CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury, July 17.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 740, 4 September 1852, Page 4

CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury, July 17.]

We have received California papers to the Ist of May. A rather original feature in American history is just being developed in California. Hitherto one of the leading principles of American policy has been to receive freely emigrants from all nations ; nor in spite of the occasional quarrels between individuals or b«dies of Americans and the Chilenos or Mexicans, has California ever as a state restricted in any way the introduction of immigrants from any land. It appears, however, that the very Urge and increasing stream of Chinese pouring into the country, mostly to be--come gold diggers^ had excited- something like alarm in the breast of the Governor, Mr.Bigter, and he had addressed a special message of considerable length on the subject to the Senate and Assembly of the State, dated April 23, 1852. The Chinese immigrants are understood to come not precisely as free men, but under bond or contract to perform work for a certain time for men who have despatched them from China, and keep their families as a kind of hostages ; the Chinese intending, in Governor Bigler's apprehension, to return to China with the proceeds of their labours, after some years. He does not very clearly indicate what injury he thinks will arise to California from such immigration, nor what remedies he would suggest ; but he argues at considerable length, on legal and constitutional grounds, the reasons why the state would be justified, first, in refusing to do anything to enforce or recognise the validity of contracts so made in a foreign state, and secondly, in imposing restrictions on the right of Chinese to work at the gold diggings. Moke Indian Difficulties. — The quarrels and disturbances which have so frequently occurred of late, in the Trinity and Shasta district, are beginning, to assume a serious aspect. A number of outrages have been committed by the Indians, and the -Whites are preparing to unite in a war against them. Tbe Shasta Courier of Saturday, publishes the following information from Trinity Mines and Weaverville : — " George •Butler and Jacob Turner, with two other men, started up Winter Creek, aboot 8 miles from "Weaverville, on a prospecting trip. The party took with them only ten day's provisions, and -have been absent five weeks. It is supposed that the whole party has been killed by the Indians. Mr. Anderson, a butcher in Weaverville, was killed by the Indians on the 16th inst. Mr. Anderson was driving sift tattle, about five miles from Weaverville, and had two dogs with him. The cattle-and dogs were all taken by tbe 'Indians. The body of the deceased was found on Monday last, and had been pierced by nine arrows. His throat was also cut. A man, with whose name we are unfurnished, was wounded in the arm on Monday last, by the Indians, near the upper ferry ot Trinity River. On Wednesday a Spaniard was killed by the" Indians, between Vary's Ranch and Trinity iferry. James Faulds, who was wounded last week about forty miles from this place, while on his way to Yreka, as stated in our last issue, has since died. In consequence of these outrages, tbe citizens of Trinity are forming themselves into companies for the purpose of giving the Indians of that section such chastisement as they merit. Two companies, we understand, have already been organised." — Alta California, May 1. The Great Passage of the Clipper Ship "Challenge." — This magnificent ship, commanded by Capt.- John Land, arrived in our harbour from China early yesterday morning, after the extraordinarily short passage of thirtythree days I She sailed from Hongkong on the 19ih March, and left tbe coast of Japan on the sth of April, having thus made tbe run from the latter country -in seventeen days. The greatest distance run by log in twenty four hours was 360 knots; and the greatest progress .made in a direct line, 335 knots. The highest speed attained was 16 knots per hour. The average log of the whole passage was 10 knots; and the average on a straight line, 9 knots per hour. Whilst in the China sea she made the distance between two islands* which were forty- two miles apart, in two hours and a quarter. She is in ballast, and brings 553 Chinese emigrants, all in good health ; not a death has occurred on the passage. In every point of view this is one of tbe most wonderful and successful passages on record; and we congratulate Captain Land upon the additional fame which his seamanship will confer upon tbe American commercial marine. — Alia California, May 1. The Weather in the Mines. — Qur last Saturday's exchanges from the, v northern and southern districts of the mining region informs vi that rain and snow in considerable quantities have fallen within the past week in .the mountains. The Calaveras Chronicle says that snow and hail visited that vicinity, accompanied by a severe wind, during tbe last three days oftbc past week. On the authority of the Sonora Herald we learn that all the week there had been very cold weather in that vicinity. On Thursday it rained all day. Friday morning tbe ground was covered with snow. During the entire day they were visited with successive showers of bail and rain. The El Dorado News says of the weather in that section of the mines, " The past two days have been the most disagreeable that we have experienced tbic winter. It commenced raining on Thursday morning, and has continued to rain and snow almost incessantly up to the time of our . going to press." — Alta California, May 1. Oregon.-— By the brig June, Capt. Scott, six days from Astoria, we have received tidings oi the destruction of the Custom House and Post Office at Astoria, by fire. The conflagration occurred between the honrs of 10 and 11 o'clock,

on the night of the 16th — cause unknown. We learn U>at the books and other public documents in the building were saved, Rich gold discoveries are said to have been made<on De Sbute's river. — Alta California May 1.

Lynching. — The' Times and Transcript publishes the following account of a lynching affair at Granite Creek, near Coloma : — " Our iu1 formant writes that a Sydney man, named Thomas George, was accused of robbing Michael M'Kevite of 150 ounces of gold. He was tried and found guilty by twelve jurors, appointed at a public ! meeting of one hundred miners, and sentenced to be hung, unless he should produce the stolen property in half an hour. The time having expired, a lariat wai put around his neck, and a party proceeded to execute the sentence pronounced against him. They run him up, and kept him suspended as long as it was safe, when he was let down and restored, by the application of water and other restoratives. He still-refused to confess, but when they were about to repeat the operation, with a promise of its being final, and fatal, be changed his mind, and led them to where the purse was concealed under a stone."

