AUSTRALIA. NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVIII, Issue 1666, 22 November 1862, Page 5

AUSTRALIA. NOTES OF THE WEEK.

(tROM! TiIF "SIDNL\ MOBMNG HER YLI) ") Friday, Nov. 7, to Nov. 14. Soiue disturbances are reported to hive taken place amongst the Chinese near Braidwood A dispute arose, a few days since, amongst the Mongolians at Jembaieuinbene, in which fievetal of the combatant 3 \vere\ery se\erely handled. Warrants weie issued, ami five of the principal offenders aiiested The life of Moi Hinff Chiiilcy his been menaced by some of his countrymen, to whom he has become obnoxious nt the dischaijfc of his duty as Chinese iutaipreter. The contract for the second section of the extension of the Gieat Southern, Railway hoa been given to Messrs, William Randle and Company The portion thus contracted for is neaily twelve miles m length, and will cany the line as far as the iion mines at Mittagong, neai Beimna Monday svas kept as ageneial holiday in celebration of the Pi nice of Wales' majority. There was a giaud military display at Paramatta, in which the volunteers and a detachment of the KIT regiment took part. It was estimated 11,000 persons were present at the sham fight and the review — a very Luge piopoitton of whom came horn the metropolis. The affair took place in the Government Domain, a place well adapted fot strategetic movements. The affair had been }udiciously planned so as to combine two iinpoitnnt features — a smart engagement for the tioops and the occupation of such positions as could be best seen by the spectators After the military exercises weie ovei the volunteers were addiessed in complimentary terms by his Excellency, who was loudly cheeied. Cheeis were also given for the Queen, the Prince, Lady Young, and Colonel Hamilton. Manly Beach, Cremorne Gardens, Watson's Bay, Middle " Harbour, Broken Bay, and other localities, were visited by large munbeis of holiday folk, who celebrated the Prince's Imthday con anwre. Tho mystic ciaft and the benefit societies mado " grand demonstrations," by professions and by picnics. At Panainatta, aftei the review, a series of gymnastic sports came off, pat tly on the racecourse and partly in front of the Mayor's marquee. The sports, consisting of fencing, bioadswoul exercise, singlestick, foot racing, jumping, and wheolbanow racing, ko, , were continued up to a. late houi. The number of Volunteers (of all arms) present at Parramatta amounted to 939, which, svith about 150 men from the XII Regiment, gives a total, in round numbers, of 1100 men. On the occasion of the Pi nice of Wales attaining his majority, his Excellency, with the advice of the Chief Secretaty, exercised the royal preiogative of paidon in favor of twenty-five prisoneis undergoing sentences at Cockatoo, or in Parramatta and Darliughuist gaols The selection of the piisoncis was made by the Convict Classification Boaid. The third annual legatta at Snail's Bay came off on the Bth instant, with aprogiainme of six races. The schooner ' Sea Witch ' has been unfortunate having lost the head of her mainmast when outside the Heads engaged in duty on the pilot service. Shs came up fiom Botany on Sunday night, and is to resume her station at the Heads as soon as she has received necessary repaiis. The annivei3aiy of the formation of the Newtown Volunteer Rifle Corps is to be celebiated on the 27th inßtant. Handsome prizes are then to be shot for, the most valuable of which have been provided by the liberality of Mr. T. Holt, M.L A, who, finding the Volunteer movement not so well supported in Newtown, as he conceived that it ought to be, has offered JESO to purchase prizes to be competed for A curious exemplification of the vicissitudes of climate in thia country is now noticeable at Biaidwood. In that locality, notwithstanding tho intensity of the heat during the daytime, fiosts take place nightly to such an extent as materially to injure the gaiden produce. The American and English news by th& ' Wonga Wonga (transmitted per electric telegraph from Adelaide to Sydney, by our special correspondent), caused no small sensation in town on tho 11 th instant. The sixth annual meeting of the St. Paul's Auxiliary Church Society (Anglican), was held on the 11th inst,, in the schoolroom at Chippondale. The meeting was well attended, and tho report considered to be satisfactory. Efforts are being made to complete the tower of St. Paul's. An inteiesting lecture, on the subject of "Insane Kings," was delivered in the School of Arts, in Pittstreet, on Tuesday last, by Mr. R. H. Home. The^ chair was occupied by Mr.' N. D. Stenhouse. To Messrs. Reed and Banie», of Melbourno, ha« been awarded the premium for the be»t deiign for tho Mutual Provident Society's new buildings in Pitt-

