SYDNEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 211, 23 August 1862, Page 6

SYDNEY.

August 8, 1862. We are now we'll advanced in the session, but still the business bears no proportion to the amount of talk inflicted upon upon us. A great deal of time is wasted in discussing motions which lead to no practical result. The members of the Assembly are also particularly quick in raising points of order, which might be settled easily mr n a few minutes, if it]) were not that nearly all read May's Practice with different views, which they must needs each express. Tims time is cut to waste, By-and-by,there will be a rush to get the business oft" the paper, and measures will be passed at last with due deliberation. The Upper House has done nothing yet worth speaking of. The Attorney-General brought in a bill to render the Council elective; the members referred it to a select committee. A bill to amend and consolidate the Insolvency Laws was similarly served, and they have altogether despised to consider a bill which declares the Church and School Lauds, waste lands of the colony, till the Assembly has disposed of the bill to abolish state aid. In some sense the bills may be said to be allied, since both affect public worship and the funds voted for its continuance, but it maybe doubted whether it is really wise to defer one till the other has passed the Assembly. The Government however must submit to this delay, since the opposition in the Council is altogether too strong for them. As ior the State Aid Bill, its fate is doubtful. The second reading was carried only by a majority of one, and the Government seem in no hurry to get it into committee, fearing perhaps, a defeat. Petitions against the bill are presented every day, and there can be no doubt, so far as they may be said to express public j opinion, that there is a majority of the country against the bill. Only it may well be doubted j whether the country, in its proper acceptation has spoken out at all. I fancy it has not, and yet I,can understand, that in the event of a dissolution, a State Aid Parliament would be returned, because the abolitionists have hardly stirred themselves out of their lethargy yet. If their feelings were once aroused, then it would be seen that they were in the majority, but at present the only active people in the matter are those favorable to the continuance of state aid. The Herald reconunends the acceptance of Mr. Cowper's Bill though it is only a compromise, and warns those who now reject it. that the next bill may be far less palatable. My next letter may, perhaps bring you the result the Assembly has arrived at with regard to the bill.

A bill has been passed by the Assembly, and is now in the Upper House, and lias for its object the encouragement of cotton growing. A number of gentlemen here, who think this country ■well suited for cotton, are about to form themselves into an association to grow it. But since there is a great risk in the enterprise, they ask the Parliament through this bill, to graut them i for ffre years, 5,000 acres of land on which to make experiments. They asked in addition to this, that they should be allowed the interest common on overdrawn accounts at the bank—to wit, 9 per cent. And they proposed to obtain it it this fashion : If the speculation turned out profitable, they were to realize their assets, repay each member his money invested with 9 ! per cent, added, and then hand over to the Go- ; vernment the balance together with the hnd. Any deficiency in assets was to be made up by selling the land, or as much as might be necessary. Some members thought this proposal was quite opposed to the doctrines of free trade, and therefore voted against it. Other.s, with a protections! tendency, voted for it, as a step in the right direction, and their ranks were avowedly those who wished us to become exporters of cotton, and did not much care, if that' object could be obtained, whether or not they violated political economy. And so between them, there was a large majority for the bill. But the minority nevertheless succeeded in depriving the bill of some of its worst features. They carried an amendment, providing that improvements should be made on the land to the extent of £1 per acre, and succeeded in having the clause about 9 per cent, struck out. The Council will probably pass the bill. The Government have advertised their willingness to give cotton seed to those who will plant it under certain conditions. The experiment is an interesting one, and of considerable importance.

The Divorce Bill for the present is settled, and it may be questioned whether we shall hear anything more of it this session. It is off the business paper, a motion having been made in Committee that the Chairman should report progress, which was carried. And to get it replaced, involves the necessity of asking the House to consent 10 it. It is likely Mr. Holroyd is so disgusted at the vile treatment his bill has received, that he will wash his hands of it. An unusual mode of opposition lihs been adopted by some of the Roman Catholic members. The most preposterous amendments have been moved with no other intention but to throw discredit on the bill. The public have been somewhat sickened at some of the propositions, particularly at one, which would have allowed divorce when a man got tired of his wife, on the ground of impotence. Then habitual gambling was put forward as a reason for judicial separation, and various other amendments were proposed which were quite beyond the question. I ought however to state that one amendment was carried, which would certainly imperil the bill supposing it even went home for the Royal assent, since it is opposed to the spirit of English legislation. That amendment made adultery a cause for divorce both in man and women. In England simple infidelity is not sufficient, neither is it in Victoria. And, it is unlikely that the Duke of Newcastle, who suggested we should assimilate our law to that of England,would sanction such a'departure form the course he recommended.

