SYDNEY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 109, 15 August 1846, Page 3

SYDNEY.

Sir Maurice O'Connell took the oaths as Acting-Governor of the Territory, on the 13th of July. A spirit of insubordination had broken oat among the convicts at Norfolk Island, but was quelled without bloodshed, by the energetic proceedings of Major Harrold. A bill for imposing a duty of 15 per cent, upon the produce and manufactures of New South Wales, had passed the Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land. The prices of wheat at Launceston, up to the Bth of July, were quoted at 6s. to 6s. 3d. per bushel. Fine flour from £13 to £16 per 2000 lbs. A rise in the price of wheat was expected, but the stock is declared to be large both in store and in stack. The barque Palestine 359 tons, Lidderdale, sailed for London July 11. Pass., His Excellency Sir George Glpps, Lady Gipps ; Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Strode, Mr. G. L. Robinson, Dr. Pine, and Lieut. Wharton, H.M.B. Osprey, Miss Newport, Mr. J. Edson, four warrant officers, and 39 seamen of H.M.B Osjrcy.

Departure op his Excellency Sir George Gipps. — Saturday being the day fixed upon for the departure from this colony of his Excellency Sir George Gipps, all the j Government offices were closed, and most of the Banks, together with many of the shops after eleven o'clock in the day. Shortly before twelve o'clock, a guard of honor consisting of fifty rank and file of the 11th regiment with the band and Queen's colours, proceeded to Government House, where they remained until his Excellency left Government House for the Circular Whar^ A guard of honour, with the band and Queen's colour of the 99th regiment, under the command of Captain Day, was stationed on the wharf, where it remained until his Excellency had embarked. One hundred rank and file of the 11th regiment, under the command pf Lieutenant-Colonel BloomfiekT; one hun-

dred rank and file of the 58th regiment, under the command of Lieutenant - Colonel Wynyard, and one hundred rank and file of the 99 th regiment, commanded by Lieute-nant-Colonel Jackson, formed a lane from Government House to the stairs at the wharf, | and the whole of t ! »c troops were under the command of Colonel Despard. Precisely at twelve o'clock, an address from the inhabitants of Sydney was presented to the Governor by a deputation appointed for that purpose. , An address was also presented from the inhabitants of Camden, and one from the members of the Newcastle Mechanics' Institute, for which we have not space in our present issue. After the presentation of these addresses his Excellency held a levee, which was attended by the members of the Executive Council, several members of the Legislative Council, the Mayor, and most of the City Council, the Judges, the law-officers, the clergy of all denominations, and about 500 of the most respectable citizens and colonists. About two o'clock his Excellency left Government House, accompanied by the chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, and most of the gentlemen who had attended the levee. 'Immediately on leaving the house, his Excellency was cheered by the vast crowd assembled outside, and the cheering was continued with little intermission during the whole of his progress to the wharf's. The bands of the different regiments at intervals, playing "God save the Queen," An immense crowd was assembled on the Circular Quay, and on his Excellency's arrival at that place the cheering was most enthusiastic, The Governor's barge was in waiting at the stair and as soon as his Excellency had entered it a salute of nineteen guns was fired at Fort Macquarie. A similar salute was fired by H. M.S. Castor, as his Excellency rounded the point at Fort Macquarie, just below which that vessel was anchored. The Palestine lay at anchor just below the Castor in Farm Cove, and as his Excellency approached her the scene became very animating, the harbour being studded with boats of every description, and three or four steamers plying about. Every point commanding a view of the Palestine was occupied by well dressed citizens, anxious to take a last farewell look of a Governor who, despite all the efforts of the oligarchic faction and their truculent dress, has by his urbanity, demeanour, j and justice, endeared himself to the hearts of the vast majority of the colonists of New South Wales, Shortly after his Excellency got on board, the Palestine made sail and got under way, Lady Gipps having embarked about twelve o'clock. There was a fine south-westerly breeze, and the vessel went down the harbour in good style, accompanied by the steamers and various boats. By sunset, the Palestine was hull down from the South Head, and the Government of Sir George Gipps in New South Wales was concluded. — Sydney Chronicle.