COLONIAL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 13 September 1851, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

SYDNEY,

The Gold Disthicts.—The report which reached town on Tuesday that one hundred and six pounds weight of gold had been picked up in one place, came from so man}' parties, that we Iliad little doubt of its truth, and yet it was so \astounding that we could scarcely credit it. however, brought confirmation of the report. There is no longer any doubt about about it. On Monday the gold was deposited in the Union Bank atßathurst,by Dr. Kerr, the fortunate owner. We believe this to be an unparalleled case. In California we believe twentyeight pounds of gold was the largest quantity ever found in one place. In the Museum at St. Petevsburgh, there is a piece of gold weighingseventy pounds, but one hundred pounds was never found before. It is much to be regretted that in the excitement natural upon such an occasion. Dr., Kerr broke up the quartz in which the gold was embedded. A block of quartz, weighing but.seventy-five pounds, and containing sixty pounds of pure gold, would have been prized far beyondjits intrinsic value. It is useless, however, to regret what is past, nor should we scan too narrowly the acts of one who suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself in possession of a fortune. There can be no doubt that when this unprecedented fact becomes known in England, it will cause the most intense excitement. The news from the Turon is most encouraging. The quicksilver machine is found to answer beyond all expectations. A person who has one writes to a friend in Sydney, that in future he shall not have to write of the number of ounces, but of pounds of gold that he obtains. By the old slovenly method of washing with the pan and cradle, many persons were still procuring upwards of 11. a day each, and there were but few who did not make 10s. Many persons arrived in Bathurst on Monday, bringing large quantities of gold , one party of six had made 400/. in ten days, and a similar party had made 500/. in 14 days ; and Mr. Hebblewhite received a letter yesterday, stating that a party of three, who were unsuccessful for seven days, in (i ye days more obtained two hundred ounces. This shows the value of perseverance. Mr. Sutton's party had accumulated upwards of sixty pounds of gold.— Sydney Morning Herald, July i 8.

His Excellency Sir Charles Fitzroy had made arrangements for an armed escort to convey gold from the diggings to Sydney once in each week. On Tuesday, 22nd ult., the Archbishop of Sydney returned from his tour through a large portion of the interior of New South Wales. A clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Fullerton, had been found guilty by a Jury of illegally marrying a couple, the female being under 14 years. The defendant's counsel moved for arrest of judgment, and successfully. The Judges declined to pass sentence, and. the reverend <>'entlemen was discharged. Mr. C. Kemp, one of the proprietors of the Sydney Herald, is a candidate for a seat in the New Legislative Assembly. Sydney Markets, July 23.—Grain.— Wheat, per bushel, 9s. to 9s. 6d. ; the supply is small; the millers are anxious to purchase ; another rise is expected. Barley 3s. 6d. to 45.; good malting samples in demand. Maize, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. ; the suppply is small : good samples sell readily. Oats '2s. 9d. to 3s. ; nearly all the stores are without good samples. V. D. Land Potatoes, black, per cwt, 5. to os. 6d.; another rise is expected ; nearly all the stores are without good samples. Ditto, other sorts, 2s. 9dj,.to 35.; the supply is good, and sales feep stead)'. Onions, 20s. to 225. ; good samples are scarce and in demand. The following letter has been addressed to us from the Secretary of the Australian League, and we take the earliest opportunity oflayinoit before the Canterbury public. Free as we are from the baneful influences of the tide of convicts continually setting in towards the Australian Colonies, it is yet our duty to make common cause with them in appealing against it. "Office of the Australasian League. c m, s!/dney, June 6, 1851. MR,—The reports in the Sydney Morning Herald newspapers which ha^e been forwarded to you, will have apprised you, Mi at a resolution has been unanimously carried, at a nieetiug oLtkejnembers of. the -New South Wales Association for preventing the revival of Transportation, and of the public, held in

this city, on the 7th of April last, by which_ the committee of the Association were authorized to take such measures as they might deem expedient to unite with the Australasian League, and thereupon to declare the New South Wales Association to be dissolved ; and that these measures having been matured, the New South Wales Association has been accordingly dissolved. I enclose to you copies of the proceedings of the Conference of the League, held in this city during the months of April and May, 1851, and I am instructed by the executive Board of the League to urge upon the settlers of Canterbury, New Zealand, to join the League, and at once to take the necessary steps by public meeting, and organization, to accomplish this union.

