SYDNEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 218, 20 August 1862, Page 6

SYDNEY

(lltOM OUH OWX COUfIKSI'ONDENT.) Sydney, July 23th, 1862. Since my last L-lcor, the Parliament has not made much progress with the State Aid Bill. Three nights have already been spent in discussing it, and the subject may be truly said to be exhausted. The other night Dr. Lang spoke for two hours and a-half, and took his hearers all over the globe with him in seeking far instances to prove how beneficial voluntaryism had been in its influence upon religion. He said he should accept the bill as a compromise, although he would have been better pleased if State Aid had been abolished at once, instead of being prolonged for perhaps fifty years. Latterly the public seem "to have awaked to the necessity of letting the Legislature know their sentiments upon the question, and petitions, have poured in daily by the score. The majority of them are against the abolition, and some pray even for an ncrease, rather-than a reduction. The Bishop of Newcastle has proposed in a letter to the Sydney Hiraht, that the question should be settled by Parliament voting a sum equal to fifteen years' purchase of the present stipend of the colony, to be paid in Government debentures bearing interest at the rate of ~> per cent. This sum the Bishop thiuks would provide aoout £75 yearly for every clergyman, so that the laitywould have the greater portion of their parson's stipend to provide, and in consequence, mtjjrlit fairly claim a corresponding voicjand influence in their appointment. At present tiie Church of England reserves about £ U,OOO per annum— sc-vonty-two persons get an average of jC2.VJ each, while forty-nine receive nothing. T!im cannot be called a just distribution ; but so it i-i. It is calculated that the Government will secure a majority of sor 6 in favor of the bill. But even if it pass the Assembly, the Council may refuse it, in which case, we are thrown back for a year, and the "agitation about the bill will be renewed with great violence.

The Assembly have decided pretty conclusively that they are not yet ripe for the introduction of protection into this country. We have a few members in the House who are rabid on the subjiic-.t of agriculture' and- manufactures. The chief, agitator "of protection is Mr. Allen, a soup and cimdlemaker, and who represents a fanning constituency. lie. wants", a protection duty on corn, boats, shoes, wcoilcn*, and furniture—lie itt modest enough not to include soap and candles, though, of course his trade ought to be protected' as well as the others, if we ate to abolish free trade.

I may remark to shew that there is no necessity for protection for some of these specified trades,'that we- have woollen manufactures flourishing in this city and at Paramatta and. Emeu Plains. The woollen 3 compete successfully with English importations, and at the Great Exhibition we learn the Australian cloths were to much admired that many people thought they were manufactured in England. However, it is not very likely that the Parliament will take up an exploded theory about trade, because here and there, owing to exceptional circumstances, certain interests have decayed. The past fortnight has been distinguished by a number of audacious acts on the, part of bushrangers and others of a lawless disposition. The first in importance was* the attack made upon Sir F. R. Pottinger and his party (2) when they were returning with two prisoners, and the gold they had taken the day before. The prisoners were-forcibly rescued by seven or eight men, but they failed to get back the gold. According to the official account a great number of shots were fired by the bushrangers, but the only damage done was the shooting of one of the constable's horses. After the rubbers retired, Pottinger entrenched himself, and sent to Lambing Flat for assistance, which was soon forthcoming, and lie reached the camp in safety with 213'ozs. of gold. lam glad to state that the day after this uiniiri Sergeant Flanigan recaptured one of the rescued prisoners. As for the gang infesting the southwestern roads, the police are after them, but the chase seems useless. On the 21st of July, some rascals broke open the Post-ofiice at Sofala, ami stole from the letter bags about £000, chiefly in cheques. In this case the condition of the office tempted the robbers, for the postmaster did not reside in it, but in the house adjoining. A good many of the cheques have been stopped at the bank here; so, after all their trouble and risk, the thieves may not get much to reward them. Coming down to something of less importance, there is the case of Mr. OlHver, the late manager of the Bank of New South Wales, at Bathurst. When his books were inspected,. a deficiency of over LIOOO was discovered. .He left Bathur.st, came to Sydney, and was arrested on the 19th oa a charge of embezzlement. He was brought up to the Police Court and remanded, bail being

allowed. Two days afterwards lie was rcarrestcd, charged with embezzling n second sum of over L9OO. Ilia wife was also brought up as an accessory and for receiving the stolen notes, but wus ultimately discharged. The ciise, I hear, is very clear against Olliver. T!ic Bank holds «'i guarantee from the European Assurance Society, which will more than cover the loss sustained.

