NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 502, 26 August 1857, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The arrival of the Clarendon at Wellington brought news from Sydney to the 23rd ultimo. Our papers have come on in the Canterbury. The papers are unusually devoid of interesting news. STEIKE AMONG THE COLLIEBS AT NEWCASTLE. (From the ' Empire' Correspondent.) We regret having to announce that the colliers employed by the A. A. Company are on strike for an advance of wages. The refusal to work without an advance was conceded arose but yesterday (Monday) morning, and as the affair is but young it is to be hoped that it may be amicably arranged before it grows old and aggravated on either side, or before any serious consequences shall have arisen inimical to the interests of the port. From what can be gleaned at present the men appear to labour under an impression that a tacit understanding existed between themselves and those previously having the management of the Company's works, that the scale of wages should rise and fall in accordance with the price of coal on the market here—such, it is alleged, being the case at most of the Welsh mines at home, and adopted as an equitable mode of adjusting wages and of obviating the evil consequences of strikes. The price of the commodity having advanced from I4s. per ton at the shoots to 16s. 6d. per ton for some time past, and as a proportionate advance had not been offered to them, and refused when applied for, the toen came to the determination to cease working until such, time as this principle shall be recognised as a rule at these pits, and their present demands conceded to them in compliance with it. Whatever may be the grounds of this strike, it is certainly to be regretted that at such a season this misunderstanding should have arisen, as it may have the effect, unless speedily terminated, of retarding the progress of the district, and of inflicting irreparable injury on the the trade and prospects of the port. And whatever may be the result of this dispute, as regards the differences between the employer and the employed, arising as it does out of the advance which has taken place in the price of coals at the shoots, it is by no means the only debateable point arising out of the same cause, and as likely to affect injuriously the interests of the port. There is an opinion held among merchants and shippers here, and others well informed on the matter, that this advance in the price is ill-timed and unfortunate, beyond the result that has already arisen out of it, in the pretext it has afforded the men^ to demand, whether right or wrong, this addition to their wages; and that, instead of the coal owners raising the price of the article, that sound policy and the legitimate interests of trade would have suggested its reduction, or at all events to have permitted it to remain as it was—since the steady and comparatively moderate price which has ruled for some time was beginning to induce confidence in the character and stability of the coal trade of Newcastle; and that now this untimely rise, with its attendant circumstances, are calculated to disturb that growing confidence, and increase the difficulties of the merchant and the shipowners in their endeavours to extend the coal trade of this district throughout the southern hemisphere. It is to be hoped, however, that a speedy termination of this dispute between the men and their employers, may be brought about, not only for the sake of their own immediate interests, but of the general interests and the trade of the port. Newcastle, July 21, 1857. The Pbojected Wesleyan College.—A public meeting in aid of the projected Wesley an College wo.s held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Newtown, last evening. There were about 150 persons present. The Eev. Mr. Eccleston moved, and Mr. Collishaw seconded the following resolution, which was carried without dissent : —"That in the opinion of this meeting it is highly expedient that the members of the Wesleyan Church in this colony avail themselves of the munificent offer of the Legislature to aid in the erection of a college in alliance with the University of S3'dney, and by establishment of such an institution provide the means of imparting to their youth secular knowledge of the highest order,' inculcation of religious truth, and a careful moral training, and also facilities for affording a theological and classical training to those who may be called by the Great Head of the Church to the sacred worn of the ministry." The Eev. Mr. Gaud moved the next resolution, which was seconded by the Eev. Mr. Hessell and carried unimously : " That this meeting, approving of the proposed undertaking, and convinced that m order to its accomplishment there niust he united and vigorous effort, deem it advisable that a general subscription be entered into at once, and pledges its best influence to render the plans efficient by which the whole of the funds necessary for the purpose are to be raised." A subscription was then commenced, and about £230 was subscribed. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, George Allen, Esq., M.L.C., the meeting dispersed with praise and prayer. — Empire, July 27. ,- - Eepokted Gold Eobbeey..—lt is'reported that an extensive system of rohbery has been practised for a considerable time past bjT a number of the men emploj'ed at the Wehtworth Gold Field Company's Works, near Orange. It has now been proved beyond doubt, that the deposit of gold on: the Company's'ground is

ich and extensive; occasionally the yield has I been very remunerative, as was the case for two or three weeks together about three months ago. But it now appears that the richest parcels of washing stuff have "been systematically " planted," and washed out by the men for their own advantage. We learn that nine of the workmen have-been appi'ehended on this charge of robbing the company and that the fraud is supposed to have been of serious ext™t."—:lbid,. April2o.