AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 283, 6 July 1860, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

Gold.—The amonnt of gold coin issued by the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint during the week ended to-day, Bth June, has been 36,000 sovereigns. The quantity of gold-dust imported into the same establishment during the week, for the purpose of coinage, has been 8401 ozs. The Western, Southern, and Northern escorts have arrived during the week from the several goldfields, and delivered at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint 9776 oz. 3dwt. .15gr.— Sydney Herald*

Libel. —A rumour was current in legal circles, yesterday afternoon, that Messrs. Holmes, White, and Co., had instructed their solicitors to proceed against the Argus for an alleged libel contained in the leading article of that paper on Friday last. Damages were said to be laid at £10,000.—Melbourne Herald.

Maggottst Flour.—By referring to the report of a case—Cameron against Scott—commenced in the New Court yesterday, our readers will obtain a little information relative to what they sometimes have to consume under the designation, of bread. The authorities also, may consider the evidence as affording sufficient proof of the necessity of their doing something for the protection of the public against unwholesome provisions. The question between the litigants is whether the flour delivered by thej defendant, Mr. Scott, of Dight's mills, Melbourne, to the plaintiff, Mr. Cameron, a baker, was of a first-class quality, as it was represented to be when purchased. The question for the public is whether they are to be fed on maggots, though grown in the best of flour.— lbid.

A Grateful Public—"Poor old Benson's" death, on Monday, in the hospital, at Sandhurst,* and in circumstances of positive privation, ia chronicled in the local journal. Poor old Bensonsome of our readers will need be informed—was a singularly public-spirited and useful man in his day. There have been few men in Victoria who have placed the mining community under such deep and permanent obligations to them as Mr. Robert Benson could claim as most justly his due. He fought the political battle for them when their friends were few. He devoted his abilities and his time exclusively to their service. He actually achieved the establishment of several of the -most useful public institutions in Sandhurst. There was a time when the miners were proud of Mr. Benson as there representative in the Legislature. A man. of this stamp deserved a better fate. But in the trusting simplicity of his heart, he relied on the power of the sentiment of public gratitude: and what did it give him ? ■ Neglect, half-contempt, poverty, privation, ill-treatment in his last hours, and barely a bed in the public infirmary to die in! It gave him, moreover, the cognomen of " Poor old Benson!"— lbid.

Fatal Intemperance.—Another instance of the evils of intemperance took place here towards the latter end of last week. On Friday a party, consisting of husband, wife, and three children, were proceeding in a covered dray from one of the diggings to Melbourne. They sojourned for a while at a friend's house at Kyneton, and indulged too freely in the intoxicating drinks. Starting again on their journey, they proceeded towards Carlsruhe; and the woman, who, it appears, was most inebriated, took with her a bottle of brandy, from which she took large potations. When, about to camp, the husband found that his wife was lying lifeless in the dray, having been smothered, with her head inside a vessel into which she had fallen. Intelligence having reached the police, they brought the dead body into Kyneton, and next day a coroner's inquest was held, at which a verdict was returned in accordance with the evidence—viz, that the death of the unfortunate deceased was caused by asphyxia.-— Kyneton Observer.

To the Adventurous.—A reward' of On* Thousand Pounds will be given to any party discovering a permanent gold-field on the Victorian side of the Snowy River; such gold-field to yield on the average a return of 5,000 oz. of gold for twelve months after its discovery. The Council or the Royal Society will be requested to act as judges. It may be mentioned that the above reward is offered by the. same gentleman who contributed £1,000 towards the Exploration Fund. Communications on this subject to be addressed to Mr. Dill, The Melbourne Argus Office.