By the last mail, information was received that Sir D.uiicl Cooper would probably bo created a baronet. This gentleman is very rich, and was formerly Speaker of the Assembly. Since he has been in England he has interested him^!?' in getting the coal of this country.tested by the Admiralty, and has thus done us some <• -ivicu. He is one of our commissioners at th . Great Exhibition.

The mission of our Emigation. Commissioners, Messrs. Parkes and Daliey, has turned out a failure. It is not known that they have influenced a single family or persen to come out here. And it was not very likely they could do so, when Air. Gordon, from Queensland, offered greater encouragements to people desirous of trying their fortunes in a new country. Therefore, they are not to bo blamed. I have no doubt they .have done their best. They have lectured, talked, and expatiated 0:1 this great colony, and published pamphlets, and given advice and so on. Mr. Da!lcy left England or. June 15th, tired of his work ; Mr. j Parkes only awaits oflk-ial sanction to.*follow him, ! You arc aware 1 Jenry Parkes is a man of mark j here; at one "time, editor of tho Empire, which he | founded, and member for Sydney. It is pretty well understood ho vas sent to England, because the Premier, Mr. Cowpcr, fourtU him troublesome, and it is now asserted that on" his return, Mr. Parkes is to be appointed Inspector of Prisons, for which post in; has been Oiling himself by enquiring into prison discipline in England. A better man for the post could not be found ir. the colony. As for Mr. Dalley, a very talented, but I expect, lazy Australian, he will probably resume piaciicc us a* barrister, lie's a splendid fellow for addressing a jury in a breach of promise case. He confines him-olf to criminal practice, and I hear no high opinion of hi<s assiduity. The fact is, he could live without his profession, and there is no reason why he should not take life easily if he ph-asw*. He, though young, has been thu Solidtor-Clfjieral of New Smith Wales. Jle first entered Parliament us-member for Sydney, beating John Fairfax, proprietor of the Herald, by several hundred votes. He's it great'pet amongst the womon.

11. M, S. Pclorus, sailed July 20rh tor Kngland.The- Orpheus succeeds her on thin station? On the llth July, cons'li-mler O'Heil'v, of-11.-M. sloop l^ouct-r. was accidentally killed, whilst out hangiiroo hunting at Port Jicnit»ori. Ilii horse cirried J iv ng.-unst n tre^; wherdiv bis skull wj< fnicturcd, and he died iv two hours. Port Deiiiscm bus been cinwen as n naval coaling station. The A. S. X.. Company have detortsitnctl upx)n running "a so the Huutbern porhtof New Zculand. Ther«j.will be h moaihlj? service which will commence September l*t.

A now Fin.- and Marine ■Insurance Company, has been skirted here." It i». called the l'acifie, and came..out.under such excellent auspices, that all tho bhares. have been at once taken up, -There were only 10,000 shares to allot, hut 50,000 were applied tor, a sort of proof that there ha large amount of capital-here, .waiting good investment: The gentlemen wjio acted a- provisional director,-! and now s;ek eifvMon, are Jrjne* M.utin, M.I 1., Q. C Mr. Mo;; J-;Un\ a well known merchant,' Mr. Young, late of Y«»ung,. f.ark and Benn.tr, Mr Leigh, of Watkius and !Ui-h, and Mr. ' Jnma» Byrne. The operation* of the company will commence at once.

Tiie't.stimatps fur I*G2 were laid upon tho table of the Assembly la*t Tuesday, and will he considered, next Wednesday. L notice in them that the Government propose to ask f>r x"B»,(MK),' instead of £50,000 fur the pnrjK.se of it<;iHt»fg immigrants, Thn is considered by some v (Convincing proof that our revenue is in a healthy state, or ho large a sum could nut be «p trcd. The last thtittle eontai-j-i the conditions to be observed in the leasing of our railways.

