MORETON BAY.

Colonist, Issue 67, 11 June 1858, Page 3

MORETON BAY.

The correspondent of the Sydney Herald, diitiiig Brisbane, May 12, says:—"My last letter contained the particulars, so fur as they are ever likely to be known, of the murder of

four men, oh the station of Mr. Reid, at Castle Creek; and accounts reached Brisbane on Thursday last, that another brutal outrage had been committed, and that no less than five men had since been murdered by the blacks on the station of Euroonbab, on the Davvson, belonging to Mr. Cardew. This makes upwards of twenty white people murdered by the aborigines in that district alone within a period of nine months. This state of things has naturally called attention to the Native Police Force, and. comments are freely made in regard to its efficiency.

"I observed lately in the Sydney market reports, the sale on two separate occasions, of two bales of Moreton Bay cotton —one bale on each occasion. The price obtained was sd. per Ib. for one bale, and 4d. for the other; the cotton being in the seed and altogether uncleaned. It would be of some importance to us to know if cotton, in large quantities, could always be sold in Sydney at a fair price in this condition. The absence of all proper machinery fur cleaning it has, I am convinced, greatly retarded the growth of the article here: but if it be saleable at fair rates without its having undergone this process, I think one great obstacle to its cultivation would be removed,

" It is reported that a salt manufactory is to be established at Cleveland Point, in the bay, by the Honorable Lewis [lope. The locality is said to be very favorable for a work of the kind, and on all, sides it seems to be confidently predicted thlt.the speculation will be a profitable one. '

" The weather continues on the whole to be very fine, although often oppressively hot and sultry, considering the advanced period, of the season.

" The correspondent of- a local paper states that two and not five men have been murdered osi Mr. Curdew's station, but it is understood that the report received by that gentleoiau mentions the greater as being the true number slaughtered. So many murders are being perpetrated by the blacks at, the present time, that the accounts of them may well get confused. Accounts have been received that the blacks have mustered in great strength on the Pine River, with the evident intention of doing mischief. Report stated their numbers on this occasion to amount to about a thousand, but surely this was an exaggeration As nothing further has been heard from this locality up to the present time, it is probable that no mischief has occurred. Be that as it may, however, it is impossible not to notice as curious the numerous hostile demonstrations making by the blacks at various parts of the district. It is hard to believe that this can be the effect of any preconcerted management, although they are great adepts at transmitting telegrams after their own fashion. In addition to the murders already mentioned, the Gayndah correspondent of the Courier states that two men have been massacred on the Jarroon station, also situated on the Dawson.

" The quantity of wool shipped from the port of Maryborough, Wide Bay, during the quarter ended 31st March last, amounted to nearly 1500 bales.

" The accounts from Boonoo Boonoo are favorable. Most of the claims are turning out well, but it was ascertained that without waterwheels no great success could be obtained. The quartz veins were.also found to be'tolerably rich, and the rock bad paid for crushing even when it contained no visible signs of gold. On Friday last., most astounding reports reached Brisbane of the unsurpassed richness of some of the Boouoo Boouoo claims; but, as 1 do not see them confirmed, I shall not allude to them more particularly. The diggers complain greatly jof the low Mint vulue of the Boonoo Boonoo gold, and maintain that there must, be some mistake in this respect. They also wish to know what was done with the silver which it was said the gold contained, and ask' why credit was not given for it ? It was estimated that about 300 ozs. of gold was ready to be forwarded by the escort on its arrival. Upwards of 200 men .were,said to be employed on the entire dig gings. One party (Mitchell's) has washed out nearly 100 ozs. from one claim, and others' had also been very successful."