From the Sotjth. — Military Operations ok the Gila. — The arrival of the steamer Ohio, Capt. Hilliard, five days from San Diego, gives us intelligence from Southern California of an interesting though not important nature. The post on the Gila, which by our last accounts was! seriously threatened by Indians and by famine, has been maintained, and supplies conveyed thither from the relief vessel moored in the Colorado. The troublesome Indians have been held in check, and Camp Yuraa is again in prosperous circumstances. — Alia California, May 1. Rich Diggings. — Persons coming down from the northern mines confirm fully the reports of the immense and exceeding rich dry diggings at Steep Hollow, some fifteen miles above Nevada city; on the Truckie route. We also learn that the hill sides, and even the hill tops, are richer than any of the dry diggings yet discovered in that vicinity. Great numbers of persons are preparing for summer operations there. So far as it has been prospected, it is the most extensive placer that has yet been worked off the streams. < — Dem. State Journal.

Indian Gulch. — The accounts from this direction are exceedingly flattering. The miners in the vicinity are doing well, and especially on the old and supposed to be exhausted Indian Gulch. The miners who first worked this gulch supposed they had come to the ledge when they reached a sort of decomposed slate ; - but lately parties have penetrated through this slate, and realized extraordinary remuneration from a species of cemented clay which they have found beneath the surface of the decomposed slate. Claims, rich in auriferous earth, bad been abandoned when this deceptive ledge was struck, but' which have since afforded a lucrative recompense to the energetic minors who have worked through it. Scientific and philosophic inferences seem to have little to do with California — and we must say to all discontented miners — "stick to your claims" until you have prospected them so thoroughly that there is not an atom of hope of anybody else finding rich deposits in them. — Calaveras Chronicle, April 24.

The FREZNO.-^Tbere^as^teen-considerable excitement of late in various parts of Tuolunane county concerning extensive pincers said to have been discovered on tbe Frezno, south of the Mariposa. A large number of persons have left their claims in Tuolumne county to visit the new diggings. Two men who went to Frezno prospecting, returned last week to Jacksonville, and reported the diggings to be everything that could be described. Some were averaging six ounces per day ; but as it was calculated that there were seven thousand men on tbe Frezno and its vicinity, a great many more are doing little 01 nothing.—^Stockton Journal, April 23.

Serious Disturbance. — Two Men Shot. — Last night about ten o'clock a difficulty took place in the Eldorado Saloon, which resulted in severely wounding two persons who were entirely innocent of any part of the affray. As the particulars will be shown more accurately in the investigation, it is only necessary to give the result of the affair. .It seems that a dispute arose between two individuals in the El Dorado, which led to blows, and one of the police, Mr. Whittier, interfered to separate the parties, when he was fallen upon and brutally beaten. While standing on the sidewalk, the policeman succeeded in drawing his pistol, and in attempting to shoot two of those aiding in the assault, the balls unfortunately lodged, one in the breast of Mr. Joseph Chahfrau, who was standing near, and the other in the groin of an individual, said to be a miner and stranger in town, whose name we did not learn. Mr. Chanfrau is thought not to be dangerously wounded, but the ball having taken an upward direction in the case of the other, his condition is considered more doubtful. — Sacramento Times.

Row at Downikvilxe. — The Democratic State Journal, Sacramento, has received the following despatch per express i — " Downieville, April -IP, 1852. — On last Sunday night, in a« melee which occurred at Madame Cole's in this town, Robert Becket was killed and three others wounded, one severely and the other two slightly, by a man named Craig Sheppard. One of the persons wounded is a small sailor called Little Fred, who succeeded in taking the knife away from Sbeppard at the imminent risk of his own life. In accomplishing this heroic act, be received a slight stab in the abdomen. Sheppard is in custody, but the general belief is that he acted "in "self-defence, and consequently 'will escape with impunity.

MUBDER AT MOKELUMNE HILL. — On tbe sth instant the body of a man named Charles H. Morris was found near Mokelumne Hi]}, tbe unfortunate person having had' his brains knocked out. Tbe deceased and his companion, who were from Crawford county, Mo., had gone oat prospecting, and nothing was heard of them till tbe body was found. Morris was from New York, large size, slightly deaf, dark complexion, wai a blacksmith, about 45 years of age, and arrived about fire montbs since, Tbe cabin belonging te Morrit was robbed of gold dust to tbe amount of 400 dollars. Nothing has yet been heard of his companion, who is supposed to be the murderer, Alta California, April 30.

Brutal Murder. — Yesterday morning about three o'clock, the body of • Spaniard named

Joaqnin, wa» found on Davis-street wharf, between Commercial attd Clay-streets, horribly disfigured by sixteen wounds inflicted on different parti of the person.- He bad lain there since ten o'clock the previous evening, in t beistly itate of intoxication, and when first attacked was evidently in a standing position, judging from tbe blood on a column of the building. Justice P. W. Shepbearil held an inquest on tbe. body. Tbe jury rendered tbe following verdict: — "We, tbe jurors, find that the deceased, Joaquin, other name unknown, <c*me to his death by a sharp instrument in tbe bands of a person or persons unknown." — tbid.