VICTORIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 680, 7 January 1854, Page 4

VICTORIA.

Bendigo, Oct. 24. — Pipe-Clat Washing. — In a recent communication I stated that, in the main, pipe-clay washing did not pay. I was credibly informed that some parlies of three or four were washing as much as an ounce a-day each. I believe that some of the pipe-clay on the First White Hill has yielded a fair return, bi>t the remainder of the hills r seera to have been worked with greater care, and' certainly on these two pipe clay does not pay. ? Great Rush. — A new rush took place this week'; it was on a cart load of cabbages, the first of a regular supply, brought to Bendigo through Messrs. Meachara and Edmonds. In two hours every cabbage was gone at 3s. 6d. each, and the spirited proprietors netted £19 by the load. The vegetables came from Brighton. The promise of the Surveyor General to give every digger his cabbage garden near the mines, has been hailed with gladness ; but it is feared that the boon come too late for this season. Large Yield op Gold. — The road spot near to the Commissioner's camp, View Point, has turned out remarkably rich. It is one of those golden spots which has .made Bendigo so famous. I am afraid to name the number of pounds' weight taken out of a bucketful of earth, but it would rival the celebrated Eagle Hawk. During the early part of the week the weather was remarkably hot, and we thought that summer had come in on us in its full strength ; but we have for the last two days, had a change in strong gusts of cold wind, which remind us of winter. Sawpit Gully, Oct. 24th. I have just heard that a murder was committed this morning, within three or four miles of this place. Two men were travelling with a team, and had encamped near the Back Creek. Early this morning one of them went out to look for the horses, leaving his mate asleep, and when he returned he found bis mate shot through the head. The man who is suspected of the murder was last seen with an opposum-skin rug, with two cat-skins in the middle of it. I believe the men were coming up to the diggings. I have not heard whether any money or property was taken. The murder was committed within a few hundred yards of the place where we were camped, and early this morning we heard the report of a gun. The police this morning are actively engaged in search of the murderer. The weather is beautifully fine, and the roads are in excellent condition. A few weeks of this weather will put the road to the diggings in a condition to be passable by all vehicles. — Argus correspondent,

Mortality in Melbourne and Suburbs. — Yesterday's Government Gazette contains a very interesting and elaborate report by Mr. Archer, the Registrar-General, on the above subject. The following remarks at tbe end contain, a summary of the tables: — "During the first quarter of the new system of registration there have been registered in Melbourne and suburbs 625 deaths. Of these 363 were males and 257 females. Of the 368 males, 116, or nearly a third, were children under 5 years of age. Taking the above quarter as an average of the whole year, and the population of Melbourne and suburbs at 80,000, the mortality will be rather over three per cent., which is a little more than the average mortality of large towns in Great Britain, as stated in M'Culloch's statistics. When, however, it is considered that the bulk of our population is in the prime of life, the ratio of mortality is very great. The average of Australia in ordinary times has never exceeded 2 per cent, per annum, and in particular colonies, duiing a suspension of emigration, the mortality has not reached even 1 per cent. We have pleasure in complimenting Mr. Archer on the able manner in which this important duty has been performed. — Argus. The Legislative Council has been busy with the Estimates. The Argus says ;— " The Government was severely censured for venturing on such an extravagant supplementary expenditure, when tbe house might have been summoned in July and consulted in tbe case. The Colonial Secretary met the opposition with unusual vigour, and gave some indication of the mettle with which be intends to battle lot the budget. The .various items were contested seriatim ; but generally in that factious farthing-candle spirit which gave Government rather an advantage than otherwise." Along discussion took place ; 6n the vote of £248,321 15s. for. police purposes, which was, however, carried by 25 to 11.

The New Goverhor. — It is very generally reported in the best informed circles that our new Governor is, after allj to be'tord Marcus Hill,, that he is expected directly, and 'that Toorak, the residence of trie late James Jackson, Esq., is to be taken for his accommodation, at a rent of £5000 a-year. It is Mr. La Trobe's intention to get away if possible in the Great Britain. New Judge. — Robert Moleswortb, Esq., bar-

ri9ter-at-law, has been appointed to perform the duties of the Chief Justice during. his absence from the colony. — Metbovrne Herald, Nov. 4. Mount Alexander. — Castlemainb, Nov. 5. — Oar township is fast assuming the aspect of a. settled place ; buildings of every description and design are rising fast, and though we cannot complain of the architectural beauty, yet the solidity and care of construction bespeak their permanence. Our building operations have been, however, considerably restricted, owing to the late high prices of carriage-~the cost of labour forbidding the use of timber growing up at our very' doors, 1 and rriakingit actually cheaper to buy wood in Melbourne and pay heavy carriage for it than have it sawn here. The fine weather, and consequent good roads, have reduced it to a more reasonable' rate, and we rqay now expect to go ahead in the building way* The occupiers of the township, except the proprietors or their tenants, have received official notice to quit, and a week's grace , allowed to remove their .respective tenements.' These diggings are steadily progressing and extending indefinitely in all directions, and if we cannot boast of our hundred weight lumps, yet nearly all are getting something, and a great many are doing very well, which caunot be said of most other diggings. Digging is settled into a steady occupation, and diggers do not consider it an absolute necessity; to do. three days' work in one, but work steadily and comfortably. — Herald Correspondent.