COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 28, 17 September 1842, Page 111

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE

We have this week received papers from Sydney, Melbourne, and Geelong. The public mind in all the large towns of New South Wales is solely occupied 'with the Municipal Bills passing and passed by the Colonial Legislature. The Port Phillip Patriot calls on the inhabitants of Melbourne to rejectthe bill incorporating that city, on the ground that they are treated with less liberality than the citizens of Sydney. There is a rumour that Sir George Gipps is immediately to be recalled, and that his successor is already appointed. We make a few extracts : — Bushrangers Captured. — By advices arrived in Sydney yesterday from Queanbeyan, we have received information of the apprehension, by the mounted police, of the notorious bushrangers who have for such a length of time infested that part of the country. The names of the parties are James Shaw, William Millet, and John Rueben. They were captured about 50 miles from Omeo. When the police came upon them they offered no resistance, but tried to make their escape by running away ; however, they were speedily arrested. When seized, they had in their possession eight stand of arms, besides six horses, with 'saddles, bridles, saddle-bags, &c. Our informant says that the bushrangers were marched eight days before they showed any resistance. It appears, however, that, after that period had elapsed, they had received from some person or persons unknown, a key by which they were enabled to unloose their handcuffs. This being accomplished, they rushed upon one of the sentries — the other having gone for wood — and taking him by surprise, knocked him down. Having given the alarm he was soon assisted by his comrades, when a dreadful scuffle ensued, which lasted upwards of five minutes, when the bushrangers feeling the odds to be against them, took to their heels, and two of them managed their escape. They were, however, captured the next day. They are at present on their way to Berrima gaol, in charge of the mounted police, the constabulary not being considered safe enough to be entrusted with the care of such desperadoes. The mounted police are every day getting more effective. — Sydney Gazette. The Sea-Horse steamer has recommenced running between Sydney and Port Phillip, calling at George Town, Van Diemen's Land. The voyagers to the Hunter will also be gratified to learn that Mr. Grose resumes the Hunter River station with the Victoria, at reduced rates. Sir George Gipps proposes imposing a penny postage on newspapers circulating in New South Wales. Our Sydney contemporaries protest strongly against the measure. Sydney Markets. — Flour, 205.; Irish pork, 85s. to 90s. per barrel ; sugar, Mauritius, JE27 per ton ; tea, bohea, £7, congo, £1 1 per chest ; coffee, 74d. per lb; draught beer, £6 6s. per hhd; fat cattle, £5 10s. to £7 each ; sheep, ss. 9d. to 7s. 6d. each ; potatoes, £5 to £10 per ton. Van Diemen's Land Markets, August 5. — There is no change in the markets. Wheat still continues at the average of 7s. 6d. ; flour (fine), 18s., seconds, 163. per cwt. ; barley and oats, 6s. per bushel; potatoes have fallen, and only fetch JES per ton ; maize, ss. per bushel. — Hohart Town Advertiser. The Yarra. I—The1 — The inconvenience sustained by the flooding of the Yarra appears to have been very general. On Saturday night last a number of poor families resident on the banks of the river, in the district of Heidelberg, were roused from their slumbers by the water finding access to their huts, and flooding the whole of the lower land. Captain Browne, on being made acquainted with the state of affairs, immediately adopted measures for the rescue of those so unpleasantly situated, in which, before the dawn of the following day, he was successful. His Honor the Resident Judge, whose, residence overlooks the scene of disaster, also used every exertion to alleviate their embarrassments, and as soon as they had gained the higher grounds, provided shelter and supplies for them at his own residence, where they are at present stopping. The poor families who have been thus relieved, speak with earnest gratidue of the humane kindness evinced towards them by his Honor and Captain Browne. — Port Phillip Patriot.

Composition of the Atmosphere. — Experiments have lately been made simultaneously at Paris, Berne, and Faulhorn, for the purpose- of ascertaining whether the proportions of oxygen and nitrogen were the same at all these places. The main result is that, out of 10,000 parts of air, at Paris there were 2,304 parts of oxygen ; at Faulhorn 2,297, and at Berne 2,295. As the proportions at none of these places are found to differ much more than the mean of the three places differs, the conclusion is that the constitution of the air is the same at all places, and of course it must be a chemical compound. Land of Promise. — We arrived here and found South Australia to be in reality the land of promise. We had to live, and did live, on promises; inasmuch as bills and promissory notes were the circulating medium of the place. The land produced nothing but grass ; but promised every thing if it were only tilled. We were promised ships bringing cargoes of sovereigns, and emigrant capitalists by every breeze. Many things were promised — many remain yet to be performed. Times became bad. Still we have promises to eat, promises to Jrink, and promises wherewithal to clothe ourselves. The land promises fruitfulness ; the debtor promises to -pay when he can ; the banks promise forbearance; the Governor promises to do all he can as soon as he eceives instructions from England. The tine-cutting-association promise us some grape leaves, next season ; the sheep s' backs promise us exports of wool amounting to nearly half the imports for brandy and rum. T|k teetotallers promise a miracle, to convert wine into water, and prevent droughts.— Adelaide Examiner.