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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 2, 15 May 1863, Page 3

It has been positively asserted that during the stay in Australian waters of the Russian frigate Bo»ntyr, Admiral Popoff succeeded in making a rough survey of various points upon the coast where a landing might be effected. It wi'l lie in the recol lectern of our readers that the Bogatyr was declared to have entered Western Port Ray after her visit to the writers of ihe Port Phillip. No »reat attention was paid to this at the time, but additional significance now attaches to the circumstance when we learn that the same sort of thingwas practised upon the New South Wales coast. A correspondent of the Sydney MorninQ Herald states that Admiral Popoff dropped into Sydney harbor at midnight intentionally, and without the permission or knowledge of the commander of FJ.M.S. Sea Witch ; further, that a day or two before the Bogatyr sailed, a boat's crew of twenty men and officers was despatched to Botany, for the purpose of surveying and taking soundings of the bay, which was accomplished ; the frigate having gone round the day she left that port, taken in her crew, and resumed her voyage. This surely demands some notice, especially at the present juncture of European affairs. We should imagine that the proceedings of the Bogatyr's commander are an infringement of international law — undoubtedly they are a violation of ihe courtesy due to the Australian colonies as willing hosts of our warlike visitors. The Bogatyr carried with her from Sydney two distinguished musicians, Signor Robbie, the violinist, and Monsieur Boulanger, the pianist. The latter, we understand, took French leave of his wife, with whom he was upon uncomfortable terms. — Leader. In the battle of Fredericksbursr, out of 850 wounded men, no less than 498 were hit in the leg or foot, 45 in the hips, 10 in the abdomen, 42 in the chest, 48 in the head and neck, 145 in the arm or shoulder, and 10 contrived somehow to get shot in the back. Chloroform was administered to 186 with complete success. Every vesttsreof the ill-fated Orpheus is' said to have disappeared from the scene of the late catastrophe. Until quite lately portions of her masts were visible above water. The Denmark of the sth says : — " A great ball, in honor of the future Princess of Wales, was given at the British Embassy here (Copenhagen), by Mr. Augustus Paget and his lady. Besides the Princess Alexandra, a crowd of titled and fashionable persons attended the festivity, particularly her Royal Highness's parents, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the other members of tha royal family." It is stated that Mr. J. Anderson, as-sistant-superintendent of the royal gun factories at Woolwich arsenal, will be appointed to succeed Sir William Armstrong as superintendent of that establishment. The Oxford and Cambridge boat-race day has not yet been fixed, but we understand that it 'will most probably take place on Friday the 27th of March, over the London course. The wife of a laboring man at Dunkinfield gave notice to the police that she had been robbed of 400 sovereigns, and strange as the story appeared to be, it turned out to be true. She had hoarded the money for seven years, obtaining it not by honorable means, and a few days ago it was stolen.

Horseracing on A Great Scale. — During the last week writes our Melbourne con espondent, a proposition, which is reported to have originated, or at least to have been brought about, by the energy, of Mr W. Craig, of Ballarat, has been accepted by the sporting nabobs of the community, and clinched by a deposit of cash, or by names which are as good as cash. It is to be presumed that it is generally known that Mr Craig intends proceeding to England by the Great Biitain steamship; and it appears that this gentleman's journey is to be taken advantage of to send a challenge to England which transcends in magnitude as well as in pluck any thing yet done by Victeria. The fact as they have come to me, are as follow, viz. : That £10,000 is to be raised in two hundred £50 shares, for the purpose of challenging England to send her best sample of racing horses to compete for that magnificent stake in Victoria. Mr Craig is to be authorised to deposit £2000 on his arrival in England, to be forfeited if the arrangements should by any possibility fall through ; and it is stated that on Wednesday evening, at Scott's Port Phillip Ho'el, twenty gentlemen opened the ball by putting their names down for £50 .each towards raising the amount to be deposited. The shares will be open to all the colonies, and of course all colonial horses will be open to compete with the English champion for the greatest stake that has ever been run for. No doubt is entertained of success, not merely in raising the funds, but in making such arrangements as shall make the affair a profitable one instead of a losing game to the subscribers. That Melbourne will come down handsomely is certain, and Ballarat is calculated upon to do the same. Almost every gentleman who has yet been spoken to on the subject has expressed an intention of going in for a proportion of the great event ; and our munificent donors in other public affairs will, no doubt, if required, aid this new event in our sporting annals. The prestige that such a challenge will give to Victoria's name, in the old country and over all the civilised world, is worth something; and when the project is thought on, and is perceived to be paying, even the most cautious will hardly see anything Utopian in it. The expenses of the English horse are to be paid ; but the conditions of the race are, of course, not yet settled, and this matter will not be dealt with un-.il the prospectus is before the public ; and consi • derable latitude will be given to Mr Craig in making arrangements in England. — Ballarat Star, April 10.