(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH)

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)

Benalla, Wednesday, 11 P.M.

This has been a very quiet day, the authorities have decided to give the men and horses who are in a days rest. There are still two or three parties out on different directions, but nothing has been heard from them. It is evident that no movement is anticipated for a day or two, nor would it be wise to keep the whole of the men continually scouring the country without something definite being first learned. Seven troopers, with the black trackers who have been out for the last few days returned to Benalla to-day from Wangaratta, and reported that no movements are taking place there. This morning Captain Standish, the chief commissioner of police, telegraphed to Superintendent Sadlier for the purpose of formerly ascertaining whether the four ruffians had surrendered. This was, of course, answered in the negative, but it is understood that this inquiry was necessary in order that certain affidavits should be made before a police magistrate in Melbourne, so as to have the outlawry of the gang regularly proclaimed. The general opinion here seems to be that Kelly and his confederates, having found that the troopers were close upon their back track from the Murray, have crossed the railway line somewhere below Glenrowan, and have made across towards the King River. That they were in the Warby ranges last week is quite certain, for their tracks were followed right down from the vicinity of Lake Rowan, until they were at last lost near the Taminick Station, at the southern end of the Warby Ranges. Not only was the packhorse found as already mentioned, but some little distance further along the track a pair of hobbles for securing horses at night were picked up, and also a broken ramrod. This latter was bush-made, and as the gang are known to have a muzzle-loading gun with them, it is regarded as evidence that the trail, which was well followed up for about 40 miles, was a good one. The track was finally lost near a sheep yard of the station named, in consequence of a flock of sheep having crossed it and quite obliterated it. It is also said that the party of troopers who separated from the main body yesterday, proceeding along the top of the Warby ranges, and who did not return to Wangaratta until late last evening, came across a camp not more than four or five days old, and this is considered further proof of the gang having been in that district recently.

It is stated that Kelly and his mates had intended to commence a bushranging career before they made the fatal attack on Sergeant Kennedy’s party at Stringybark Creek. It has been said by some of their friends that it was their intention to have stuck up the Jamieson escort about three weeks since, but owing to some slight alteration in the time of starting the escort, this intention was frustrated., It is probable that they may be on the look out for the next escort.