AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 342, 29 January 1861, Page 4

AUSTRALIA.

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An Action for Libel.—Our contemporary of Wagga Wagga has recently appeared as defendant in an action for libel, in which the printers and publishers were ! sued for damages sustained by Mr. Patrick Ryani to the amount of £200. The alleged causes of action arose from a paragraph headed "Cracked Pat," and a humorous description of a police case, in which the plaintiff figured as a complainant against a Mrs. Sarah Delanty, a local laundress, who had visited his domicile without his leave or licence. Altogether, it was a very trumpery case, no attempt being made to show that ; damage had been sustained by the plaintiff, or that malice entered into the motive of the defendants. The jury apparently, thought that it was a\ matter that should never have been brought before them, as they returned a verdict for the defendants, much to the chagrin, we should expect^ of the legal gentlemen who nad advised the unwise proceedings— Pastoral

Times.

Another Nugget.—lt is only a short time since we recorded the discovery of a 32 lb nugget at the Little River. On each week since several other important finds of nuggets or various sizes have been recorded in our columns, and now we are called upon to report.the find of another of pure gold, weighing 144 ounces 9 dwts. This nugget was also found by a Chinaman and was jbrought in yesterday, having been purchased by Mr. Bennison at its value, and deposited at the Oriental Bank, in Wallace street. The nugget resembles a map, and is perfectly solid, a fact which becomes apparent from the nugget having been cut in two^—Braidwood Observer of Saturday.

\Geelong and Ballaarat Railway Works.—The following is the scale of wages ruling on the works, all but masons work 10 hours per day •:-—Masons, 14s. to 16s. per day; blacksmiths, 13s. to 145.; platelayers, 10s. to 125.; excavators, 10s.; quarrymen, 14s. to 55.;. ordinary laborers, 7s. 6d. to Bs.;. stonebreakers, ss. per yard; carpenters, 12s. tol4s.—Geebng Advertiser. Boiling Down.—-Since writing our agricultural article; for this week, we have learned that one of our old "melting down" establishments is to be again opened on the 10th inst. Mr. Coghill, of the Deep Creek, at the request of a number of stockowners, has undertaken to re-opeh his old establishment, now surrounded by the dense vegetation of the last ten years, and the work of destruction will accordingly commence. Legs of mutton will again be obtained at a mere nominal price—perhaps at 6d each, or only a hundred per cent, more than in the old times. We do not think that the destruction of any kind of stock for the sake of their tallow is likely to become generally resorted to. At present it can be adopted as merely a temporary relief from the effects of a low market; still, as we some months ago foresaw, the practice must become general throughout the Australian colonies at no distant day, to the confusion ,of those who have madly and blindly proclaimed that Australia does not require a larger population. Chemistry has yet one great discovery to make, to prevent this destruction of human food for the sake of obtaining the tallow of animals; it has yefc to discover a method of preserving fresh for & number of months the flesh of our fat stock, so that it may be exported for European consumption. Whoever will solve the.problem will merit a crown of laurel and may make a magnificent fortune. -—Melbourne Herald. •

:',. Indecent Assault.—Richard Laley, a sailor, of hulking appearance, was charged unlawfully committing an indecent assault on Eliza Shaw, a girl under twelve years of age. • The prisoner was defended by Mr. Roberts. In opening the case, Mr. Butler said the prisoner was indicted under a statute, which made it a criminal offence to commit an assault on a girl 11 years of age or under, even-though the girl consented. Eliza Shaw, a respectable and pretty-looking girl, age 11, stated that a few days since she was going on a message across the Domain, when the prisoner came up to her, and, at his request, she walked with him until they passed between the two Gardens, and came under a fence, opposite the Government House, where, in a ditch, he attempted to perpetrate the assault complained of. A Mr. Paynter, who had been watching the prisoner, at that moment came up, and Laley ran off, but Paynter pursued .him, caught him, and gave him in charge. There was no substantial defence, and the prisoner, who it appeared had a wife and family, was found guilty. The jury in giving their verdict, expressed their high; opvßSGii of Paynter's conduct as deserving great praise in taking the man in charge, and protecting the child. In, passing sentence his Honor strongly commented on the entire absence of any extenuating cir r cumstanees in the case, and sentenced the prisoner to 18 months- hard labor on the roacls or other public works of the colony. Thereupon prisoner's wife, who was present with his children, fell on her knees and set grievous lamentations, as did also, (to the extent of the lamentations)' other female friends, influenced by her example. They were removed from Court as quickly as possible. — Sydney Empire, Jan. 15. Shooting at Queenscliffe. —On Saturday last the Queenscliffe Volunteer Artillery and Rifle Corps contested at target shooting with the. rifle for three money prizes col T lected, amongst the inhal?UaTtfs-^49, 46, f<s3» to he awa?c|e<A to the three best shots,

The day vyaiif very fine, and a large number, lof spectators 4 v^Wf c .^r^sent1 during ,tUe firing, many Ihlbther^pbrts,l such; as quoits leap-frog, &c. k Mr; George McPKeijson, 6f the Sutherland\*ho"teii * had W hppih \ oh' th c, ground, in which a fine luncheon, was jspread during the day at a verymoderate pharge.About iifty of: the bieit' shots; of the corps contended for the prices. After all had. 'fired; four ties were rejior ted, viz., ijlessr.s., Johns,' ' ■ Patersbn, " Rooriey, and j Vary. After firing off the ties the prizes were awarded to the three first mentioned gentlemen, as they stand on the list. A scratch match terminated the day's sport. — Geelong Advertiser.

Tea Meeting to Welcome the Rev. Dr. Jobson.-—A public tea meeting was held in the school-room under theCenetary Chapel, York- street, yesterday evening, to welcome the Rev. D. Jobson, representative of the British Wesleyan Methodist Church at the ensuing Australasian Wesleyan Methodist -Conference. The attendance was numerous and respectable. After the good things provided for tea had been disposed of, the meeting was adjourned to the chapel, where the proceedings were opened with praise and prayer. The Rev. John Eggleston, President of the Conference, who occupied the chair, introduced to the meeting the particular object for which they had assembled, mentioning at the same time the name of Dr. Jobson and his good lady. They ought to give a hearty welcome to Dr. Jobson, of whose eminent qualifications they must all have heard. He had known Dr. Jobson since a boy, and felt great delight in finding that he had been deputed by the British conference to this conference. The chairman having pronounced a handsome eulogium upon Dr. Jobson, called upon the president-elect to read the address. The Rev. Mr. Rabohe, president-elect of the cunference, read the address. The Rev. Dr. Jobson, in an eloquent and effective manner, replied on behalf of himself and Mrsi Jobson. The Rev. Mr. Draper and the Rev. Mr, Butters, addressed the meeting at length. The proceedings were brought to a close by the Rev. Nathaniel Turner pronouncing the benediction.— Sydney Empire, January 15. Cricket.—The Melbourne Herald says a company has been formed to bring out the All England Eleven. The proposed capital is £2500, and the shares are only £1 each, so that all lovers of cricket will have an opportunity of contributing. The names of the directors will be a sufficient guarantee that the fund will not be misappropriated ; and it is believed that by judicious management, the enterprise can be made more than self-supporting. j