At the Police Court a subject of somewhat general interest was brought under notice, in the case of Michael McDonald, who was charged with deserting his illegitimate child. The mother of the child was named Mary Donavon, and resided in Victoria. Mr. Gillott appeared for the accused. Constable Harrison deposed, that he arrested prisoner on Thursday 1st July, at Mr. Johnson's, where be was working as a carpenter, put handcuffs on him, and took him to the look-up. Here, he remained without a hearing until the 6th. Inspector Brown asked that prisoner should be discharged, as there was an informality in the warrant, and prisoner was discharged accordingly. These are the facts, except this, which came out afterwards in a discussion between Mr. GiIlott and the Police Magistrate. When Mike left Victoria the child was not born, and being manacled and dragged away from his shavings, though a rough way of congratulating him on his paternity, will teach him a useful lesson in his next amour, if the forlorn mary's billet-doux does not bluff him off his national prosperity. Mr. Gilliott contended that the offence was not an inflatable .one, and the Police Magistrate ruled that it was, in the case of a child under 16 years of age Richard Holmes was charged with bringing sheep on a run without the required notice to the sheep-inspector. Fined £1; inspector's expenses. £3; professional costs. £1 1s; and 5s 6d costs of court. Defendant was also charged with bringing sheep on a run and not branding them with a registered brand. Fined £3, and 5s 6d costs.
At the post office the mails arrive at all hours but the right one, but of course, the present time of food is an exceptional ease. The Albury mail is packed in, the Tuppal being over its banks; and on the plains this side, there is six miles of water up to the floor of the coach. The mails are carried to and from Echuca and Moama by steamer, this being the only means of crossing the Murray there, as the pontoon-bridge is under water, and the road in some places swimmable. The transit of merchandise is a greater difficulty. and this is a misfortune in many ways. I know of two months' bills maturing before the arrival of the goods, and the stores me running so bare that it is a favour to get small quantities of supplies for every day consumption. Carriage is at any figure. Four or five teams have arrived this week empty, teamsters being compelled to spell their horses and bullocks.
The railway is progressing at Moama, and the surveyors 1 have a good opportunity of checking their levels by the flood water. The patriotic Knight of Moira wants to make a good thing out of his land. The line passes through two tr three blocks of his, and outs off a corner in another place. For this he demands £60 per acre, and the company have tendered from £3 to £5.
There will he no very great progress made till the shearing is well over; by that time all the unfavourable circumstances of this season of the year will have passed away, and a large amount of labour be disengaged.
Chaff is £20 per ton, and hard to get; a small load of fire-wood is 10s, and ditto.
Mr. Forrester, the new manager of the Bank of New South Wales, has suited a subscription, which already amounts to £12, for the purpose of planting trees in the enclosure round the English Church.
The Bushman's Club, in Melbourne, initiated by Mr. Featherstonhaugh, has collapsed for want of support, only 400 members having subscribed, while Mr F. expected a roll of 1000 or 1500. The subscriptions are to be returned, and be is invited to take up his residence at Urona as a minister of unsectarian principles.
28.700 fat sheep have crossed here since my hut; viz , 2550 of Learmonth's, 3000 of McFarland's, 8500 Austen's, from Mossgiel, 4700 Tyson's, 5000 Syunott's, 2400 Wragg and Hearnes, and 2959 Robertson's. About 20,000 mere are pretty close. At Echuca these have to be shipped over the Murray, and the process causes considerable knocking about, and some loss.
I notice two steamers are laid on for the wool season, to run on the Edwards and Wakool.