day night, in consequence of what Humby stated.
The bullocks that were missing had always come
home regularly of an evening, and were very
quiet. They were not in the habit of straying.
William Kavenagh had gone out to the camp
with the soldiers. Heard the firing, but was not
near enough to have seen a boomerang thrown.
Ran up to the camp, and was informed that one
had been thrown. Heard Mr. Cameron order his
men home.
Mr. A. Eldridge was sworn, and stated that,
at about half-past ten o'clock, when standing at
his door in Queen-street, he heard a conversation
with the constables relative to the blacks being
around Mr. Petrie's house. Questioned the con-
stables, and understood from them that the blacks
were actually in Mr. Petrie's house, threatening
him, and that they had killed one of his bullocks.
About half-an-hour afterwards saw Humby pass
up the street, with his wife; he seemed much
excited. Went towards the constables' quarters,
and, on making further inquiries, learned that the
blacks had surrounded Humby's house. Should
not have thought so much of the report but for
the hurried manner in which Humby had passed
witness. Witness thought it right to recommend
that Dr. Ballow (the nearest magistrate) should
be made acquainted with the circumstances, and
that the military should be sent for. Saw the
military go out soon afterwards, and followed them
in about twenty minutes. Witness heard the
report of guns, but was not near at the time. Did
not know anything further of the matter.
Mr. H. Bulgin had seen the soldiers pass down
the street on Wednesday night. Curiosity in-
duced witness to follow the men to York's Hollow.
Witness kept near the soldiers, and saw two of
the constables go forward to the camp (as he
thought) to parley with the blacks. Heard shots
fired shortly afterwards. Did not see the boome-
rang thrown, but the report was very current that
one had been thrown at the soldiers. To the best
of witness's opinion, he was fifty or sixty yards
from the camp. There were great yelling and
confusion, and it appeared to witness that the
blacks took to their heels before the firing.
Venus Martin was standing, with others, near
the soldiers in York's Hollow on Wednesday
night. Heard firing, and ran to the camp. Heard
Mr. Cameron say, "Who was that fired?" and
one of the soldiers and Constable Conroy said that
the blacks had thrown a boomerang at the mili-
tary. Mr. Cameron said, " Are you sure of that?"
and several persons immediately answered that
they had seen it.
The investigation was then adjourned until the
next day (Saturday), when, no further evidence
being procurable, the inquiry was closed. In the
course of the investigation, the police magistrate
severely censured the chief constable, who, it
appeared, was in bed at the time when the alarm
was given, and who had not taken any active part
in the subsequent proceedings, further than issuing
his orders to the constables. The chief con-
stable defended himself by stating that he had
been up very late on Tuesday night, on duty,
and that he was too ill to go out when the con-
stables came to him. Copies of the proceedings,
with the report of the police magistrate thereon,
were forwarded, to Sydney by the last steamer.
_________
In our last issue, we announced that Captain
Wickham and Dr. Cannan, had gone to the blacks'
camp to make inquiries. They found that four aboriginal
natives had received flesh wounds —
three in the legs and one in the arm. Three of
the wounded natives were brought to the hospital,
and their wounds dressed; the fourth would not
leave the camp. Of the three brought in, only
one remains in the hospital, the other two having
been taken away by their friends after the sur-
geon had dressed their wounds, which were not
at all of a dangerous character. The patient
who remained in the hospital is the boy "Wamgul,"
who had been shot through the fleshy part of the
thigh. The wound will be cured in a few days.
This native, who is about fourteen years old, on
being questioned as to his reporting that Mr
Petrie's bullock had been killed, at first stated
that the report was true, and that he had seen
the beast killed ; but subsequently he has stated
that the report was only an invention of his own,
in consequence of his mother having "numculled"
(beaten) him. He varies still in his statements.
We are informed that the missing bullocks have
since been all found.
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THE WINDMILL.—The old Government Wind-
mill at North Brisbane was put up for sale by
auction on Thursday last, by order of the Com-
missariat, but was knocked down to Mr. D. A. C. G.
