COLONIAL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 12 July 1851, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

SYDNEY.

Tub Mill Reports, June 7.—The receipts of wheat at the mills appear to have been very trifling for some weeks. Flour remained at the last quotations, 30/. for line, and 281. for seconds, although the demand is not large, owingto the reduced prices at which some of the holders of imported are anxious to sell; there is, however, no alteration in the price at the mills. The country supply of wheat seems to be nearly exhausted. A few parcels were readily purchased at from 9s, to Us. the bushel, according- to qiiality. Bran stands at 6/. per ton of "2000 li,s.

The Markets.— A mercantile correspondent of the Melbourne Morninr/ Herald, through which paper we obtain the latest Sydney news, writes, " trade is very brisk in all articles of consumption, and prices high."

Several sales of Hyson-slcin teas are reported at 70s. to 725. 6d., and congous at 01. In sugars quotations have advanced a little, sales of Taal are reported at 245. 6cl. to 255. Tobacco has changed hands repeatedly at full rates. Cigars have been in demand, 50*. lias been refused for No. 3 in a quantity, sales had been previously effected at lower rates.

The Golb Discovbby.—The following view of this discovery is taken by the Sydney Morning Herald, and forms part of their Produce Report at the end of last May. We do not give it here as the only correct view of the case, lmt as one that appears, at all events, equally remote from the two extremes of enthusiasm and indifference.

" Immediately anything like authentic intelligence reached Sydney as to the discovery of gold near Bathurst, our agent proceeded to the spot to obtain confirmatory evidence thereof, and the return to Sydney of the party of mercantile men whom he accompanied, with a large quantity of gold bought by them.' in Bathurst, coupled with reports of intelligent and disinterested parties who have visited the present diggings, and the whole backed by the practical experience of Mr. Hargraves, with the profound geological knowledge of Sir R. Murchison and the Rev. Mr. Clarke, leave us no room to doubt, not only the local existence of gold at ' Ophir,' but its distribution along the entire Cordilleras of this coast,of Australia. To speculate upon the important social and political results which a,discovery of such vast importance will have upon the destinies of our native or our adopted laud, is perhaps without the limits of our trade report, but to point out its probable results to those interests with which a " produce" circular has hitherto been identified, is a positive duty, as energy and activity are undoubtedly required on the part of all stockholders, to prevent loss from, neglect of their flocks and herds, until such time, not long distant, when a teeming population will give to their stock a value somewhat approximating to that which similar property possesses in populated countries ; we, therefore, cannot look upon with, doubt, but hail with congratulation, a discovery which renders us less dependent on one source of industry ; which must attract countless thousands to our shores, and make Australia great amongst the nations of the earth!

" The struggle, however, has to be made by our graziers in the meanwhile, to prevent their flocks from decimation or destruction, consequent upon a temporary scarcity of labour. " It will no longer answer the absentee proprietor —he must trust to no deputy, but be on his station himself, energetically conserving his property. Two or three flocks must, if necessary, be run into one, although such a step may entail higher wages, and to some extent injure the sheep ; and further, let him, if requisite, reduce his requirements for labour, by boiling down every inferior head upon his station. At cattle stations we have less inconvenience to dread, as activity on the part of the proprietor, with a limited assistance, will prevent any loss whatever. We repeat that a temporary disarrangement of the labour market is all that stockholders have to dread, and that such as put their shoulders to the wheel, will be ultimately well rewarded for their labour— indeed, we cannot forbear from again reverting to the price of stock and stations in California now as compared to their value prior to the discovery of gold there—the Rancheros, who obtained a precarious livelihood from the skins of their flock, from the few vessels which yearly visited San Francisco, now receive a price for their meat almost reaching European rates ; therefore, though the respective positions of Australia and California at the event of the gold discovery are not parallel, we hesitate not to say that any depreciation in the value of present vested interests in the colony, will be the result of panic, and not of deliberation.

" What proportion, we would ask, does the value of the carcass bear to the value of the animal in all populated countries ? and what would he the income

from such a tract of country as is comprised in any one of our stations, if situated in the midst of a numerous and prosperous people ?"

