VICTORIAN EXTRACTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 14 June 1862, Page 6

VICTORIAN EXTRACTS.

Jobbery ix Road Contracts. —The Castlemaine Advertiser has the following remarks on this subject, in reference'to the Mount Alexander road:—"We are almost afraid to believe what highly intelligent and conscientious individuals assure us is the fact, that on the Mount Alexaudor Road, from first to last, the Government have been defrauded of from £250,000 to £300,000, a sum sufficient to have made good roads from Castlcmaine to Sandhurst, Maldou, Maryborough, and Daylesford, the roads to which places are in many places impassable, as well as to have made bye-roads for half the districts in the colony. In the early construction of the Mount Alexander Road, we are informed by the best authorities the interests of individuals were invariably consulted in preference to the state of the public purse. Money rolled into the Treasury from the gold fields, and rolled out again into the pockets of schemers and intriguers. In _ one place. a road is not allowed to follow the natural course of the land, but is taken over a precipitous hill, in defiance of engineering difficulties, and regardless of expense. In another instance, instead of following the level and shortest track, which now remains, it is taken twice across a river, of course at an immense expense. In a third case, the railway engineers have found a perfectly level piece of ground on which to construct their line, where the road engineers could see no way of taking a road but up hill and down dale for several miles. It is to be hoped that the labors of the committee now investigating the case of corruption and peculation we have briefly hinted at, will give the finishing stroke to the infamous system which has impoverished the public Treasury, and rested like an horrid incubus on the industry of the country."

The vote of £ 1,000 to Mrs. Wills, the mother of the explorer, was withdrawn by the Treasurer yesterday evening, "with a view of increasing the amount to £2,000, and investing this sum in Government debentures, the interest to be paid to Mrs. Wills as an annuity. At the same time, provision is to be made for Dost Mahomed, and Burkes nurse. The former is the man who was severely injured by the attack of a savage camel. The Exploration Committee have recommended that he should be paid £100 ; and that Burkes foster mother should be allowed £50 per annum. Burke, Dr. Macadam stated, had promised to look after her for the remainder of her life, and she is now 65 years old. — Age, June 4.

Tub Probability of a Melbourne Goi.dWELD. —The following communication on the above subject has been addressed by Mr. C. F. Nicholls to the Ballarat Star : —" Four months «go I wrote you an account of my supposition that a deep lead of gold lay under the basaltic rock in the valley of the Yarra, ami gave my reasons for the supposition. The theory of four months back is now to my mind a fact. In my former communication I explained the relation of the valley of the Yarra to the ranges to the east. The Jordan and other diggings are satisfactory proofs of the richness of the gold deposits on this side of the great dividing range, and that before long we are likely to hare as rich and celebrated an eastern gold field on the Melbourne side of the dividing range as auy of our western or northwestern goldtfelds. It was also pointed out that the run of Milestone (basalt) filled in the deep ground round Melbourne, and, forming the northern and western banks of the river, nearly surrounded Melbourne. That a deep lead existed I had no doubt, but to justify the supposition of its being rich I considered that it was necessary to find auriferons ranges in its immediate neighborhood, and gold-bearing quartz reefs intersecting the course of the lead, and probably acting as local feeders. These I believe to exist. Goldbearing reefs have been worked at Boorandara, four miles from Melbourne, and on a farm of Mr. Peter Smith, about eight miles from Melbourne. Gold has been found in alluvial drifts at North Melbourne, at Emerald Hill, at St. Kilda, at Greville-street station, at Kew, Hawthorn, and at Studley Park, making a circle round Melbourne of about thirteen miles. My own special search led to the discovery of heavy gold in the gravel at Studley Park on the 23rd of February last, and a speck or two of fine gold, and a large per centage of black sand out of as much wash-dirt as I could poke up with a stick froma gravel pit, and carry home in a cambric handkerchief. At Prahran, there are like indications. On the south side of Prince's bridge near the St. Kilda road ; the same at. Batman's Hill, and the hill on which the Exhibition Building stands. I presume that all the auriferous deposits in the high ground around Melbourne -lead into the deep ground, the Yarra Valley, which is primarily fed by the auriferous drifts of the Dandenong, Plenty, and great dividing ranges. Without attempting to be scientific, I rest upon two or three facts, which, if Government allow me to follow up, may be dealt with by our savans as seems to them best. I account for nothing, and do not pretend to interpret nature or justify scientific induction. I rest upon commonplace observation and mining experience, and judge by analogy and fact. My special facts are these : —That on the Studley Park reserve there is opened out to view an unmistakcablc deposit of wash dirt, in which, others have found gold, and in which I have found gold. This washdirt is being carted away to gravel footpaths and make concrete. I hive asked Government to grant mea right or permission to carry on a mining operation, which will do no more damage to the reserve than is now being done ; and in return, I undertake, if it is possible, as I belief o it is, to follow the run of paying dirt (if any) into the deep ground, and prove the existence of the deep lead. I must givi; the Ti.mr.l of Land and Works the 'crwiit of acting promptly, the President at once stating there would be no difficulty thrown ;in the way of anything the Mining Department thought it wise to do in the matter. The Mining Department have the matter under consideration, and have shown an' excellent spirit up to the present time. The difficulty appears to be protecting the reserve from being rushed. Ido not" myself see the difficulty, as there is a special clause protecting the reserves against holders of miners' rights. If not hindered by Government,! hope shortly to prove' that if we only use our experience, we may find better things under our feet than over the sea.

