NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 732, 12 November 1859, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

EESCUE OF TWO CHIlloiElT: FROM THE WIDE BAY BBiCKS. (Prom the * Empire,' Oct. 17.) In our Saturday's issuejwe reported some particulars'of the rescue of tfe) [white girls from the aboriginal natives on Fpszer's Island, through the exertions of the ownejf Ind the master of the schooner Coquette—Mrj Sawyer and Capt. Arnold. The girls have since arrived in Sydney, under the care of Mr. Sawyer, who brought them up from Newcastle in the steamer Williams, and has taken "them to his own residenojat Balmain. Mr. Sawyer will, we understand, surrender his charge to the Government to-day, vjth a full report of his proceedings. There are it present some circumstances wanting in the n^rative of this rescue; but the following facts hav< jcome to bur knowledge through various sources rr The owner and captartf of the Coquette having been in communication yithx the Government on the subject, the schooner^ her last visit to Wide Bay, despatched a party $n search of the white people who were believedtg be on Frazer s Island. This island is about sevjaiy miles in length, and is inhabited by four tribifiof aborigines, the most northerly of which waslfche tribe that held the children in captivity. '.% party despatched from the ship consisted of M^Sawyer, a person who was engaged in trading o;\"Prazer's Island,and two volunteers from the yestjfi Having obtained the assistance of about fortylfe native .blacks belonging'■to the southern tribjf Frazer's Island, they proceeded to the,north^W, accompanied also by an aboriginal native yt\\4m come.up m the Coquette, and who speaks tif&cient English to act as an interpreter. For thrtfidays the party searched on one side of the island but having been ■nsuccesstul there they transfrM their search to the

other Bide. Here, after two days examination, they, with the assistance of their native allies, came upon the tracks of the blacks and the children, the, former being evidently aware that the party were on their trail. The tribe, in whose possession the children: were, numbered about two hundred, but,f by a skilfully arranged manauvro, the party, man-* aged to rush upon .a smaller encampment, when the natives took tq their heels, leaving the. two, girls, who appeared to be too terrified to follow. At first the children, were unwilling to leave with their rescuers, having become quite familiarised with the habits of the aborignes, and indeed having lost all remembrance of their. native tongue. Finally, however, they were conveyed to the beach,, and got safely on board, the Coquette, without the loss of a single life in effecting their rescue, though the utmost promptitude was necessary in order to elude pursuit.

The girls thus saved from a horrible captivity, and now brought up to Sydney, appear to be of the respective ages of about ten and fifteen years, but so deplorable is the physical condition, to which they_ are reduced that it is difficult to form a correct opinion on, this point. Their faces have lost all traces of, childhood, and bear the appearance of withered old age. Besides (his, their captors seem to have resorted to their barbarous customs for the purpose of completely changing the features of these poor orphans. Their noses have been flattened and the nostrils distended. Their mouths appear to have been widened by artificial means, and the lips turned upwards; but it is not impossible that the last named disfigurement may have been caused by the manner in which they were compelled to consume their food, while in the hands of these savages. For the first five days they obstinately refused to eat anything excepting sugar of the coarsest quality, but after a time they took to boiled fish, which they consumed most ravenously whenever they had an opportunity. Through the agency of the Wide Bay black before mentioned, it has been ascertained that the eldest calls herself Kitty, and the youngest Maria, and they say that their mother's name was Mary. They state further that their ship capsized at sea, and that the crew and passengers made the north end of Prazer's Island, by means of ike ship's boats; but that all hands were murdered by the blacks on landing, with the exception of their mother and her family. The mother is said to have died about a year after landing, and the boy about ten months ago. There is some reason to think that a fourth child survives, and is still on the Island.

If these are the children of Mrs. Hartly, who was a passenger in the Sea Bell, it is somewhat remarkable that they/have so soon—particularly the eldest—forgotten their native tongue. It seems that attempts have been made to dye their skin, and they have been scarred ortatooedohtheir faces and arms. Their hair, which was of a fair colour, was cut quite short. While they were lying in Newcastle a gentleman went on board the schooner to, see them, accompanied by a little girl with.light hair, in long, curls, when the eldest of the rescued children made signs plainly indicating that she had once similar ringlets. They were quite naked when taken. Their appear-^ ance, though still deplorable enough, has considerably improved since they: were first taken on board the Coquette. This schooner was.off the heads on Tuesday, but Unable to get in, and it was therefore resolved to run into Newcastle lesfc the children should die for want of their favourite food —fish. The care and attention of Mr, Sawyer arid Captain Arnold appear to have been worthy of all possible praise, and they and all the'party who assisted them deserve a handsome reward for their exertions in rescuing these hapless creatures from their forlorn and deplorable condition. - Th^ suffer-: ings which they must have endured, at their tender v.eariSj ;from-BucH^a,.lifelas_they:liiiV;e,ied alnongst the savages who captured them, can scarcely fie contemplated by the most stoical, without the most painful feelings of pity and compassion. The rescuing party were much exhausted and sore-footed on their return from their expedition. The bush was in a blaze on almost all sides, having, it is supposed, been set fire to by the blacks, in order to prevent the escape of the party. We trust that Government will not lose sight of the service rendered by the friendly natives on. this occasion. A good whale-boat, with gear complete, would probably be a suitable and welcome reward.

