CHINESE SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 553, 5 July 1862, Page 3

CHINESE SHEEP.

(From the Yeoman.)

The Srj'lnc;/ Empire of the 10th insr. publishes a letter which has been addressed by the British consul at Shanghae to Mr. Ledger, of Arthur-;-leii?h, New South Wales respecting the prolific sheep of China. In the introductory remarks, the Empire falls into two mistaken, which it is proper to point out. More than two years ago we personally drew attention to the good and bad qualities of the Chinese sheep, and it was in consequence of what we then wrote that Mr. Sumner, of Messrs. Grice, Sumncr, and Co , sent to China tor them. The house referred to here having agents at Shanghae, it was not likely that they would send the wrong description of sheep. Other parties about the same time obtained different lots, and some of the animals, even on the passage down, brought forth three, four, and five lambs at a birth. Tlieie is no doubt, whatever, that the sheep v.-c have got are tlie right sort, but the question is, what is tlicir value ? Their fleece is very light and coarso, but that it may be useful for fcltinj purposes cannot be doubted — the process seems to go on even on the back of the animal sometime. We doubt not that by not by crossing, the fleece can be greatly improved, tlie bi-ced still retaining its extraordinary fertile peculiarities. Sj fur as we have been able to form a judgment, we arc of opinion th.it this breed of sheep will becomo exceedingly useful and valuable to those who have only a small piece of ground, in furnishing their families; and t'.ie families of humblo cottagers generally witli animal food. This breed is very quiet, is inclined to Fatten well, and, in short, has almost every good quality, as 'i cottager's sheep, with the exception of an inferior fleece. The Empire says .- — •

" Upwards of 12 months since we called attention in the columns of' the Empire to the extraordinary fecundity and other valuable peculiarities of a bieel of Chinese sheep— same of which had been introduced into Europe and America — and suggested that the importation of a lew of them hero, as an experiment, would be likely to prove highly adv.intiig.-ous. Some sheep from China were, in consequence of the attention thus drawn to the subject, brought to Melbourne, arid a few, wo believe, found their way to Sydney, but many persons who saw them gave it as their opinion that they were not the breed of sheep referred to in the statements published in tlie Murk Lane Er press and other journals, from which we had qu .ted. The consequence was, that some i disappointment was felt, and the matter vms allowed to drop, until again taken up a tew months since by the Acclimatisation Society of New South Wales. We are now lnpny to be able to state that, ns far as the society's inquiries have proceeded, the statements published by 113 have been I confirmed, and that there is a prospect of a num- | her of sheep of tlie proper breed being shipped for this colony from Chini at a very early date Tho following letters will explain the steps" which have been taken — " ' TO TllJi EDITOR OF THK EMPIRE. " 'Acclimatisation Society of N. S, Wale", " 'June a, 186?. " l Sir, — I am directed by the Council of the Acclimatisation Society to request that you will do them thfl favor of publishing the enclosed letter from tin British Consul nt ShnngEmp, which has been sent to them by Mr. C, Ledger, of ArthursleLdi. " < I have the honor to be, Sir, your moat obedient uervant, " William Owin, Secretary. " 'British Consulate, Shaughae, " 'March 5, 1562. "'Sir, — I have just received your letter dftkd the 30th December List, asking me to give you any information in my power with regard to thealhged fecundity of the Slunghae &heep, and their prke, if proftiuable. "'I have not studied the habits of the sheep of No 'them China-, but I certainly have observed from the few I have kept that they are wonlerfully fruitful animals, producing, at short intervals, two or three '.iimlrt at a birth ; and I am toM, ia reply to inquiries made since recsipt of your letter, that births of four or five lambs at a time are not infrequent. " 'Sheep ofthiskind may be usually had hero in large quantities, but just now, owing to the rebel occupation ot the surrounding country, they are exhuvagantly dear, ev/es of ninety pounds' weight fetch ing from Gh dollars to 7 dollars, autl raraa a higher figure still. 1 had, yesterday, a conversation with a sheep purveyor, who told me he could undertake to find m<j thirty first-ntt; young ewe?, m\ &H Ftuuf} $hig day

two mouths, at about the price nbove named, provided pi'oM'sions did not rue muuh higher. So if you tv ill Vifov ii! 2 to pome house here for the necessary I'uuJs. a id give me instruction 1 } to what port in New South Wiles you would like the sheep pent, I will employ a suitable person to see them properly shipped and forv/arded.