You will already have been made acquainted with its'constitution and organization. I now send you a parchment roll or record of the League and solemn engagement, together with tickets of membership, in order to illustrate its machinery and working. Persons who sign the pledge, become thereby Leaguers, but to qualify to vote, they must possess a ticket of membership, for which one shilling is here charged. The election of local councillors is made by the members of League, holdingtickets, and this election will be the first step to your organization. Scrutineers should be appointed and the votes be taken, either openly, or by ballot, as may be expedient. Your local council, when elected, should at once nominate certain persons your agents, in London, to be your delegates, and members of the London board of the League. The importance and necessity of this latter nomination I am directed most emphatically to impress upon you. New Zealand must not be unrepresented in England, for although it was not perhaps essential to confederation that your delegates should have attended the several conferences held in Melbourne and Sydney, it would be highly conducive to our triumph, that you should unite with us in London, and that your agents should be members of the London Board of the League. The nomination can be communicated directly to J. A. Jackson, Esq., Secretary to the London Board of the League, whose address is at Charles McLachlan's, Esq., St. Helen's Place, Bishopgate, London ; and a copy of this communication will be sent to Mr. Jackson accordingly.

The object of the League is to combine the colonies in the expression of a common resolve, and to present their whole case to the British Government and people. To accomplish this purpose, it was requisite to construct machinery, which, until examined, may appear complicated; but every portion of the plan is adapted to some particular work. The proposed confederation is obviously necessary to connect the colonies together, in order to render their remonstrances too powerful for contempt ; and among the measures to be pursued by the local councils, the appointment of London delegates and members of the London Board, is the most important and essential, for everything will depend upon their skill, diligence, and zeal. They may turn the current of emigration to these shores, and avert from it the awful torrents of pauperism, crime, and misery. The office of the Executive Board is to carry on the business correspondence, and to appropriate the hinds placed by the Conference at its disposal, and to direct the members of the London Board. The London Board will do for the League what the Executive Board would do were they sitting in London.—-It is the " other self" of the Executive Board. The London Board will divide the Empire into districts, and send forth its messengers everywhere to proclaim that these colonies have a better destiny than the degradation of being a perpetual receptacle for an Empire's crime. If combination can give strength, the constitution of the League will secure it; and if tin's great confederation be animated with a devotedness and zeal worthy of the cause which it is intended to promote, it will add another to those bloodless victories which assure the human race, that the weapons of truth are given by Heaven to the weak and oppressed, and " that against them the shields of the mighty are lifted in vain."

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, Gilbert Wright. Honorary Secretary to the Executive Board of the League." Editor,Z.y«e/;o» Times Newsparer, Canterbury, New Zealand. MELBOURNE. The following- is extracted from the Melbourne Produce Circular of July 28th. " Wheat.—The advance in the flour market lias been followed by an increased desire to purchase wheat, and those who were sellers a week ago .under 10s. are now seeking higher rates, which can be readily obtained for fine samples. The first vessel sent to South America is reported as not being abJe_.tO4).voc.uvfi_any-,.we.Jba.v.e-aiere-fore now only to depend on our own supplies, anil those of our neighbours, who seem to have little

left to spare. We calculate the consumption of the Mills in Victoria (not including- Port Fairy) for the next seven months, at no less than 250,000 bushels ; it is impossible to get a correct estimate of Stocks on hand, but we believe not more than one half the quantity required, is in the district, either in the hands of millers, speculators, or growers. If we allow Port Fairy to have 50,000 bushels to send us, we shall have to procure from other colonies 75,000 bushels. It may be considered imprudent by some "to make these grave facts public, but we are of opinion that if it should cause any effect on present prices, it may prevent the colony being without a supply when we shall have greater difficulty in getting supplied.