Walker for £30. We are glad to learn that an
effort is to be made to secure this building for the
public, together with the ground on which it
stands. It would be a great pity to destroy a
structure which is not only likely to be of public
service, but which also adds so much to the pic-
turesque beauty of the town.
"DOING," THE POLICE. —On Wednesday last
an aboriginal native named "Jemmy" was sen-
tenced, at the Police-office, to twenty-four hours'
solitary confinement, for having been drunk in
the streets. On the constables removing their
prisoner, handcuffed, towards the watch-house,
"Jemmy" gave a spring away from them, and
started off at full speed in the direction of the old
burial ground; his one night's lodging in the
cells having evidently given him no inclination
to try it again. The constables pursued, but in
vain, Jemmy was soon out of sight-handcuffs
and all.
SMALL DEBTS COURT.—The usual monthly
sitting of this court was held at Brisbane on
Monday last. There were only eleven cases on
the list, none of which involved any points worthy
of note, excepting the following. Robert Scott
sued James Robertson for £6 17s 1d , for timber
and other materials supplied to the defendant for
fitting up his store. Mr. Little, who appeared
for the defence, showed that the action had arisen
out of an engagement entered into by plaintiff
with the defendant, to make certain alterations in
plaintiff's premises The whole amount claimed
for this service was £16 odd ; but as there was
some disagreement about this charge, plaintiff, in
order to be within the jurisdiction of this court,
now brought two separate actions ; one for the
materials, and the other (the next case on the list)
for work and labour to the amount of £10. Mr.
Little ; contended that this was a splitting of the
action, contrary to the 9th section of the Act 10th
Victoria, No. 10. The court being of the same
opinion, dismissed both cases.——Mr. M. Power
brought an action against Timothy Corbett for
the sum of £9 19s. 6d., being the amount of a
debt originally due to the plaintiff from one John
Conway, and which, as was alleged, Corbett had
promised to pay. Mr. Little appeared for the
defence and Mr. Ocock for the plaintiff. Mr.
Windmell was called to prove the promise made
by Corbett, but as this witness could not under-
take to swear distinctly to the promise, Mr. Ocock
said that he could not proceed with the case, and
judgment was given for the defendant.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.—The contractor for the
erection of the Custom House, has commenced.
laying the foundation of that building, opposite
to Kangaroo Point.
SYDNEY WOOL MARKET. — A gentleman re-
siding on Darling downs has sold the whole of
his wool of this season's clip, to a mercantile firm
in Sydney, for 1s. 3¼ 1. per lb.
WESLEYAN CHURCH.—We understand that the
Rev. W. Moore, who has for a long time con-
ducted the ministration of the Wesleyan Church
at Moreton Bay, is about to proceed to the Feegee
Islands, and, it is expected, will be succeeded by
a clergyman from England.
JURY LIST.— Instructions have been received
for the preparation of a jury list for the Assize
town of Brisbane. All qualified persons residing
within a circuit of thirty miles around Brisbane
will be placed on the list. The Assizes, according
to the Law Calendar for next year, are to be
opened at Brisbane on Monday the 13th May, and
on Monday the 11th November next, respectively.
BURNETT RIVER.—A new road from "Mundua,"
Mr. R. Jones' s station on Baramba Creek, has
been opened to the "Burnett Inn." This
diminishes the distance, from most of the stations
on the Burnett to Brisbane by about twenty-three
miles.
SALE OF THE FERRIES.—The leases for the next
year of the ferries, at Brisbane, were sold by public
auction, in the Court House, on Wedmesdau ;ast/
There was a large attendance, and very spirited
competition. The ferry between North and South
Brisbane, which was put up at £40, was sold to
Mr. Patrick Byrnes for £330. The Kangaroo
Point Ferry was purchased by John Bishop for
£135. The upset price was £15. Those large
sums, to which the inhabitants will be entitled for
the purpose of public improvement, will be suffi-
cient to effect some of those repairs to the streets
that are so much wanted. The sum of £165, re-
ceived by the Government for ferry rents at Bris-
bane, during the current year, will be available for
public use at the close of the year, and the inha-
bitants should not lose sight of it.
