TASMANIAN GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 March 1863, Page 3

TASMANIAN GOLDFIELDS.

(From the Eobart Town Advertiser.) Strong hopes are entertained of the ultimate demonstration of the richnes ' of onr goldfiekSs to the westward. At present, however, we have little of importance to report. Our next summary may possibly tell a very different tale. That little, however, is of the most encouraging character. The prospectors, those most nearly concerned in the results, who bear all the pecuniary outlay and share all the hardships, are most sanguine in their anticipations. One of the leading prpiectors of the expedition has returned to town. lie hag brought with him both a number of specimens, and specimens of gold extracted from the huge masses of quartz cropping out on the estate of which he is a joint proprietor. The practical leader of the party is a JVf r Uurnaresq ; selected on account of his knowledge, his experience, and reliability, by the lion. Mr Whyte himself from amongst the miners on his now celebrated gold-producing station at Clunes, in Victoria. In a private letter which found its way into a local Victorian paper, he expresses strong confidence t; (o, the eventual richness of the quartz. This is all the more cheering, as it is obvious that the communication was only mended for the eye of a piiv te ', iend. Beyond, however, what we have stated we Possess no distinct or precise information yet. We ; ust, however, to be in receipt of further details before the March mail. Of one thing those who take any interest in the matter may be quite certain. The originators of the enterprise are the hxt men in the world to abandon it, so long as a hope of success remains. Whilst on this subject we may mention that a number of ladies and gentlemen who had been vHting the mountain lakes of the island, determined to push on for Mount Arrowsmuh, at the K> it of which the gold exploring prv.-ty w..e en.•ftmped. The ladi... 1 1." avert bravely, .or the expedition did not prove altogether without its perils; however, they reached their destination in safety. They, were, we need rcarcely . y, b spitably entertained, and we are told that tiicy have returned with a thorough sooptic";m in reference to the dis Treenbilitie. of roughing it in the bush. Mr Morton Allport, one of the members of the party, took advantage of the occasion to obtain photographs of the most picturesque and characteristic features of the locality. From Mr Gould, the Government Geologist, nothing as yet has been heard. In a very brief period we anticipate a despatch; we may fairly say, however, that we trust rather to the researches of the private expedition than to Mr Gould's party. Not that we distrust Mr Gould ; on the contrary, we look upon him as one of the most valuable, energetic, and " plucky " officers we have in the civil service. He appears thoroughly up to his work ; and, what is more, determined to perform it. But he has to traverse too large an area of country to permit of his examining it practically and in detail. We look, nevertheless, although we shall not be disappointed if they indicate no immediate results, to his communication with considerable interest, and expactations scarcely the less keen, because they are restrained and modified by the circumstances we have mentioned. The duty assigned to him has been rather to open up the country, to clear tracks, and to assist other parties in their prospecting, than to concentrate all his efforts upon the prosecution of those inquiries for which his scientific knowledge so well qualifies him.

spoke afterwards, but died after a few sobs. An inquest was held on their remains on Monday, and a verdict of " Accidental death." was returned. — Ly'.Jleton T',, ,;, Feb.lß. Election of Superintendent. — The vjceptance by the Governor of ;he rc-nnation of William Ssfton Moorhouse, Esq., h notifivl in the Government Gazgiie, and the writ has bssn issued for the election of his successor. The nomination is appo : nte l to be taken in the Town Hall, Chris church, on the stli March. If a poll is demanded, it will be taken on the 26th of the same month. — Lyttleton Times. Rather Indigestible. — Mr. J. Anderson, of the Commercial Hotel, Akaror;, on opening the gizzard of a fowl which he hfid killed on Frid.ay List, found, to his astonishment, that it contained four large bras ; buttons, and a four-penny-peioe much worn. This can hardly be considered very fattening food for poultiy' even if it were flavored with Thorley's condiment. We wonder did the fowl taste brassy o A silvery? — Ly tile! on Times Large Apples. — Somewhat of a phenomenon in the history of fruit growing is the fact that Mr. Jukes, of M'Cr.llum's Creek, hr.s ,]ied from a seed an apple tree which now bears fruit, without having been grafted or pruned. Six apples from this tree weighed four pounds; and one of the apples gathered from it measured sixteen inch.c and three quarters in circumference and weighed 17oz. The tree is five years old. — M & D Ad:crliser. P.ROTEST3 AGAINST BISHOP COLENSO. — A cor- ':. Y.ible body of . .c c-ergy of the diocese of Win.'oster have addrc ed a memorial to tho'r bishop on Bi.hop Colenso's new work, and his lor.V.hip has promised '.a bring the matter under ihe notice of his epi copal brethren at the earli.:i pc -ible opportunity. The memorialists s\y: — "We desire to record our mo*t decidj 1 protest •-.£-.inst the book, and to assure your lordship that we view the attack which it makes upon the Bible with the utmost indignation. We feel that the book is calculated to inflict a grievous injury, not only on our own church, but upon the cause of religion at large, tending, as it manifestly does, to uncettle the faith of those who are feeble or unlearned, and to confirm in error those whose minds are already set against the truth. We have no doubt that the book will receive the most complete reiutr.tion, but we know not how to express in sufficiently strong terms our deep grief that such a book should have been written by a bishop of our church. We do not presume to suggest what steps should be taken by oar ecclesiastical rulers to wipe off this stain upon our church, but we trust that if (as we are int'ormed) there is no law u: Her which the Bishop of Natal can be proceeded n~ inst, he may at le •.t receive f.'om those to whoce opinion he would nati 1 ally attach the 'jivr 1 1 cat weight, so strong an expression of their disapproval of bis book rs may induce him to resign the high o :e which he now fills in the c urch." The Bis' op of Rochester has intimated to Bishop Colenso a desire that he should not, under any circumstances, take part in the religious services of the church within the limits of the diocese of Rochester.