VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 26 December 1857, Page 4

VICTORIA.

By the Corsair we have Melbourne papers to the 4th instant.

Parliament was prorogued on the 17th November, and met again on the 3rd December. A rumour was in course of circulation th.it Miss Madeline Smith had arrived in the colony.

Several large nuggets in addition to the Kingower, or (• Blanche Barkly ') monster had been picked up lately. Ballaarat in its old ace had produced one of 540 ounces, and another upwards of. lolDs. lliere was. consequently rush upon the old quarters. We take the following paragraphs from the papers:

The Commercial Crisis assumes more alar ming proportions every day. Crash after crash startles the metropolis, and now the alarm is spreading over the provinces. The 'Bendier* Advertiser' states that the'chief topic of con venation in Sandhurst is "the prevalent dulnesa in every branch of business." " Trade is in an unsatisfactory state in our own district," report the ' Ballaarat Star.' This is the perfect rea lization of the political philosophy of Mr" Haines, who snubbed the delegates of the con' vention a few months ago, by observing that "the people should mind their own ' bu!ine«s and leave politics to the Government," and now they are in for the bitter penalty of their in difference. It was merely the " unemployed"1" who suffered a few weeks ago—the labourers and artizans. Now the " merchant princes " are drifting into the vortex. Where will it end ? It was almost impossible, some time ao- 0 to persuade the clever Mr. Moore that there" were really unemployed tradesmen and labourers in Melboure—poor wretches, who were actually starving in the richest country in the world Oh, no; this enlightened statesman knew better. It was a mere cry got up by agitators! It required a procession of starving men" through the-streets, and a raid on the°breadshops to convince him of his error. What do Mr. Moore and his colleagues think of the ghastly suicide that has just taken place on Ballaarat P A sober and industrious youngman, came to the colony four months a°-o. He was an engineer, but willing to work°at anything. He tried every resource, but could get. nothing to do. His wife and little child were starving before his eyes. Maddened at last he placed his head under the wheel of a quartzcrushing machine, and in a few moments becomes a mangled corpse! How many more poor creatures are meditating a similar end to their woes ? Do our humane rulers now comprehend what may happen to a man in Australia Felix ?—Age, Nov. 20. One of those mournful tragedies so characteristic of colonial society has just occurred at South Yaira. A fellow named Jackson induced a young woman to marry him a few months ago in Adelaide. They subsequently came to Melbourne, but they were not here many weeks till the unhappy woman discovered that Jackson .had another wife living. He abandoned her soon after the discovery. She endeavoured: to find it out but in vain; and at length, broken-hearted with despair, she poisoned her6elf. Jackson seems to be well known. At one time he figured off as a professor of phrenology; at another he officiated as a Baptist clergyman ! Surely the authorities will endeavour to punish a wretch who is morally guilty of murder as well as bigamy.— lbid. The exhibition of paintings, under the managment of the Victorian Society of Fine Arts, is fixed to be opened on the 30th instant, and will remain on view during the ensuing month ; with the exception of Christmas Eve, on which occasion the pictures will have to be temporarily removed, in order to make way for the Philharmonic Society, who, on that occasion, intend to perform the " Messiah" as usual. Workmen are busily engaged in erecting screeries for the reception of pictures, around the inner circle of pillars in the Exhibition Building; and we learn that so numerous have been the applications from intending exhibitors, that three thousand feet will scarcely suffice. The pictures are rapidly arriving from all quartersNew Zealand, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia, as well as Victoi'ia ;-—and it is confidently expected that the exhibition will far surpass any of its predecessors. Wesee that, in order to accommodate local exhibitors, the time for reception of pictures has been extended to this day.— lbid, Nov. 5.

The Chinese have again come into collision with the European diggers at CamphelFs Creek j and the probability of a serious outbreak is said to be growing more imminent every day. A correspondent of the ' Mount Alexander Mail' thus describes the state of feeling in the district. " The frequency of the scenes (he says) confirms the apprehensions felt by some, that there will be trouble on this creek between the Celestials and the other population before the summer shall have ended. There is a general conviction among experienced miners, that the Chinese waste an unnecessary quantity of water by their method of washing, as well as destroy a considerable area of payable ground. It is said they so mix up the top and bottom strata of auriferous soils, without extracting more than a portion of the gold, that ground is left wholly unremunerative for the future. The superior skill of the Chinese as diggers is denied, for it is stated that Europeans as far surpass them in sagacity as in manual strength. It is certainly the case that John Chinaman in the art of goldseeking sometimes plays the part of jackall to the British lion. There is also a strong feeling among the European miners on the creek, whether right or wrong, that the Celestials are favoured by the police, authorities and magistrates, at the expense of the digging community.— lbid. •

