SYDNEY NEWS.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 19, 13 December 1843, Page 4

SYDNEY NEWS.

From a return presented to the Legislative Council, it appears that at the present time there are beyond the boundaries 879 stations, having U,00» acres of cultivated land, a population of 8000 souls, 11,796 horses, 491,000 head of horned cattle, and 1,000,800 sheep. The Sydney District Council met on Saturday, and a letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, in answer to one transmitted to him by the Council requesting that his Excellency would place on tho Estimates for 1844, a sum of jgIOOO to be granted to the Council to enable it to carry on its business for the current year, preparatory to the levy of an assessment. The letter stated that his Excellency had been waiting in the hope that something would arise to enable him to comply with the request of the Council, but every succeeding day showed that such a request could not be complied with, without exposing the government to numerous claims of a similar nature, which they would ba unable to meet. Some conversation then ensued as to borrowing money, and it was resolved that tho letter should be taken into consideration on Tuesday last. On Friday last Mr. Alderman Flood was fined £SO for assaulting Mr. Councilor Holden, by striking him on the face. The assault was said to have been committed for some discourteous expression used by Mr. Holden towards the City Counoil. The Mayor and Council subscribed the amount of the fine, and handed it over to Alderman Flood. Another extensive illicit distillery has been dis» covered in a house at Woollooraooloo, occupied by Mr. S. F. Mann, ostensibly as a starch manufactory 5 the whole of the apparatus aud six casks of very strong sp.rits were seized. A government sale of land took place on the 30th October at Brisbane, Moreton Bay.iu allotments of 32 perches each ; the highest price brought by any of the allotments was £l2 2s. Bd., and the lowest £4 ss. 4d. Some suburban allotments at Ipswick were also sold, the highest price realized being £7 per acre, and tbe lowest £4. Various rumours were afloat on Saturday relative to Sir G. Gipp's successor. Sir Benjamin D'Urban was the one most spoken of, but another report stated that Sir Eardley Wilmot, after putting tho probation system on an efficient footing in Van Die men's Land, was to come on to Sydney in Febmary next, when Sir George's six years will bo expired.— Herald. Statement of tbe various descriptions of grata held by government on the Ist November, 1843 : Wheat, 39,014 bushels ; maize, 6,64<j bushels, A number of base half-crowns, shillings, and sixspencea have made their appearance m Sy doey during the last few weeks. Extravagant Charge.—We perceive by tbe New Zealand papers recently received that, under the authority of a Treasury Warrant, two-pence postage is to be charged upon every newspaper arriving at or sent from New Zealand, and one penny postage for transmissions made from place to place in New Zealand. We do not kuow under what authority this wan ant is issued, but every colonist in New Zealand ought to use his influence to get such au odious impost removed,HeraUU Execution. —Ou Wednesday last, tho sentence of the law was carried into effect on the two aborigines Melville and Harry, who were convicted at the late assizes of the murder of Michael Keoghue, at Stanhope, bear Glendon. Norfolk Island.—A Commission of Oyer and Terminer has been issued by bis Excellency the Governor, under the Act of Council appointing « Court for tbe trial,of certain prisoners at Norfolk Island. Mr. Purefey, barrister-at-law, has been appointed Judge of the Court ; and Mr. Francis Fisher, formerly Crown Solicitor, has been nomis natcd to the office of Crown Prosecutor in tho same commission. We have not heard that any counsel has yet been assigned for the prisoners, whose number is represented as being from 18 to 20. The Blacks.—lnformalion was brought to town on Thursday last, that between three and four hundred blacks had assembled at Cowal Creek, lying about midway between the M'Leay and Holland's Plains; and as they were armed, with all their implements of war, it was feared that their intentions were of a hostile nature. Six of the military, and two constables, under the charge of distiict constable Green, were i.ume* d iateiy despatched to the scene of the black's assemblage, in order to connteiact auy attempt at outrage by the blacks ; but of the result of their expedition we have not up to this time (Sunday morning) had any intelligence- A stockman, just arrived here from the Manning River, states that the blacks in that district are doing considerable damage, /i'hey have speared a great number of Mr. Johnson's catile> and Mr_ Lewes's sheep