Great interest appears to have been excifced in Newcastle by the arrival of these poor girls, and in Sydney, yesterday, there -was also a strong desire to gain information, and a deep feeling of sympathy in this most pitiful case.

The ' Empire * gives the following items of town and country news for the week ended Oct. 15 :—

On Thursday last eight nuns of the Order of Mercy arrived in Sydney, from Ireland, by way of Melbourne. The final destination of these ladies is Goulburn,' the Catholics of whith town have been instrumental in introducing them into the colony. They have for the present taken up their residence at St. Kilda House, Woolloomooloo, but will proceed to Goulburn as soon as arrangements for their journey are completed. A Dublin paper thus speaks of the departure of the sisters, and their object in removing to this country:—-" Eight ladies of the Westport branch of the Order of Mercy, left Baggot-street Convent on the Ist July, for Liverpool, where, on their arrival, they remained in St. Mary's Convent of Mercy until Wednesday the 6th, when they sailed in the Saldanha for Sydney, there to found a convent, schools, &c, in connection with their order. His Grace the Most Reverend: Dr. Polding, Archbishop of Sydney, expressed the greatest desire to obtain the invaluable aid of some of the good Sisters of Mercy; and, at the request of his Grace, Dr. Goold, Bishop of Melbourne, who is now in this country, made arrangements for the departure of the eight ladies above mentioned. They were attended to Liverpool by the Eev. Philip Kir wan, D. D., St. Michan's, under whose superintendence they embarked; and they will make the voyage under the special care of three clergymen, who go out as missionaries to Australia."

On Thursday last an inquest was held at the Eailway hotel, George street, touching the death of Ebenezer Cummins, who had lost hislife accidentally a few hours previously. It appeared that whilst a train of trucks or ballast waggons was moving along the Pyrmont Railway at the rate of about four miles an hour, the deceased attempted to jump on one of the trucks in the open,space just between the wheels, but in consequence of the heap of ballast on which he Vas standing giving way beneath his feet, ho missed his aim,' fell against the side of the waggon, was dragged under the wheels, doubled up, and crushed to death. Two loaded waggons passed over him, inflicting frightful lacerations on the neck, arms, chest, and thighs. He has left a wife and two children totally unprovided for. The coroner humanely ordered him to be interred at the public expense, as his wife had no means of burying him. We hope this frightful accident will be a warning to the men engaged on Pyrmont Railway,as wo understand that they are in the habit ofjumping on the waggons every day whilst the train is in motion. The practice is extremely dangerous, and other accidents will probably hereafter occur unless it be stopped. VerdictsAccidental death. •:.

.. In the case of William Witts, tho unfortunate man whose:body was found in the Shoalhaven river, and whom his two travelling companions reported as having been accidentally drowned, it appears that the 'matter was not allowed to end with tho coroner's, inquest. The jury on that occasion found that the deceased had been killed by

•a blow on the head, but by whom inflicted they could not say. The police then took the matter up, and the result i», that William Mason and Thomas Spring, the men who where travelling' with Witts, iare committed to take their trials for wilful murder. ( The cvidcmceTof the '.medical witness went to show that the deceased lrad not died froni drowning, but had. received a blow, on the head, breaking in a ■small portion of the skull, and had then been thrown into the water. It was known '{hat Witts had been possessed of money, but none was foundl on the body when it was taken oui of the river, while, on the other hand, a five shilling piece, which, had been given in change "tbtKe deceased by was afterwards paid away.by one of the prisoners to the same storekeeper's "wife. Tho two prisoners, Mason and Spring, have since beea lodged in Goulbum gaol. : ■ It will be seen by our law report that the case of Purves v. the Attorney-General, which has frequently been before the Court for several weeka past, has at length reached that stage in which his Honor the Primary Judge has pronounced his decision. This case involves the right of the Rev. Dr. Lang to officiate in the Scots Church, Jamiesou street, and to hold the Manse and other buildings in connection therewith. In the arguments before the Court, which have teen of *a very lengthy nature, Dr. Lang has personally taken a very considerable part., The Primary .Judge yesterday made a decree in favour,of the plaintiff—the effect of which will be to prevent Dr. Lang's continuing to occupy, as minister, the Jaimeson-street Church. Part of the decree is in the nature of an injunction restraining Dr. Lang from further officiating. On Tuesday next, however, an application will be made to the Court to suspend this portion of the decree until the.decision of the full Court on ,the appeal has been obtained. The bulk of the costs, up to the present stage of the case, will, it is understood, have to be borne by Dr. Lang and Mr. Eamsay. It is to be hoped that some compromise or arrangement will be effected between the parties to prevent further litigation. A great Masonic banquet has been given at Mudgee. The District Court Judge (Dowling) was present, as was also Mr. Dalley and Mr. Wild, barristers, on the Circuit. The local paper 6peaka of this as the most distinguh affair that has yet been witnessed in Mudgee. Accounts from Bathurst state that fearful bush, fires have been burning for some days in the neighbouring forests, filling even the town with clouds of smoke. The fires in the crests of the Blue Mountains aye spoken of as presenting from the town a magnificent and awful appearance. A bush fire raged during the hot winds blowing last week,: in Coogee Bay. The bush is very thick in the valley, and consequently the flames spread very rapidly. The residence of the Bishop o£ Sydney was in great danger, and only by great activity, and applying water freely to the shingles was it saved.

