Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855; 1857 - 1890; 1892 - 1955), Saturday 24 August 1867, page 2


SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

A select committee has been appointed to inquire into the circumstances attend ing the dismissal of Major Warburtou, the late commissioner of police.

lhe Jiistmiates are being rapidly passed through the Assembly. The Echunga diggings continue to look healthy. A crowded meeting was held at the Exchange on the question of a memorial to Dr Bayer. It was decided that funds should be collected for the erection ot a monument and for the endowment of the benevolent institution. The import trade is very dull. Corn-sacks have been sold at 12s 3d : colza oil, 6s lOd ; wheat, 4s 4d ; flour is quoted £10 to £11, hut there are no transactions. Closing of the Mail. — The mails for transmission to England and the East, per royal mail steamship Bombay, will close at the Beechworth, Chiltern, Rutherglen, and Wangaratta post offices as under: — For registered letters, 4 p.m. Saturday, 24th instant ; newspapers, via Southampton, 5-30 p.m. Sunday, 25th ; ordinary letters, via Southamp ton, 9 p.m. Monday, 2Gth ; newspapers, via Marseilles, 9 p.m. Monday, 2fjth : money orders payable in the United Kingdom will be issued up to 9 p.m. on Monday, 2Gth August. Moyiiu Agricultural Common. — The land described as under has been gazetted as a farmers' Common for the use of the selectors and lessees in the agricultural area of Moyhu : — Commencing at the north-west angle of allotment 1 of section 15, in the parish of Moyhu, the said angle being a point on the King River ; bounded thence by that allot ment hearing east ninety-five chains, more or less, to the north-west angle of section 10; thence by the west boundary of section 9, bearing north seventy-nine chains fifty links, to the north-west angle of allotment 1 of that section ; thence by a roadiJearing west forty-three chains, more or less, to the aforesaid river ; thence by that river bearing northerly to the junction therewith of a branch thereof, the said branch forming part of the eastern boundary of allotment 2 of sectiou 20 ; thence by that branch and nart of the eastern honndarv of nllnf.-

ment 2 of section 21, bearing southerly to an aua-braneh of the aforesaid river ; thence by that ana-branch bearing southerly to its junction with the afore said river ; and thence by that river bearing southerly to the point of com mencement. Improved Method of Constructing Cores. — An application for a patent has been made in the usual manner by Messrs. Langlands and Smith, founders, Melbourne, for an improved method of constructing cores for hollow casting. This is a matter in which our local founders will, no doubt, feel interested. Supposed Murder. — An announce ment appears in the Victoria Gazette to the efi'ect, that the Government will give a reward of £200, with a free pardon to an accomplice, for such information as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons guilty of murdering Jas. Warner alias Brassey. Warner was last seen in the house of oneMinogue, atFranlilinford, where he had been drinking, and has been missing since the 3rd of June last. New Saw Mill. — We observe tbat Mr George Strain has erected a steam saw mill at Tarrawingee, and is now pre pared to supply timber of all sizes and in any quantities. This new industry will he of the greatest benefit to the numerous farmers of Tarrawingee and Oxley Plains, as well as the miners at the El Dorado, Woolshed, etc. ; the owner most certainly deserves to be en couraged for his enterprise.

