Local Intelligence. - The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser (Vic. : 1845 - 1848) - 5 Sep 1846 (original) (raw)

Sat 5 Sep 1846 - The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser (Vic. : 1845 - 1848)
Page 2 - Local Intelligence.

A Fair Offender. — Yesterday, a

Ihdy closely veiled and shawled, whose

moral character, it was whispered, would

uot bear the strictest scrutiny, nppenred to

answer an information which had been laid

against Mhs Eliza Courtney, for furiously

riding through the streets of Melbourne- A

piece of paper hearing a striking resem

blance to a pound note, was drawn from the

lady's glove, and deposited in tlto willing

palm of Mr. John Stephen, whoso virtuous

indignation was forthwith roused at the un

founded charge which had been made against

his client, Mrs. Oliver was called for the

purpose of proving the case, who stated that

she could not swear the defendant was fu

riously riding, hut from her not being ena

bled to manage the horse, the life of a little

child who was passing was ceriaiiily endan

gered; the equestrian appeared at the time

to he very drunk. , Mrs. M'Grath was the

next witness, 'but she not being 'enabled, to

swear to the defendant being ttie .same party

whom she had seen on the day laid in the

information, the Chief Constable consented

xti withdraw the information and lay another.

The defendant was accordingly directed to

be discharged, and was about leaving the

office, when Alderman Russell said, that he

wa9 nut going to act the paft of au informer,

huthnd himself witnessed the woman's dis

graceful conduct on the day named. Haying

said this - much, he must decline ' adju

dicating lilt, case at a future' day. but

should recommend another information

Reported Massacre. — We were in

formed on Monday last, that Mr. Ray, who

was proceeding overland to South Australia

with cattle, by the inner route, taking the

course of the Darling, had been compelled

to return in consequence of an attack made

on him by a ferocious tribe of blacks, during

which three or four of his men lied been

slain. Tho party, at the time the .informa

tion left them, were moving slowly and with

the greatest caution, in daily anticipation i> f

a renewed and still more deterinined'nitack

from tho fierce denizens of those iuhospitable

wilds. — lilaitlandilercurp,

The Town's Police Act.— A man

named William Yates, was, yesterday,

fined under' the Town's Police" Act, ' for

allowing his horse oiid cart to be at such a

distance, frmn him as not to have proper

control over them. An information was

also exhibited against Jatnes.Cusen, which

for want of sufficient evidence, was dis

A Reasonable Interest. — No litt'e

astonishment was expressed a day or two

back, by a J. P., intimately connected with

" discounts" upon an individual who came

before him, candidly adotittiug, that in dis

counting, he hod charged at the rate of three

hundred and sixty per cent, a'tolerably good

interest, certamly, hut untiling when com

pared with- the reduced charges of the

pawnbrokers in Van Diemen's Land, who

we observe by a lote Van Diemen's Lnnd

paper, have notified by public advertise

ment, that to meet the depression of the

times, they had determined to reduce their

interest to one penny for every shilling per-

week, or in other words, that they will con

tent themselves with the moderate interest

of four hundred and fifty per cent., and this

too upon tangible security.

Monday's Spouts. — The races on

Monday, commence at 1 o'clock, p.m., and

not at 12 a.m., as generally rumoured. The

race, which excites considerable interest, is

that between " Jnngler" and " Gaylad," lor

£50 aside, distance, two miles, round the

Melbourne course, one erent, weights, 10

stone 7 lbs. " Gaylad" is at present the

favorite, bets of three tu one being offered, but

a considerable number of even bets have

also been made. The owner of the grey

gelding, "Jem Crow," has offered to run

him against the winner of this race, for a

similar distance and amount.

Professional Trickery. — Mr.

