CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 845, 7 September 1853, Page 3

CALIFORNIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

The Germans in San Francisco. — There are about 5000 Germans ia San Francisco. They are of all classes, and from all parts of Germany ; frera the mountains of the Tyrol to the delta of the Weser, from the hills of Alsace >t« the sands of the Vistula. Many of them , have long been away from their native land ; some in the United States, and others in Spanish Araei rica and in the isles of the South Pacific. A | great many of the foreign merchauts in Mexico, Chile, Peru, and in the provinces on the eastern bank ol South America are Germans. Germany has uo foreign colonies, and yet there is not room for all her citizens at home. Tho Spaniards have a [partiality for the Germans, in former limes Germany and Spain were united under oie Emperor, the most powerful monarch of Europe, and the associations connected with the history of the Empire are agreeable. But probably the main cause of the preference of the Spaniards /or the Germans is that the latter possess no political power out of the continent of Europe, while the English, French, and Americans are dangerous on account of their maritime power as well as of their grasping disposition. Spanish America has been a kind of paradise for adventurous young German merchants, that wished to sow their wild oats away from home. Many of them, scattered from Chile to Chihuahua, were attracted by tha gold of California, and some of them are now among our wealthiest citizens. The residence in Spatish America accounts for the fluency and correctness with which many of them speak Spanish. The great majority of the Germans in California intend to make their permanent residence here. —Alta California.

Thirteen Days Later from the Atlantic. — The P. M. S Co.'s steamer Cohmbus, Captain Mellus, arrived about twelve o'clock last night, bringing dates to the 23rd April from the Atlantic. California overland emigration is on the march from the western frontier stales. A Van Buren (Ark.) paper confirms our private accounts of the large herds of cattle travelling for borders. The Netv York Herald states that a merchant who had returned from the west, asserted on " Change," that the emig.ation to the Pacific side or the continent would be very large the present spring. Numbers were preparing for the overland route to California, and yet more lor tne territory of Oregonr~ir sppedrea -iimi, the Government grant of G4O acres (a mile square) of land, allowed to each family actually settling and cultivating it for a term of years, was operating as a strong inducement in favour of emigration to Oregon. A sad case of death from negligence on the part of prison keepers occured at the Tombs, New York city, on the 18th ultimo. Of five unfortunate men who bad been thrust into the cell in the city prison, three were on Monday morning found dead, and a fourth struggling on the floor in convulsive fits. They fell victims to the impurity of the air. Much complaint is made by the city press of the want of ventilation in the prison. — The discoveries of gold in Texas, heretofore noticed, are confirmed ; large amounts are said to have been collected. — Alta California, May 21.

[From the Melbourne Argus, July 29.] To the San Francisco Herald we are indebted for a file of that journal to the 6th May. From it we extract some further California!) intelligence : Destructive Fire. — We have also to record another extensive conflagration, so closely verging, as regards time, upon the 4th of May — in times past connected with disasters of the same nature, well nigh ruinous to the city of San Erancisco — that the idea of a strange fatality is encouraged and almost made real. Last night, at about 11 o'clock, the alarm of fire was raised, and shortly afterwards the skies were lurid with a glare that betokened a fierce conflagration. The fires in the kitchen of the Rassette House, near the corner of Bush and Sansotne streets, accidentally communicated with some combustible material in the room and spread with the utmost rapidity, the building being entirely of wood, and offering e-.ery facility to the advance of the flame. In a very short space of time, the immense building was completely enveloped in one mass of nging fire. The engines were on the spot with the punctuality now rendered a matter of course with our excellent fire department, and notwithstanding the furious spread of the fiery element, its progress was checked with almost miraculous speed, considering the odds with which the firemen had to contend. Fortunately the reservoir at the corner of Battery and Bush-streeta had just been completed, and supplied a largt, though not sufficient stream of water ; while the hook and ladder companies rendered most effectual services by tearing away the masses of burming timber, and levelliog (he small buildings adjacent to the fire. For some time it was thought that the Oriental Hotel would become a prey to the flames, but by the strenuous and well-directed efforts of the fire department, assisted by those connected with the building, it was saved in despite of all the chances against it. The Rastette House was burned to the ground. We understand that it was valued at 65,000 dollars, including the furniture and appendages of the establishment. In addition, there were eleven other frame build* ings destroyed, two of which were of two stories, and the loss occasioned will not fall short of 100,000 dollars. The violence of the flames was such that it seemt strange — though compli-

mentary to the fire department — that the destruction ceased where it did, as' there were many wooden structures in the vicinity, some of which were scorched to blackness, and only saved by the most untiring exertions. Two or three persons were severely, though not dangerously burned, and there were rumours that several had perished in the Rassette House ; but we have reason to believe that these reports are without foundation, and that no lives were lost.