\ The Beechworth Borough Meet ing. — A meeting of the ratepayers and other residents of Beechworth was hold on Thursday night in the Star Theatre for the purpose of hearing an exposition of the views of the three candidates for the two seats vacant by the retirement of Messrs Telford and Turner. The meet ing was addressed by each of them, Messrs Graham, McClintoek and Raecke who were all very well received and patiently listened to. It was known that Mr Raecke's friends were under the delusion that he was going to announce a reduction of rates, policy, but although pressed by Mr Rundle and by Mr Hume who was said to represent Mr Soulby's views, Mr Raecke deserted his colors at the last moment, and following in the footsteps of his brother candidates, would not pledge himself to go in for any re duction at present. In fact from the course Mr Raecke adopted at the meeting his sentiments were little more than an echo of the other gentle men's speeches. His answers to questions also were such a reflex of theirs that there did not seem to he any difference between his policy as announced on the platform and the known opinions of Messrs Graham and McCiintock. After the question as to the possibility of reducing the rates — which of course included that of reducing the expenditure, in the wisdom and necessity of which all agreed — the most important matter was the amalgamation of the Shire and Borough. Both Mr McCiintock and Mr Graham, the former of whom is, and the latter was, a member of the Shire Council, appeared to have deeply considered this question of amalgamation and to have arrived at the conclusion that, both as a matter of general policy, and as a means of getting the Municipality out of debt it was highly desirable. The fact that Beechworth would have enjoyed its share of a very large subsidy by at one time joining the Stanley Road Board was well showed by Mr McCiintock. "We have already, however, pointed out that although such an amalgamation was possible with a Road Board, it is impossible when two Road Districts have been already amalgamated into a Shire. Nor is it the case, as these gentlemen appear to think, that the pro posed Local Government Act will give this power ; the clauses both in the Bill and in the existing Act being identical in this respect. It is quite evident also whv this provision is placed in a Loc: 1 Government Act, because if we could go on amalgamating we would soon form, in this part of the world at all events, where we linve so much to grumble at, a power that Parliament itself would find it difficult to silence or control. Mr Fisher propounded an idea after the meeting was over, which we are sorry he had not an opportunity of doing to such an influential assemblage, namely that although it might be im possible to obtain all these economical advantages — such as a single public chamber, a single secretary, and a single revenue and dog officer — by an amalga mation which could not be accomplished, we might still have all the benefits of such an union without the union itself, by having but one officer to do the work of both in each of those capacities. Now, this is something practical and well worthy of cons'deration, and we hope to see Mr Fisher, who is un doubtedly the originator of the idea, put it into shape and bring it before the body of which he is a member. "We are under the impression that an experiment of this kind has been made between the North Ovens Road Board and the Borough of Wangaratta, and that it did not work, but there were certainly causes there for its non-success which we do not believe have any existence hero. If a yearly saving of £500 or£G00 could be effected in this way we do not see why it should not be adopted, after, of course, mature considera tion. There is no doubt that as Mr McCiintock and Mr Graham put it, the interests of the Borough and Shire are identical, and luckily for us then has been no one here to sow between them the smallest seed of dissension, so that their Councils are friendly towards each other, and have always, when joint work had to be done, combined to do it in a frank and hearty manner. Mixing at Alexandra. — The local paper tlms reports on the present state of mining in that locality : — Alluvial mining is very quiet, and thd U. T. Creek presents a great contrast to what it did a fortnight ago, for then they came, they saw, and in place of con quering — went away disgusted. How ever, those that are left stick to it, and they have at length succeeded in tracing gold into 16 and 20 feet sinking. Time alone will tell whether there is a run of gold or not. I cannot hear of a single big spec this week, but I have seen two or three nice lots sold. One parcel over 81- ozs. for two men for seven days ; auother parcel, 5/ ozs. for a week, for two men, so that some

are making good wages still. One pretty-little nugget, the shape of a hand, was got in Johnson's Creek a few days back. I cannot hear of anything particularly great from the same neighborhood. They appear to he only making wages. Sale of Crown Lands at Wanga ratta. — A sale of Crown Lands by public auction will be held at the Court House, Wangaratta, on Friday next, the 30th instant. The lots to be offered comprise town and suburban allotments situate in the township of Wangaratta, north and east from Wangaratta, and at Oxley. Tenders for the Conveyance of Mails. — The New South Wales Govern-.nient are willing to receive tenders for the conveyance of Her Majesty's Mails between the various townships, villages, aud stations along the great southern road.. A complete description of the required service will be found in our advertising columns. The last day for receiving tenders is Wednesday, 2nd October, so that intending contractors have plenty of time to prepare. New Mining Bye-laws. — In another portion of this day's issue will be found bye-laws relating to wet frontage leads, ordinary frontage claims, and extended areas which may be occupied by Mining Companies, to be proposed at the next sitting of the Mining Board to be held on Tuesday, 17th September.