A Prospecting: Party is about to be formed to prospect for gold in the immediate neighborhood of Kilmore. Several' proprietors of land have given permission: to have theirs prospected, if the committee under which the party is to be placed should deem' itadvisable.— Herald. Mr. Pyke a Resignation of his seat for Castlemaine in the Legislative Assembly is expected by the next mail from;, Otago. This has led to some discussion on the subject in the local press, and aspirants to legislative'honors will have to look out, inasmuch as more than one candidate is already spoken of. 'True, a certain cloudiness hangs over the references to these candidates,— " talk in nubibus," the writers themselves call it —but there is no doubt, we presurne,.of the election of a successor to llr. Pyke being a contested one. — Herald.

Denunciation . from . the Altar.—The Banner of Belfast of Tuesday, last contains a lengthy and severe article,respecting the late denunciation by Father C'avanagh of the editor of that journal. Thefollowing isr. the paragraph which was the original cause of the fracas, and which we should imagine every lover of liberty and fair play would say ronly asks for what should, be given :—" We have received several communications from subscribers to the fund for erecting a monument over the grave of the late Rev. M'Evey, asking what has bqeadone with the money collected for that purpose. "We are .aware''that-a large sum of money-r-.£80; we believe—was collected for the monument referred to; and we are also aware thnt not a stone marks the spot where the deceased 'clergyman was interred ;.but we do not know who holds' the money in question, or why it hasr not' been appropriated to the purpose for which it was collected. Subscribers should apply to the'lowilclergymen for. inform*-. tion on the subject' Nearly i two years , have elapsed since the collection was made, and it is high time that someiaccouht' was" rendered to the subscribers."— Warfnambodb~Ea!dtAiner.' "■ '' •.•■'':'

A Littijb "Innocent." —At the , Geeldhg Police Court on ilast,^ fb,Sy, !rnine9eai1? of age, was brought tip'charged with placing a dangerous obstruction on the Geelong.and Melbourne line, at the Little Kiver. Tfo%Advertiser says,:—; •' By the boy's own a^mjssfonjihe placed a stone of about forty pounds jreighk, in jjuch a .position inside the rail, that 'the flange of the 'engine-wheel

would have necessarily come in contact with it, and in all probability have thrown the train off the line. Fortunately, the action was observed by a gate-keeper named Cairns, who removed the obstruction and gave the boy into custody. The youngster, who appeared to have but a. dim perception of the magnitude of the offence, said he had been told to do it by an ' old boy' named Connor, son of a farmer in the same neighborhood, and that he did it for ' sport.' The friends of the lad were advised to take him home and punish him, and for the future keep him as far from the railway as possible."

