VICTORIA. From the Melbourne Correspondent of the Sydney Herald)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 616, 10 March 1852, Page 3

VICTORIA. From the Melbourne Correspondent of the Sydney Herald)

January 30.—The accounts brought down from tho diggings show anything but a favourable or enticing state of society. On all hands it is complained that lbs force stationed nt the mine-* is notstiong enough, while many uige that the Gold Oommissioneis will not oxeit themselves even to make the small body of men they have available. Numerous details of robbeiy ami violence are published in the papers, authenticated by "tho names of well-known individuals; one instance, however, has come to my knowledge, and as it does not appear in the local papeis 1 will give it you. A respectable young man, who had been for some time working a hole, which just at piesant is beginning to pay him, had noticed that a laige quantity of eailli had been for several nights removed from it. He subsequently set watch, and caught a man descending into the hole, with a tin dish. This he very coolly filled with the auriferous eaith and bore away, despite tho protests of the lawful owner offtthebole. The nest morning the digger complained to the Commissioner of the acts of the maiauder. '* What can I do," says the Commissioner, '* I shall want nearly as many men as diggers to watch yaur holes. You must look after them yourselves." The digger replied he had done so, and had caught the plunderer, who, however, declined to desist. " Threaten to shoot him then," answered the Commissioner. "And suppose," said the digger, "he don't mind the threat 1" " Then do it!" coolly rejoined the Commissioner as he turned on bis heel and walked away. Our digger next night set watch, but this lime aimed with a musket bearing a " tidy" charge of B. shot. At the usual hour the gentleman of the tin Oibh descended, and was prepaimgto stait with a load, when tho digger hailed. " Put down that stuff!" said he. A very contemptuous reply was paid to this appeal. " Put it down, or I'll shoot you !" again challenged the digger. " Shoot and be——," answered the maiauder, and hardly were the wouls out of his mouth than the B. shot peppered his legs, and sent him away full speed, with a peculiar dancing motion that would have gladdened the eyes of a French ballet master, and would have caused him to a certainty to introduce into the next new ballet the celebiated jias de voleur. In general news there is little or nothing stirring, except that news has been received of the death of Mr. M'Donald, formeily a Commissioner of Ciown Lands, whose body was found in the Mallee scrub by the black 3 in a fearful state of decomposition. The unfortunate gentleman must have lost himself in endeavouring to take a short cut through the scrub, and as there is no water, the resylt is easily guessed.

Bad Silver at the Exhibition.—The rapid flow of the coin into the hands of the money-takers prevented all examination of each piece as it was received, and jt9o of bad silver was taken, but only one piece of bad gold, and that was a half- sovereign. The half-crown was the most usual bad coin, but a much more noticeable fact is, that nearly all the bad money was taken on the half-crown and five-shilling days ! Next year (1852) Russia will celebrate, throughout the vast expanse of her empire, the completion of her thousandth' year of national existence; which will be kept with all the solemnity due to the importance of the event. The Russian empire was founded in 852, in which year the Russians, or Rossians, probably of Scandinavian origin, made their iiist appearance on the shores of the Bosphorus as Warangiens.—Morning Post. One evening, as a flock of sheep were passing across Argyle- stivet, Glasgow, they came in contact with a lady. Not finding it convenient to go round her, the first took the liberty of jumping right over her shoulder. According* to a well-known custom of sheep, another and another followed, till above a dozen jumped right over the terrified lady. At last a policeman rescued her from the residue.

An Appropriate Present.—The Emperor of Austria has forwarded to Louis Napoleon a poodle of extraordinary docility. It will, at a word, sit up and beg— lick the boots of the Austrian ambassador, picking out his boots from any other boots of the corps diplomatique, bark and wag- his tail for the double eagle, and give three distinct howls, one for libei ti —one for egalite —one for JiaternitS. The dog canies a gold collar, engraved on it '' Ham."—Punch. Giave complaint has been made at the Manchester Town Council of the conduct of a member of that body (a poik butcher) who, during her Majesty's visit, was guilty of great indecorum in rushing up to the Countess of , and shaking hinds with her, when the Royal party were entering the Exchange, under the impression that it was the Queen he was thus warmly gieeting. Tho event has caused no little piivate scandal at the expense of the corporate body. It is said that the same councillor also caught hold of the Duke of Wellington's hand in the same way.

A Centenarian Preacher.—The pulpit of tho Wesleyan Chapel at Oxfoid was occupied on Sunday afternoon by a gentleman named Fletcher, of the great age of 105. His discourse (in piaying and preaching) lasted nearly three quarters cf an hour, and was listened to with very great interest by a numerous congregation, consisting of many denominations of Christians. Although the chapel is a large one, the venerable ] reacher's voice was distinctly beard by all; indeed hia faculties, for so aged a peiso'n, are unusually good.—A pi oof of his memory being retentive was his quoting Scripture texts frequently and accurately. Fox, the Constructor of the Crystal Palace, and Kiss, or Blriin.—Professor Kiss, of Beihn, the author of the much-admired Amazon group, was so struck with the mechanical wonders of the building, that he sought an opportunity to express to the constructor, through the medium of an interpreter, his sense of astonishment and admiration of his extraordinary achievements. When the artist had given vent to the fullness of his feelings in the genuine outpouiings,of a German artist's heart, " Tell him," was Mr. Fox's epigrammatic leply, "I can make this"—pointing to the building—"but I could not do that"—pointing to the group. In this make and do, ju«t lies the ditlVionce between constructive talent and ciealive genius —manufacture and art,~Edmburgh llevicu.