! Snakes and Bush Mice.— Farmers and others resident in the bush have at the present time an opportunity of serv ing the cause of science which for their 1 own sakes they ought not to neglect. The Rev Mr Howard, of Beechworth, a , gentleman well-known for his devotion to the study of natural history, is desirous of obtaining a supply of bush mice and the different genera of snakes peculiar to the districts. It is, we believe, Mr Howard's intention to classify the various descriptions of snakes into poisonous and non-poisonons classes, in which work he will be assisted by Mr Gerard Krefft, curator of the Australian Museum, Sydney, a naturalist by no means unknown to fame. The impor tance of such a work can scarcely be overrated, and we are certain the country | residents will eagerly perform their share by forwarding the required specimens. The various coach proprietors have kindly consented to convey the specimens free of charge, so that no expense will be incurred in their transmission. River Navigation. — - The steamer Wahgunyah, for Ecliuca, left Wahgun-yah at half-past one on Thursday morn ing, with a full cargo of flour, wine, wheat and bran — the cargo was princi pally composed of the two former com modities. A telegram received from the captain of the Lady Darling steamer, states that that vessel arrived at Ecliuca at half-past three on Thursday afternoon. I Forfeited Selections. — A supple ment to Tuesday's Government Gazette notifies that a large number of allotments j in agricultural areas specified, having l been declared forfeited by the Governor I in Council for non-payment of rent, non-I performance of covenants in the respec-I tive leases, and non-compliance with the | provisions of the Amending Land Act 18G5, or having been disallowed after | selection, or withdrawn for valuation of j improvements, or for other reasons, will be proclaimed open for leasing on 1 specified dates. Notice is at the same time given to all parties owning improve ments within the meaning of the 28th section of the Amending Land Act on any of the allotments gazetted as open for leasing on the 19th September, 1867, that unless a correct description of such improvements, with the owner's valua tion of tbe same, be transmitted to the Lands Office on or before the 10th Sep tember, the claim for valuation will not he allowed. The owner of the improve ments is also, in such application, to i name a person who will be held bound I to act within fourteen days after the day of selection as valuator on his behalf, in the event of the valuation given by him self being objected to by the person who may select the allotment containing the improvements. The Rutherglen Gold Mining Com pany. — The works at the Rutherglen Gold Mining Company are progressing speedily, the whole of the pipes are now in and the rods are being fixed. The legal manacrer reports, that the deposit money on 707 shares has been received from shareholders in tbe Sons of Free dom Claim, Chiltern. This speaks well for the Rutherglen Gjold Mining Com pany. It is expected that the share list will soon close. Works within the SniRE of Yackan-dandan.— Tenders for the execution of various works within the Shire of Yack-andandah are called for, and will be received at the Shire office until Thurs day, the fifth day of September. Indigo Grand Junction Company. — Shareholders in this company who have not paid the calls due on their shares are warned, that it is the intention of the directors to enforce the rule baring refer ence to the forfeiture of shares, unless all calls are paid up within a period of four teen days. Presbyterian Church, Beechworth. — The annual financial meeting of this congregation was held in the church on the evening of Thursday last. The Rev. J. K. Macmillan presided, and com menced the proceedings with prayer, thereafter he addressed the congregation. The financial statement was then read by the church treasurer, showing that the sum of £484 15s had been received as the congregational revenue for the past year, of which sum £204 had boeu received from church door collections and pew rents. The sustentation fund had amounted to £61, and quarterly contributions from Stanley to £67. Col lections had also been made on behalf of the Sabbath School, the Foreign Mission, the Home Mission, the Widows and Orphans' Fund, and the Local Hospital, amounting to £42. The financial statement was received and adopted, and the tbanks of the congre gation were conveyed to those who were engaged in conducting its financial business and also to the collectors. The proceedings were closed with prayer. New South Wales Land Bill. — In the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Martin introduced a measu-e for amending the law relating to the disposal of the public domain. Its main features are that the squatters are to have a fifteen years' lease, an assessment every five years, and a certain increase of ten per cent. The free selectors are to have five shillings taken off the price of their land if they pay in two years. The

