SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 201, 5 July 1864, Page 3

SYDNEY.

By tlie S. S. Airedale with- the Southern Mail, we have Sj-dney files to the 25th ult., and several days later Victorian news. Tlio distress iii the river districts in New South "Wales, occasioned by the late heavy floods, appears to be greater even thau was at first expected ; nor have the floods yet subsided in many districts. A correspondent writing from the Jrlunter speaks of nine days' continuous rain, and we find that every means is being taken to induce the public to increase the fund being now raised to assist the sufierers. In speaking on this subject, the Herald says : — " Thoso who have only glanced at the columns of information wo have furnished, on the ravages of florid, must feel that Sydney would be disgraced not only by neglecting an effort, but by want of earnest unanimity. "The extent of the devastation, and the multitude involved in its consequences, terminate all hesitation as to the importance of relief. We do not think it the duty of this metropolis to indemnify the losses of people in the interior, who suffer .by occasional misfortunes, and who have yet spared to them, suflicient in their own resources, or those of their neighbours, to meet their immediate wants. But this calamity has spread over hundreds of miles. It has visited the most populous districts of the interior." It has fallen with intense severity upon all the poorer classes of the people. It has not only interrupted their industry, but also rendered their past labour .worthless. It has not only taken their produce, but invaded their dwellings, and damaged, if not destroyed, their household goods. The ruin of their crops has, of course, been their credit. Previous misfortunes tested this delicato resource to the utmost. The storekeepers, who see industry and expect returns when the harvest' shall be gathered, are generally willing to assist the enterprising classes, and expect their payment at'some distant period. But this help is cut off, for how can it be supposed that storekeepers will confide their goods to persons who are already reduced to poverty, and whoso prospects for many months are I cut oil'." A lecture on the Maoris has' been deli' * vered savs the Sydney ■ Morning -'Herald

"" At the School of Arts, St. Leonards, by Mr. J, J. Clarke;'of Newtownj'wiio'was: for a' number of'years resident in New Zealand. The lecture appeared to give both instruction and amusement to ! a numerous audience, arid-terminated with a very vigorous 'representation of the Maori war-dance'by the lecturer. •A vote of thanks; on tho motion of' Captain 7T. R. 'Garrett, was passed by acclamation to Mr. Clarke, and suitably responded to. "We understand that it is the intention of Mr. Clarke to repeat tho lecture in Sydney and the different suburbs, at a small charge, and to devote the proceeds to the relief of tho flooded-out agriculturists."

Our readers will find, reprinted in another portion of our paper an article from the Sydney Morning Herald on the action of the Aborigines' Society and the memorandum .of Ministers. The view of the question taken by the New South Wales journal is identical with that published by ourourselves at the time, and we recommend the careful perusal of this ably-written and conclusive article to the members of the Philo-Maori party in Auckland. "We learn also from the same source that a most disastrous fire occurred in Valparaiso on the night of the 23rd March, whereby property to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars was destroyed, of which there was only two hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars insured. The principal sufferers were P. Hush ; Grunning and Co.; Green, Nicholson, and Co.; Thomas Cockbain ; Grisar. Schuchard, and Co.; Sains Hermanos ; Gardener and Co., and Beans. Salinas, and Co. The principal loss falls upon the London and Imperial Insurance Companies, who suffer to the tune of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The Royal Insurance Company hns twelve thousand, and the Liverpool and London twenty-two thousand. The remainder is in small sums with different offices in Chile and England. The Australian telegrams, market reports, and other matter will be found in another part of the paper. VICTORIA. By way of Sydney Ave have Melbourne news to the 22nd nit. Tlie Herald of the 20tli says :— Death lias been busv with our prominent men. Tho Hon. Charles Yaughan expired on Saturday last at his residence, at St. Ivilda, in the oiird year of his Age. The lion, gentleman ivas for some time undersecretary under Captain Lonsdale, and since ISSG }iad been a member of the Legislative Council for the Western Province. For two years lie was chairman of the Jntzroy Council, and having inaugurated the new Municipal Aet in tlmt borough, retired on Account of non-residence after enjoying tho title of mayor for only a few months. After his retirement, fi3 a mark of the esteem in which he was held, a large Bum of money was subscribed for the painting of his portrait for presentation to himself. He was jv member of the well-known firm of Vaughan and Wild, station agents and brewers. On Tuesday his remains wove oommitted to the grave, and the funeral was bo very largely attended as to render it almost a -public one.

The funeral of Mr. Heales which has only just taken place was one of the largest ever known in Melbourne. The shops were entirely closed, and over two hundred and fifty carriages formed part of the funeral procession. A subject which causes considerable agitation in Victoria is that of convictism. "VVe learn from the Age of the 18th ult., that—

A meeting of the central committee of the AntiTransportation League -was held on the 17th, in the Town Hall, Melbourne, Mr. "W. M. Bell in the eliair. The honorary treasurer read a letter from Mr. didders, M.P., intimating that in consequence of having taken office he oould not co-operate with the league Q3 heretofore, but would continue to take equal interest in all matters tending to the welfare of this colony. The sub-committee appointed to advise as to the powers given by the present law for preventing the continuance in Victoria of felons convicted elsewhere, reported to the efTeet that any two justices, before whom any such conviction may be brought, may order him back to the country in which the felony was committed—a power which it was thought desirable that the attention of the magistrates should be drawn to, as sufficient to warrant them in returning to the United Kingdom convicts transported thence, and reaching this colony from any penal settlement. It was resolved that an address should be prepared and placed in the hands of- the Government prior to the departure of the mail, for transmission to the newly appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, submitting reasons for discontinuing transportation to Australia, and urging the adoption of that policy. It was also resolved that an address to the electoral districts of Victoria should be published prior to to the general election,, asking them to pledge the several candidates to oppose the continuance of transportation. The Argus of tlie 20th states that— Mauritius news to the Bth May, telegraphed from Adelaide, states that our late Governor, Sir Henrv Bsrklv, had been suffering from a severe attack of fever, but was recovering. And also that the salmon parr have now arrived at the stage at which progress is slow, and there is little change 'to report. They ■are apparently quite satisfied with their new residence, i.e., the long tank, bottomed with gravel ; and some of the fishes having absorbed their umbilical appendage, extract sufficient, nutriment from the water in which they swim. Their final destination has not yet been decided upon. The same paper states that the scab is going ahead in the hitherto clean Murray district.