TASMANIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 50, 23 June 1858, Page 3

TASMANIA.

We are indebted to a passenger by the Camilla for files of Hobart Town papers to the Bth instant. The Mercury of that date, in an article upou taxation, estimates that every male citizen of the colony is now paying annually for the luxury of being governed, no less than .£8 15*. A\d. a year, in addition to the municipal rates of I*. 6d. in the pound. The new land regulations, involving the credit system, are said to be working satisfactorily, and no less thon 147,520 acres had been applied for during; the six months they had been in force. We extract the following from the paper above referred to :—: — " Great exertions are being made to render the Arts Treasures Exhibiton, which will be opened in the Chamber of the Legislative Council in a few days, well worthy of the colony. There are some very splendid works of Art by English and Italian masters in the possession of some of our leading citizens, the whole of which have been placed at the disposal of the Committee. We expect to find, also, works of considerable merit by Tasmanian artists, nor shall we fail to give that prominence to them which they deserve. It speaks well for the colony that a taste for the fine arts is growing up amongst us. "Our Colonial Treasurer has visited Melbourne during the past month, and has succeeded in inducing the Victorian government to consent to an alteration in the route which it was proposed the Cable should take.

This new arrangement will greatly facilitate the laying down of the wires on the Ta3manian shore. An additional expense will be incurred in consequence of a greater length of Marine Cable being required ; but the government of Victoria, with a liberality which reflects high \ credit upon its members, has consented to bear a moiety of such additional expense. "The Elizabeth Jane, schooner, now lying at the New Wharf, is fitting out to proceed to Herd's Island, to the southward of Desolation, for the purpose of taking sea elephants, which abound on the coast in that locality. These animals (which are amphibious), at certain seasons of the year, assemble on the beach in vast herds, numbering many thousands, and are caught by being lanced or shot with a short gun. They are chiefly valuable on account of the oil which they yield, the average quantity obtained from each elephant being from three to four barrels ; their teeth, also, which are ivory, are turned to a profitable accouut." The following items of Tasmanian news were in type previous to the arrival of the Camilla with later dates :—: — We (Melbourne Aye) have files of Hobart Town and Launceston papers to the 22nd May. The columns are for the most part occupied with English news. A strange proposal has been made by the Hobart Town Courier, namely, to transform the six hundred convicts, now at Povt Arthur, into soldiers, and send them to India. This summary mode of terminating convictism, long the vexata qaestio of Tasmania, does not, however, appear to have any other advocate than this solitary journal. Launceston has been engaged in organizing its Gas Company, and anticipates in due time being properly lighted up. The Port Arthur Coal Mines. — The new lessees of the Port Arthur Coal Mines, finding that not another ton of coal was to be obtained from the shaft sunk by Mr. Thomas, have abandoned it altogether, and have driven in a drift of about 6*5 yards, at only about onehalf the distance from the jetty at which the coal will be shipped. Mr. Hurst, who is at the mines superintending the working of them, states that he has come upon a seam — the lower s??.:ti he terms it — four feet nine inches lin thickness. The seam, he is positive, will ! supply the metropolis with coal for the next j twenty years, without exhausting it. I A Native Tiger. — The body of one of these nearly obsolete animals was forwarded, on Monday, to the Royal Society, by Mr. C. S. Henty, M.H.A., having been shot by a settler at the westward. The animal is, like almost all others in Tasmania, marsupial, having the pouch or purse so well known in the kangaroo and opossum species. It has a very formidable appearance; the mouth, like that of the "devil," being large, and furnished with long and very strong teeth, as white as ivory, and the jaws extending very far into the skull. The tiger is marked very beautifully on the side and tail with yellow stripes, on a mouse-coloured ground, and is about two feet and a-half in height, and rather more than three feet in length. The animal has been forwarded to Mrs. Touch, of Brisbane-street, for the purpose of being properly prepared for a place in the Museum ; and, in the meantime, Mr. Frith, the photographic artist, is engaged on a portrait, winch will be ready for exhibition today. — Mercury. Terrible Accident. — A sad accident has occurred at the office of the Cornwall Chronicle. A lad, named Bush by, foolishly inserted his arm, to reach a candle, between two large cogwheels attached to the cylinders, whilst they were in motion; the teeth caught his arm, and broke it in five places. The sudden obstruction thus offered to the machinery caused one of the large wheels mentioned above to break. The Bushrangers. — On Saturday, about two o'clock, the bushrangers visited Iveridge, the residence of A. G. Walker, Esq., near i Longford. Mr. Walker was at dinner. The servants were brought in and tied, but Mr. Walker was not molested, and on the whole the fellows were civil. They helped themselves to wine and beer, some of which they gave to i the servants. They took about £2 m money and some jewellery, some of which they restored on being asked to do so. They stayed until sundown, when they lett, telling Mr. Walker not to give information until morning, i on pain of being again visited. A strong body i of police are out in pursuit. — Examiner. ■,