Tiir B.vllarat Lixe Again.—On Friday evening last, there was a somewhat narrow escape from an accident on the Ballarat line. The Gcelong Advertiser of Saturday says, " The seven p.m. down train from Ballarat was again about an hour behind time last night. The detention arose from a lot of trucks being left on the wrong line. No collision took place, but it was as near an approach to one as a nervous traveller would like to see. Ultimately the trucks were shunted off to their proper position, and the train proceeded."

The Com ran Scheme. —The select committee of the Legislative Assembly appointed to inquire into the report upon the practicability and expense of conveying water from the river Coliban to Castlemaine and Sandhurst, have brought up the following progress report:—" That, in the opinion of your committee, sufficient evidence has been adduced in favor of the project to warrant the Govenmcnt in making an immediate survey of the proposed route of the aqueduct and site for the reservoir, at an expense not exceeding £2000."—it/. A. Mail.

A Good Shout.—On Wednesday evening there was some rather extensive shouting at the Globe Hotel, Albury, sufficient to recal the old times in these districts, when men used bottles of champagne for skittles, loaded rifles with small nuggets, or shod the horse of a successful electioneering candidate with shoes of gold. Two parties on the present occasion, whose names we do not desire to mention, called for 143 bottles.of champagne, at £1 per bottle, and after treating everybody about the house, and drinking their fill themselves, demolished what was left. It appears the parties were rival claimants to the hand of a young lady, and were in a mood to settle the affair by a fistic tournament, when a friend proposed that the one who should fail to shout for the largest quantity of drink, should relinquish the'suit in favor of the other. This was agreed to, and champagne was called for until one had paid for 70 bottles, and the other 73. How many more would have been disposed of it would have been difficult to say, had not the affair been terminated by one of the gentle swains falling asleep under the table. Evidently, in spite of the dulness of times, there must be balm in Gilead still. Federal Standard, 24th May.

The Nisw Newspaper Bill —Th» Herald in noticing the bill brought in by Messrs. Frazcr and M'Lellan, comments as follows :—First of all, it-proposes to repeal entirely three previous acts, and partly a fourth, all of which are described in the first efthe two schedules that form part o, the bill. A " newspaper" under the act will not include any document published by the Government printer, or the contents of which are solely and exclusively of a commercial nature. Affidavits duly signed by the persons who intend printing and publishing newspapers and by the resident proprietors, setting forth that they are so connected, are to be deposited with the BagistrarGeneral, and such affidavits are to be received in any court as conclusive evidence against the persons who have signed, of their connection in the particular capasity mentioned, except when subsequent affidavits have been made, setting forth that the parties have ceased to act in such capacity. The omission of the names of printers and publisher from the imprint will be prima facie evidence of wilful default. In actions against newspapers, it will not be necessary to prove that the newspaper, the contents of which are involved in the proceedings, has been published at any particular place occupied by the defendant or his servants. No demur will be permitted to a bill filed in the Supreme Court for the discovery of the name of the printer, publisher, or proprietor, for the pxirpose of prosecuting him, but he will be compe liable to make the required discovery. Recognizances will have to be entered into" by the printer and publisher, and two sureties in each case to ensure the payment of suclifinesor damages in actions or prosecutions against him. Finally, any person printing or .publishing a newspaper without having registered the affidavits "referred to, or having entered into the stipulated recognizances, will be guilty of a misdemeanour.

Oun Population.—The following abstract, showing the number of persons, males and females, in Victoria, of different birth-places, is from the Registrar-General's return published'in Tuesday night's Government Gazette:—British born in Victoria, 138,065 persons, including the aborigines—69,3B9 males, 68,686 females. Other Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 19,836 persons—lo,333 males, 9500 females. England, 169,586 persons—loß,o37 males, 61,549 females, Wales, 6055 persons—4333 males, 1722 females. Scotland, 60,701 persons—37,o32 males, 23,669 females. Ireland, 87,160 persons—47,l76 males, 3"9,984 females. British colonies, not Australian, 3490 persons—2s7s males, 915 females. East India (Britishrace) 654persons—437 maies, 217 females. East India (Indians), 204—males 188, females 16. Foreign : France, 1250—males 1026, females 224; Germany, 10,414 —males 811S, females 23(>0. Other European countries, 6938—males 6562, females 376. United States of America, 2554— males 2209, females 545. China, 24,732 —males 24,724, females.B. Other countries, 406—males 346, females 60. Born at sea, 1840—males 987, females 853. Unspecified. (British names), 663 —males 408, females 255 ; do (Foreign name 3), 40—males 31, females 9 ; do (names not mentioned), 1200—males 1094, females 10G. British subjects by parentage not born in British possessions, 1179—males 770, females 409. Migratory population (exclusive of Chinese), 3341—males 2873, females 468. Total, 540,322 —males 328,651, females 211,671. Census for 1857 : 410,766 persons—males 264,334, females 129,556. — Argus.

