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MELANCHOLY LOSS OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY.
We regret to have received intelligence
which places almost beyond doubt the fact of
the murder by the Aborigines of a party of
men on their way to Port Philip. Mr. Howey,
a wealthy settler near Goulburn, having re-
solved to try his fortune in the new settle-
ment, intrusted his stock, consisting of up-
wards of 4000 sheep, 800 head of cattle,
working bullocks, &c. to a young gentleman
of the name of Hamilton, who with a party
of about twelve men, started about a month
ago on his journey. Nothing whatever has
been heard of the party, but the sheep, or a
portion of them, have been picked up in
various parts of the line of Port Philip, scat-
tered in groups ; a few cattle, known to be
those of the party, have been also found
scattered about, and some of the pack and
dray bullocks have returned to their old run
with the yokes about their necks. There
seems no reason to believe but that the party
have been surprised and murdered. A Cor-
respondent from the South writes as follows : —
The Blacks beyond the Murray have played
the devil lately ; thinking they had got the " Major"
and party (no doubt) they have murdered that poor
fellow Hamilton and his men (13 in all) ; hundreds of
Howey's sheep have been picked up in the bush, and
not a word heard of one of the party. So much for
the field day in Australia Felix, which, " considering
they were not soldiers, they have done very well."
We were but too true prophets when we
remarked, on the publication of Major Mit-
chell's Despatch, that the " Field Day"
would be visited on the heads of future
travellers. We understand that instructions
have been sent to Lieutenant Waddy, com-
manding the Mounted Police in Goulburn to
go in search of the party.
We give our grounds for supposing that
the fact is as above given. It is possible, no
doubt, that the party have escaped, but there
is every reason to fear the worst.
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