CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 757, 3 November 1852, Page 4

CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

By the Architect, we are in receipt of an Alia California of the 15ib July, from which we make the following extracts :—: — - State of the Mines.— -Mr. Wilson, of the Stockton Journal, whose observation on raining piospects in the South are usually made up from careful and authentic sources, and upon whose statements much reliance can be placed, presents a picture of mining affairs which is more unfavourable than any exhibit that has been made in many months. He says complaints are rife in every quarter of the interior country, and times are harder just now, throughout the mines North and •South, than they have ever been before. This state of things, he affirms, is attributable to several causes. In the first place, provisions are high ; then there is a large number of persons in the mines; the creeks where there is water are pretty well dug up ; there is no water in the gulches ; the rivers are all high ; many of the races have given out ; many persons have been at work on ditches and canals, which have as yet yielded nothing ; old miners are unwilling to work for low wages, and many of the new miners are unsettled and dissatisfied. But while such is the present state of things, as far as a large .majority of the miners are concerned, it is stated that many have good locations and are realizing immense profits, and the prospects for the future is not by any means gloomy. There is an abundance of gold in the dry diggings, which will be supplied with water by canals, after next winter. In the course of two or three weeks operations will commence on the rivers, as the waters are now falling rapidly, md the yield from the river beds will be immense.

Gold Dust by thr " Northerner." — The U. S. Mail Steamer Northerner takes down, this morning, a total of gold dust amounting to 1,759,971 dollars. The Collins Line. — With much pleasure we perceive, by late Congressional reports, that the Senate have passed the amendment granting a compensation of 33,000 dollars per trip to Collin's line of Atlantic steamers. This intelligence, we are quite sure, will be gratifying to every American, and we can reasonably iudulge in the hope that the bill will now pass and become a law. There is a proviso accompanying the amendment, that Congress may terminate the arrangement at six months' notice, at any time after a the close of the year 1855.

The Indian Disturbances in the San Joaquin Valley. — We perceive it is stated in one of the Stockton papers that troops have passed through that city within a day or two, in small detachments, en route for the seat of Indian difficulties on the Upper San Joaqnin. The latest intelligence from Fort Miller is of the 4th inst., at which time considerable excitement existed among the tribes towards the mines of that district. Major G. W. Patten, with a detachment of 2nd infantry, passed through Stockton on Sunday last, on his road to Fort Miller and the scene of disturbance, On the head waters of the Merced several collisions had occurred between the whites and Indians, The Stockton Journal is-informed that on the evening of the 4th inst., Lieut. Moore came up with the Indians who killed the two miners recently, and routed the rancheria, killing six and taking twelve prisoners. Lieut. Moore lost one man. Further difficulty is expected with these ludians, and Lieut. Moore will await the arrival of reinforcements on the middle fork cf the Merced, where he is encamped.

Another Excitement in Sonora! — We are indebted to the Bgent of Todd's Express in this city for the fol'owing dispatch. — Sonora, July 12, 1852. — A difficulty occurred in the upper part of the town to-day, between two Mexicans ; in the affray one was killed, and the other severely wounded. — There is some ltttle excitement in town to-day, in regard to a robbery committed : last night. Some Mexicans stole a safe, containing in money and city scrip about 4,000 dollars ; they carried the safe about two miles from town, broke it open, and escaped with the contents. The officers are on their Hack, but up to the present momeift we have no tidings from them.