NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 486, 1 July 1857, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

• By the Taranaki, we have Sydney files to the 21st of May. They contain no very important news from that colony. The Simla arrived at Sydney on the 19th of May, ten days over due. The papers have been calculating the amount of fines already accumulated against the mail company. The break down of the Oneida occasions a double fine, the largest that can possibly be inflicted according to the terms of the contract, viz., the whole amount of the subsidy for the two trips. The amount on this item is £15,417. Then the detention of the Simla for ten days over time occasions a fine of £2,750, and her nondeparture for the same time £1,000 more. So that the fines to be enforced before the commencement of the semi-monthly trip amount to nearly £30,000. This is a bad beginning for the New Mail Company. THE OPHIR GOLD FIELDS. Some fine specimens of gold are now and then discovered. Yesterday we saw some

beautiful nuggets sent down to Mr. J. G. Waller, of this city. The larger nugget is 15 ounces, very rich, and mixed with white quartz. The smaller nuggets are newly pure metal. We understand that the same person who found the above discovered a nugget weighing 50 ounces. He is not a regular digger, but was travelling over the Ophir Hills, walking in a cattlef track, and kicked the pieces of gold in his travels. These gold-fit-Ids are no doubt very rich, and the facts which are continually being presented prove that if these mines were well supplied with diggers, the produce would be enormous. A large quantity, of gold from the Bathurst d.strict re.-iches Sydney by private hand, on account of what is considered the high price charged by the Government for the escort.— Sydney Morning Herald, May 13.