" 'I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " 'Gott. SMUDirrnsT, Consul. "'C. Ledger, Fis'i.. AL-t'.uirslc^uh, Sylnp", JTew Biuth Wales. 1111 11' 1

Br.<zrß<u>r Rl'oir. — The beetroot best calc.il) led for t'lo purpose of making m<x'.\v is the Silesian or white beet, or, if tho red beet bo chosen, such roots nre the best as have a whitish flesh near the outside, and have not .any parts which Ivive irvowii above thp ground. After bcintr denned tliev arc biibd, rut into pieces, and pounded in a ivchlou tronyli with wooden shimnP"«, and iiftertrnrdo pressed. The jni«o thus obtained ia immediately put into .1 copper kettle and simmered, during vhich tiwc tlie scum must ("mfmnally be taken o^F To inn quarts of this itiK'e si-11l two ounces of slacked lim\ diluted so us (o have the appeal n.noenf milk. After mixing iip li-.ne continue the boiling until tlie juiced t'lH-konod or boilel down to one-half its first quantity. Strain it now liironirh a woollen cloMi, tuul boil it as?fiiii till ofthu consistence of a syrup. Afterwards put into <jlass, stone, or wooden vessels. These licinc: placed near a underlie fire. m\s<-itfj appear, sind these boincr pressed from tho nncrvstallized part, a vprv 0:0 ml snirai- is obriiinod, also a sw^et syrup, ns valuable for i-.se as the crystallized siiQ-ar, thouih not so s-Mp;\l>K Note —This ia th^ common suarar mcd in France, and "old at about 3d per 'il>. -, and I sr>e no rea-on why Hie whole of thp sir^jir requirp'l hero sliould not be made here, c\speaiallv .as the hoot grows well in salt lands.— Farm awl Garden.

Coloxkl Cirr.ixr.— Mv T?lack, of CumpP 1"doivn, lias nnivc.l hero with fivp tons offJiecso. This colon? il product w/is brought into town hv throe bullock teams. The creator part was imino'lHHr disposed of to Mos^-s. Clarke IJrntliCM, —GrrJuiuj Chronicle. Good Pi:i:i>s B\ply Ttieatep -'-An illustration that 'icnrr-'l t.> me of your rein irk, tlinfc orardenp— aro morn frpqnnntH- to blame than soel.sio.pn for the. 'I'wrodiicKv '-ie-s of see Is ma; amuse the Rector of Il'i-ibt™ n n i w'll mt apn<nr incivlit.V' to you. A few we k a 'o, I procure 1 a picket of s'x cucumber s^eds fVom Mr. Tiivner, which lav nun sowed in a p>!,a'i' 7 , as I art,n-\vard->a r t,n-\vard-> found, w.itPrel well ,md piip«d fi flic left lipu mantel pi^o uifb a hand-^la-js over t!i m wlu'lp t'u b'i v.as |>renari.i^ for them. T!i-rc wi, i'iu"!i wirmth and HtMo li^ni. ; r.inl si no o'i" but mj vinn cm! I -yon I it- that on my °ei-ii>^ tljt 1 apoan("s:i:il lifti'i',' in) th» diss [ found oiie'V-p? 7 md "'ini'iHfd, 1 t-.a-npar-'it •-.tppi some tlnv.j inc'i s lo«7, and the cotyklons, not yet separated, crn'.Mihu it Thp nth^rs^ch h> 1 fd;'\al ,' perishcl.' Y(>: t'i» :ippnriMP2 of w trnrdi'ii pMicraMy does not iirlVat" that it is i- n-lel by oMe of si nricli Unnmice.— frjm%'e.Ti«:;ns. Alf >nl."— Ua. -ih'nn-'x Chronicle.