The Supreme Court was occupied the other day with a trial for libel. David Buchanan M.P., was.the plaintiff, and John Fairfax and' Sons, the defendants. The libel was in the shape of a leader dated April 21. It appears Buchanan wrote to the Times, as the organ of the democracy, and made a fierce onslaught on our old Government, the members of which he accused of Toting their own pensions. And he further spoke of them as hale, and hearty, ivhereas, one of them, Mr. Riddell, the Treasurer, has been dead for years. Well, the Herald commented on this hot too severely perhaps, and David brought his action. Not being possessed of means, He could not fee: counsel, and therefore pleaded his own case. The Herald had employed Mr. James Martin, Q.U., and as might be expected, the jury, a special one, found for the defendants. ' I think the case would have been altered had the plaintiff been represented by counsel, since the article complained of was calculated to bring him into discredit—the verdict of the jury, notwithstaudng Buchanan is a very impulsive' fellow, with great power of. language, but is devoid ef prudence. .Nevertheless, hU ijoldnvss in enunciating unpalatable truths renders him useful in the Assembly. It's a pity the' he does not carry more ballast.

A great fire broke out last Sunday in the store of J. and E.Rom, the well-known compounders of the cattle embrocation, or the Farmer's Friend. The contents, chemicals of all kinds, were soon destroyed, "and then the flames set fire to an ad-

jacent store, belonging to E. C. Weekes, full of agricultural implements, which was also consumed. iSome of the. adjacent buildings were more or less injured. The damage done is estU 'mated at £15,000, and the Various' insurances

■ coyer £8000.' The origin of the fire has not been ; discovered, bafc it is assumed a spark fell upon some straw in How's store." The business of that firm is still carried on notwithstanding their heavy loss. " ''' ' -^' •'--■

;, The: Treasurer made his financial statement this afternoon,, It was anticipated that he would have proposed some modification of the tariff, and have abolished the tea, sugar, and gold duties ; instead of this, however, he announced simply his intention to reduce the duty on gold to Is., so as to assimilate the tariff in that respect to the one in Victoria. He estimates the expenditure for 1863 at £2,059,580 • the revenue at L2,l 14,854 ; thus leaving a balance of L 55,274. Our total debt is L 4,470,830. The increase of railway receipts has been considerable—the sum derived for the six months of this year being equal to the whole revenue of 1861. The House received his statement with,satisfaction ; and it is not likely any effort will be made by the Opposition to reduce taxation, though the tea and sugar duties in particular have long been a grievance to certain radical members. On the whole our revenue is in a flourishing state. Of late we-have heard a good deal about mail robberies,—the worst of it is that the perpetrators of these deeds have hitherto escaped detection. The latest attempt was made upon the boy who carries the .mail bags from Cambel!town to Appin. Whilst on his way to Appin, two men on horseback stopped him, and demanded the bags. He refused, and galloped away,'when they fired and wounded him in the shoulder. It happened that the mail contractor was ahead in his gig; hearing the" shot, lie turned hack, and found the boy lying helpless in the road. lie carried him to Appin, and from thence he was conveyed to the Infirmary here, where he is slowly recovering. Nothing has been heard of the scoundrels who made this dastardly attack. Then, this morning, we received news that the Warialda mail had been stopped and robbed of its registered letters; and that the escort at Amluen, in the Braid wood district, had been fired at. It is evident, from the impunity which attends all these (crimes, that the police are powerless here, notwithstanding they have been lately organized on a serni-inilitary plan. To meet the difficulty, the Government propose a great increase to the constabulary.

The Maories brought here by Dr. M'Guurin, attracted very large audiences "at the Lyceum Theatre for three weeks. They were then announced to play in -Melbourne, but some difficulty about money matters has prevented them from going. The Doctor has advertised them, ami warned persons against hiring them; and the Maories, in return, have advertised him as having violated their contract, or something of the'sort.' The dispute between the Agricultural Company and their miners still continues, nml, from the latest accounts, there appears no probability that an amicable arrangement will be made. Some time ago a public meeting was held at Newcastle, when a committee of citizens was formed to endeavor to efiect a reconciliation, but the manager of the company has announce;! he will not allow a third party to interfere, and thus the matter stands at present.