limit of the acreage purchases is increased to G-10 acres. The existing conditions of occupation and cultivation are to be dispensed with. Blocks of land for agricultural settlement, not exceeding 12,800 acres, are to he sold at 15s per acre, without conditions. Land notes, for £1, £5, and £10, are to be trans mitted for sale to England and through the colonies, bearing five per cent, interest, the value of which will be allowed in purchasing land. Curious Position for a Quondam Hero. — John King, the coxswain ot the boat which left the ill-fated steamship London, appeared at the City Police Court, Melbourne, on Wednesday last, charged with stealing a pocket-book con taining £3, a silver watch, and a pipe, from a wheel-wright named Alexander M'Callnm. Prosecutor and prisoner had been drinking at the Alhambra Hotel, on Saturday night, and M'Callum suddenly-felt stupefied, and fell down. On recover ing from his stupor, he found his proporty and his companion gone. King was seen to take the pocket-book, which was sub sequently returned minus the money. — The Bench sent him for trial.

The late Case of Destitution at : Benalla. — We have received a letter signed W. Everon, in which the writer, after calling onr correspondent at Benalla a liar, and indulging in a few other classical expressions of a similar character, threatens to try conclusions . with the point of his boot on all . and sundry connected with this journal. | W. Everon does not think it necessary to deny the truth of the statements pub- 1 lished in reference to the fearful state of destitution existing in his family when i his unfortunate wife breathed her last ; nor doe3 he think his conduct on that oc- | casion — getting drank and losing the i horse he was entrusted with when | conveying medicine to the dying woman — anything but quite praise- ! worthy ; in fact, he seems rather proud of it, as he says in his com munication that when he is in a mood to j get drunk, he does get drunk, and asks ; no man's leave. W. Everon is at perfect liberty to make a beast of himself as often as he chooses for anything we j care ; we should he sorry, indeed, to interfere with his elegant pleasures for a moment, but we would advise him that he had better be more careful the next time he thinks of sending a threatening letter, as everyone might not be so good natured as we are. Sample of Wool. — A number of Ram-bouillet rams are about to be sold at Wangaratta, by Mr E. Row, the auc tioneer, of Goldsbrough and Co. These sheep are the half-caste progeny of the stud stock of the Emperor Napoleon, and will be invaluable to persons desirous of crossing their flocks with a superior breed. A sample of the wool has been forwarded to us, which is certainly ot an extraordinarily fine silken texture, and displays many other virtues which are only possessed by the very finest fleeces. Ovens Gold and Tin Mining Co. — The annual general meeting of the share holders in the above Company is announced to bo held at the Odd Fellows' Hail, Beechworth, on Saturday, 7th September. As the subjects to be brought before the meeting are likely to be of the utmost importance, it will be well for shareholders at a distance to take a note of the date and place so that j they may be in attendance. The Beechworth Mayoralty. — At ' the meeting of the Beechworth Borough Council, held last ereuing, Mr J. J. B. Bowman, barrister-at-law, was unanimously elected to fill the office | of Mayor, vacant by the resigna tion of ill- F. Brown. Mr Bowman bids fair to rival the famous Sir Richard Whittington, this being the second time he has beeu appointed to fill the honorable position of Chief Magistrate of Beechworth. The manner in which he filled tbe office on a former occasion is a guarantee that no better selection could have been made, and we are quite certain the appointment will give great satisfaction both in the Coun cil and out of doors. Brother Peter. — A most peculiar examination took place