AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1961, 18 August 1869, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

The Xorthern Age (Rockhampton) issued an extraordinary on the 15th July containing the following : —“ On Wednesday, a monster nugget, weighing 2580zs Bdwt., was brought into Rockhampton. It was found by a little boy nine years of age, the son of Mr Cadden, on Mount Wheeler, Cowarral. It is a beautiful specimen of pure gold, lightly waterworn in parts, and is valued at LI per ounce. It was dis

covered a few inches below the surface, on the top of a slight ridge, near to a place where many small nuggets have been lately picked up. Scarcely had the news of this rich find spread over the town, when another nugget was brought in, weighing 1790z5. Udwt., the property of Mr Luckman, and found within a few inches of the one first unearthed, also by a boy; the second specimen is not quite so bright as the first, but the gold is equally pure, being entirely free from dirt of every description. The person who brought it in assures us that the men on and about the spot where it was found have for some time past, been doing remarkably well ; making as much as from L 3 10s to LI 2 per day, many nuggets from one to two and a half ounces having been hit upon daily, and prospecting is being briskly prosecuted. Many of the men from the various parts of the Cowan al are flocking to Mount Wheeler, and we have every reason to believe that we shall hear very important news before our next issue, as many practical miners have expressed their opinions that the ground over the whole of the district is rich with these proofs of the mineral wealth which lies embedded on the lulls on the north side of the river. We understand that the s.s. Great Britain reached Liverpool on the 2nd July, the grand old ship thus making the run in fifty-seven days, the fastest passage on record. She was to leave again for Melbourne, on her return voyage, on the 12th August, Mr Harwood, of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, who went home to engage dramatic talent for the colonies, reports that he saw everything that was to be seen in the theatrical world of the great metropolis ; after which he visited Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and other provincial towns. He found that there were but few stars of great magnitude on the English stage, and that these were generally indisposed to visit Australia except upon exorbitant terms ; the long sea voyage, the reputation Melbourne audiences have acquired in the profession of being somewhat difficult to please, and the proximity of a larger field for dramatic talent in America, all exercising a deterring influence. Speaking generally, Mr Harwood was not at all impressed with the superiority of the English theatres; and he has the axithority of Mr Barry Sullivan, Mr F. Youngo, Mr Anderson, and Madame Celeste, for saying that the stock company usually to be found in the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, is infinitely superior to qny stock company to bp had in England, where actors seem to be trained more for particular lines of character than for general utility. Prominent among the engagements Mr Harwood has made is that of Herr Bandmaun, who has made a hit at home in Hamlet and Narcis.se ; Miss Milly Palmer (his wife), a juvenile actress of considerable merit ; Miss Rose Evans, and Miss Frances Bentley, who will arrive by the Suffolk. Theatrical affairs, however, arc in a flourishing condition at home, competition being so great that managers are obliged to pay high salaries for the best talent, and there is no great disposition on the part of stars to emigrate. Mr Harwood also spent some days on the Continent, and is of opinion that theatrical business is done as well in Melboxmxe as in any place he has seen. Neither Mr Fechter nor Mr Sothern were desirous of visiting the Colony at present, but Arthur Sketchley, whose entertainments axe highly spoken of, had some thoughts of coming out. At a dinner given to commemorate the establishment of the Melbourne Meat-preserving Company, Mr Louglxxxaxx ixx the chaix’, it was stated that the company was now able to turn ovxt frpm 10,000 to 11,000 tins per week. The demand from Europe was stated to be equal to 100,000 tins per week. Eight hundred shares have been applied for ixx the new meat-preserving compaxxy proposed to be established in Geelong. This speaks well for the success of axx enterprise which has xxot yet been brought before the public.