Thp c.iinnon pr-cine of Inviner f>til>;p an.! fowlllOUSi) ton .t,'|r r , sllO'lM I'C piff a sfOJJ tn I /mi- «CPII vilnn l i'e horse- peri nnly injii'-pl -and bleiiiMird by thp i'itpns» ivri'-ati'.-i pniKPil by flic vpnnhi fro'ii fowls, n-iiich ol'toa cx ; sts for soaip time n-fwo t'tm owiior diicovprs thp pvisp. I ihtp known "s>,mo p^r-s-.iis try many {indications. &"., npvpr droamiiicr of t'lp paii-'p 1 tnisf-soniG will iiik,-> tho hint on i-padinij t'li-. a:.d look to the comfort of the hoi.se. -Q. M. V «.

Repipb to Dyr Tlorsr.,' Hair Black. — P'umVi )v>ot ,ix\ U\ plnmhi pnvbon.ito. nulv. calpisrerpiit 407. of each, bi-inmh n\i\\ 10/. mi\c:l. Add sufficient-wat-pr 111 1 milk" nt<) n pa>tP, and apply to tha p irt to be (I vo'l. nnd allow it to remain on for two hours, tlipn \v"s!i it oiTwich a stroucf solution of common salt. -41. M ,VS.

Bi'ttiir to PuKsf.nvE.— Take tbp lumps of butter is received or m-i'lc up into piunds'; wr.in er.eh in a dwc" of ciMco and put th"m clnip toother in a jar or tub, and pouv over them stionu 1 bviao, ma r lp ns fol-'on-s: - To fvorv quart of water put onn pound of«nlr, one ouncp ofsalfp«ti'o, nnd a quartrr of a pound of brown >u»ar. Fomo pprsons use Milt alone, but the abovp piv^i to the butter a fijjpr flavour It must have a fortnight or tbrro wi'fks bpforp nstii!? thp butter to penetrate into the substance ot' it. — Farm and Qar-kn.

P.auks to Hkvu VTiTnorT Tnv: Cow. —Into a gallon of boiliiid water throw in two hniulfnls of flour or oncmoal ; biil ii for a minute, an I lsave it io cool till of the wnrmlh of new milk. Then mix with it two cmnrts of milk that has stood twelve liourß. .and bein Stirtlie whole, ami srivc it the" calf to drink. Thp cilf arrows faster than if brought up by the cow. besiilns which, nil tlto pream arid the greater part of thp milk k i-aved. Ciivps to l:e brought up by liaivl should lie taken away directly they are born, or their removal will dhtresi the mother too much. They should have nothinc but the pure milk for the first four days, an 1, to induce rhf»m to drink, the fingers ■must bi 3 ]>ut into the mouth of thf calf, and then the hand dipped into ths liquid ; thus he will suck the iin wis and his month dippin tt at tlie same tiue into Mie liquid, he will suck it up readily. — Farm and Gnnhn.

Jams, to Keep ?Rosr Mould, — If. is nee? sqary that ja jis ai)>l jrMies sliOiilfl be kppt in n .]ry place, ns on the shelves of a store-room, shop, warehouse, kc . anrl pot in a cupboard, whero, in damp weather, they ore VCI7 apt to contract mouUVmev*. To prevent this sime pjr-ons pour upon the j ira a thin layer of mutton suet, to ke"p the air fiom tljem. This is unnecessary, a", if v.-pll mads, nothing more is required than coverin? the jam itsplf with a pif>3e 01 writing-paper, cntto prop.T «i?e aii'l shape, nnd soaked in brandy or gin ; and still bettor, if a drop or two of any essential oil bo miK"il R-tth the spirit. A drip or two of the oil of lemons, essential oil of nlmonds, or rosr or lavender, in a qu.artpr of a I'int of brand v. will not injure tli; delipii-y of nny ) im, bub materially tend to preserve it from mould. — Hid.

MEnno I^ams, — Captain Trouton has recently imp irted into I'iw colony seventy very fine yolin? nraa, ranijinq from t>volve mouths to two yean old. They havr» bcun Rclclod from the flocks of Me«sr3. Jf'jrr.T', Fi'lior, .in'l Hizker, .sheep-hrepders in South Au^fcralii, having been rais^'l from the best imported stock. Thp floejes of tlip.se nnimals are of a very suDarior 'lua'itv, .as a proof of which it may be mentioned, thiit the wool of tho tlocks fioin which these rams li.aye been picked Mchcl from Is. Id. to Is. 2<\ ])^rlb, in the t>rease, whilst the fleeces were unusually hfavv. They h-ive b^en brought here en mute for o'i^ensLand, and, though some gno'l bids have been made for them l»y Weeders now in Sydney, Captain Trouton persists in liia determination to carry them to iheir originally proposed destination, where ihey will, no doubt, bo eagerly purchased.— Sydney Morniiti.i Herald.