Rsvoc's concert on Wednesday, bad a more

fashionable audience than i huve seen ut any

thing of the kind lor a lung time, of ccurse, (lie

great attraction lay with Sir Charles aud Lady

Mary. 1'hi9 being their maiden visit at uuy

publm entertainment. Mr. Kavua's masical

powers seemed to have received. an additional

stimulus by the presence of his distinguished

vi-itors, lor he exhibited Ins artisti: gilts more

effectively than on either of the two preceding

occasions. I am sorry to say Hint we shall lose

this gentlemut next week — be proceeds to

Calcutta, accompanied by Mr. Mursb, the

Harpist, and gives his farewell concert on Mon

day. As an instance ol the petty professional

envy mid malice tuat exists here, 1 may mention

tbat Mr. Ravac having obtained pern.ission Irani

the liishop, to bold his soirees in (be school

room, Cestleresgh-strtec, — aud which of course is

not " only license I" in that behalf — certain of

the small fry in the vocation wtre instituting

urrungemeuts to lay au information ugatnst their

fellow (but more talented) labourer. By this

magnanimous device, u double object would be

effected— the line — £50! would most effectually

tahe the gilt off Mr. Itaeac's gingerbread, in te-

spect to his profits, uad, as ouc ball ot the fine

goesto the informer, tile personul exchequer of

the said belligeteut rival would lie materially

aggrandised I The plot, however, became known

just in sufficient time lor Mr. Havoc's friends to

vert it, 'the lucts were laid belore the Colonial

Secretary, who, with great kindness nnd good

feeling, took the trouble, not only to prepare the

required licento himself, (it being then evening,

and of course after office bouts), but to forward it

to Mr. ituvue immediately. It arrived about hall-

pnst seven o'clock — just in time before the open

ing of the doors. The knavish, tricks therelore of

the ungenerous enemj were happily frustrated —

the teeth huve been shown, but the power to bite

has keen tu&cn awuy. Hut qui invidet minor est

you know. Intliit is abstracting ull our luitnt.

tUtssrs. K&vuc owl Marsh lenve us next week.

Monsieur uncJ Matlum Gautrot, wnh Mrs,

Bufthelle awl her brother, Mr. Wallace, contem

plate uj early dt'purture.uwl some lesser stars"

art about to follow them.— Sydney Coircspontlent.

Flaw is t he Indictment. — Sad

dUappoiutmeat prevailed yesterday at the Police

Office, utmost every information exhibited being

either withdrawn or dismissed in cousequence ot

u fatal flaw. The Chief Constable, as a lesson

to the new bands, expressed his determination to

throw the costs upon tba shoulders of those

who had instigated him to bring the charges

A GOOD RECOMMENDATION. — A man

named William Bell was discovered on Thursday

night prowling about Richmond, apparently not

knowing where to lay his weary head; and as

independent of this circumstance, he was laborinj

under the effects of powerful stimulants; he was

brought to the watchhouse, when he proved to be

a servant of Mr D. C Simson, and had come to

town for the purpose of making on application for

his ticket of leave. The Bench reminded him

that getting drunk was not the most appropriate

step he could adopt to attain his object, but in

consideration of the excellent character he received

from his master, with whom he had lived for

between seven and eight years, he was simply

desired to exclude himself for twenty four hours,

the Bench remarking, that but for this recom-

mendation, he would have been subjected to two

Agricultural. — Accounts from the

Agricultural nnd Pastoral Districts, satisfactory

since the late rains — white business in the. metro

polis is visibly improving. Weather very fine. —

The Wheat Market is well supplied

nt present, nnd n further good supply is expected.

Its price is downward ; but I will obtain lor you

more accurate information in my next — Sydney

Detaining Mails.— Some very ex

traordinary conduct on the part of the OBptnin of

the ship Peruvian, has been accidentally brought

to light. Our renders are nwitfc that this unfor

tunate vessel, on her passage from Sydney to

China, ran on a reef, nnd was deserted hy her

crew and passengers ; she was nftcm-ards dis

covered by the. American whaler Pleiades, the

captain of which seurched the ship, and found a

number of letters posted in China last yend, nnd

addressed to pnrties in Sydney. The Peruvian

arrived in Sydney in January, and remained here

a month, during which time these letters must

have been detained an banrd, instead of being

stuliwnrnrt nt tllA nfldt nfKrti nn rhn rlnu n f tliss

ship's arrival, ns they ought to have been ; and

would probably have been again posted in China

had the ship arrived. The unfortunate vuptnin,

there is every reason to fear, bus, with alibis

erew and passengers, been lost, nnd we shall,

therefore, never have any explanation of his con

duct, (defence there can lie none ) Irom liirn, hut

we feci called upon to denounce the system nf

concealing mails, which there is every reason to

fear is hut ton common in the China and India

trade, and which is disgraceiut in the extreme to

all concerned in it. We hope the post office will

keep a sharp look out after offenders of this nature,

ami that the first time they have an opportunity

they will nroseciite to the utmost limits of the

Mistlaced Lenity.— Yesterday, a

man named John Cornwall, n tioket-of-leeve

balder, residing at Pentri.lge, who, it will be

recollected, was so ne few days ngo brought betore

the bench Inr furiously riding . through the streets

of Melbourne, when, in consideration ot his

previous good conduct, the mitigated penalty of

fifty shillings was inflicted upon him, was again

brought before the magistrates on u similar charge.

Constable Linley stated, that on the previous

day he saw Cornwall on horseback; lie wns

wus evidently in e stale of extreme intoxication,

nnd perfectly incompetent to manage his horse.