The weather to the southward has been scarcely endurable. " Braidwopd and its district (says a local paper) has been visited by a succession of hot dry winds, which have been blowing great guna from the .westward. ; Bush fires are very prevalent; the ranges towards the Clyde, and those known as the Black Ranges, to the westward of the town, are also on fire, giving the atmosphere the appearance of a terrific furnace. Over towards Reidsdale the destructive element-is belching forth, volumes of flame; and a gentleman who came up the mountain from' Araluen by the Dirty Butter Creek Track, informs us that he and his horse were in great danger from the falling of the burning trees ;6n each side of the road." . '

Dean Grant, a Roman Catholic clergyman residing at; Bathurst, Having had good to be pleased with the results of a late bazaar for the 'beiiWt'o'f thfe* Cathedral, resolved £q give a large party of guests'Vpicnic, in commemoration of of their liberality. We are told that " a very shady spot had been selected for the scene of operations— a matter of no slight consequence with the thermometer at 91. degrees in the shade—on the banks of the Macquarie, near Sawpit Creek, and after a capital cold collation had been discussed, the guests amused themselves with music and dancing, while the more juvenile portion of the party found ample means of recreation in an extemporised gymnasium and other sports, and the entertainment was prolonged until sunset, when the joyous party returned to town, highly gratified with the fete provided for them by their much respected host.

The Parramatta and Penrith branch railway line is rapidly progressing, the rails are now connected with the main trunk line. The first bridge over Beckett's creek has been tried, by receiving two large engines and trucks, and found to answer well ;—the vibrations being scarcety perceptible—^in a short time the " steam horse" will make his first appearance in the neighbourhood of Penrith.

Our Parraraatta correspondent informs us that the main building in the Barrack Square narrowly escaped being burnt down. A spark from the chimney fell upon the shingles and ignited them ; fortunately it was soon discovered, and as the wind was not blowing, the flames were speedily extinguished. Parramatta is but ill provided with the means and appliances for extinguishing fires, whenever such calamities occur.

It is gratifying to receive favourable accounts of the crops in the Hunter district. From the 'Mercury' of last Saturday we' learn that the present appearance of the crops on the Lower Hunter gives promise of a very abundant harvest. The hot winds which prevailed in the early part of the week have been very beneficial in the lower and richer districts, where the growth was so luxuriant as to require a check; but in the neighbourhood of Singleton they are said to have operated very prejudicially. Should there be a continuance, however, of the weatber now prevailing, the crops will be soon restored to their former healthy condition.

Prom the Northern squatting districts, the reports that have reached town are not altogether favourable, according to the Press of Darling Downs. The accounts of the lambing in the Burnett district are not very cheering, as we hear that on many of the stations there have been severe losses, owing to the bad season in that part, which has been so severe that several owners of stock have not succeeded in procuring more than twenty per cent, increase. Other stations more favourably situated have not been quite so unfortunate, and have succeeded in obtaining about the usual average, but the owners of these runs are in the minority. Carriage is plentiful and reason* able, and as several of the stations have now the shearing completed, the new clip is being forwarded to the port, for which purpose the season and roads are fortunately very favourable.

The same- authority furnishes some interesting particulars from the Uondamine River:—The weather hasibeen dry, and the frosts severe during tha winter; in fact/until lately, most severe. A night's rain has fallen, with symptoms- of more. The iambingjvas early throughout.the greater part of the district, ana great care has been requisite. On the best stations the owners have exceeded their most sanguine Hopes, as "high as eighty per • cent, haying . been obtained; the general ■ lambing 4• will; however, fall very short of ,the usual average. The lambs saved are strong and healthy. The country to the westward, so long kept vacant by speculators, having at last been sold,, is now being stocked, and the utmost activity is manifested in the search of new runs viiih. a view to still further develop the resources of this part of tho new colony. Several explorers are out in .various directions.