Hawkins' Patp.nt Satett Bit. — A slight improvement unon tlie ordinary roller bit has been patented by Hawkins and Co , of Wataail, and Lhleanvet, London. It cmsists in making the month)>ieeo vevolvc as well as slide in the cheek -piece, by which tin: horse is preventel fro'fl laying hold of the-inouth-piefe while going, while his mouth ia kept livolr v.'h "ii standing .still to the same extent as in the roller Lit. We have not trie.l the bit, but it look? like answering the purpose for which it was designed. — 7.7««.

Vin32 and 1 ? iu;tt Trkk WAsfi. — Equal part? of tobacco, floweis of sulphur, and snft &o<ap, sny one pound of each, arc put into a large copper of water, pay fifty quarts, and allowel to boil a whole day. Then 1 tike "-oine of the slaked lime and soot, make a pasto of them, and mix them in home of the above mixture, no us to make a thick wash, and apply it with an ordinary painter's brush. I wash my peach wall.s with it. In mixing the linii and soot a. most ]>nngont odour of ammonia will escape, giving a good idea of the effect which this mixture has on insect life — .SY. Berlin. »SV. Omer, France.

S.tECPSKixs. — The best plan for getting wool off a skin without injuring the latter ia to take it vhen newly stripped from the sheep, sprinkle a small quantity of powdered lime over the flesh side, aud fold it up for a few hours. It will then he found that the wool -will come easily oft", and tho skin will be found very useful in forming a barn utensil for lifting gr.tin, <Src, — Ytnmnn.

Photographs ta.kbn for Government Institutions.- To enable the public to derive full advantage from the photographic negatives made, officially, from the Science and Art Department, from rare and valuable objects in public and other collections, British and foreign, the Committee of the Council oa Education has caused an office for the sale of photographic impressions from such negatives to be established at the South Kensington Sfuseum, wl'ich will be opened on the 3rd October. Photographic iieg'fltives made by order of the Tru°toes of the British Museum, and iirf the War aud other Government offices, will also be sold. Tho tariif for unmounted impressions will be as follows : — A single impression tlte dimensions of which contain less than 40 square inches — e.g., 5 inches by 7, or 4 inches by 8, sd. Above4o square inches, 2^J. should be added for every 20 .square inches or under. A detailed list of the objects photographed is printed, price 2d. The department does not charge itself with the mounting of impressions, as tlie public is able to do this for itself. — lingli-sh Paper. A Nich Sized Joß.—Mr. F. Bonnoeh proceeds with his exposure of the affairs of the Lrnuon Corporation lie gives a table, from irhich it appears that in the administration of .1 fund of £365,792, the sum divided amonj? the administrators is £123,700.

On the 29th March, in the presence ot a numerous party of gentlemen interested ia the development of the inturcoloniil Australian trade, tho fine iron mddle steamer Agnes Irving, was launched from Mj Charles Langlcy's building \arrl, Deptford Green. The Agaes Irvinj is for the Clarence and Richmond River Australian Steam Navigation Company's fleet, aud is of the following dimensions : — Length of iceeJ, 185 feet ; length over all, 204 feet ; breadth of deck, 20 feet ; length of quarter deck, 60 fet't ; depth of hold, 11 feet 5 builder's tonnage, 586 76-9lt tons. The eDgiuc3 are to be oscillating) «tyJof.W9llow9PQTrer,

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH BETWEEN EUROPE AND AMERICA BY BEHRING'S STRAIT. Substance op a. Memorial to tub Usited States Co^ukbss. (From the Nautical Magazine.) In view of the development of American commerce in N.E. Asia, and the idea of overland telegraphic communication between Europe and Americ, I vioilcd Russia twice since my first voyage to the Amoor, and have presented to the Imperial Government the plan of the RussoAmerican overland telegraph from Moscow to St. Louis.