Cotton Growing in Victoria.—lt was mentioned in one of the country papers lately, that Mr. Yuille, of Charlotte Plains, Loddon, intended to try the cultivation of cotton;' On meeting him lately, we expressed a doubt whether the cotton plant would ripen its seed at Charlotte Plains, when he informed us that he had already settled that point' on a small scale. The conclusion which this fact leads to is, that half of the colony may probably be found adapted for the growth of cotton, so far as climate is concerned, although there is not a great extent of soil rich enough in quality in the warmer districts. The strong black soil of Charlotte Plains is the same in character as that cultivated in India and Queensland. We learn from Mr. Bunce, the director of the Gcelong Gardens, that the trustees of the gardens have received from Lord Alfred Churchill some seed of a variety of cotton Dr. Livingstone found in South Africa.— Yeoman.

Captain Nash.—We (SW) have seen a letter from the Commissioner of Lands and Works to Sir. Nash, in which he ignores any proceedings taken against that gentleman in reference to his connection with the volunteer corps. The board of inquiry which has been granted is limited simply to the charges in reference to Mr. Nash's employment in the Railway Department. The board is to consist of three members of the Legislature, to bo selected by the Executive Council., This may be considered fair and honorable on the part of the Government, and all we can say is, " Let right be done."

Gardiner Agaiit.—The Lachlan Miner has the following :—" Sir F. Pottinger slipped away the other e7ening in diguise, taking with him sundry aboriginals, who could ' smell,the color of the hair of any man,' and a fair dose of mounted troopers noted for their bravery. As they left Forbes in the distance, the very man they had gone out to hunt passed them, took their measure, and sauntered into the town of Forbes to enjoy himself, patronising the Standard and the Exhibition, taking his quiet liquor, and studying •' ye manners' and ' yexustoms' of ye Forbites in ye Inspector's absence." ,:1

Suicide .—An old resident of Daylesford, Mr. John Kirwin, publican, committed suicide on Tuesday last, by cutting his throat with a razor. ,He was of intemperate habits. An inquest has been held, and a verdict returned that deceased committed the act while in a state of delirium trimeris.—M;A.Mail,

The Leaumonth Rape Case.—John Osborne schoolmaster, aged thirty, pleaded guilty yesterday, at the General Sessions, to a charge of assault on a little, girl, named O'Brien, a scholar in the prisoner's school at Learmonth, and was remanded for sentence. We are informed that the particulars of the case are peculiarly aggravated, and rumours are afloat that clear evidence, exists of the capital crime, but the alteration of the charge by the Learmonth Justices left the Crown Prosecutor no option but to proceed on the minor charge. This is a very grave state of things, if true, and should form the subject of inquiry. In every part of the colony offences against girls of tender ago'are on the increase, and the light way in which all the Courts, both of major and minor jurisdiction, have been too disposed to deal with them^may explain the terrible prevalence of the frightful and disgusting crime in question.— Ballarat Star, 29th May.

