NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 149, 3 November 1847, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Legislative Council was prorogued by the Governor in person on tbe 2nd ult., to the 16th November next, when it is probable that body will be dissolved altogether. Tbe Governor in a short and appropriate speech, simply thanked the Council for the readiness with which they had voted the estimated supplies for the public service, and with which they had acceded to the measure of levying an assessment upon Stock beyond tbe boundaries of ihecolony, — promising that the additional funds so placed at the disposal of the government should be administered with economy, and to recommend to the home authorities, the introduction of such a number of emigrants from the mother country, as would meet the pressing demands for labor, experienced in all the chief branches of colonial industry; but, (contrary to expectation) made no allusion whatever to any contemplated change m the political constitution of the colony. Out of 52 bills introduced during the session, 41 had passed j 2 had lapsed in committee, and 9 been discharged or disposed of by the previous question j of the 41 passed, one only, (a Naturalization bill) was reserved for her Majesty's decision. A large number of persons assembled to view this ceremony of prorogation. Among whom, ladies were the most numerous. A guard of honor drawn up in front of the Council hamber received the Governor, and a salute was fired from the battery at Dawes's point, as soon as his Excellency had taken his seat. In consequence of the continued drought, tbe wheat crops generally throughout the settled districts, except in certain favoured spots, and near the sea coast, were estimated as likely to turn out but half an averege. Tbe large stock ot Van Dieman's Land wheat however on hand, with the large supplies ready to be poured in from that quarter, and also fiom South Australia, render any considerable advance in tbe price of flour, through the scantiness of the local harvest, improbable. According to the most recent quotations, wheat was selling at an average of 4s. Bd., and Van Dieman's Land best samples at 6s. Bd. per bushel, and flour at £12 to £14 per ton. A general election of city couucillors was to take place at Sydney, on tbe Ist instant. Veryfew or no new candidates of any weight or respectability would appear to be putting themselves forth for civic honors. A strange apathy seems to prevail among tbe more decent order of citizens generally on this subject. They sesm ready to elect whoever asks tint and makes most noise. The latest arrival at Sydney from England was the Agincourt, captain Neatby, on tbe 2nd October, after a passage of 98 days from Torbay, bringing the latest date of English intelligence down to the 24th June, but no news of any national consequence. Tbe Sir George Seymour, and F^nny reached Dover on the 16tu June, and tbe Winscales, the day following; but the George, Olinda, Neptune, and Medway, all from Sydney in February, had none of them arrived up to the of tbe Agincourt, Several ships with emigrants had sailed or been laid on for Adelaide.

The commander of the American whaler, Majestic, Captain Smith, which lately iefitted, victualled, wooded, and watered at the Great Barrier, has publicly reported very favourably of that locality, recommending the harbour as exceedingly safe, and the place a fit resort for all whaling ships, wanting to shelter or refresh. The Flying Childers, whaling barque, out of Hobart Town, which has been cruising off this coast rather successfully, having taken 400 btls. black oil of out 600, during the first six weeks from her anivalott' New Zealand, was forced to put into Sydney on the 11th ultimo, with loss of three boats, and heavy damage sustained in a gale about 80 miles from the Dromedory. All accounts concur in representing the late gales along the eastern coast as the heaviest known for man\ years. The Nimrod, Captain Espinasse, was to proceed after refitting, from Sydney to Two-fold Bay, to take in cattle there for New Zealand, and afterwards go on to China. The English brig Phoenix, bound from Batavia to China, was totally lost on the Thousand Isles, 6th July last, but the Captain and crew were saved by the Dutch man-of-war-schooner, Sylph. The ship Arab was also lost in a heavy gale on the 26th August, in lat. 16° S. long. 99 °E. The brig Alfred of Sydney, also nartowly escaped foundering in a typhoon on the 20th July, and was forced to put back to Hong Kong with loss of bulwarks, galley, water casks, &c , having rescued from a raft four Chinamen the only survivors out of ninety souls who bad left Hongkong for Shaugoe. The steamer Juno is taken by her owners out of this trade, and is to be employed in taking passengers and goods between Sydney and Boyd Town, Port Phillip, Belfast, Portland Bay and Adelaide, The new lighthouse on Gabo Island, it is expected will be finished by the Ist January next. Mr. Boyds South Sea Islanders ate reported as not likely to turn out a very profitable spec. A large pioportion of those that have arrived are located at what is termed the wool shed, on the river Murray, sunning themselves all day, doing next to nothing, and devouring theii rations with characteristic voracity. Their capabilities as shepherds does not seem yet to be fairly tested. The Portentia and Velocity are cruising it appears among the Feegees, for further cargoes, but not filling up very fast. It it an expensive matter to catcb them, and not likely to turn out much of a bargain when caught. On the authority of private letters, it is reported that Karl Grey has consented to a loan of £200,000, in aid of emigration to New South Wales. Pope Pius IX has confirmed the grand cross of the first order of knighthood existing in the Papal territory, upon Dr. Polding, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New South Wales; and likewise upon the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Petre, Lord Arundel of Wardon, and Sir Henry Vavasour, all six being Englishmen, and the limited number of grand crosses, twelve. Dr. Leichardt.— This eminent traveller has returned from exploring the country westward from Darling Downs, between Sir Thomas Mitchells track, and his own. A brief sketch of this tour we subjoin as taken from the Doctor's ovtn report. The expedition, consisting of Dr. Leichardt, Messrs, Isaacs, Bunce and Perry, and an aboriginal native, started from Darling Downs on the 9th August, directed their course for Acacia creek, which they traced to Dogwood creek on the 18th, in lat. 26° 24', and to Bottle tree creek .in lat. 26 ° 20 '. The country was found to be scrubby, with a few patches of open forest. They found some difficulty in penetrating west erly, owing to the prevalence of bncklovv scrub, while in a south easterly direction there appeared a large extent of fine open box country. Farther westward they crossed several creeks, the country tolerably open, but the ground rotten, and timbered with cypress pine, forest oak, and apple tree, indicative of a poor soil. Farther westward, the party came upon a considerable river, called the « Hoi set rack,' estimated to run "a coutseof 180 miles, the bed sandy, interspersed with pebbles of fossil wood, agate, flint, and quartz, and the box closely timbered with box and box sapling*; the country scrubby, with occasional patches of forest, and the ground puffy. This general character continued to the Yahoo river, the country getting worse, and the cypruss pine, do donca, and bricklow scrubs becoming still more irapenetratable. When near the Colgoon river, three native* walked boldly up to the party. No information could be got from them, but they accepted three brass buttons each and parted friends. They next pushed westerly, over a scrubby mountainous country, the creeks trending E. and E.N.E, until they fell iv with Sir T. Mitchells returning tracks, which the followed sixty miles. They then returned eastward, and followed the Balonne river, to its junction with Dogwood creek and the Condamine, through an improving country, and finally got back safe to the starting place. A dray load, Dr. Leichardt considets would be practicable from Mitchells track, in the dry season, along the Balonne and Condamine to Darling Downs and Brisbane! Moreton Bay, making a circuitous route of above 400 miles. The natives are said to be numerous along the Balonne. The country is reported as favourable for entile, but not in general for sheep. In returning, the party crossed the Mackenzie, and found a well watered country, with plains and downs extending 60 miles from SS E. to N.N.W., and six to eight miles broad, but hemmed in by scrubby country to the west, south, and east. Five out of the seven mules which had strayed on the former expedition found their way back to Darling Downs, having instinctively retraced their journey 600 miles."