A commitcc of the Legislative Assembly has recommended the adoption of Torrens' system for the transfer of land.

Au^ht for £1000 came off on Tuesday, August a, in the Bathurst district, between John Sullivan of Sydney, and David White, of Bendigo. Sullivan was the favorite at 2 to 1, but he was defeated with ease by White, who left the ring with scarcely a mark. Sullivan wns severely punished, and in the last round was knocked out of time. The *sght lasted an hour and a half, (luring: which time 39 rounds were fought. This affair caused a good deal of excitement amongst the sportsmen of the city, and heavy sums changed hands.

August 12, 18G2. The steamer should fiave sailed on the 9th, but her departure is postponed till to-day. lam thus enabled to add a few more items.

Yesterday morning news was received of a murderous attack upon two Chinamen, near Braidwood. The Chinamen were going down the road when they wore stuck up and. robbed by two men. One Chinaman was shotdead. and the other dangerously wounded, from which, I infer they resisted the ruffians. The police are out in pursuit, but it is pretty certain the rascals will escape.

This country is in a very disorganized state at present, and the insecurity of life and property renders necessary some stringent measures for the capture and punishment of the villains who prey upon society.

A bill to limit the granting of new trials has been rejected by the Assembly. The frequency of uew trials in the Supreme Court has caused much dissatisfaction at the conduct of the Judges, but it is not pretended that the judges do not act conscientiously. It was'proposed in the bill to prohibit new trials if moved for on the ground that the verdict was against evidence. Hut it would not effect motions for new trials, in which it could be shown the verdict was against the law. The question is a perplexing one, and as the Assembly could not untie the knot, they cut it. During the past week 2.">00 immigrants have arrived in Queensland.

Our Minister for Lands was made a freemason last night.

Runaway Extraordinary.—Yesterday morning n team of five horses; which wore attached to a waggon used lor conveying machinery, took fright and started down the Forest Creek-ro-id at a hard gallop. The hind wheels encountering some ol^acle, became detached from the lmi£ pole connecting them with the fore wheels, and the terrific I animals bolted on all the faster tor the shock. So gre.it wan the impetus given to the forewheels, that tiie heavy pole, twenty or more feet in length, turned completely on an end, and pres ntednvcry imposing sight. The whole affair resembled aa -enormous scorpion, with its tusk bent upwards, as though in the act of {striking the horses with its stiij^. The-sight of this strange olyeet, aoparently about to descend on their heads, lent wings to the already nyng. team. SViitly before reaching Aberdeen Bridge, and when a .serious accident seemed inevitable, a baker of Forest Creek darted into the road, and in the neatest possible manner r-eized the leaders and brought them to a standstill. The driver, who hud followed as fast as he could, frantically calling ■ upon everyone to stop the runaways, soon after eaine up, ami-resumed the charge of the panting qnaArup&h,—Mount Alexander Mail, August V.I.

THE NEW RATES OF POSTAGE. We .publish, for general information, the New Rates of Postage in force from and after April 1,1862 • NKW ZEALAND. ' RATES OP POSTAGE CHARGEABLE ON LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS, AND BOOKPACKETS POSTED IN THE COLONY. LETTERS. —Inland Letters. • Not exceeding .j oz ... ... .. ... 2d. Exceeding £ oz., and not exceeding 1 oz. ... 4d. „ loz., „ „ 2oz. ... Bd. And so on, increasing fourpence for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. 2.—To THK United Kistodom. By Southampton or by direct ship— Not exceeding A 0z... .. .. ~ (5,1. Exceeding h v>z.. and not exceeding 1 oz. ... Is. ■■„ loz., „ „ 2oz. ... 2s. And so on, increasing one shilling for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. By Marseilles— Not exceeding \ 0z... .. .. ... M. Exceeding i oz., and not exceeding h oz. ... Is. » 3 oz., „ „ | oz. Is. Od. ~» i°?-> >> .. „ loz. ... 2s. And so oni being an addition to the ordinary postage, at the rate of threepence per quarter ounce. 3. -To British Coloniks and Foreign Countries Not exceeding \oz .. .. .. ~ fj,]. xceeding £ oz., and not exceeding 1 oz. .'.' Is.. v \ O7 -> . „ ~ 2oz. .. 2s. And so on, increasing one shilling for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce.

