CALIFORNIA. [From the Empire, May l.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 710, 22 May 1852, Page 3

CALIFORNIA. [From the Empire, May l.]

By the Jessie we have files of San Francisco papers to the 20th of February, being one week later than our last news. The steamer Pacific, which sailed for San Juan Del Sail, on the 14ih of February, took 291 passengers, and 190,000 dollars worth of freight, and on the 18th the Pacific, mail steamer, sailed for Panama, with 200 passengers, and 1,500,000 ' dollars in specie. Skirmishes with the Indians on the borders were as frequent as ever, and attended in many cases with very serious consequences. Robberies and outrages were also on the increase in San Francisco and the other towns of the State. The Alia California of the 15th says " There has not been a night for the last three weeks that there has not been a robbery committed. The Alta California of the IBtb, has the following interesting paragraph :—: — f The Pacific Telegraph. — The bill introduced by Senator Gwin, granting the right of way for and to aid in the construction of a line of telegraph from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, was read, the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. A bill similar in character was introduced last session by Senator Rusk of Texas, then chairman of the committee to which Senator Gwin's bill has now been referred. It may be fairly presumed, therefrom, that the bill will be reported on favourably by the committee, and that is an important step in its progress. In the same paper, a sensible letter appears from Mr. Joseph H. Scruttoh, vindicating the character and conduct oFthe people of New South Wales, in reference to the depreciatory remarks of; Mr, Thomas Hinigan, pointing out that I Americans who have visited this colony, have &1-

ways been treated with kindness and hospitality. The letter winds up with the following paragraph :— " 1 am only desirous of your inserting ibis letter, that gentlemen who may wish to visit the colonies may not be deterred by the very partial representations contained in Mr. Hinigan's Teport. lam fully confident that they can travel with safety, without fire-arms, through all parts of the country, and not only receive no molestation, but be treated with kindness and hospitality by the respectable portion of the community." In reply to this letter, the editor, in the next day's issue, makes the following comments :—"lt: — "It is merely our purpose at present to state that the best of information and most reliable advices from the South Australia colonies justify the opinion that public sentiment towards California is harsh, prejudiced, and resentful. Whether or not the treatment of the American has been influenced by this spirit in any one instance, it is not in our power to determine. If the author of the communication on the subject in yesterday's^/^ does not kno» that the press of South Australia, representing, it is presumed, the respectable opinions of that respectable community in the South Seas, has week after week poured forth its bitter reproaches, and prejudiced, malignant abuse heaped, upon the people of California; and on our society and customs, then it is -quite time that he became enlightened regarding public sentiment in' that region, as conveyed through the columns of their daily journals. .We can assure him, from carefully preserving records of the '-spirit of the press,' that no opportunity has been suffered to pass by the editors of Sydney, within the past six months, for indulging in severe and unwarranted comments, through their ignorance and resentful feeling, on. the condition and prospects of California." A Bill had passed the Legislature, providing for the funding of all the Civil debt of the State, contracted prior to the Ist of May, 1851, at 7 per cent, a year interest. The total sum which it provides for is 600,000 dollars, which it is said will more than cover the warrant which had been issued prior to the Ist of May, and which would be issued by the 31st of December next. It provides for the payment of 300.000 dollars of the principal, either in New York, or at the Treasurer's Office, on the Ist July, 1865, and the remaining 300,000 dollars on the same plan, on the Ist July, 1870. Strenuous efforts were being made to introduce Negro Slavery into the State. The movement was headed by a small party in the Legislature, who was warmly seconded by an interested clique without. With a view to enlist the sympathies of the public in the measure, it was proposed to procure a division of the State, by which means the population of the Southern or Mining districts would be erected into a separate dependency, and as it is said be relieved from considerable taxation. Although the winter was far advanced, there -was a great lack of rain in the Mining Districts. We give below a few items of interest, in reference to the mines: — Gatesvillb. — A gentleman just up from Gatesville, or Sucker's Flat, informs us that miners are making from ten to twenty dollars per day in that neighbourhood. At present there is a great scarcity of water ; but this evil will soon be remedied, as several enterpriiing companies are engaged in turning water into the place. The Union Water and Mining Co. have already completed a ditch from Rough and Ready to Gatesville, and the Glenhaven Co. will have theirs completed in a few days. The Ripple-box Company will have their works finished in three or four weelcs, which will furnish water for at Jeast five hundred men. — Nevada Journal. Volcano. — This place is now one of the largest and most important in Calaveras County. It is surrounded by probably the richest mining region in California, and we bear daily of large strikes being made in that vicinity. When the road is constructed to Carson Valley, and the full tide of emigration, the coming year, is diverted to that place, there cau be no doubt that Volcano will be to the Southern Mines, what Haugtown and Coloma have been to the Northern. By reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen that their business men are an enterprising class, and with their mining community, composed almost entirely of Americans. Volcano will even now compare favourably_vritb any other mining town __^Abis4iortion of the mines. New Diggings. — We understand that new diggings have been discovered" between the Stanislaus and Toluinne rivers, on the road leading to Don Pedro's bar, and abaulfour .miles Jnun -the river. "Several gulches have been prospected »nd gold found, but bow well they pay we do not kuow. The snpply of water is not very abundant, but at present there is. sufficient for ordinary rockers. Undoubtedly there is much of the precious metal deposited in this vicinity, which will not be disturbed for years for want of water. — Stockton Journal. The Hanging at Murphy's.— The San Joaquin Republican of yesterday, has further par- | ticulars of the hanging'of tbe two robbers by the populace at Murphy's on Wednesday, a week ago. Mr. Booth, who arrived at Stockton on Tuesday, from Murphy's, informs the editors that the thieves were Sydney men, and there ig every reason to believe formed part of a gang of rascals who are infeating ■ tbe country. They were two of the most hardened', rascals he had ever seen. The elder one was hung first, and while his body was yet dangling ,in tbe air before tbe eyes of the younger one, tht latter said, with an oath, " I will make no confession — but understand thit I am one of the brothers — put that in your pipe and ftnoke it." On the following morning, rolled up in the legs of the pantaloons of this man was found a quantity of money, jewellery, and a letter. — Alia California, Ftb. 20.