Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 633, 1 December 1858, Page 5

Colonial.

NEW SOUTH WALKS. We have papers by the Lion to the- l'3lll ultimo. The following nnfes itf- the week hre fl'mn lh<J 'Sj'dney Moniing Herald,1 of the Ist November. The news from 'the FHzror continues to be" discouraging. Those Who are still re.-klenfc there are flocking back as fast as they eaii, iind the few rtho are at Work appear to be realising but small earnings. The prospecting parties hitherto sent out have not succeeded in discovering a really workable and payable goldfield, but another and thoroughly equipped party is still out, yrhich> it is understood, will take a far wider range in its exploratory opera* tions than has been taken by either of those which have preceded it. To counterbalance the unsatisfactory-aspect of tilings in that quarter > there are cheering accounts from all the older gold-fields. Without going info the various details from different quarters, it will suffice to say that all our known divings maintain their former reputation of yielding to every man afair return for steady and persevering laboun There are less chances of heavy hauls than have existed at the southern gold-fields-, but the gold is, as a general rule, in ore equally diffused ; there are less chances of failure, and man for . man, the 3-ield is greater per bend than is ob- [ tamed in the sister colony. Unprecedented ! and insane as was the rush to Iveppel Bay j from all quarters, there can be little doubt; that this colony will gain by it. Many of the Victorian diggers, who have the means to do soj j have determined Upon trying the New South* Wales gold-fields ere they travel southward; Others, who have not the meansj are receiving I the necessary assistance to do the same things; i They are, as a class, a fine sturdy set of rneri. i A glance at them is sufficient to show that they are made of the sort of stuff likely to coni* mand success —'that- they are the men to get gold if it is to be got at all.' The Government of Victoria seems fnlly sensible of the advantages resulting from the presence of tins'.kind of labour, and of the expediency of securing^ as far as possible, its restoration to their own territory. The Government steamer Victoria has been sent up with an ample supply of pro* visions, and called here en route, ior coals and further orders. She 'has "since resumed her voyage to the Fitzroy, and from thencd will cany back to Melbourne as many .of the un- - successful diggers' who migrated from the southern colony as possible. .Sut the'tnerenn- ■ ttie coiniounity of &\~dney have been equally stirring, aud there has been a prompt co» operation on the part of the Government. A public meeting for the relief of btind -fide diggers without means was held on Tuesday, at Dean & Co.'s Auction Room; at which it was determined to raise by subscription the ■ necessary funds fop enabling these men to reach the various New South Wales Gold-fields, and to set themselves to work. It was wisely determined to do this in such a manner as not to grate harshly upon the sense of manly independence which characterises men of tin's class, No money w;is to be ijiven, but they were to be provided with rations, free transit, Ac, and it was to be left to thnir honour to repay the advances nv.ule for this purpose whenever they were in a condition to do so. The subscriptions already p"aid"ibr' these objects amount to £"iQ:)3 13s. • and tin* Colonial Secretary has offered to supplement it by an equal amount from the Treasury, as well as .to allow free passages by the railwaj's us i'uv as they extend. A great number of these moil ' will, therefore, be provided for. 3"0 wore sci:fc off up to lash evening—200 tor the Western Gold-fields, about 100 for Braidwnod, and 70 to the Hunter, for the Northern diggings. 100 more diggers have been sent to the westward i this morning, and anotiier batch will start thiseveniiijj for the Northern goli-fields, via. Maitland.

There was a meeting of the Sydney Chamber of. Commerce on Monday afternoon, at whicli an important resolution was adopted upon a motion of Mr. J. H. Williams. This was fof

the expulsion from the Chamber of any member who after referring a case to arbitration by a committee of members, under the general rules, should resist the award of that committee. There needs no argument to shew the justice of this conclusion. Conductor the kind alluded to would be such an insult to thu Chamber as to render the person so acting unfit to be any longer retained in connection wiik it. But it would be well if the Chamber went further. A. great many cases which foine betWe the judicial tribunals of the country cojild be far better disposed of by three mercantile arbi* trators. But it would be necessary to have ft short code of cle*r and plain rules for the conduct of bcMiiess iv arbitrations of this nature, and to obtain such bonds in ev«ryca.\e as would aid the enforcement of the awards. The meeting was adjourned until Monday, to consider a motion relative to the conduct of a mem her of the Chamber iv using the "term ' evasion ' in reference to an answer from the chair to a question which lie had put. This w;ia unquestionably an offensive phrase, but the intMiiln-r who used it had declared that ho had already., not only otforod to withdraw it, but to disavow nny intentional disrospuot to the chair. If such bo the ca>e, wo iiu not sw? how, tucording to tho i usaga of public assemblies, he cau be compella-

h\e to do or say more ; for more offensive expressions than this have been used in a certain ■august assembly in Macqtiarie-street, and have ibeen considered sufficiently atoned for by a withdrawal in the mode alluded to. There have 'been several public meetings durfirig the week. The majority of these have been assemblies, for the discussion of the fproposed measures for synodical action in that '•branch of the Church of England established in .New South Wales. On Monday evening there was an annual meetiug of the New South Wales -Religious Tract Society, under the presidency of ■the. Hon. George Allen. According to the report, and to the speeches, great success has attended the labours of this association, during vfckoi past year. Opinions were expressed, how--ever, In favour of the introduction of a superior <cHass of publications to those hitherto issued in the shape of tracts. Office bearers were appointed for the ensuing twelve months, and the meeting was pledged to renew exertions In this cause. Mr. Demehy has moved in the Assembly a -series of resolutions asserting the practical •equality "in this colony of all religious denominations, and the equal rights of the heads of each to assume quasi territorial titles. His motion was partially discussed last night, and the debate was adjourned. But the previous question was moved, and will, in all probability, be carried. The speakers upon this question have all, however, condemned all interference on the part of ■the Secretary or in any other quarter, which might tend to cause the slightest doubt upon the perfect equality in this colony of all religious denominations. The Chinese Bill has been shelved for the •present year. It was sent to a special committtee of the Legislative Council, and that comtnittee lias "brought up its report, but the second reading was negatived last night by a majority of 17 to 4, A very important decision as respects the liabilities of common carriers was pronounced in the Supreme Court, on Friday. Its effect was that a common carrier is, under all ordinary for carriage and delivery, in the position of an insurer. That is to say, he is liable to make good all losses upon goods committed to. his charge unless such as occur from the act of God or the Queen's enemies. Unless, therefore, a special contract is made to release the carrier from the consequences, all damage not resulting from his own carelessness, he will %c liable to make good breakage, &c., resulting from had roads—a very frequent source of damage in this colony.