The Russian Government has responded in part to the plan proposed, and authorised your petitioner to survey and explore such portions of the proposed route as lie between the mouth of the Amoor River in Asia and the confines of Russian territory in America.

The Norch Pacific Ocean presents a vast field for our commercial expansion, and though to some parts oi" it our flag is no stranger, Vet much of it is comparatively little known, and' but partially surveyed or sounded.

To this ocean resort yearly a large number of our s])jj, 3 in search of whales, while the opening of Japan and the Amoor to our commerce Jaas '•'dud quite a number of merchant vessels.

Tiivi Aleutian Inlands, which, vt it were, afford 'l'ping stones from Amerini to Kamchatka, arc but fie prolongation of a siste:" chain of islands, the Kuriles, that reach from Japan to Kamschatka. These two chains of islands, as is v.vre, shut out the more northern waters of tlie Pacific from fie great ocean itself, affording innumerable bays, gulfs, seas, and harbors, where oiu* ad venturous seamen may pursue tiie great .noiistcrs (if tiie deep and capture them for the use of civilized man and the demands of commerce.

The i land of Sak-ka-lin, or Tarakay, which lies to the north of the Japanese group, shuts in from the Pacific the northern portion of the Japanese sea and tlu coast of Muntehuria, including tha mouth of Amoor River. This is the only outlet to the ocean of that .system of rivers which •Irain the very best poit ion of N.K. Asia, and opuii v highway into the interior of Tartary and Asiatic Russia.

Ilakodadi, which Hc3 on the line of navigation for our vessels penetrating tlieOchotskSeaon visiting the Ainoor, is oniy from two to threo days' S ' ;I ' nr from De Castries or the raoutli of the Amoor.

liuku iuui is likely to become the Honolulu of the North Pacific for our whaling- fleet. This, with, the impetus to North Pacific commerce by the opening of J.ipan aud the Amoor, more and more increases tlie interest we have as a great maritime nation in the opening and investigation of North Pacific waters. Ilakodadi is also tavorabl/ pitiifitc'l in view of steam communication between Sun Francisco and China, where our steamers, touching on their return voyage, will communicate with those in the Amoor trade.

Thus, with oiv subsisting and growing commerce in tlie North Pacific, Japan, the Amoor, and China, and \rith Russian America, ie results that we cuniiot be too well advised by actual survey of that portion of the great ocean. Your petitioner would therefore respect fully ask, in view of all tlie circumstances of the case, whether Congress would not authorize a survey and evpioration to be made of the coast, seas, islands, and harbors, as well us a reconnaissance on land, of ths North Pacific, under the grant accorded by the Russian Government, so tar aa may be necessary in view of aud for the purpose of ascerting the praetieabi ity of constructing a telegraph to unite Europe with America overland via tlie Amoor Hirer.

The object of the survey will be to ascertain a practicable roadway, as it 'were, for the route of the proposed telegraph, starting from Russian America and progressing towards the Amoor. There should be a land as well as a sea survey, the expedition to be fitted out at San Francisco and proceed thence, touching at Sitka, the capital of Russian America, to confer with the Russian authorities at that point.

A coast; line as well as deep son crossings should be surveyed and sounded, the sounding! to be at three or four several points. First, via the Aleutian Islands, or such of them as may be considered advisable on which to have telegraphic stations in crossing from Capo Alyaska via 3aid islands to Kamschatka. Second, from the American shore, in about 60 dcg. N. lafc. at Nunirak to Oulantersky, on the coast of Kamschatka. Third from the mouth of the Noichpal River, or Norton Cape, on the American coast, to the Island St. Lawrence, in the sea of Kamsehatka. Fourth, from East Cape, on the Asiatic coast, to Cape Piinceof Wales on the American coast, which is in Behring's Stiaits, the narrowest point of intervening water between the two continents, measuring but thirty-nine miles from land in America to land in Asia.

This examination will of course include such points on the coast of Ivamschatka as lies opposite to America on the line or lines of surrey. The next step will be to examine the w?st coast of Ki'-nschatka at or near Bolcherisk. and sound thi'ii.ic to the north point of the island of Sak-ka-kn, or to a point on that island more directly opposite the mouth of the Amoor -River at its entrance into the strait of Tartary.

