AUSTRALIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1693, 21 January 1862, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

{Fiom the Sydney Empire, and Hetald)

WEEKLY REGISTER.

Some particulars were received at the beginning of the week relative to discoveries by Mr.M'Kiulay's exploring party in south Australia, of the remains of four white men in the far interior, who had been murdered by the blacks. The details will be found highly interesting. A diabolioal attempt has been made

■to blow up the magazine oounected with the harbur works at .vJoruya. The fire burned within an inch of the end.

A young woman named Jemima Waller, in the employ of Mr A. Thompson, of Pitt- street, lay down on her bed on Sunday morning, leaving the candle burning by her side. A few hours afterwards her clothes took fire, and during the day she expired.

A snake 7 feet 6 inches long was caught near the Fairy Bower, Manly Beaoh, on Sunday.

By late news received from Europe via California, we learn that a rupture is anticipated between Spain and Italy.

We have later intelligence from Queensland. The inhabitants of Brisbane are making a move, to get the AllEngland Eleven to that colony.

Au anti-separation meeting has been held in the Clarence district. It seems that the people are anxious to be constituted into a separate colony, but do not wish to be annexed to Queensland.

Further news have been received from America and is highly unfavourable to the oause of the Northern States. Lexington, ono of the chief cities in Massouri has fallen before the successful arms of the South.

Ou Monday, an inquest was held at the Willow Tree Hotel, on the body of au infant who had died from suffocation, through lying on its face in bed.

The New South Wales Cricketing Association are a little more actively at work. At a recent meeting it was an nounced that about £300 had been sub* scribed A volunteer Rifle match between sixteen members of the right wing of the Sydney Battalion, and sixteen members of the left wing came off on Monday, at the Military Butts. The latter won by 178 to 149. A bazaar in aid of the liquidation of a debt upon the new Wesleyan church at Balmain was opened in the Temperance Hall on Wednesday. The collection of articles was unusually good. The volunteers of Sydney gave an amateur dramatic performance at the Victoria Theatre on Wednesday evening. His Gxoellency the Governor and Lady Young were present, and the theatre was filled with a most numerous aud fashionable audience; The entertaiument was a complete success.

An interesting lecture upon ' Mabommed and the faith of Islaam ' was given by R. Ronald, Esq., to the Balmain Band of Hope ou Tuesday. The conclusion arrived at was of course favourable to temperance.

A clerk in the house of Leverrier, Curcier, and Co. absconded at the beginning of the week. It is not said that he is a defaulter to any large extent.

His Excellency the Governor visited her Majesty's steam-ship Pelorus on Wednesday. A salute was fired, and the French and other English men-of-war also manned yards.

On Wednesday a man fell from the foretop-gallant yard of H.M.S. Miranda. Three of the crew immediately plunged into the water and rescued him.

A violent hail- storm passed ovar Paramatta, on Wednesday. A considerable amount of damage was done, the stones being of an unusually large size. The course was from south to north.

The Pitt-street tramway is already pronounced a decided failure. It is yet in use, but the trials that have been made indicate this fact.

It seems that the case of Mahoney against Cunningham is to come again before the public. It will be remembered that the plaintiff having been seduced, under a promise of marriage, obtained a verdict against the defendant, with damages £300. A rule has now been granted for a new trial, tbe judges at the same time, expressing their concurrence in the verdict, and their approval of the amount of damages.

■ Three ruffianly Europeans recently stopped a chinaman, near Tenterfield, aud having stripped him and robbed him of £20, they left him fastened to a tree, with bis hands tied behind his back. They also deliberately made a bonfire of his olothes. It was by burning at this fire the ligature with which hfs hands were fastened, and at the expense of great pain, the poor feliow succeeded in freeing himself. He believed that he will be able to identify the robbers, and it is to hoped lhat they will be apprehended.

There has been another and most painful case of suicide. Miss Mary Loftus. a lady of good family, well educated, and highly respected, has committed suicide by precipitating herself from a rock in the Domain. She was so severely injured, that death ensued, although she was removed to the Infirmary and received every' care. The evideuce went to show that although not absolutely insane, her mind was disordered, and her spirits depressed from religous doubts, and from fear that certain property which she had in New Zealand would lose value, and that she would become poor. The coroner's jury, however, have returned a verdict of felo de se. »