in the Insolvent Court, Melbourne, on Tuesday- last, before the Chief Commissioner, touching the affairs of a Mr George Spratl Beveridge. From the facts elicited it appeared that the insolvent had, in partnership with his brother Peter, carried on an extensive business as squatters at three stations in the Riverine district — Eureka, Piangil and Tentimla, the latter held on lease from the father of these brothers, and throe others of the family engaged in the same business. The insolvent under examination, who appeared to be " the fool of the family," admitted that ho only- knew that his schedule was true because his brother Peter had told him that the debts were correct as mentioned in a deed of as signment previously- prepared, but which proved abortive. He stated that he did everything that Peter told him to do, even to making a surrender of their lease, and giving up to his father possession of Tintinda Station, with a large house, extensively furnished ; also 7,200 sheep, with seventy picked rams to make up the number ; all this being done as soon as other creditors had shown themselves uneasy about the position of the firm. There will probably be other exami nations in the estate, which consists of about £17,000 of liabilities, and of £3 worth of wearing apparel as assets. Belling Spurious Gold. — A China man named Ah Kie, by no means un known to the police, was brought up at the Yackandandah Police Court ou Wed nesday-, charged with the somewhat common Celestial ofience of attempting to dispose of spurious gold. The charge was clearly- proved against him, the mix ture which lie had been offering contain ing only a small percentage of gold, and Mr Ah Kie was sent to Beechworth gaol for six months as a reward for his in genuity. The Iyeiy Lunatic Asylum.— The report of the select committee appointed to inquire into and report upon the contract for the erection of the Kew Lunatic Asylum was laid upon the table of the Assembly on Wednesday night. The committee report that the materials on the ground and the work performed are both of a character uusuited to a building of such magnitude ; that the evidence of the professional witnesses shows that the work was " worthless and untrustworthy, fully justifying the Board of Land and Works in the course it lias adopted that " had Mr Young executed the work in accordance with the plans and specifications, it must have resulted in a loss to him that the award of the arbitra tion "was, in the face of the evidence adduced, unjustifiable and. unjust:" that Mr Kawerau, the inspector, "has altogether exceeded his duty by-making substantial alterations in the building without the sanction of his superior officer, and has otherwise been guilty of gross negligence in allowing the con tractor to proceed with the work in so disgraceful a manner " that the system existing in the Public Works department, by which such reprehensible departures from the plans and specifications of a building were permitted, imperatively demands a thorough reorganisation of that department as essen tial to the prevention of such improprieties in the future."

ij.v3l.uixc: tiie iuur.iunibidoee. — The Wtfjija H'rt ijijti Express does not approve of the intention of the Hon. Bowie YVilson to borrow £50, OOOfor damning the Mnrrumbidgee, in order that the water may be thrown into the Yanko cutting. The Express is nuite right in supposing that no engineering work to be erected at the cost mentioned would stop the impetuous torrent of the Murrurabidgee in full flood The Express publishes a suggestion from a practical man, which, if adopted, seems likely to answer all purposes, and save the outlay of a great deal of money: — "In tliis plan it is proposed that the entrance of the Yanko Creek from the river should be Clammed., the clam being provided with self-acting flood gates opening when the river rose, and closing when it fell. By these means an immense body of water would be permanently retained in the "Yanko after every flood. To provide for the supply at low water and in dry weather, it is suggested that half a dozen centrifugal pumps should be employed, similar to those shown at the late Melbourne Exhibition. ?r"e f pumps has been purchased by un Lai '« Bufrabogie, and at a moderate will throw three thousand gallons of uater per minute. The pump, and a ten horse ?--nnr c'Blno Kork it, costs, we .understand, just u , Six pumps ancl a sixty horsepower engine it is calculated would keep the Yanko running in drv weather at a cost of about £10,000. The interest o"f which, together with an allowance of £500 for work ing expenses, would only represent a charge of £1000 cosV bvTr w iUS 70UVl ne-fifth of the annual fho c- l)lau- and the works would at floods " 9 entireIF free from the risks of . . j