Also, a survey from the vicinity of Cape Lopp.tkA, the southern point of Ivamschatka, via tho Kurile Islands, or such of them as may be necessary in view of telegraphic stations thereon, and thence to Cape Patience, on the southern point of Sak-ka-lin, on the strait of La Perouse.

The coast of the Island Sak-ka-lin on the western side, fronting the sea of Japan and strait of Tartary, should be examined in lieu of a shore or hir,d line ; but it is supposed that from the Ruttian settlements and surveys made by tho Russian Government, all necessary information can be obtained in relation thereto.

Thus by a survey and expedition, both by land and sea, from the shores of America to the mouth of the Arnoor, avast work would be accomplished, advantageous to our commerce and civilization • science would bo vastly benefitted, ami knowledge among men would be much increased ; our udventurous whaling and merchant ships would reap the benefit for all time of this Government survey, guiding them in their perilous voyages, and saving many from shipwreck, and much consequent loss of life.

In view, therefore, of the foregoing premises, and in furtherance of American commerce and ! enterprise, ns well as the vast benefits to result I to us as a great commercial nation, to grow out of the fact of a telegraphic communication which shall not only unite Europe with America, but add the whole of Asia, including China and i Japan, your petitioner respectfully asks the favorable consideration of the Congress of tho | United States of America. ; Perrt MD. Collins. Washington, 1862. '

QUEENSLAND. Progress of Skttlhhbkt. The Queensland Guardian saya :—": — " It Is understood that Commodore Seymour, C.8., has been ordered by the Admirality to visit Brisbane to arrange with the Government of this colony the details of the new settlement at Cape York, tho Imperial Government having accecded to the urgent recommendations on this subject by His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowcn iv his despatches, some of which have been recently laid before the Imperial Parliament. We are informed that the arrangements made are very favourable to Queensland, the Imperial Government undertaking to pay for the necessary buildings nt the new station, to maintain a guard of marines thee, and to keep up periodical communication with it by means of Her Majesty's ship 3on the Australian station. The only expense that will fail on our local treasury will therefore be for a police magistrate, who will also act as Commissioner of Crown Lands. The fust laud sale at Cape York will no doubt far more than cover the salary of that officer. We need not point out the incalculable advantage of a port of refuge at Cape York for the crews of the numerous vessels wrecked in Torres Straits, and for Australian commerce generally. The new station will also doubtless before long lead the way to the opening of another large portion of the Queensland territory, and to the establishment of a line of 9tenraera from Singapore to Australia."

AxoriNT OASTtB at TuEaoNT.— A correspondent writes as follows .-—Some weeks Bince Mr. Bennett, surgeon, of this place, purchased of Mr. Daniel! theremains of tlie ancient castle commonly called Green Hill, which has been a wastrel for ft number of years. Very soon men were employed to level it, and nfter a tow days they found in the centre a shaft upwards of 30 ieet in circumference, from which they dug up several large pieces of charcoal. After the ground in securely enclosed, lir. Bennett intends to go to the bottom of the shaft. There is an adit in Lady Lane, to the south of the town, hut no one has tha couraw to enter it, and it no doubt leads to the shaft. The castle is supposed to have been built by Henry de Poineroy, one of the follgwerß of WOliwn tlie Con-