A fortnight ago a lire oeenred in Newcastle, in a wooden bnilainjj.known as the Steam i*ackc*t Hotel. It was burnt to the -ground, ami the daughter of the ■■ proprietor, n girl of five years, perished in the flumes. The adjoining \wi\'liu%», one of which was me B.mk of New South-WaleV, were much injured. The Iftufiim of to-day contains a vl.-rurn from Melbourne,'announcing that thr-. bushrangers, seven horses, and some gold fwl Iwcn captured at Grant's station, near Tea, >v three constables. One of the robbers was s: ,"t dead, and a constable was wounded in the "desperate light which took place. It is supposed out* of the men U i Guniiucr. For myself I do°nt credit this portion of the telegram, for we hear of Gardiner in all directions, and I begin to think he is a fictitious personage. The Uiii w.i.s read' a second time last ni^ht by 29 to 28: a very close discussion indeed. It is thought the bill will pass through committee, and that many members who have vindicate J their consistency by voting against the' bill, to v withdraw their opposition. The committal of the bill is fixed for August G. The: last mail-brought us news of great distress amongst the nuinufuct.iring people in Laneashir * A meeting, was called July l«j, at which the Governor presided, and where £WCH) was there and then ci>Heeted. lly Tuesday following, the Treasurer was enabled to send home per tho ».& Bombay .'.a dratt tor £5000, to aid the oporsitivesiu their great <!i->tres\s. The nmutry disiriets are now beginning- to move in tho" "matter, and it is ■ expected that £H),uOO. will be sent by the August mail. The prompt liberality of the" colonists is much to be commended.

The dispute at Newcastle, between the Australian Agricultural Company and their miners is still unsettled, und the prospects of a compromise between them are now very fiint ind---yd, but of the ;im men the Company imported from Melbourne, 72 lire constantly at work, and 40 intermittent—the remainder have vamosed. There were but"eitjht or nine real miners out of the whole batch, but the men are improving and will make very good wrtges by-ftnd-by. At present they average £2 psr week. The escorts this week brought down a little over 14,000 ounces, and last week 15,000 oz.

™, Jllb' 26, 1862. The A. S. N. Company held their usual halfyearly meeting yesterday. The net profits for the-six months amounts to £26,265 ; "the dividend declared was-about 28 per cent, per share A collection- in to be. made in nil the Roman* Catholic Churelies on August 3, for the benefit of the Lancashire operatives. There was a furious gale on Wednesday at Glcnclg, near Adelaide. The s.s. Lady Bird left without taking tho Melbourne and New Zealand mails, and the following day the Ilaviluh took them. Unfortunately in going ashore to letch them the boat capsized, und Mr. Ross, tho mail contractor, was drowned.

Trade is- dull and there are no changes to report.

Leecu Fishing.—The old method of-fishing for leeches was by pc^nns uncovering their limbs and wading into the v/utef, when the voracious little animals, hungry for blood, at once seized upon them and were then caught and bugged by the fishermen. If ever you pjus through La Jirennc you will see a man, pale ami ttmight haired, with a woollen cap on his,heal, and im.lcgs and arras naked, he walks along the borders of a marsh, among the spots left dry by the aurrouuding waters; this man is a leech fisher To see him from a distance—his woe-begone aspect' his hollow eyes, his livid lips, his singular gestures-^ you would take him for a maniac. If you observe Jiim every now and Mien lifting hia legs and examining them one after another, you might suppose him a t ol: hut he i* an intelligent leech fisher. The leechea attach themselves to his legs and ftet as he moves through their haunts; he feels their bite, and »athers them as they gather about the roots of the bulrushes and aquatic weeds, or beneath the stones covered with a green and glitny moss. Ho may thus collect 10 or 14 o.o2..in.three or four hours. In summer, when the leeches retire into deep-water, the fishers move about upon rafts made of twigs and rushes. One of these traders was known to collect, with the help c his children, 17,500 leeches in the course of a few moments. These he had deposited in a reservoir; where in one night they were all frozen eu nuns,'. But congelation does uofc kill them, and they can t.*sily be t hawed into ife by melting the ice that surrounds t heaj.