A Conspirator's Heward.—The appointment of Murray, one of the persons sentenced with Mr. Oostello to a term of imprisonment for the personation of voters at the Mornington election, to the office of line inspector of the electric telegraph department, Kilmore, has given rise to much indignation. Murray, it appears, had not been out ot gaol a week before Mr. O'Shanassy found a vacancy for him, and without the slightest regard to his fi'.ness or qualifications, and without considering the propriety of submitting the appointment to the permanent or official head of the department, Murray was sent up to Kilmore. Such is the rumor, and if it be correct, a more flagrant act could scarcely be conceived, and must, as a natural consequence, be brought under the notice of the Assembly. The Post-master-General may probably consider it politic to wink at the breach of official routine iv the appointment of Murray, without being consulted in the matter, but iiTis alleged that all appointments, both in the department of the PostmasterGeneral as well as the Treasury, are vested in Mr. O'Shanassy, in whose eyes a powerful qualification for office is the ability unscrupulously to render party service. Such conduct on the part of the Chief Secretary has been remonstrated about by his colleagues, and cannot fail to excite considerable suspicion iv the minds of the public. — Geelong Advertiser.

The Volunteers.—Some important alterations, sa3'3 Bell's Life, have been " recently determined upon bothiu the disposition and number of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Volunteer Staff. Captain Scott will, on and after Ist July, be stationed at Castleuiaine, where he will be "in charge of the Castlemainc Light Dragoons, the Kyneton Cavalry, and the Sandhurst troop of the Volunteer Cavalry. Captain Burton will remain in Melbourne, and coutinue to drill the Melbourne, Geelong, Dandenong, and Bacchus Marsh troops. The present sergeant-majors will for the future be termed senior drill-instructors, with the exception of Sergeant-Major Fahy, who is promoted to be Brigade Sergeant-Major ; and the sergeantmajors of cavalry and artillery, who retain their present rank."

The National Bank.—lt is a somewhat significant fact as to the amount of business now transacting in Sandhurst —or rather of thi oversupply of banking institutions in that township— that the National Bank of Australasia announces the withdrawal of its branch from the 31st of May. This is the first instance of a baak closing its brauch in any of the three principal gold-fields' towns. — Age.

Cokious Discoveky.—On the 21st instant the remains of a man were found in the bush on the Goonibargana, Station, perfectly naked, with a pair of trousers and part of a coat under his head. The man appeared to have been about sft. 7in. in height, with rather long brown hair and thin whiskers ; the face too decomposed to be recognised. The trousers were moleskin, and the coat a blue pea-jacket, with red and black plain lining of a large pattern. There seemed to have been an old scar over the left eye.— Albury i?anner,May 31.

Sending Scapegraces to Australia.—We quote the following from a late number of the Illustrated .London News. It needs little cotument :—" The Middlesex Sessions were commenced on Monday, the calendar containing the names of 81 prisoners, of whom 74 were charged >\vith felony. A lad named Wva. Halloway, clerk to Messrs. Magetson and Heywood, Islington, pleaded guifty to a charge of embezzlement. He was sentenced to one .month's imprisonment, his friends intending to send him to Australia." To reform him, we presume. Probably Mr. Halloway will be one of tiie new colonists induced to emigrate by the paid Australian lecturers.—Portland Guardian.

The Trial of Dr. Crossin, of Smythesdale, at the Ballarat Circuit Court, on Friday last, for an indecent assault upon Catherine Gillies, came to an abrupt termination by the prisoner being discharged from custody, iv cimsutjuanco of it transpiring that the evidence of the woman was in the first instance obtained from her under compulsion. The Tribune gives the circumstance of the case as follows :—" When the evidence of the prosecutrix had been heard, it was elicited from her that she had given the statement of what she could prove to aVlr. Inspector Kabat prior to the hearing of the case in court, iv consequence of her having been threatened by a policeman that she would get three months' imprisonment unless she prosecuted the defendant. Mr. Aspinall remarked, on hearing the circumstance, that it was a procedure unknown amongst Englishmen. The judge remarked that the information might as well have been obtained by means of the thumb-scr.e\rs, or of any of the exploded systems of cruelty resorted to in ancient times. He considered the interference of the police intolerable, but they were in other hands to be dealt with, and he would take care that the Sub-Inspector concerned in this case should have an opportunity of having full justice done when the matter was laid before the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice." — Aye.