THE HIGHLAY DIGGINGS AND MURPHY'S PLAT. ~ From a reliable source we are in receipt of information respecting these diggings, the substance of which we hasten to lay before our readers. Our informant left the divings on the 28th June. He says there were about 160 miners on Murphy's Flat, all settling down to work for the whiter. A party of four could manage with a sluice from 10s. to 12s. a-day clear, aufl it was considered by the miners a fro'kl poor man's dig^iiys, as they could earn " tucker" with the chance of something more. Tlie ground he describes as patch y. and the gold much waterworn, fine, and scaly. The opinion of many of the miners was that a rich deposit existed somewhers in the neighborhood, and that there would be a fresh rush in the spring, Those diggers who went there on the faith of the report of their being able to sret half a ponnyweifi-htto the dish had almost all left, and those who remained were of the cla&s that would be satisfied with moderate wages for the winter months. Miners were continually arriving and going away, but the population was, on the whole, increasing. There were two stores and a bakery on thn flat. "Wild poik; was abundant, c ich tent resembling a butcher's shop f.-om the number of pii»s and portions of pigs hanging up. Dead wood could be procured in the adjacent hills, and a party with a packhorse could procure enough firewood in a day to last a week. TimbreH's anrf pocp'Dal.' were nearly deserted on tlie 25th and 2(s th Jane fop Murphy's, hut most of the dialers returned to their old claim-*, and tho population of Timbrell's, Deep Dale, and the adjoining chillies was estimated at about 120, almost every little gully having it-: party of diggers. There wera one general store and bakery in the enlly ? and mutton could be had nt S.iYton'p station, half a mile -distant, at lid. nnd Is. per lb. The weather was severe; snow from 2 ft. to 3 ft. deop, with bitterly cold wind* and sharp fio-ts at night. So far one informant. Another also speaks of Murphy's flat as a good poor man' 3 diggings where men can earn " Tucker." One party of four was, hp »ays, making los. a day. He consider* that a flat higher up thin that now" worked will produce some heavy gold as soon as the weather gots nne. The total population of the Hishlny he estimates at from 400 to 500 persons. It will be seen thatthaq accounts, although not brilliant, are yet encouraging. It is however light th.iiMve should say that w& have heard other accounts of a very different nature, representing Murphy's Flat as a failure and the other places a?> deserted, but otering into no particulars. "\Yc give publicity to both for what thfy are worth, and must leave our readers to form their own roneluMons.

MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.

The Great Eavtorn was removed from the gridiron on the 16th April, and Menmed off to Milford grandly. She was heiched in February la<t, for the purpose of fixing the now p^ddie-whe.'ls, and completing other repairs The ship, it is sniJ, has now been rendered as perfect in ail respojt^ as money, experience, and forethought can make her. The additional strength imported into the new paddle-wheels and storn-po.*i> will, it is h.v,)p«l, render n recurrence of the disaster of September hat .JmosL irapo.^ib'e. In the saloon and state rooras man; improvements have been made. She is to leave Mil ford for New York early in May. Special arrangements have beou made \>ith the various runway companies) to co'ivpy passengers and their friends to the port of departure nt reduced rates. It will be seen from our extracts from the Java papers tint tin Lnnun pirates have made their appfearnnee In the Java <va, so that in the course of a month or two we may expect them to be piwinjr through the lower part of the China Sea in considerable numbers. I* no attempt to be made by onv naval forces tn clipck those troublesome imnhdeJii or they to be wholly hft to ha dealt vih br tha Dutch ? It Is true that the Mantis undoi fkeff > /eminent or protection of Holland are tha piuc»-,i whk-h principally suffer from their ravages, hut it is also a. fact that the trade with Singapore carried on iv native vessels » also injured by tliPin, although it maybe difficult to give au exact estimate of the amount of such injury. It would lie taking a very narrow -new of the subject were the British Naval Commnndrr -fa - Chief, or the British Government, to decline meddling with these pirates, because evidence could not be brought forward of the ex»ct number of vessele bound to or from Singapore, destroyed by them ; or of the money value of the injury dono by them. Such were not the views of Sir Thomas Cochrane, when, some fifteen or sixteen years ngo, he inflicted such exemplary punishment oil the I*uun pirates on the coast of Borneo, that for a number of years afterwards very little was heard of them. The impunity, however, which has been granted to them since, And the partial failure of tha oneE»*«mß-~ of the Cleopatra against TuffajkuTri 1852, appear to have quieted their fears ; and of late they have become a 9 daring as ever. We need not recapitulate their doings for the last two seasons, as we have only very recently alluded to them. Their exploits this year, judging from tho commencement they have made on the coast of Celebes, bid fair to throw thorn of previous years into the shade. They have already captured a native prince and his followers, besides other 200 natives, and plundered a schooner with a valuable lading, murdering the crew. Humanity and the honor of the British Government require that some efforts should be made by our navy to intercept these pirates when passing so close to British settleluents, as they must do, on their way up or down th« China Sea. We are under a positive ensapement to put down piracy in the neighboring seas, and it would be most dishonorable, therefore, to neglect the dutyBy the fifth article of the ti'eaty of 17th March, 1824, between Great Britain and Holland, both parties " engage to concur effectually in repressing piracy in th«.e seas." The Dutch, "to the best of their power, fulfil their part of this engagement, and have always a number of steamers ready to proceed in pursuit of the pirates when their presence is reported, but of all the numerous fleet of vessels of tho British Navy at present stationed in the East, not one man can apparently be spared, even for a few months in the course of tho year, to assist in trying to put down these pirates, who year after year commit such daring outrages in the waters of the Indian Archipelago with almost entire impunity. Singapore Free Press.