For this offence he was fined five shillings and

costs, nnd was about to quit the office when the

Chief Constuble exhibited an information against

him for furiously riding, Mr. Lombard the gun

smith, lutly proved the truth of this charge. The

defendant was whipping and spurring the horse,

nnd going along ot a pace not at nil compatible

with the lives or safety of the public, A little

boy who was crossing the road had a narrow

escape fiom being run over by this ruffian. For

this offence he was fined sixty shillings and costs.

We happened to witness some ot this gentleman's

vagaries, which were oi a most disgraceful nature

In the event of his ro-uppearanoe on a similar

charge, it is to be hoped that the offence will not

only be visiied with the highest fine which the

bench have the power of inflicting, but thut steps

will be taken to deprive the fellow of his

Tiie Mayor's Meeting. — An ad

journed meeii..g wus held yesterday, at the

'Royal Hotel,' nt which his Worship the Mayor

would, it wos anticipated, have been present as

chairman. About twenty minutes after the hour

appointed, (two o'clock,) some ten individuals

were present, tmd the meeting having been

specially adjourned from the 21st ultimo, to

ennble the Mayor to be present, and who bad on

the previous occasion sent a 'sick note,' Mr.

Belcher stepped forward und stated, tlutt he bad

that morning received u communication from the

Mayor, wllich wus directed to ' the cliairtnan of

tiie public meeting for the relief of the Irish.'

Councillor M'Combie having been culled to the

chair read the note alluded to, which was in the

Sir — September, 4, 1846.

The validity of my reasons hnving been qu s.

tinned, why I did not attend at the public meec-

ing of the 21st ultimo, 1 can scarcely hope that

reusons precisely similar, will prevail to-day, yet,

I am compelled to ullage iliem, und I can only

esteem it my misfortune, if my truthfulness i9

questioned on so l-gjitn matter.

In connexion with the objects or this meeting I

may be permitted to say, that if any doubts hiive

affected me on certain points, I huve deemed it ray

duty, tu a public man, to yield them to public

opinion. 1 most cordially agree thut the effort

lias been noble, nnd the sentiments from which

it has sprung, beta ainst creditable to Port

Phillip, that both, in short, have prove fully

worthy ol the cause which gavo them birth. 1

trust, nevertheless, that a Gracious Providence

by other und more effectual means, may have

already nverted the calamity which it is tfiu

object of the present subscription to alleviate,

I am Sir, your obedient servant,

The chairman also read the fallowing note

which had been handed to him.

Melbourne, September 4, I84G.

To the Chairman of tile Irish Belief Fund

Sir — Being unable to attend at the Irish

Relief Fund Meeting of to-day, permit mo to

request that you will convey to the pnrties

preseot my regret thut the pressing nature ol my

official duties has prevented me from uceupting

the office of Seeretnyund Convener of the Central

Committee, to. which it appears f had the honour

of being appointed at the public tneetim', 0n the

2Lt ultimo. The duties ol this office would,

1 felt, if properly discharged, require un amount

of time and attention, which I hud not the means

of bestowing, und 1, therefore, (lest the pood

work might be impeded by my inefficiency) lost

no lime in convening the committee, und inform,

ing them of my inability to uct, when another

gentleman was accordingly appointed to supply

my place.— I am, Sir, &c ,

Councillor O'Shnniusy nonounccd thut the

" Imperial" Fund amounted to something under

twenty pounds, whilst that raised ia thj Schoal-

liouseuf the Roman Cutbolic Church amounted to

somewhere about eight hundred pounds. He

was unxious to know what should be done with

ibis fund, Mr Westgurtb, who had been nppuinted

to act with him as Treasurer, having declined the

office, he fbouid greatly prefer some gentleman

being uppoinied in .Mr U'estgurth's pluee. it being

irregular to have but one Treasurer.

It was then moved und seconded " That Mr

\y . K. Belcher be reqested to net in concert with

Councillor O'shunnssy us Treasurer."

Upon this an nmeudment was moved, which

was curried, viz.—" I lint the pre-eni meeting

stand dissolved, aud the fund raised be paid over

to the fund raised in connexion with the meefin -s

held in the Roman Catholic School-room." '

The meeting then separated.