THE BEECHWORTH PHILHARMONIC CONCERT. -Last night this concert from which so much has been expected, owing to the great success of the Philharmonic Society's previous per-formance, came off at St George s Hall. We were quite astonished to see that the Hall was not quite full as on their first appearance in the Tovn Hall the place : was crammed to overfowing, and every- ; body present was seemingly highly j pleased. As far as we are concerned we j can only say that the manner in which j the music was rendered last night was in t all respects equal to that on the first J occasion, and we have already expressed j a decided opinion as to lhe excellence of the Society's real knowledge of music and careful study. To go through the programme Yvould be to particularise individuals, which would be invidious I where almost all were- excellent. We ; were sorry not to hear Mr Schmidt's : solo. There was a little girl who played the piano in accompanying | Mr Schluter's singing — playing not very i simple music — and astonished the whole audience. The German Local Musical j Society acquitted themselves admirably, as they always do, and in spite of tbe weakness in numbers of the Beechworth Band they perfectly suc ceeded, with tbe kind aid of Mr Wein berg, in pleasing the audience. The concert was for the benefit of the district Charitable Institutions. Railway Meeting at Reid's Creek. We received our report of the railway meeting at Reid's Creek so late that we are unable to furnish it to our readers until our next issue. It was however well attended and quite enthusiastic on the subject of railway communication, and the resolutions declared those pre sent prepared to support the Association in any movement they might take, both by their voices and their purses. Mr May was in the chair. This was the first of a series of meetings which will be hold throughout the Shire of Beecli-wortk in favor of railway communica tion. Mr Fellows' Reform Bill. — A most important notice of motion, rela tive to the alteration of the present S system of Parliamentary representation 1 and the payment of members, was given in the Logislati re Council on Wednesday by Mr Fellows. The notice is to the effect, that, to-day the hon. member will move " for leave to bring in a bill to alter the number and mode of election of members to be re turned to- Parliament ; to amend the law relating to responsible Ministers of the Crown ; to lengthen the duration of tho Legislative Assembly ; and to indemnify the members of that House. AY anton Mischief. — A most mis chievous act has just been committed in the Richmond-pua-k, in the vicinity of Melbourne. Seventeen young elm trees which were planted in that locality have been seriously injured by about eighteen inches of their tops being broken oft. Sale of Furniture, etc., at Bric-ht. — On Saturday, 7th September, Mi-Lewis C. Kinchela will offer for sale at his rooms, Bright, a quantity of house hold furniture, comprising bedsteads, chairs, tables, sofas, pictures, etc. ; also, billiard table, side saddle, 2 cows and heifer, and sundries. A Highly-Prized Goat. — Tbe Police Gazette notifies that a reward of £20 is offered by the owner of a goat for the conviction of the person who stole it. It is seldom that those useful but not unusual much-regarded . animals are valued so highly. Kangaroo Battue. — In a grand kan garoo hunt, held on the 13th inst., at Harton Hills Station, 2,500 kangaroos of all sizes were yarded aud killed. The wounded which escaped were reckoned at 1000 more. The CRors in the RiverineDistricts. — Tho grain , crops everywhere in the neighborhood of Ecliuca, according to the local journal, are looking remarkably well. On the N'ew South Wales side of the river, on several farms the oats and wheaten crops are rising rapidly .and luxuriantly, while in the areas around Lake Cooper a finer season of growth has never been experienced. The Representation of South Grant. — It is said that Mr James Piper, a farmer, residing near the Barrabool-hills, aud formerly a member of the Barrabool Shire Council, is likely to come forward as a candidate for the representation of South Grant, vacant by the conviction of Mr McCann. Mi O'Shanassy is also spoken of as a candidate. " Sheep in the Riverine District. — The number of sheep in the Deniliquin district at the termination of the year was upwards of 1,000,000, and the in spector estimates that with the increase of the present year there cannot now be less than 1,600,000 of all ages. Waterloo Quartz Mining Co. — A call of ten shillings per scrip has been made by the directors in this company, and is now payable at the oifice, or at the Bank of Victoria, Beechworth. Ovens District Hospital.