COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 490, 13 April 1850, Page 3

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Customs Seizure at California. —-The seizures of British goods made by the United States Customs officers, in California, have been numerous, and of considerable value. What amount has been forfeited we have not been able to ascertain ; but it is certain that at least £20,000 was realised by the sale of forfeited goods from Sydney alone, in the months of October, November, and Decera,bcr last. The principal articles seized have been beer and spirits. By the United States law the importation of beer in casks containing less than forty gallons, or if iv bottles in packages of not less than six dozen, is forbidden under penalty of forfeiture of the goods, and the ship in which they are imported. Brandy can only be imported in casks containing not less than fifteen gallons, and other spiri's in casks containing not less than ninety gallons, under the same penalties. We have heard of one ship that had a thousand cases, each containing one dozen bottles of . brandy, seized, and the captain was told he ought to be very thankful his ship was not also forfeited. The laws are undoubtedly very severe, but they were well known, and have been in existence for many years, and persons shipping to a foreign country ought to make themselves acquainted with the laws, of that country . So long ago as May last, when we found that a large trade was springing up between Sydney and California, we published (see Herald, 4th May,) the American Tariff Act, and als» an abstract of the United States Customs Regulations, containing these very provisions, the infraction of which has caused such serious losses. In August, Mr. Williams, the United States Consul, handed to us for publication a circular from General Smith, the commanding officer in California, stating that vessels visiting that country must count upon the strictest construction of the law both as regards cargoes and vessels." Under these circumstances, it appears to us that persons have negligently, and in some instances wilfully, placed their goods and ships in peril, and that they have no right to complain of the result. We are informed that nearly all the spirits and beer (and the quantity is large) shipped from Sydney to California within the last six months has been shipped without any reference to the regulations. — Sydney Morning Herald. We have been favoured, says the Hobart Town Courier, with an extract of a letter from London, under date 27th of October, in which the writer says :—": — " I must not omit telling you (though perhaps you have already heard as much) that our friend Home is not to succeed Judge Montagu — so the Downingstreet authorities have decided. The reason, as far as I have been able to learn, is — that it is a principle inviolably observed by them never to confirm any officer who has in any

way been mixed up with the removal of his predecessor. I learn that the Judgeship is to be conferred on a gentleman in one of your sister colonies. On the night of the 6th ult. a shock of earthquake was felt by the inhabitants of Norfolk Island ; at first a rumbling noise was heard as of distant thunder, and which was soon followed by a trembling of all the houses on the island. Of course the fearful sensation produced upon the minds of the inhabitants may be easily imagined ; fortunately no other harm was done except the great fright occasioned.

Dr. Leichhardt. — The Government of Western Australia have directed Lieut. Elliott, who is stationed at Champion Bay, to be prepared to render assistance to the party of Dr. Leichhardt, in the event of its appearance in the neighbourhood. The commencement of 1850 was the period fixed upon by that indefatigable traveller as about the time when he might be expected at Swan River. But few imagine that he or his party will ever be seen more ; and, when we consider the long and arduous-journey he has to perform, we must confess that the chances are infinitely against our ever having to congratulate him upon the successful issue of his enterprise; yet, with the persevering nothing is impossible, and our Government have done well to call tbe attention of Lieut. Elliott to the possibility of his advent. Mr. Elliott has communicated to the natives that a party of white men ait expected, and begged them to pub* lish it among the other tribes, and assist the explorers in evr ry way in their power. This they have promised to do, and Lieutenant 'Elliott has every confidence that should Dr. Leichhardt fall in with any of them he will receive most effectual aid. — Perth Inquirer,

Romance in Real Life. — A circura* stance has lately transpired which has exhi- ! bited events of no common occurrence. A few weeks since a labouring man was killed on board the Rookery, and to this accident may be attributed the following extraordinary disclosures: — In July, 1833, eight prisoners of the crown made their escape from the colony in a small craft belonging to the Government. The little vessel was about twentyfive tons, and was called the Badger; she was loaded with stores and Christmas supplies, which were to be conveyed to Macquarie Harbour. The Badger was manned by , seven prisoners, and was placed under the command of a man named William Phipps, also a convict, who had been transported for incendiarism in destroying a ship. Phipps had a wife and several children in England, and he had repeatedly expressed a desire to abscond and settle in America. Under these circumstances, the opportunity of July, 1833, was too favourable to escape, and the vessel was accordingly carried off. The absconders were traced to Japan, at which place they ] ut in for water, but after that nothing was heard of them, and they were given up for lost. What became of them for the first three or four years after their escape is not known, but about that time the Badger suddenly visited Padstow, a small sea port in Cornwall, and Phipps, dressed in a widow's habiliments of mourning, went on shore. In this disguise be succeeded in making arrangements for conveying his wife and family on board, alter which he immediately put to sea, and, it is supposed, steered for America ; and with his departure from the coast of Cornwall tbe story of Phipps ceases. But the narrative does not end heie. One of Phipps comrades, named Lachlan M'lutosh, also longing to return to his native place, proceeded to Scotland, and being there recognised as an escapee, was speedily sent back under transportation foi life. Arrived in this colony a second time, he passed through the various preliminary stages previous tp obtaining an indulgence, and upon the receipt of a ticket- of-leave he was occasionally employed at the wharf in helping to load and discharge vessels. He was thus engaged on board the barque Rookery when the accidental falling of a block abruptly terminated a life which had often been exposed to dangers a thousand times more formidable and threatening, but which, notwithstanning, had been preserved to be at last laid down in that country which he loathe 1. Such was the end of M'lntosb ; what has befallen his seven companions in peril it is impossible to imagine ; doubtless but few, if any, now survive to record that catalogue of anxiety and suffering incident to a revolution of seventeen years. — Launceston Examiner.

Bushrangers. — Four aimed prisoners of the crown ire now at large in this district. On Wednesday morning they visited Mr. Griffiths' shepherd's hut, on the West Taraar and carried away some provisions ; Mr. Griffith having met them in the bush, they "stuck him up." Parties of constables are in pursuit, but experience suggests that a rtward promptly offered for their apprehension would more certainly ensure their arrest/ — Ibid, Feb. 23,