The following letter, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, contains another view of the state of affairs:—" Boolcanan, 19th May. Dear Sir, —I have youvs of the ] 6th inst. It is a bad job that flour especially is not to be bought; but it is folly too on the part of the holders, for we cannot have more people on account of the gold than are in the Australian colonies already for some time to come, and if people come from South Australia, or Van Dieman's Land, or elsewhere, there will be more flour to spare at those places. Prices will be awful at the diggings, and I doubt not that many will come from Sydney to be sadly disappointed, if not starved to boot. I dare say we must keep a sharp look out hereabouts ibr some | whom you can well afford to spare from Sydney. If anybody should be considerate enough to spare a trifle of flour, be pleased to send me half a ton and a bag of good rice at any rate. We shall soon run short. You may make it as public as you can in Sydney, that none but robust hard-working men can do any good at the gold field. The exposure to wet in the day, with winter approaching, and no huts or comforts of any sort, will break the constitution of all but iron frames; besides which the work requires skill. Many have tried, and left the diggings sick enough. The weather is rather wet—beautiful for vegetation, but not for camping out at night with a hungry stomach. I have sent two loads of ore since last Monday, and am daily looking for the coming of more drays. My miners are at present at the gold. One of them told me to-day that 10s. per day each was what he thought they earned. It will cost nearly half of that to live there, to say nothing of hindrances from floods, &c.—l remain, dear Sir, yours truly, J. Glasson." The Bathurst mail was accidently upset about 28 miles from Sydney, towards which place it was progressing. One of the passengers received severe injuries, and died in a few hours. The " Emperor," from Plymouth 22nd of February, arrived at Sydney on the 6th of June with immigrants. Messrs. Kemp and Fairfax, Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald, have been convicted before the Supreme Court, of a libel on Mr. Thurlow, the Mayor. VICTORIA, (late PORT PHILIP.) Mount Gambier.—We hear that at Mount Gambier the lambing, which is usually good in that fine country, promises to be unusually favourable this season. The settlers just now are in the midst of the business. The lock-up is said to be crammed with criminals, such is the state of the border, and such the vigilance of the police in that quarter. Several men are put into training, under the tuition of the Adelaide police, with the view of fitting them as constables for service under the Port Philip government. — Portland Guardian. A very numerously attended meeting was held at the Mechanic's Institute, Melbourne, on the 9th of June, for the purpose of considering the present dearth of provisions, and devising means to counteract the evil. Various propositions were made to the meeting ; one was, that a company should be formed to establish a factory, which should perform every operation intervening between the grain and the loaf. Another suggestion was, that a grist mill be erected at public expense, and the baking part of the business be left,' to go on in the present manner. A motion was made, and ably supported, to the effect that the steps which it would be necessary to take for building a mill, granary, bakehouse, &c, would occupy too long a time, as the remedy required must be immediate. It was suggested by those who took this view of the case, that money should be raised in shares by an association, which should confine its operations to the purchase and importation of grain. The ultimate resolution of the meeting was the appointment of a committee to consider the subject in all its bearings. Gold Meeting.—A meeting has been held in Melbourne, for the purpose of taking steps to offer a reward for the discovery of an available gold mine, within the province of Port Philip. The Mayor of Melbourne presided on the occasion. As might be expected, the opinions expressed were of a contradictory character, some deprecating the measure altogether, as likely to disorganize society, and fraught with evils to the colony. Notwithstanding the opposition manifested, a committee was appointed to

carry out the object, and subscriptions received at the close of the meeting to the amount of 561. and upwards. Subsequent subscriptions placed the committee in a position to offer 200/. as a reward. • A party have returned to Melbourne from an exploratory tour in the Plenty, bringing with them several specimens of ore. The first lot comprises about eight lumps of yellow metallic substance, interspersed with a sort of red clay ; this has been submitted to the aqua fortis ordeal, and has been pronounced to contain a large of gold^ They have also some samples of silver ore, and a quantity of specimens of marble found within twenty miles of the town. In the course of their wanderings they commenced gold washing at a small creek, their labours resulting in theiinding of half a dozen sm#ll diamonds, about the size of the head of a pin. The Abattoirs of Melbourne are on the point of completion, but the batchers of the city have, in a petition to the council, expressed great dissatisfaction, complaining of the want of space, and of ordinary conveniences for slaughtering and dressing the animals. It appears that they have good foundation for this complaint, as the abattoirs only cover a space of 970 square yards, while the present slaughter houses, themselves insufficient for the requirements of the trade, comprise an area of 2934 square yards. Besides this, the position, (on Batman's Hill, used as a promenade by the citizens,) is objected to. Wool was realising the following rates at Melbourne, —scoured lambs, Is. 5d., peat do. Is. 4d., do. locks, Hid. to Is. 2fd., greasy wool, 6rd., sheepskins from 3^l. to 7d. per lb. Potatoes were selling at from 5/. to 61. per ton. The committee appointed to inquire into the causes of the impurity of the Yarra water, have made their report to the City Council. The principal causes appear to be the issues from four fell-mongers' establishments, two tanneries, a starch, a glue, and a boiling-down factory, the numerous carcases of animals in the river, and the presence of mineral salts and decaying vegetable matter. Pobt Philip Ploughing Match—This exciting event came off on the 13th of June, near Keilor. From the state of the soil ilv consequence of the late rains, and the beauty of the day, the whole proceeding passed off pleasantly. The spot was well selected, as, having a gentle slope, and being virgin soil, it afforded a fair test of the merits of the competitors. Twenty three teams of horse ploughs uprooted the land in one spot, and two teams of six bullocks each, in another, were equally indefatigable in their exertions. The prizes were awarded under the various heads of wheat, stock, ploughing, horse teams, and bullocks, and a sumptuous spread at the Fleniington closed the enjoyments of the day." *#* Two parts of a monthly serial publication have been kindly placed in our hands, devoted to General Literature, and entitled the " Illustrated Australian Magazine." It is published by Ham, Brothers, Melbourne, and deserves credit as an endeavour to create and supply a taste for this kind of reading-. It constitutes, in fact, the next step to the establishment of a Newspaper Press. We do not think, however, that the good folks of Melbourne have done all they might have done in the matter of this publication We expected something from them, if not displaying more talent, at any rate superior as a sample of typography. It contains specimens of lithograph engraving, some of which are fairly executed. —[Ed. L. T.j VAN DIE MAN'S LAND. : We gather from the Melbourne papers the following Tasmania^ intelligence to the 9th of June. The Legislative Council was adjourned to July Ist, in consequence of the impossibility of procuring a "house" for the final reading of the Electoral Bill. Gold was reported to have been found at Westbury. Mr. John Mitchell had been released from confinement by order of government. The Screw and this Pahdj.i:.—A trial ot speed was made lately, between the " City ot Melbourne," screw steamer, and the paddle tug "Gipsy." The "Gipsy" loft the wharf at Launceston about twenty minutes after the " City of Melbourne" had beea under steam, and overtook her about twelve miles down the river, after which she soon left her behind. The water was smooth at the time.