— In patients : Remain ingat last report, 64; admitted since by committee, 4 ; emergency, 4; accident, 3—75. Discharged cured 3 ; relieved 2 : died, 2 — 7 : remaining in the house, OS. Out Patients : Admitted since last report, 32 ; discharged, 25: under treatment, S7. Patients admitted during the week : Beechworth, 2 ; YVahgunyah. 1 ; Y'ackandandah 2 ; Rutherglen, 1 ; Buckland, 1 ; Chiltern, 1 ; Black Springs, 1 ; Browns Plains, 1 ; Three Mile Creek, 1— Total, 11. Admis sion days: Fridays at 3.30 p.m., except in cases of emergency and accidents. The report for the week ending August 23rd, 1SG7. Alvara L Slater, Resident Surgeon. Rutiierclex. — Impounded. — Grey pony mare, top off both ears, SM near shoulder ; bay mare, few grey hairsin forehead, shod, off hind leg injured, 5 over II near shoulder, like TR off shoulder ; black horse, star, like J orL the L reversed) near siiouidcr, two indistinct brands off shoulder. Snake Story. — The first snake story of the season is contributed by a correspondent of the Yass Courier , who says : — " About noon yesterday I fell in with a fine brown snake, coiled together cosily, basking in the sunshine, at the door of his hybernal mansion. As my foot was almost upon his snakeship before I saw him, and being naturally flurried at his unseason able presence, I for a moment failed to salute him, and upon my raising my cine, Bow street fashion; with that intent, he stepped rather smartly to the inside, declining the courtesy. "Nothing in the animal kingdom of Australia precludes more surely a dry spring and a hot summer than the early appear ance of these gentry, especiaUy when displaying the agility my friend did." A Relic op a Bye-goxe Age. — An old man, a native of the south of France, who has been for some time living as a shepherd, arrived at Yass a few days ago for the purpose of seeking admission to the hospital. He was a soldier of the French army under Louis XVI II, and still retains a strongly anti-Bonapartist feeling. He once received a sword wound on the head, by which his intellect has of late been somewhat impaired. Besides having served in the French army, he wa3 for some time a marine in the English service. Ciiild Dropping. — This practice appears to be getting very common in Melbourne and the other large towns of the colony. A female child, about a month old, was found on YVeducsday evening near St. _ Francis's Cathedral. It was dressed in a long white nightgown, cotton chemise, white flanael petticoat, and wrapped up in a light colored shawl. :

Resignations of Borough Council lors. — Two members of the Beechworth Borough Council resigned their seats at the meeting of that body last evening, viz., Messrs James Ingram and John Stevens. The ratepayers . will conse quently have shortly to elect two other representatives in their place, once they succeed in finding them — a matter of some little difficulty at the present time. Alta and Nelson Mining Co. — Those interested in this undertaking will be gratified to leara that a dividend of forty shillings per scrip has been de-r clared, and is now payable at the office of the company. Board of Agriculture. — At the eighth annual meeting of the Board of Agriculture held in Melbourne on Thurs day, the question of a national show was brought up, when Mr Kerferd moved that the show he held at Beechworth ; on being put to the vote, the motion was lost, and an amendment to the effect that the selection of the site be. left with the Council was carried. Postal Communication.— A memorial to the Postmaster-General praying for the establishment of a direct mail be tween the townships of Mansfield and Alexandra was recently adopted at a public meeting in the former township, and is now in course of signature. The Murray. — A considerable differ- , ence of opinion exists as to whether there will be an extraordinary flood in the' Murray this season. The river has already attained a height of between 2ft. and 3ft. above what it did last year, and as yet no snow water has come down. We may expect some more rain and further freshes from that cause before the sun attains sufficient power to melt the winter's, accumulation of snov; on the Alps, and xve are disposed to side with those who think we shall have a heavy and prolonged flood in the Murray .