TASMANIA.

Colonist, Issue 97, 24 September 1858, Page 3

TASMANIA.

Mr. Abbott had been tried a second time for the assault upon the Attorney-General. It will be in the remembrance of our readers that the result of the first trial was the discharge of the jury, in consequence of their being unable to agree to a verdict. In the present instance the jury found the defendant guilty, and the judge inflicted a fine of ,£5, and ordered him to find sureties to keep the peace.

A meeting convened by the Mayor, in compliance with the requisition of the citizens of Hobart Town, came off on the 2nd instant. About 3000 persons were present. Resolutions were carried condemnatory of the extravagance of the government, and declaratory of the necessity for retrenchment in the public expenditure. The expediency of continuing the grant of £15,000 in aid of religiou was discussed, and it was resolved to direct the attention of the Parliament to the subject. Mi. Maxwell Miller, one of the representatives of the city in the Legislative Assembly, was present, and in the course of his address to the meeting, pledged himself to introduce in Parliament reductions to the extent of £20,000.

The Tasmanians are in high spirits at the prospect of their colony proving, after all, a golden one. The Fingal quartz reefs are reported to be exceedingly rich, a sample from Specimen Hill, Fingal, having, when crushed, yielded hetween fifteen and sixteen ounces of the precious metal. Quartz-crushing operations have been commenced at Fingal by the company recently organised, and profitable results are confidently anticipated from the undertaking. The Hobart Town Mercury states that from the quartz working of the company pieces of reef have actually yielded as much as nineteen ounces of gold to the ton. If this be true the prospects of the country are indeed brilliant, and the very sanguine hopes of the Tasmanians may yet be realised. ;