shunt, ni.u tho Bible Hall The design it extremely handsome nnd appropriate. The estimated cost of the proposed buildings will be about £0,600. A fiie biuke out in Pitt street North early in the morning of the 12th instant, but it was got under bofoio much damage was done. Tho premises wore those rented by Mr. R. Wynne. A prospectus of a new company has been issued, to be called the Hunter River Sugar Company. It is intended to try the oxperiment of cultivating the Sugar cane in the Hunter River district. Fifty acrei of lented land are first to be planted by the cqinpnny. A committee of enquhy into the "Bentley mystery" was granted by the Assembly on Tuesday, on the motion of Mr. Datgleish. The Philosophical Society held its monthly meeting at the Australian Library on Wednesday. His Excellency presided, and a largo number of members were present. Sir John Young lead an interesting paper, drawn up by Mr. R. J. Swanston, on tho capabilities of the Fiji Islands Mr. Tebbutt's paper upon "The Comet of August and September 1 ' followed. Other subject? of intoiest and importance were discussed in the course of the evening. The Orpheonist Society gave their first extra concert, the same night, at tho School of Arts, in the new hull oE that building. There was a very numerous attendance, and tho concert was, in eveiy respect, a success. The vocal pei formances of Madame Sarah Flower, Mrs. Bridson, Madame Flora Harris, Mis. Coidner, and other ladies present, were received with much Approval by tho audience. From Newcastle, Maitland, and Windsor, and all the principal towns of the colony, accounts have been received which prove that the rejoicings on tho occasion of the Prince of Wales' majority wore all but universal. The Legislative Council Bill was brought under diicussion in the Assembly on Wednesday evening last. Mr. Cowper moved the second reading of the bill. He intimated to the House that the government would be prepared, in committee, to strike out the provisions of the bill for a single electoiate, and for Hare's system of voting. He had amendments to propose, one of v Inch was to divide the colony into twelve electoral districts. A smart discussion ensued, the debate being finally adjourned until the following day. After a protracted debate on Thursday, the second reading was cairied by 24 to 20. Mr. Cowper moved that tho bill be committed on Wednesday week. To this, great opposition was offered by those members who had voted against the bill, but the motion was ultimately carried, at an advanced hour on Friday morning, by a majority of 19 to 17. It is anticipated that the bill will be very strongly opposed when it gets into committee. Some rain has fallen in Sydney during the week, but water is still much wanted in the neighbourhood of the city and elsewhere. Rain is reported to have fallen in Kiama and also in some parts of the southwestern districts. Bush files are frequent. A new church erected at Berkely, in Ilia wan a (on ground conveyed to tho Chinch of England by Mr. W. W. Jenkins), « as opened on Sunday last by the Dean of Sydney. The church affords accomodatiou to about 150 people. The building is already out of debt. St. Matthew's Chinch, Botany, was forineily opened foi public worship on the same day. It is a neat and substantial biick structure with lancet windows, a itnull tower and sniie at the N, W. angle. There is also a chancel and vestry. The architect is Mr. Munro; the builder, Mr. Godbolt, of St. Peter's. The cost of the building is £850, of which £650 have already been laised. The church will bo 6erved by the Rev. A H. Bull, the incumbent of St. Peters. On Thursday afternoon the longboat of tho ship 'Brilliant' capsized off Biadley's Head, and sunk. Theie weie three men on board of her when the accident occuned ; of these one was picked up by the ' Phantom,' and another by a boat from the shore — the third (a sailmaker, named John Munro) sank befoie assistance could reach him. A now paddle steamer — to be called the 'Mynoia,' tho native name of a town on the Moruya River — was launched on the 13th instant, horn the building yard of Mr. Chowno of Pyrmout Her extreme length is 127 feet ; ditto breadth, 31 feet Her engine will be 40 horse-power. Tn about si\ weeks' time it is expected that the Mynora will be icady for service Barron, late accountant of the Bank of New South Wales at Goulburn, pleaded guilty at the Goulburn Quarter Sessions to tho charge of stealing £200, whilst in the employ of the bank. He was sentenced to be imprisoned in Goulburn gaol, with haid laboni, for t\v o years. A man named Bonnet, in the employ of Mr. R. H. Robeits, of Mittagong, near Ben ima, was struck dead oy lightning on the 10th instant. A similar casualty took place on the Warwick Road, near Ipswich, in Queensland, on the 30th ultimo. The name of the unfortunate young man, in the latter case, still remains unknown A complimentary dinner was given, on Tuesday last, at the Sir John Young Inn, Windsor, to Captain Edgerton. The affair was got up by members of the coips, and a large number of the townspeople, an"d went oft with much cckU The Diorama continues to attiact a large number of visitois.