bottles,
&o., wai found to be deposited in the plaoe of
the hidden specimens of 1851."

Eabthqcake at Post Dawtin.—TIiq Post
master-General informs us that he has been
notified that at 4.10 on Wednesday morning
there was an earthquake at Fort Darwin. It
began with a loud rumbling noise, and lasted
for 10 or 12 sooonds, the direction of the shook
being from east to west. Walls of buildings,
doors, and windows were shaken, and this and
the load rambling alarmed people, Some
persons felt sensations of sickness. The earth
quake was also felt at Java and Daly Waters.

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