Federal Union of the Colonies. —Air. Duffy, on Friday night, moved—" That a select committee be appointed to consider and report on the subject of a federal union of the Australian colonies; such committee to consistof Mr. O'Shanassy, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. M'Culloch, Mr. Heales, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Mollison, Dr. Evans, and the mover; three to form a quorum." And in doing so stated that, if the House agreed to the motion, the duty of the committee would be, in the first place, to open fresh communication with the other colonies on the subject. The motion was agreed to. —" Argus." Handsome Specimen.—A miner near Castlemaine, during the past week, whilst engaged with a tub and cradle in working old ground, fell upon a nice little patch, which in a short time yielded him gold to the value of .£IOO. In addition to this he found a conglomerate specimen, containing quartz, cement, and gold, and weighing 10 ozs. G dwts. It is in the possession of Mr. Beddard, of the Royal Hotel, where it can be seen, and the owner, we beljeve, intends disposing of it by way of chance, if possible. This is only one instance of many, repeatedly occurring on this or other old golduelds, where success waits on the persevering gold-seeker. How far such fields are " worked out," may without difficulty be guessed. —M. A. Mail.

Golden-hole Men.—A gentleman of our acquaintance informed us a few days ago that he had just assisted the departures of two goldenhole men, who had started by mail to Sydney, en route for England. They belong to that very fortunate genus yclept on the diggings, golden-hole men, and in a few brief months have netted about £6000 each. Their two mates (the party being four in number), have also left for Sydney; the claim having thus yielded in round numbers £24,000. The first two were Staffordshire miners, and have returned to their native place to enjoy their good fortune.— Lacnlan. Observer.

Salaries and Wages for 1862.—The newestimates of expenditure for salaries and wages in account of the year 1862, have just been published. From them we loam that the total cost of the Civil Service of the colony of Victoria for the present year is £745,674 7h. 3d. divided amongst the several departments as follows : —The Chief Secretary, £301,593 ss. 9d. ; the Attorney-Gene-ral, £32,725 ; the Minister of Justice, £76,747 10s; the Treasurer, £65,317 7s. 2d. ; the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey, £28,891 ; the Commissioner of Public Works, £9,245 ; the Commissioner of Trade and Customs, £73,508 ; the Postmaster-General, £80,762 4s. 4d.; and the Commissioner of Eailways and of Koads and Bridges, £79,885.— Age, 22nd May.

Gold Prospecting in Tasmania. —We (Herald) have Hobart Town papers to the 21st instant. The gold exploration party to Fingal have returned, but had not reported proceedings. It was understood, however, that although the traces of gold in that locality were widely diffused, the results attained were not of a very satisfactory character. Why No Burial ?—The correspondent of the ■Dunnolly Express states that a foreigner died at Little Chinaman's on Saturday last. He left no property of any description, and the police declined to bury the corpse, as.the Government had refused to pay the expenses in some past cases of the kind. " Surely," says the above journal, •' there must be some mistake hece, or the affair is a disgrace to the Government, and an outrage to civilisation.''

A Mongolian Sell.—The " best laid schemes of men and mice gang oft agee," we are told, and the manner in which an active public servant was recently treated by a descendant of the moon is no bad illustration of the fuct. The Caucasian representative iv question, it appears, does a little in Chinamen amongst other multifarious occupations, and acts as agent or factor at times. Well, it so happened that a piece or pieces of auriferous land within a hundred miles of Guildford, were to be let for mining purposes, and the Chinese were the only likely purchasers. As a rule Celestials are not well versed in the English tongue, and our friend, therefore, sought tltc assistance of oue of that race who could understand and translate English. Having found such a one, he dictated a notice which, for a handsome consideration, was duly transferred into Chinese, and which, after dilating on the rich ground offered, referred intending purchasers to the councillor in question. A number of these were written out, and (he Tictim actually with his own hands, took the trouble to affix them to places most frequented by natives of the Flowery land. After waiting with the most exemplary patience for .a length of time, and no Chinaman turning up, suspicion was excited, and the " agent" took one of the documents iv question to a Chinese interpreter; it then transpired that although the valuable nature and locality of the ground in question was duly set forth, the notice referred intending purchasers, not to the " public servant," but to the Chinese amanuensis. The consequence was that the latter had numberless applications, and through his agency the ground will bo, if it has not been already disposed of. Though pretty smart generally, our civic friend must admit that he can le.arn a wrinkle from even despised Chinamen.— M. A. Mail.