TRANSFERS OF LICENSES. — On Tuesday last,
the Court of Petty Sessions at Brisbane granted
the undermentioned transfers of licenses :—Publi-
cans' general licenses, from James Powers to
George McAdam, for the "Sovereign Hotel";;
and from John Bruce to J. P. Meadows, for the
"Heart-in-Hand", at North Brisbane. Confec--
tioner's license, from John Kelly to Joseph Berry,
North Brisbane. The Police Magistráte took occa-
sion to intimate that on the next general licensing
day the provisions of the new Act of Council with
respect to the accommodations required in public
houses, will be strictly enforced.
A LIGHT-FINGERED CHILD OF THE SOIL.—A
few day ago an aboriginal lad named " Timothy"
stole a brooch from the premises of Mr. R. J.
Coley, of North Brisbane, to which he had been
sent wilth a parcel from Mr. Richardson's stores.
On Thursday, last Mr.Ricardson's storeman took
an opportunity of inducing the black, " Timothy,"
to come into the store, where, with some assistance,
he seized and bound him. On being taxed with
the theft, the black confessed it, and offered to
show where he had secreted the brooch. Some
persons accompanied him for that purpose, but i
became evident that his only object was to draw
them into the bush, where he might have an op-
portunity of escaping. This was communicated
to his captors by another native, and Timothy was
then taken charge of by the police, and lodged in
the watch-house. On being brough before the
Bench yesterday morning, he made some revela-
tions, in consequence of which District Constable
Murphy was despatched for the purpose of endra-
vouring to recover the brooch, and the prisoner
was remanded for further examination. This
native was a protege of some of the former " mis-
sionaries" at this place. There are many charges
of theft against him and indeed it appears that he
has made himself famous for pilfering, and for the
facility with which he can repeat the Lord's
Prayer.
THE OVERLAND MAILS.—After the 1st of
January, the mail will leave Armidale on Tuesday
at 6 A.M. ; arrive at Tenterfield on Thursday at 9
A.M. ; leave immediately for Warwick ; arriving
6 P. M. on the same day ; leave there at 7 A.M. on
Tuesday, arriving at Tenterfield not later than 9
P. M. on Friday ; start at 7 A.M. on Saturday,
and arrive at Armidale by 5 P.M. on Monday.—
The mail for the Burnett will leave Drayton on
Saturday at noon, or immediately after the arrival
of the Sydney mail (overland) ; arrive at Gayndah
at noon on Tuesday ;\ start on return at noon on
Wednesday, and arrive at Drayton by noon on
Saturday.—The mail for Brisbane will leave
Drayton at noon on Saturday ; arrive in Brisbane
on Sunday night ; leave again on Monday at noon,
and arrive at Drayton not later than 8 P.M. on
Saturday. These arrangements are far from
being judicious and have caused considerable dis-
content. As the Burnett mail is to start from
Drayton instead of Brisbane, it should leave after
the post from Brisbane arrives, as it is by that
conveyance that most letters and papers would be
sent for the Burnett, and not by the overland
mail. Again much inconvenience will be caused
at Brisbane. The overland mail arriving on
Sunday night cannot be delivered until 9 oclock
next morning, and the return mail must close by
about half-past eleven so that only two hours and
a half will be allowed fur receiving and answering
all letters.
THE LATTICE BRIDGE. — Mr. Ryan, having
forwarded to the Sydney School of Arts his model
of a bridge on the lattice principle has received
a complimentary letter from the Secretary of that
institution informing him that the committee
approved of the ingenuity of the construction,
but doubted its practicability in the interior, in
consequence of the scarcity of skilled labour.
