LATEST FROM TASMANIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 81, 14 August 1863, Page 3

LATEST FROM TASMANIA.

By the arrival of the schoner Balmoral, we have, per favor of Capt, Cleary, been placed in possession of Hobart Town files to the 4th inst. We extract from the journals of the latest dates.

Tnoors for New Zealand. —We are given to understand that the sum demanded by the Tasmauian Steam Navigation Company, for the transport of the dctatchment of troops hence to New Zealand by the steamer Tasmania, is L2OOO, the Commissariat to supply the provisions, and consequently, that the arrangements for this service are not definitely fixed, the Commissariat havingentered into negotiations with one of the Launceston companies on the subject On the arrival of the Tasmania from Melbourne, however, she will be despatched to Port Arthur for the military guard at present stationed there, under the terms of the Company's contract with the government, preparatory to their procedure to New Zealand. In place of the military, a guard of constabulary -will be formed at Tort Arthur, to be composed of men selected by the Inspector of Police, wh is engaTed in 'he adoption of the necessary nieas'urcs for the organization of the required force. We believiCmoreover, that a bill will he introduced to parliament, with the view of conferring enlarged powers on the police to be employed on this particular duty, similar to that -which is now in force in Victoria. — Mcvcunj. Lead Ore From Tasmania.— Specimens of Galena, obtained at the Dial Range, near the River Lcvan were forwarded to Victoria to be tested, ?mnc short time since by a scicnti&c gentleman who has furnished the result of the experiment as follows -.—Assay of Lead Ore from Tasmania:— Lead, 42-123 percent. Silver, 8 oz. 5 dwts. IS-24 per ton. Gold, 2 dw'is. 23-68 per ton. — Advertiser. Frekstoxe Quarry. — A valuable quarry of wh ; te freestone is about to be opened at Liudisferne, on the property of T. G. Gregson, Esq. It was inspected by Mr Glaister and Mr Todd, the contractor for and surveyor of large public buildings now going on Victoria; they approved of it so highly that they made arrangements for renting the quarry for a term of years, and purpose snipping the stone in large quantities from Lindisferne Bay. The stone is perfectly white, and of a very superior quaUty. — Ibid. L.VUNCESTON AND PELORAINE RAILWAY. — A deputation of members of the Legislature waited upon the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for the piupese of handing ?n a petition on the subject of the Launceston and Deloraine Railway, requesting the Colonial Secretary to present the same to the Governor-in-Council, the object being to solicit the Government to take such steps to promote j the proposed railway as His Excellency may think fit. The deputation consisted of Sir Richard Dry, M.L.C. ; Mr Corbett, M.L.O. ; Mr Gibson, M.L.C. ; Mr Murray, M.H.A. ; Mr Grant, M.H.A. ; Mi Davies, M.H.A. ;Mr Bodery, M.H.A. ; Mr Sherwin, M.H.A. ; Mr Lette, M.H.A.; and Mr Clerke, M.H.A. In the course of conversation, Sirß. Dry enquired the intention of the Government with reference to the railway. The Col. Secretary asked if they meant to enquire if the Ministry would make it a Govern nent m -,- sure. Sir R. Diy replied in the affirmative. 1 ac Colonial Secretary remarked that the Government could give no definite answer to that question till after the report of the JointCommittee of both houses on the subject had been received. Sir It. Dry observed that the design could not be carried out except by the Government taking the matter in haud. The Col. Secretary said the Government were not prepared at present to state what they would do in the matter until the Parliamentary Report was brought up, but that it would receive every consideration at the hands of the Government. The hon. gentleman, however, expressed his readiness to present the petition. After some other remarks, the deputationj who were received very courteously by the Colonial Secretary, withdrew.— -Ibid. Fingal Quartz Reefs. — Several pieces of quartz have been received from Mangana within the last day or two by a gentleman in town, as a sample of the stuff being crushed by Mr Downing's machine. They are very rich, the gold being seen distinctly with the naked eye. — L. Examiner.

On Monday afternoon a sudden squall of wind and rain passed over Longford, and with. such violeuce as to blow fin iron roof off a store on the premises of Mr Pitt, of the Grange, and otherwise doing damage, in divers and sundry places. The heavy rain that followed during the ensuing night, accompanied by vivid lightning, caused the bursting up of the culvert on the Muddy Plains road, and also at the eastern end of Clerke's bridge, the rivers having risen very suddenly. — Ibid