SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Empire.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 932, 8 July 1854, Page 4

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Empire.]

By the Yarra Yarra we have files of Adelaide papers to the 19th instant. The Government Gazette announces the further prorogation of the Legislative Council to the 27th of June.

On the night of her Majesty's birthday, Sir Henry and Lady Young entertained a large number of the principal colonists at Government Hohso. The preparations were upon a very extensive scale. A sale of land took place at Adelaide on tbe 18th instant. The attendance being small, the biddings were not spirited ; 3100 acres were sold, averaging £2 4s. l|d. per acre. The total £2>6unt realised was £6971. Fifty allotments were sold at Dulwich on the 16th instant, for £4049. At tbe Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Conrt, the superintendent of convicts at Adelaide, named Frederick Waller was convicted of embezzling a sura of money and other property belonging to the Government, and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Justice i Boothby in passing sentence thus animadverted on the plea urged by the prisoner — that he had a wife and children dependent upon him — "It is greatly to be lamented that men having wives and children should commit crime, and bring into misery and disgrace those whom they are bound to support and cherish. This is a consideration I cannot attend to in measuring the punishment due to your offence, but it is a vital one to those who, having families to maintain, would by a course of evil habits, plunge into utter ruin those whom they should love and protect." The criminal just referred to, who was compelled to walk from and to the prison to take his trial and receive his sentence for embezzlement, was heard to say, that he should commence an action against the Sheriff for not allowing him to ride instead of walk. It wa« advertised that a dividend of 100 per cent, would be payable from the Burra Burra Mining Company on the 3rd June.