MISCELLANEOUS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 56, 25 February 1870, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

| At a meeting at Newcastle to consider the bill- promoted by the Corporation affecting the rights of freemen, while the first resolution was being moved, sulphur and cayenne pepper were heated in the room, causing a choking sensation, and entirely stopping the proceedings. A mong the items of news recived by the last English mail, was one stating that a saving of several hours in the delivery of the mails in London was effected by the Brindisi route. A correspondent of the 'Times,' writing regarding the transmission of the TnrKnm mails by this route, says that during the month five mails went out by Brindisi and four came in, the average length of the journey between London and Alexandria being about six days. The ' Economist,' remarking npon tVsubject, says that the advantage of the alternative route is thus evident, and it is certain to acquire favor. The gain of Brindisi will be ; greater when the Mont Cenis tunnel is finished, and could even now be increased by improved Post Office arrangements ; and it may be hoped more strenuous attempts will shortly be made to abandon Marseilles altogether. v The annexation of the Fiji Islands to Australia is urged by the Melbourne 'Age.' Independent of their beauty, and fertility, their increasing importance, and the advantages they offer ,to settlers, their acquisition is insisted on as a sort of necessity to prevent their occupation by a foreign power. The petition to the American Government to assume the protectorate of the group dweilt principally on the advantages of the Eiji as a naval station, and those advantages the Americans are not slow to perceive. The 'Age' considers that, beside the danger which might accrue from the presence of a foreign naval power in such close proximity, the islands should properly belong to Australia, and thei passing into other hands would be a misfortune, the inhabitants too, it ~is asserted, preferring Australian to American rule. A sale of Australian diamonds took place lately at the Shipping Exchange Melbourne. There was a good attendance, and some of the stones (of which there were 81 offered) realised very satisfactory prices, the sums received ranging from £2 2s. to £-10 10s. per stone. This is the first sale of the kind that has taken place in Melbourne; but as the supply of gems bids fair to be pretty constant, probable that the sales will now be periodical. The Australian Diamond Company are forwarding 197 diamonds, weighing carats, to their agent in England by this mail steamer. This parcel makes a total of 588 despatched from Melbourne since the opening of the mine. A telegram was received from the manager at Mudgee, stating the result of a ] week's work as G1 diamonds, and 12ozs 13dwts logrs of gold. By way of Eockhampton we have some news from the far north of Australia. The* correspondent of the 4 Bulletin,' writing from the Gilbert says:— The latest news from the Norman is to the effect that the population of the place has dwindled down to 25 persons, one half of whom are women, and that the aspect of the place is miserable in the extreme. Burketown is stated to present an appearance of desertion in even a greater degree; and the ten families forming the population of Carnarvon, Sweer's Island, are reported to be in that happy state known as " living upon one another." There are about 30 diggers at the Cloncurry, a few of whom are doing pretty well, according to a letter just received here, and the remainder making tucker. Of course the extension of the telegraph to Burke, and the opening up of the great Australian copper mine will produce a great and happy change in the state of the ccuntry bordering on the Gulf; but, in the meantime, it would appear the inhabitants of that section are fully realising the axiom that " while the grass is growing, the horse is starving."