Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 – 1899), Monday 9 August 1880, page 3
VICTORIA. The Gippsland Times is reliably informed I that before many days are past a fine collection of Kelly sympathisers will be under lock and key. The police have not been idle since the Glenrowan affair, and have obtained such information as to the persons who profited by the murders and bank robberies of the broken-up gang as to deeply implicate nearly fifteen of the rowdies and bullies of the King River district. Possibly the identity of the smith who forged the three suits of armour will shortly be no longer a secret.
It has been pointed out (says the Herald) as peculiar that in the new Cabinet, as far as it is at present formed, there is not a single Scotchman or Irishman. Some think Mr Williams is a Welshman, but this is incorrect. The hon. gentleman was, we believe, born in London, and arrived in the colony when he was eight years old.
A circular was issued by the Minister of Railways last in office that any employe of the department found to be addicted to drink or disposed to get “on the slate” with a publican, would be considered as having disqualified himself. from promotion, and would put himself in training for an early dismissal. The circular was dated 14th of May, 1880. One of Mr Patterson’s first acts has been to revoke this. Mr. Patterson argues that it is not the duty of of a department of State to interfere with the liberty of its employes out of hours or to assist in collecting grog-scores, and that the proper plan is if men drink to excess to deal with them under the departmental regulations.
Messrs J. F. Higgins’ and Andrew Wright, railway contractors, trading as Higgins and Co., filed their schedule at Melbourne on the 4th inst. The causes of insolvency are stated to be the failure of the Provincial and Surburban Bank to carry out an agreement to supply them with the neccessary funds to carry out the South Yarra to Oakleigh contract, and the subsequent seizure in consequence thereof of their plant and effects by the Board of Land, and Works. The liabilities are £25,350 4s 2d, and assets nil. The private schedules of the insolvents were also filed, and in each case the cause of insolvency is the failure of the Provincial and Surburban Bank. In Mr Wright’s estate the liabilities are £17,115 2s; assets, £20,055, leaving a surplus of £2940 5s. In Mr Higgins’ case the lia bilities are £1391 6s 7d; assets, £1439 Gs, leaving a surplus of £4810a 5d.”
In the Melbourne Equity Court on the 29th ult. his Honour Mr Justice Molesworth, on the motion of Mr Box, granted probate to the will of the late John Robertson. The amount was sworn at. £79,500. The deceased was an early Western district settler. Probate was granted to the will of the late Edwin Trenerry, the value of whose property was sworn at £33,119. The deceased was an old Ballarat resident, and owned extensive property in the suburbs of Melbourne. The registrar has granted ad ministration to the estate of Martin Cherry, whose property was valued at £101. Cherry, it will be remembered, died from the effect of a gunshot wound received at Jones’s hotel, Glenrowan, whilst that place was under the police fire.
Among some of the exhibits to be sent from the Penal department to the International Exhibition will be a sample of cabbage-tree hats. There will be a variety of different qualities, and of the finest description of workmanship. These hats, which were the fashion in the early days of the goldfields, are still manufactured at the Pentridge Stockade, and are frequently disposed of to visitors from the up-country districts, especially from New South Wales.
Glenrowan 