MORE Murders by the Blacks.—

I regret to soy that well authenticated reports

have reached us of the murder, by the aboriginals,

of an European, forming one of n party oi route to

Adelaide. I believe the following statement may

he relied on in comet in its detail. The unfor

tunate sufferer, whose name has escapad my

memory was the son-in-law of a person named

Jnrvis, from the neighbourhood of Yass, who

pnssed this in May, on his journey to Adelaide,

wtth a small herd of cattle. Tlicy had pnssed

the Lnehlun River nbout one hundred nnd twenty

five miles, when Jurvis. the proprietor of tho

stock, with three other persons, all armed, were

about hnlfn mile in advance of the teams which

carried their, provisions. See,, nnd were driven hy

tho deceased and another man. 'I he two paries,

being, by the inequality of the road, hidden front

each other, and nil the arms being in possession of

the hotBemen in ndvonee, nn opportunity presented

itself to a number of lurking savages, to perpetrate

n wanton und murderous nttack on the two

unfortunate and defenceless men in the rent. A

body of them accordingly cainc out upon their in

tended victims, nnd demanded tobacco. The men

.alarmed by their mnnner, gave them not only nil

the tobacco they h.nl, but the whale of the cooked

provisions they carried for the day's consumption.

The blacks took this, but appeared dissatisfied,

and one of them approaching the side of tho dray,

called to the driver, and put some question to him

relative to the contents of n certain package ; the

poor fellow turned his head to reply, when one ol

the blood-thirsty and merciless wretches, in the

dastardly manner of those foul blots of humanity,

thrust a barbed spear through his body ; the

weapon entered between the hips and passed

through the navel. The other man immediately

ran, and most miraculously escaped tho numerous

missiles which were thrown after him. On coming

up with the advanced party, the whole returned

to the scene of murder, on reaching which, they

found the aboriginals glutting their savage thirst

for blood, by mutilating the dead body of their

comrade and relative. About fifty of the natives

presented a front to the Europeans, and with a

pusillanimity which can only encourage the

savages to renew the tragedy on the next party

that passes, they contented themselves with the

recovery of the disfigured and bloody corpse.

Some little distance further down the river, tho

natiyes robbed a dray belonging to a Mr Ross on

its way to Adelaide. The vehicle contained ail

the provisions ond clothing of two gentlemen, nnd

seven servants, who formed a purty driving a herd

of cattle. By some neglect the blacks were

allowed by a stratagem to get possession of the

whole of the fire arms of the men, which, fortun

ately for them, they were not au fait in the use of,

or the result might have been dreadful. They

ransuuked the dray cf eveiy thing it contained j

emptying flour and other provisions from the

sacks for the sake ol the bag breaking open and

destroying boxes, and Ituving tbe unfortunate

wayfarers with naught save what they stood

upright in, They took away a blacksmith's anvil,

which weighed 75 lbs. What use they could

make of this is problematical— perhaps they

imagined it had the power -of manufacturing

tomahawks ! The pillaged party pushed off to

Mr Wentworth's station, and by the exertions of

Mr Walker, managing there, a great deal of the

property has been recovered. — Cor, S, M

Death from Drowning. — Intelli

gence wns yesterday received in town, of the death

by drowning.ol Mr. Edward Potts, a settler on the

Broken River. The circumstances attending this

melancholy catastrophe arc ns follow : — On tbe

1st instant, attended by three ol bis servants (on

horseback) he left the beud station to assist a Mr.

Hardy in getting sotnu sheep across Burnett's

Creek. Tho stockman, it nppeois, with the

characteristic rashness of his class, rode into the

creek to recover a sheep, and was instantly swept

off his horse, and was apparently drowning. At

this juncture Mr." Potts was engaged in driving

back u sheep that bad broken away, but ran buck

to the creek, on hearing the cries of one of the

party calling on him to come and assist ill ft : reco

very of the stockman, nnd accordingly made for the

creek, tluwn which lie proceeded u short distunce,

and tode in, but was immediately carried from

bis seat by the force of tbe current, in which ufter

a short and ineffectual struggle for lilc, he sunk

to lise no more. The stuckmun reached the bank

ond got out. The spectators are lcported to

hnve used every exertion in their power to rescue

Mr. Pottb. Mr. Hardy, in his endeavours to

save the deceased, narrowly eicuped sharing the

same lute; one of his servants named Wood en-

deusouted to help him by holding out a stick

which tint deccused saw and attempted, hut

luiled, to gratp, nnd sunk almost immediately

afterwords; his body was recovered shortly after

the uccidenl. Thus, this lamentable nfldir oc

curred through the (oolhurdy conduct of a man

who perilled his tile 10 save one sheep, for no

more appear to huve bee ia daoger.

The Destitute Irish. — We ere

about to follow in ynur waku (we ought to have

led the way) iu respect of niisiug subscription to

assist in relieving (he appalling distress under

which Ireland is now suffering. To this end, a

public meeting is culled by the Mayor (agreeably

to an application from many ioflueo;iul men) for

Monday next, und it may confidently be predicted

that the cult will be cordiully onswered. It is

somewhat lute, perhaps, but better late than not