Colonial News.

Colonist, Issue 43, 19 March 1858, Page 3

Colonial News.

NEW SOUTH WALES,

Parliament was summoned to meet for the despatch of business on the 23rd instant. A meeting of gentlemen connected with the trade of Sydney had been held at Mr. Smyth's Room's, Lyons' buildings, Sydney, to consider upon the propriety of offering some testimonial of approval to Captain Moodie, commander of the City of Sydney. The meeting, which had not been made extensively public, was numerically small. G. Thornton, Esq., member for the city, took the chair, and in explaining its objects, entered at some length into a detail of the zeal and,energy which on various occasions Captain Moodie had evinced in order, in times of excitement, to furnish the colony with early news. He thought some recognition of Captain Moodie's services well deserved, and he was sure they had only to appeal to the colonists and the demand would be generously responded to. Alderman Williams then moved, arul Mr. Leavitt seconded, "That a committee of gentlemen bs appointed to take such, steps as may. seem fit, to present a testimonial to Captain Moodie, of the City of Sydney, as an acknowledgment .of his eminent services in the colonial steam marine, and particularly for his having most successfully, pioneered the way for colonial steamers to Suez to join in the ovei-land mail route." Mr. Thornton consented to act as chairman, and Captain Malcolm-as treasurer, and subscription lists were.directed to be left at the banks. Mr. W. H. Lane, of Liverpool, had a providential'escape from lightning during a s'orm on Monday night, Feb. 22. When stepping outside his door, the eloctric'fluid struck the ground close by him, throwing him down. It passed ou to the barn, some sixty, yards distant, and set it on fire, and destroyed; the-whole of his crops, together with sundry farming implements. The house, we are happy to learn, was not injured,'as reported by electric telegraph this morning. The Mutiny on* Board tub Junior. —The mutineers who have been arrested at Melbourne did not, as was expected, arrive in Sydney yesterday by the Wonga Wonga. Their detention in Melbourne is accounted for from the fact that the whereabouts'of the only two men not in custody who were implicated in the mutiny has been ascertained, and that an escort has been despatched to bring them to Melbourne, from which place they are about 50 miles distant. The men already in custody, and these two, if arrested, will all be sent to Sydney in the next steamer. The further examination of the prisoners in custody in Sydney was postponed till to-day in anticipation of the arrival of the prisoners from Melbourne; but in their absence it will probably be again postponed for a few days. We understand that on Saturday the whole of the crew of the Junior struck and refused to furl the sails, they were, therefore, all locked up, and their duty performed by the crew of the Snapdragon.— -Sydney. Herald. An Enterprising Youth.-^-A youth, only 16 years of age, named Parlier, left France in September, 10.54, for Australia, as passenger on board a vessel called Admiral Baudin. While on the voyage he shewed such aptitude for nautical affairs, that the captain instructed him in navigation, and before his arrival at Sydney, gave him the post of first mate. ■ Soon after leaving Sydney the captain, falling ill, decided on leaving the vessel, and put in for that purpose at Nangree, New Zealand, where the crew were called together and the command duly given up to young Parliev, who has just brought the vessel with her cargo, estimated in value at 500,Q00f., in safety to Havre. The fact has been reported to the Minister of Marine.— Sydney Band of Hope. An Infant Suffocated by its Mother.—An inquest Was held before the City Coroner on Saturday at the Gardeners' Arms, Botany Road, on the body of an infant named Ellen Whalen, aged two months, who died from having been overlaid by her mother. Jane Chalanger sworn, testified as follows: I am a married woman and reside near Rebecca Whalen, the mother of the deceased child; the infant was born about the first Sunday after Christmas: Mrs. Whalen has four other children, to whom she has appeared to be attentive and kind; 1 have occasionally seen her the worse for drink ; on-the evening of yesterday, the 19th instant, at about dusk, Whalen, the father of the child, came to my house and asked me to go and see his child, which he said was lying dead; I and a woman named Ann Bocock went together, and found Rebecca Whalen lying on a sofa in the kitchen Vith her clothes on, and the infant was at her feet: she called out and began to cry when the people in the room said the child was dead ; I cannot say whether the woman was drunk or not; I saw no indication of liquor; when her husband came in he said " What a dreadful thing this ia for my child to be killed," and accused his wife of being drunk; he was perfectly sober himself. Ann Bocock, a married woman, who resides with the last witness, corroborated the foregoing evidence; ' and William James Jenkins deposed—l am a legally qualified pvaetioner and member of the. medical board of Sydney; I made a post mortem examination of the body, which was that of a strong, healthy child ; I found the brain and lungs in a state of congestion, the appearance of the body such as would be caused by suffocation. Edward Slattery, sergeant of police, stationed at Redfern, proved the, arrest of Rebecca Whalen on the charge of causing the death of her child; had frequently cautioned her against her habits of intemperance ; her husband was a steady, sober man. Verdict:—We find that the deceased Ellen Whalen came by her death from being overlaid by her mother while under the influence of drink, but we strongly recommend the mother to mercy on account of her young $m\\\y.—Sydney Herald, Feb. 22.