A New Zoological Attraction has been brought amongst-us in the shape of two lion* esses and a lion, brought from the interior of Southern Africa, some two hundred miles from Natal. The animals, which are all about fifteen months old, were secured by the Kaffirs about thirteen mouths ago, by shooting the dam, and brought down by them to the coast, where they were put on board tho Lady Shelburae, and

* T Vi. iufcher* They were Purchased by I Mr. William Carey, and are now by him exhibited in a commodious tent on the site of the " Salle de Valentino," at the head of Bourke Street East. They are remarkably fine specimens and well deserving of a visit of inspection.—lbid. | HARVEBT PROSPECTS. ' The Western District.—The summer ap- i pears to have set in at last, and the past few days have been rather hot—felt more perhaps !>• from the sudden change. The crops are magnificent. Some early potatoes have rotted in consequence of the late winter, but with these I exceptions everything looks first-rate. If the harvest turns out as it looks, and prices are only remunerative, this district will be universally benefited thereby. Opinions differ as to what will be the price of grain next season. It is said that some of the Melbourne merchants fix 8s and 12s per bushel as the minimum and maximum price to commence the season with, but we regret to say we do not see any reasonable ground for such an assumption. Many of the South Australian Farmers have, it is said, sold their crops for this year for 5s 6d and 6s per bushel. — Warnamhool Examiner. Wheat.—Large quantities of wheat are now daily arriving in town; much of it from the farms about Narrowgong. The Steam Mill, under the able management of Mr. Boucher, is being kept in constant work.—PortlandGuardian. Kttketon. —With the return of bright genial summer weather the crops are beginning to assume a golden tinge, giving every promise of a good harvest in due time. It was beginning to be feared that, with the superabundant moisture, and the long continued rains which we had of late, the cereals might, though luxuriant in appearance, grow two rank or run too much into straw ; but a few weeks of the present weather will prevent this, and fill the , bursting ears of corn with rich grain one hundred fold. Green'crops are progressing rapidly, the potato especially. Hay. will be abundant next season. In fine, the farmers" are beginning to feel embarrassed with such a plethora of produce as the coming harvest bids fair to yield. -—Kyneton Observer. OSMIRIDITTM. The following letter to the 'Argus' from Mr. Foord, Assayer, in Clarke's Gold Office, will be read with interest by those dealing in Gold in New Zealand. Sir, —May I request space in your columns to state the existence of the so-called Osmiridium in the alluvial gold from Haldane's Creek, Anatoki, New Zealand. The interest of this announcement depends upon the following facts:— •.. . The specific gravity of this native alloy being about the same as that of alluvial gold, while this compound is of an exceedingly hard and refractory nature,, it will therefore be liable to become diffused through the ingot, and in such -cases to cut and damage steel rollers and dies in working and minting. Owing to its chemical Telations, it would, in cases where unnoticed, give rise to error in the assay, passing intact through all the operations by which the metals ordinarily alloyed with gold are separated. Advantage of the hardness of this alloy is taken in its employment for the tips of the "Mordan's gold pens;" but it would be a shortsighted view to consider this as the limit of its applicability, for, containing four metals of the platinum group—irridium, ruthenium, rhodium, and osmium—whose properties, as yet but little known, are yet ascertained to be of the highest interest, it is proper to regard these as material in reserve for the future wants of the industrial arts. As this alloy is usually accompanied by the other metals of the platinum group, it is quite possible that platinum and palladium may be •also present in the same locality. Among the few small grains which I was alto select from the sample no platinum grains were present; but I hope to be soon in possession of a larger sample and to make a further examination. Respecting the market value, crude platinum is worth about one-eighth the value of gold; osmiridium somewhat less; manufactured platinum, about 30s. per ounce—the processs of working being elaborate and expensive. These quotations are only roughly approximative. The impression that platinum is more valuable that gold is quite erroneous. I am, Sir, yours obediently, Geokge Foord, Assayer. Clarke's Gold Office, 20th Nov., 1857. NEW SOUTH WALES. Vi& Melbourne we have news from Sydney to the 28th ult. The land question still remains^ the most important point of the political horison: — We perceive that Mr. Robertson, one of the majority that supported the Parker Ministry in carrying the second reading of the Ministerial Land Bill, which is now exciting so much popular opposition in New South Wales, has given notice of the following resolutions. They amount it will be seen to free selection at an uniform upset price without auction over all unalienated lands, surveyed or nnsurveyed lands in the immediate neighbourhood of towns and cities excepted. . . Mr. Robertson rose to move—l. That it is essential to the'welfare and true advancement of the colony, that in any law for the adnllllV>tration of public lands, provision should be made to facilitate the. immediate occupation thereof without delay, for survey or otherwise. 2. That to carry put the same, it is" •desirable that, irrespective of any other modes of sale of such lands, one should be established warranting the sale thereof, without competition, ~ but with the conditions for the improvement ol the lands, and for partially deferred payments of the purchase money thereof. A correspondent of the • Empire' publishes

