COLONIAL NEWS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume V, Issue 259, 21 December 1849, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

South Austbalia. Gold. — It is the intention of the South Australian Company to begin washing for gold. That it exists in their surveys on the Onkaparinga and Torrens is obtain, Mr. Giles having seen it taken out. From three shovels full of gravel, taken at random from the bed of the Torrens, near the Wool Sheds, one hundred grains were extracted in his presence, and he has seen it for ten miles along the river, on different parts of the company's property. We have seen a specimen of the gold dust, and another has been sent to London. It is in very minute particles, the largest not nearly the size of the smallest pin's head. We have also seen gold dust found in other localities by private persons. It is found in the Torrens, on the property of Mr. Charles Campbell, and at Lake Osmond, on the Onkaparinga, and on that of Mr. Osmond Gilles. For many months a company has been organising, to work these discoveries. It seBms likely that gold may have accumulated in the rivers for centuries past. It is known to exist in the copper ores of the colony, though not perhaps to an extent which would pay for extracting ; but as the baser metal perished, the gold would of course remain, and the natural action of the floods would carry it down the mountain streams. — South Australian. The Mauritius. Sir George Anderson fully realizes the hopes entertained of him previous to his arrival. He seems cjuite aware of the great responsibility of his appointment, and is determined to use all his efforts to reform the administration of the colony. It is an arduous task. A treasury empty — an expensive government establishment which tt is known the colony cannot support — an imperfect system of immigration to be remodled—an irregular taxation to be re-

formed — the administration of justice, the mutation of property, and the registration Of deeds requiring a strict and intelligent investigation — an improved communication with Europe to be organized so as to ensure punctuality ; these are the first subjects that present themselves, and give an idea of the state in which Sir G. Anderson finds the colony. Yet he appears to have a mind capable of grappling with all these complicated and embarrassing questions, provided his physical strength prove equal to his perseverance. It was on the 11th that the proclamation of his Excellency appeared announcing that he had assumed the Government of Mauritius. At the public meeting held tho day previous to tho arrival of our new Governor, an address was voted which was to be presented on his arrival. Accordingly, ok the 13th a numerous deputation, with his Excellency's permission, waited on him at Government House. Mr. Chapman read tho address, and concluded by expressing the satisfaction generally felt at his arrival ; promising cordial co-operation with his Excellency in his endeavours to benefit the colony, and in return looked for the confidence of the Secretary of State thro' his Excellency's representations. In his reply Sir George Anderson deplored the suffering of the colony, and promised his aid and influence to bring about amelioration ; said immediate redress should be afforded in all cases requiring it when dependent on him, and in any matter where reference to the metropolis was necessary, promised to refer them there without delay ; gladly identified himself with the interests of the colony, and hoped when the time of his retirement came that he should be thought of by the colonists as a good Mauritian. The next day, 15th June, there was a levee, which was very numerously and respectably attended. It is in the Legislative Council where the superior intelligence and quick perception of his Excellency are most remarkable. The business before the Council was quite of a secondary character on the arrival of Sir G. Anderson ; now several questions of the highest importance occupy tho members, not only at the weekly meetings, but in Committee. — Mauritius Mail, The West Indies. The following summary is compiled from the " Times" of the 23rd of July :— In Jamaica the canes were health}' and promising, particularly on the north side of the island. The news of an advance of prices in England had given a trifling stimulus to business. Some of the planters refused to pick coffee, declaring that prices were unremunerating. (There had been a considerable riso in England in the interval.) The cholera was raging at Mexico. At Havannah the weather had been very favourable for the growing crops. The prices of sugar had advanced. In Deraerara a new Franchise Bill was introduced, under the auspices of the Governor : the object of this measure was to extend considerably the voting qualifications for members of the Court of Policy. This Bill met with much opposition, and was only carried by the casting voto of the Governor. In Demerara there was a general complaint of deluging falls of rain that had swamped the cane-fields. In some parts the consequences were disastrously felt by the proprietary body in the diminished returns of their plantations during the ensuing crop. The fine estate, Richmond Hill, had been sold for 4600 dollars. At one time this estate was valued at £50,000 sterling. At Barbadoes the orop was abundant. In Antigua the island was suffering from drought. A serious emeute broke out in Guadeloupe on the 26th June ; the natives rose against the authorities in consequence of some contemplated municipal changes. The attempted insurrection, was quickly suppressed, but not before twelve lives were lost. At Bermuda, a tragical affair took place on board the •' Medway," convict hulk at Ireland Island, which resulted in the death of three of the prisoners and the wounding of eleven others. It appears that on the 3rd instant, one of the convicts was ordered to be flogged for mutiny, and early on the morning of that day was brought up for the purpose. As usual on such occasions, the other prisoners were ordered on deck to witness the punishment. When the man was tied up, a sudden shout, an opening of knivea, and a rush to the after part of the vessel proclaimed the mutinous intentions of the body of convicts ; but the guards of the ship being placed along the deck in sections of five, under the command of Mr, Black, the Inspector were

instantly ordered to fire in sections. The command was promptly obeyed, and with such precision of fire, that 14 out of 15 bullets discharged took effect, killing 3 and wounding 11, some of the latter 90 dangerously that 2 were not expected to survive. The noise of the firing on board wag heard by a military post of the 42nd regiment, a detachment of which hastened on board, when order was quickly restored, and the flogging completed. An iuquest his been held upon the bodies of those killed, and a verdict of "justifiable homicide" returned. The convicts on board the " Medway" are all Irishmen and Roman Catholics, many of them the dupes of John Mitchell. The movement was headed by a man named John Cronian, brother to the man whose flogging was to take place, but he had been informed by the Inspector that bis presence to witness the punishment of his relative would bo excused, but he insisted upon coming on deck, and excited the prisoners by loud cries to gain the mastery of the ship. Mr. Black is stated to have exhibited great command on this trying occasion. America. The state of Canada, which has for some time past been regarded as comparatively quiet, is again giving cause for apprehension. The agitation is on the increase, and the exertions of the opponents of the government to carry their \iews are much spoken of. A publio meeting has been held in Upper Canada to effect purposes described in the following resolutions : — "That, impressed with the urgent necessity of Anglifying the whole country, this meeting pledges itself to use all constitutional means within its power to root out and to banish for ever all distinctions of language and of race, by raising the French Canadian to the level of a Briton, to place the whole of United Canada under one system of laws, and to establish one language only as the language of the legislature, of the law courts, and of the publio schools."—" That, in a financial, commercial, and agricultural point of view, the Anglification of Canada is most important to its future progress, wolfare, and content ; and that, in point of economy, tho doublo sets of officers, such as two AttorneysGeneral, two Solicitors-General, two Ad-jutants-General, two Commissioners of Public Works, double sets of books, records, and official documents of all kinds, double sets of clerks and translators, double printing of all parliamentary and official notices, and of all laws. &c, &c., would be done away with, and the time and money now not only uselessly but mischievously squandered in keeping up * a separate nationality' would be saved, the people united in one language, and under the one system of laws, and the country opened to progress and improvement." — " That, with a view to carry out the objeots embraced in tho preceding resolutions, a society be now formed, to be called ' The Brockville British American Association,' for the Anglifying of Canada."