COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 115, 18 November 1846, Page 4

COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

The New York Herald (U.S.) relates a duel between a Mr. Pleasans, late Editor or the Richmond Whig, and a Mr. Ritchie, Editor of the Inquirer. The latter came to the ground first, armed with two duelling pistols, one six barrel revolving pistol,and a short Roman Sword. Mr. Pleasants arrived shortly afterwards similarly armed, save that in lieu of the sword, he had a sword-stick. Pleasants fired his two pistols without effect; they were returned by Ritchie, who hit him with every barrel of his revolver. Pleasants, thus wounded, advanced with his sword-cane, and Ritchie was in the act of seizing his sword, when Pleasants fell from loss of blood. He was not dead when the account of the duel was published, but he died afterwards. So much for for Republicans ? For none in the present century under a Monarchical Government, not oven under the butchering Napoleon, would act thus. The same paper states, that an Overseer advancing una negro to punish him for having an axe in his hand, an 1 threatening t» kill the first that molested him. The negro still threatened. The overseer did not think it worth while to order other negroes to go behind him and pen him, but quietly shot him dead then and there. This, however, is not worse than what was practised in our own West India Islands, in the good old time*. The only difference is, the Monarchists of the East have repeated. The Republicans of the West hold on in their savage career. In the Senates of the United States, when Members get angry they une towards each other the coarV-st epithets ; and in the South they some imes advance towards each o her and fight. So much for Republican* ? Let our Sydney Legislative Council beware. Seeds of this spirit were sown last Session, and by their organ, the infamous Atlas, they are still scattered in the soil of this young colony.—Australian Journal. The Gipps Land Expedition. —Mr. Walshe, of the Black Police, arrived in town from Gipps Land, on Friday evening, and from his information we have obtained the following particulars, in reference to the white female supposed to be in captivity among the savages in that district. It appears that the Gipps Land natives are divided into four tribes, the dialects of which differ from each other, very considerably. One of these tribes is headed by a warrior named Bungelening, who possesses great influence over his tribe, and into whose power the unfortunate woman has fallen. Some months since upon information reaching Bangeleninothat the whites were in pursuit of the wo" man, he left his tribe and carried her with him before the Snowy River, and is now located between that stream and Twofold Bay, in the vicinity of the Ram Head, a well-known head land on the coa«t, and it is the opinion of the tribe to which Bungelening belongs, that any attempt to take the woman by force will prove fatal to her, he being a man of the mo=t determined character. Jack-a warren, a man belonging to the same tribe accompanied Mr. Walshe to town and he is strongly of opinion, that temporizing is ihe most likely course to be crowned with success, and in consequence of this recommendation a black of the same tribe named Bungacatell has been despatched, clothed with the authority of a diplomatist to treat with Bungelening for the surrender of the woman ; and the tribe having promised their aid,a successful issue is anticipated. One of the tribe shortly before his death, pointed out to Mr. Walshe the spot at which the tribe came down upon the boat. They found the crew seated upon the bench, the female sitting alongside a very tall man; a fi»ht ensued, and the whites defended themselvesbravely, but were obliged to rotrea' to their boat, and the female was carried off. When the boat was in the surf, tho natives commenced throwing spoars, and

by that means destroyed tho crow.—Melbourne Argus, Oct. 6. Piracy. —A small vefsol called the Liberty, of about 10 tons, was boarded a few days ago, nnd carried off by some runaways, supposed to he those who stole the boat from Clnrence Plains, joinod by some others. There was a largo stock of provisions intended f»r the timber-cui-ting stations on board, and upwards of £40 in money. The pirates put the owner and his man on shore in their boat on Brtme Island.—Colonial Times.

The Weather.—-It has commenced raining very heavily on Monday evening, continued incessantly all Tuesday, and looks rather threatening nt present. The hay crops baing nearly ripp, will not benefit much by the visitation, but all others, such as wheat and barley, beside vegetables, it will do an imensity of good. We shall, without doubt, hive one of the best crops of every thing this season which ever happened in the district. As usual, in wet weather our streets are impassable. When will something be done ?—Sydney Herald, October 23.

Singleto.v.—The weather has continued beautiful for the last week, and everything looks well around us. We have nearly been starved for want of meat; but a supply of tolerable quality ha 8 reached us, and is retailing at 2d. to 2Jd. per lb. Wollombi.—A wonderful and pleasing chance has come over the appearance of the growing wheat *n this quarter. On many farms a fair crop of wheat may now be reasonably looked for, where a few weeks back its recovery was considered hopeless? yat, despite all this improvement, the crops will assuredly be far short of their usual medium quantity.

A Mr. M'Gillevery has obtained the contract for the erection of the Lighthouse at Cape Otway. The Pistoril Hotel, at Melbourne, was sol J by auction for £1,300.

The Crown Prosecutor has declined to file n bill against the parties charged with rioting at Melbourne on the 13th July.

Several vessels with emigrants from Germany are expected in Adelaide in the course of the temmer. fifteen coroner's inquests were held in South Australia from the Ist April to the 30th September last.

The attempt to Impose a " royalty " on tbe prodace of the mines in South Australia is being per

sisted in, aud is causing the greatest excitement amongst the colonists.

A cloth factory on an extensive scale is in course of formation at Adelaide.

Australian Journal Anniversary.—Thl Journal (the oldest in the Colonies of Australasia, entered on it 3 23rd year, October 14, being its

220 d Anniversary.

Port Gladstone, thirty-five miles from Freemantle, is highly spoken of by the Western Australian papers ; there is said to be good coal in the immediate vicinity.