Pelicans ofp tiifir Beat. — On Saturday last, some rare sport was afforded to a number of persona at Thompson's Ghdly, by a flock of pelicans which came from the Bendigo direction. It appears that they must have been rather exhausted from a long flieht for they did a very imprudent thing in alighting upon level ground, knowing that there would be great difficulty in taking wing again. They alighted, however, with the intention of resting, but they were to have no rest, for a crowd of men and boys, armed with niallee poles, made a charge upon them, knocking them down, right and left. Several were killed, and four were taken alive.— Jnglewood Advertiser, June 13.

Mysterious Circumstance.— The following singular report was made at the Police Office, Leeds, on Tuesday ni<*ht. About ten minutes before niua o'clock two lads reported that whilst they were in a field on Backhouse's farm, Barley, about seven o'clock they discovered the body of a child lying on the ground, and covered with a bundle of rates. The child's throat was cut, and it appeared quite dead. Whilst examining it, they state that a man with a pistol in his hand rushed over the hedge and made towards them. The lads immediately ran away, and soon afterwards their parents took them to the Woodhouse Police Station, where the circumstances were reported. Sergeant Greenwood proceeded with the lads to the spot, and found the Dundle of rags, but no child. Two other hoya, who were present with the lads when they found the child, corroborated the statement. — Mercury. A.N Over-payment akd Its Consequencbs. — John Cooper, a farmer, residing at Tullamarine, on the Sydney road, was yesterday charged at the City Police Court with stealing the sum of LIQO, tho property of the Natioual Bank of Australia. The offence was committed on the afternoon of the 6th instant, at the office of the Bank, where the defen~ dant received by mistake, from Mr. Alexander, who was temporarily acting as paying clerk on the occasion, the sum of LlB4 Is. in liquidation of a, cheque drawn on the bank for LB4 Is. Instead of returning the surplus money, the prisoner reckoned it up on the counter, and whilst the clerk's attention was drawn iv another direction, he quietly made off with the whole amount. On the clewing of the bank, when the accounts were made up, a deficiency of LIOO was found by Mr. Alexander, which, on further inquiry, proved to be in sovereigns. Mr. Alexander then recollected that for the cheque presented by the defendant he had paid away- LlB4 Is., instead of the sum shown on it ; and by inquiring from the person who signed the cheque, Sir. Penton, of the Eastern Market, he learned the address of the payee, ami visited him in company with Detective Black. The prisoner admitted that he had received L 99 10b. too much, and after a number of attempted evasions, and several adjournments from place to place, said he had planted it, but that it had been stolen. On the following Wednesday he was arrested on the charge of stealing the money, when he said that he had never had it, and subsequently that he had lout it hs did not know how. His defence yesterday, by his legal adviser, was that he had never received it. After a lengthened hearing of the case, the defendant was conunitteil for trial.— Age, 14th June. Privilege.— The~recent decision in the matter 6* The Argus privilege case baa put certain member cock-a-hoop, and begins to show plainly why such screw should not be entrusted with a tithe of the powers they grasp for. Mr. L. L. Smith, in bis " place in the House, on Tuesday last, palled the attention of the Speaker to the factthat his speeches wera not reported by The Argus. That even his namo did not appear in that journal. The hon. member went on to say that if such conduct were persisted in, h« should call the attention of the Speaker to the fact that there were strangers in the gallery ! Whew \ We tak« a long breath, and steer clear of privilege, breaches by stating th«n< had any other than a» M.L. A. said aairiuch aa Mr. L. L. Smith did on this occasion, we should designate Mm as an impndentr and ignorant concentration of conceits! '6s&ffl}ffiQi J