COLONIAL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 22 March 1851, Page 2

COLONIAL NEWS.

NEW SOUTH WALES. From the N. Z. Spectator, March 1. Terrific Thunderstorm. —Awful Destruction of Property.—Yesterday evening about a quarter past six o'clock, this town was visited by a most terrific storm of rain, bail, thunder and lightning. The rain at first fell full and fast, but was quickly succeeded by a fall of hailstones, which were driven towards the earth with fearful violence. Many of these were picked up and measured, some of them were found to be A% inches in circumference. As might be expected, the windows of those dwellings exposed to the violence of the storm suffered to a considerable extent. Industrial Exhibition. —We understand, and we give the announcement with great pleasure, that it is in contemplation by the committee of the " Australian Society " to pvdpose and carry out an Industrial Exhibition, to be held towards the close of the present year. His Excellency, the patron, has notified his desire of forwarding this object, and to apportion a portion of the Sydney Government Domain for the exhibition", should the intention be carried into execution. The committee would invite the neighbouring colonies, and those connected with the numerous isles of the Pacific, to assist in this great object. We hope we shall soon be enabled to publish the programme of the committee. The idea has been enthusiastically received by all classes in Sydney, where the exhibition is intended to be held in October next.

Drought in the Interior.—The state of the country around Wagga Wagga may be gathered from the following particulars, contained in a letter received by a gentlemen in Bathurst from a relative, who has the superintendence of an establishment in that quarter. The water on the run where 6,800 sheep were despastur'mg had completely disappeared, from consumption and evaporation, and it therefore became necessary to remove them to another run. A plain of forty miles in extent, upon which there was not a drop of water, had to be crossed ; as may easily be conceived, they suffered greatly from thirst. Numbers of sheep and some dogs died in consequence, and the men in charge were supplied with water conveyed in casks on a dray. A poor fellow who was left behind in charge of the store until the team returned to remove its contents, became completely delirious from thirst, and upon the return of the superintendent, was found to have done himself considerable personal injury during the paroxysms of his madness. Placing him on his horse, the writer states that he commenced his arduous journey across the plain above mentioned, and with great difficulty accomplished 25 miles. Here the unfortunate man became so excessively violent, that it was found impossible to restrain him. After a moment's consideration the superintendent resolved upon leaving him to chance, and riding on the remaining 15 miles to procure water. He accomplished his task, and returned with the precious liquid to the sufferer, who was fast approaching dissolution. After a short period he revived sufficiently to prosecute the remainder of the journey. The Sydney Herald of the 20th ult. reports a case before the Police Court, in which the Rev. J. Dunmore Lang was called to answer for a libel against Mr. T. Iceley. It appears that Mr. Iceley was one of the nominee members of the Legislative Council, and that he had voted for a minute which the council had made condemning Dr. Lang's conduct in the affair of sending out emigrants to Moreton Bay. The resolution of the Council was as follows : That this house having been invited by the Rev. Dr. Lang to ascertain whether there are any, and if any, what foundations there are for the charges recently preferred against him by the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the colony, in his Lordship's Despatches, No. 189, of the 30th November 1849, and No. 206, of the 15th December, 1849: —and having considered these despatches and the circumstances generally connected with them, and having heard the Rev. Dr. Lang in explanation, is of opinion there are foundations for such charges, and particularly, — (1.) That the Rev. Dr. Lang having been warned by competent authority, that any emigrants sent out by him, contrary to the regulations in force for the conduct of emigration to these colonies, would not be entitled to any remissions in the purchase of land, induced many persons, nevertheless, to pay him for their passage above the current price, and to emigrate under the impression that they would be so entitled to land upon their arrival. (2.) That the beneficial interest in the Landorder for two parts, dated June 16, 1849, for 850Z. •which sum the Rev. Dr. Lang in his letter to Mr. Pettigrew, his agent, directing the allotment of this land, distinctly admits that be received from the allottees, was not in the Rev. Dr. Lang but in such allottees : that he was merely their trustee; and that his subsequent pledging of the duplicate of the said Order was a fraud on his cestinique trusts, and highly discreditable. Dr. Lang is the editor of a journal called the " Press," in which he has attacked all those -who voted for this resolution. In the present case, he accused Mr. Iceley of a dishonest transaction about the purchase of a ship twenty six years ago, fron a Mr. Underwood of Sydney, stating the transaction in his journal. When called on for his defence, Dr. Lang admitted •iliat he had been a friend of Mr. Icely for twenty four ■ years—that he had told the story of the purchase of the ship, as he had heard it more than twenty years ago. That he had now discovered it was not true, and that he regretted having published the statement. So that Dr. Lang could be for more than twenty years the friend of a man whom he believed to be guilty of a scandalous fraud—and should only turn upon him when he became a political adversary; —that he should publish a gross attack upon a man's private character when he had taken no pains to ascertain its truth. These are the deeds which degrade the Colonial Press, and make it a byeword in England. These are the deeds which make them say in England, we are not lit for Self-government.