$&■ Except in the following cases, where special rates are payable. 4.—To the Continent ov Europe via Trieste. Not exceeding £oz .. .. .. i s< (jj, Exceeding 5 oz., and not exceeding 1 oz. ■.. 3s.

~ 1 ot;., „ „ 2oz. .. Gs. And so on, increasing three shillings 'for every additional ounce or fraction of sin ounce. s.—To Syria anu Turkey. Letters will he forwarded via Alexandria and Jaffa unless marked for transmission via the United Kingdom), and will be charged as follows :— Not exceeding £ oz. ... ... lid. Exceeding J oz.. and not exceeding 1 oz. Is. lOd. And so on, increasing one shilling and tenpenco for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. ' 6-—TO CniNA AND THB EaSXBUN ARCHIPELAGO. . . Letters addressed to Hongkong, Penang, Singapore, or any part of Ohina or Japan, the Phillipine Islands. ,'f-ava; Suinetra, Borneo, Lubuan, the Moluccas, and Siani, are chargeable as follows : — Not exceeding ... .. ".. ..Is . Exceeding \ oz. and not exceeding 1 oz. .. 2s And so on, iniireasing two shilling for every addi-, ional ounce or fraction, of an ounce.

7.—To Naval Offiorrs on Foreign .Stations. Letters addressed to (Mccra serving ou board any of Her Majesty's ships on a foreign station., when sent through the United Kingdom, are chargeable as follows :— Not exceeding .3 0z.... - ... ... ... is Exceeding oz., and not exceeding 1 oz. ... , 2s. ~ 1 oz., ~ ~ 2 oz. ... 4s. And so on, increasing two shillings for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. B.—To Naval Seamen and Solihkm. Letters sent to or by Seamen and Soldiers in Her Majesty's service will be transmitted within the Colony, ami between the Colony and any Post Office in the British dominions, at a charge of One Penny, provided that the following regulations are observed :— 1. Each letter must not exceed half an ounce in .weight. ._',.. 2. It-must'be superscribed- with the name of the writer, his description or class in tho vessel or regiment, and signed by the officer at the me in command 3. The postage must bo pre-paid. Every letter of this description, posted or received in this Colony not in accordance with the foregoing regulation, will be treated as an ordinary etter 9.—Prkb Lktters. --Letters -on - the public service of Iler Majesty's Naval and Military Forces, are exempted from the payment of postage, if bearing the words "Oj; Her Majesty's Service," and the signature of the ofncsr in command of the force on the service of whic' the letter is despatched. But such letters carun-i'be ' transmitted by any irregular route, or one entailing! idditional expense ou the Colonial Government. Letters on the public service'of the (Jonemi Government of the Colony are 'transmitted-free"' by post, if bearing^ the words, "On the Public Service only,'' and the signature ot some officer of the General Ooverninent. authorised i} fraukplUcml letters. 10.—rEEaisTEaED Lettkiis. Legestration Fee ... ... ' .-. ... Is In addition to tho ordinary postage chargeable on any letter. Except, in special cases, as exhibited in table we "übjoiued. NEWSPAPERS. 1. To any part of the Colony, if published in the Colony, and jnistcd wiluiu t>even . days from publication ' .. .. Free. If not pubiishorl inthe Uolo.iv, or not posted wtUi'm seven days faun publication, each ..'■'■"' .'. '■"..■* .. Id 2. To the U nil el Iviugdon, via Southampton, or by diivt ship .. .. .. Free. To the United Kingdom, via Marseilles, each .. .. .... .. 3,1. 3. To the Continent of Europe, via Trieste, t;i^h ... ... ... ... 2d. 4. To Syria and Turkey (not through the United Kingdom), not exceeding two ounces ... ... ... ... Id And so on, rvt the rat f ono 'penny for ever addi tional two ounces. Note. - For the Pontage chargeable on Newspapers, forwarded to other countries, through the' United Kingdom, sec table (A) eubjoint.il.