Flour.—The late advance in flour at the mills has not been followed by an active demand at present; the roads into the interior prevent any supplies being forwarded. To give an idea what demand may be expected when supplies can be forwarded, we are informed, that so scarce is flour on the Mururnbidgee, that it is now retailing at Is. per lb., or 1001. per ton. We do not want any Gold country orders for flour, if we only look at our own destitution of this staff of life; and we would draw attention to the state of things in South Australia. Much wheat and flour has been exported from Adelaide, at low prices, early in the season (a good quantity has come here); they now find they will require large imports; an order for 10,000 bushels of wheat, which is executing in Launceston for Adelaide, will cost double the price they exported at. During the whole of last winter, supplies were able to go into the interior ; and we know many settlers would not purchase their usual quantity, owing to prices being higher than usual last wool season, the consequence is, that they will all require double supplies for the shearing. We expect as soon as drays can come down, to see such a demand for flour, as millers have not witnessed in this district."

The same paper states that wheat was 7s. a bushel, and flour 201. per ton, at Swan River, without any prospect of a scarcity.

Markets, August S.—We do not see any price quoted for wheat in our latest papers. On the'6tli instant Messrs. Bear and Sou sold at Auction 91 head bullocks, at from 31. 14s. 6d., to 31. 18s. ; cows and. heifers at from 31. 7s. to 3/, 15s. Qd. per head : and 700 ewes and wethers mixed, at an average of 9s. Ad. per head. Messrs. W. M. Tennant and Co., sold Slip wool at from 9^(l, to 10}{d. per lb. On the 7th instant, Messrs. Bear and Son sold fat cows and heifers, at from 31. to 3/. 03. per head. VAN DTEMAN'S LAND. The Hobarton Guardian says, " We are gratified in announcing that on the Ist of January, 1852, it is contemplated by. the Committee and members of the " Mechanics' School of Arts," here, to open an exhibition of colonial manufactures and Australian produce. We believe that the exhibition will be thrown open to the produce of the adjoining- colonies." It is said that a vein of quicksilver has been found in Hobart Town, in the following extraordinary manner. A child had been bathing in a water-hole in the.garden of his parents', to their surprise he was shortly after found to be in a state of salivation, and after due consideration of the cause, the hole was drained, and a quantity of quicksilver found at the bottom. It has since been ascertained that the spring which supplies the water also supplies the quicksilver. Hobart Town, August 12.—Wheat remains firm at 10s. per bushel; and we believe many . are expecting an advance in price. Barley 6s.'; oats 4s. 9d. to 55.; hay £5 10s. to £0. 15s. per ton; flour, £25.; potatoes £3. to £3. 10s.; onions, £23. per ton (scarce). Launcestox, August 7.—Wheat 10s, per. bushel; outs os. ; flour £24. to £25. per ton. The Royal Saxon has brought down from Calcutta two young Elephants, the first ever seen in this part of the world. Two splendid horses have likewise been imported, and are now at Yeend's stables. One of the Elephants is to be seen at the Macquarie Hotel. — Hobart Town Advertiser, Aug. 15. The "Simlah."—This vessel was signalled yesterday morning from London, as being only 101 days out. We found on enquiry last night, that she left on the 27th April. She is bound to New Zealand, and put in to refresh. A portion of her crew were mutinous and refractory. We were much pleased the other day to observe the improvements now effecting- huhe putt

of Hobart Town. In the course of time it will be one of the finest harbours in the British Dominions, and even in the world. The new market place and the improvements around Constitution Dock, really reflect the highest credit on the scientific mind that projected the works. In these remarks the praise is given to whom the praise is due, and that is to Sir William Dennison, but his works as an engineer may be justly praised, although his government policy is as justly condemned.— TasmanianColonist,&. ug. 14