-The snow water may be expected about the middle or end of September. In the meantime there is a splendid navi gable river, the snags and other impedi ments being now generally covered by a large body of water. A Runaway. — On Thursday afternoon, a horse with spriug cart, belonging to a butcher at Newtown, Beechworth, being left for a moment unguarded, went in for a gallop on his own account down the road leading to the Newtown Bridge. An upset occurred, however, before the animal had gone very far, and his career was consequently stopped before any material damage was done. The Chiltern Borough Council. — The usual meeting of this body lapsed on Wednesday evening, sufficient members not being present to form a quorum. Fighting in , the Streets. — An instance of how tbe quirks and quibbles of tho law are taken advantage of by tbe legal fraternity in tbe interests of their clients occurred at the Beech worth Police Court, on Thursday, in tbo case of two men summoned lor fighting iu the streets. Mr M. G. Smith who ap peared for the defence, pointed out that there was nothing in the Act to prevent them enjoying their little amusement, and tho Bench could not say him nay. Sale of Mining Claims. — On Satur day next, the Bailiff of the Beechworth Court of Mines will, under a warrant of execution in the case of Eggers and Others cersus Ah Wye and Others, sell the whole of the defendants' right, title and interest in a Mining Claim at the Three Mile Creek, in the vicinity of Beech worth. Mining on the Lachlan. — The main feature of mining operations on the Lachlan gold-field at present consists in surfacing. About one hundred and fifty persons are engaged on the range that separates Matheson's from Thompson's lead, and this surfacing has completely connected those two leads, and, as Matheson's eonuects with the Caledonia and that with the Union, it may safely be said that they all constitute but ono lead. On Monday morning last, in con sequence of Italian Frank, or, as he is otherwise known, Old Garibaldi," having picked a piece of gold from the surface weighing something over half a pennyweight on the previous Saturday, there was a rash to Slaughteryard Hill. About 20 parties were engaged taking the surface dirt to the lagoons all through the day and washing it, but nothing payable could be found. On Tuesday, however, Donald Nicholson and party went about two hundred yards to the west, and very near the old slaughter-yard, where, from four loads of surface dirt, they obtained six pennyweights of coarse gold. This is payable, that is, a man can earn about £2 per week. In consequence of this, on Wednesday morning, that portion of the hill was all pegged oi£ and men were busily engaged in carting the snrfioce to be washed. If this surfacing extends over the range a distance of a couple of hundred yards, then the Union will be connected with the North Lead, and as that is connected with the South Lead, it will turn out that we have never had but one run of gold on the Lachlan, and that has been traced a distance of something over three miles. I hear of several nuggets being found at the head of Matheson's weigh ing, respectively, 14, 14, and 1 oz., be sides many others of a less weight. Fred. Foster and party got six ozs. from their two-acre lease this week, aud, on account of the inclement state of the Yveather, only worked half-days. Several other parties inform me that they are netting from two to four pounds per week per man. George Matheson and party, betYveen . the Barrack Hill and South Lead, have bottomed and are driving. They hope to come across some indications, favourable or other-Yvise this week. Conn and party, pros pecting beyond the cemetery, were doYvn 60 feet on Saturday "night Yvith their second shaft. Thomas Hughes and party, prospecting claim at the head of the old Union, and in the gully di rectly below where gold is now being got oh the surface, Yvere down forty feet on Wednesday night, and expect to bottom on Tuesday or Wednesday next Yveek. Fatal Accident. — We are sorry to' hear that a man of the name of Manning, well known in Ecliuca, Yvho ivas em-ploj'ed as a deck hand on board the Pride "of the Murray steamer, lately fell overboard from that vessel and was

clrowned.rrIutenne Herald, '