the names of twenty-four members of the Legislative Assembly who are squatters, and argues that they are incapacitated from votin~ on^ the land question. Numerous members o°f both Houses of the Legislature are about to take wing for Europe. The' Empire* observes- — Mr Darvall has issued his farewell address to the electors of the North Riding. We understand both he and Mr. Want, M.L.C., leave the colony in the European on the 11th of next month. Early next year several other members ot Parliament will leave for England, including Mr. Parker and Mr. Lang Irom the Assembly, and Mr. Montefiore, Captain Lethbridge, and Mr. Docker from the Council. It is rumoured also that Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Macarfchur, and Mr. George Macleay contemplate an early visit to Europe. m On Friday evening a public meeting was held m the Lyceum Theatre, which was specially set apart by Mr. Thomson on the occasion, for the purpose of presenting a congratulatory address to G. D. Lang, Esq., on his release from unmerited imprisonment in Victoria, and to welcome him back to his native city. The Theatre was crowded in every part, there being upwards of 2000 persons present, including a fair sprinkling of ladies. After the address had been presented to and acknowledged by the young man, the meeting was addressed by Dr. Lang, who stigmatised the directors of the Bank of New South Wales as bloodsuckers, who were aiming at his alleged political delinquencies as a friend of freedom and of the people:—denounced Sir William A'Beckett as a worthy successor of the famous Judge JefFeries, and indulged in some very uncomplimentary language in regard to the " whole tribe of Vie torian lawyers," the present Chief Justice, " his creatures," and. the " obsequious" Legislative Assembly.

The motion to commit the Land Bill has been carried by a majority of 29 to 12. The opposition to the bill out of doors is increasing. According to the 'S. M. Herald' 2,000 persons met in Sydney by moonlight on the 26th ult to denounce the measure. We quote from, the ' Herald's' report:—• "The meeting was successively addressed by Mr. J. C. White, Mr. Cramp Gleddal, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Raphael, whose denunciations against Mr. Cowper, as the head of the Government under whom the obnoxious bill was brought befere the colony, were received with unmistakeable manifestations of favour. The hon. gentleman was denounced as a " renegade and traitor to the people," and as having designedly introduced a measure calculated to perperpetuate the worst features of the old land system, and thus virtually to set up an impassable barrier against their, future occupation by the people. Several resolutions were passed with acclamation, to the effect —That the Land Bill introduced under the present Administration was; based upon wrong principles and unsuited to the present wants and requirements of the colony. It was also determined by resolution that his Excellency should be petitioned, if the bill was persisted in, to dissolve the Assembly, and send the members back to their several constituencies. It was the unanimous declaration of the meeting that Mr.. Cowper and his colleagues were unworthy of the confidence of the people, and that they should resign their seats without further agitation .on the part of the people. " The meeting, which must have consisted of some 2000 persons at one time, was conducted in a most orderly and decorous manner, and at the conclusion of the proceedings it broke up with three cheers for the Queen." In the Legislative Council/on the 27th, Mr. Moniefiore brought forward his motion on the subject of trunk lines of railway. The resolutions (which embcdy the recommendations of a select committee, and affirm the principle of ceding land in consideration of the construction of the trunk lines by private capitalists) were carried on division by! 6to 8. In the Assembly, the same day, the principal business was the adoption of Mr. Jones's resolutions, authorising the issuing of Treasury Bills to the amount of £400,000 for the purpose of meeting the expenditure of works constructed, or to be constructed by loan. The resolutions after, some debate, were agreed to without division. The Governor-General.— We have sincere regret in announcing that his Excellency has met with a painful accident. It appears that, while feeding one of the deer on Wednesday afternoon, he was gored by the animal in the upper part of the thigh. The wound, although severe, is at present progressing favourably, and his Excellency's medical attendants hope that nothing untoward will be the result of the accident.— S. M. Herald.