AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 303, 14 September 1860, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

(From the Sydney Morning Herald, August 23.) KIANDRA. Quartz Reef.—A party of Germans report to have found a payable quartz-reef about" two miles from the town, in a northerly direction. They came upon it only three feet from the surface. We believe no other parties have as yet.applied for' a quartz-reef claim. New Providence.—A party of Melbourne men have set in about two miles from New Providence, on the bank of the Eucumbene River. They report good prospects, but find the sinking difficult on account of the water, and quantities of large boulders. They expect to hit upon very heavy deposits at a depth of from twenty-five to thirtyfeet. The lock-up and police-quarters here are nearly finished.

Nine Mile.—The party tunnelling in the hill here are still persevering, but have not yet found anything to speak of. Miners are doing well there, and the population is increasing. A lock-up and barrack-room is to be erected there immediately. Sticking-up.—Near New Providence a carrier was stuck-up on the evening of the 14th, by two men; they were tracked by detective Scarlett. The taller of the: two,-upon being-called upon to surrender, presented a revolver, and swore he would fire if further pressed. In the tnefee he escaped, but his confederate, called " Little Jack," was taken, and sent on yesterday to Kiandra. borne suspicion attaches to him as being concerned in one of the late mail robberies.

Reinforcement of Police.—Sergeant Fenton and Mr. Cavner arrived in town ytstcrduy with eight foot police. They will be a valuable and much needed addition to our force. Some of them will be permanently stationed in the township, and we now hope that the constant nightly brawls will be put a stop to. On the whole, however, we must admit that there is, comparatively speaking, very little actual violence, especially when we consider the wide area over which this goldfield extends, and the small resident force in the hands of the authorities.

Sly Grog Selling.—Several cases were last week on the list, but had to be postponed. We are glad this bane of the digger is being actively proceeded against, for every week fatal results arise from the immoderate use of spirituous liquors. Two Deaths from Intoxication.—Within the last week two fatal accidents have occurred from the above, in both cases the unfortunate men having been proved to have been intoxicated at the time; one, supposed to be a Scotchman of the name of Hugh or Hewy, was found dead in a prospect hole near the town; the other, James Smith, an ex-publican of Sydney, was discovered yesterday morning head downwards, and with his neck broken, in a deep race on Scully's Claim, Surface Hill, near Walker's store. He will be buried to-day by the authorities in the burial ground opposite the Camp. The service is usually read over these unfortunates by one of the Commissioners.

Church at Kiandra—We must say we feel surprised and shocked at the supineness of the clergy in this respect. With a population of between 3000 and 4000 souls, a church has not been mooted by any one sect! There cannot now be the excuse of these diggings not becoming permanent, interested parties from other mining localities may write against them, but the grand fact is generally acknowledged, and I may say irrefutably proved, that this gold-field can, and will give payable employment to thousands for two years at the very least, and that during this first bi-ennial stage^ of its existence Kiandra must remain its principal centre and depot. Let me ask what excuse have the ecclesiastical authorities for neglecting the spiritual want of so large a body of their children ? It may be said that a new gold-field is not the place for religion. Most certainly we would not seek there for it in its most perfect form; but surely where laxity of morals and excesses are under no control, it is our first duty to at least offer to the well-meaning, but perhaps weak-minded, the chance of availing themselves of spiritual consolation. An active zealous clergyman would, we maintain, be of the greatest service on these diggings, and would receive every supporfe from all the respectable inhabitants. Sunday Trading.—The putting a stop to this unnecessary and vicious custom is being already agitated amongst the better class of storekeepers, but whilst there is no spiritual head to direct, everybody's business is nobody's business. Buildings.—Good stores and other buildings are, during the present fine weather, being rapidly proceeded with, especially opposite the camp. Fresh business licenses are, we understand, being taken out daily, and allotments being jumped in all directions.

Roads.—The roads are getting a little drier, and pack-horses come in from Russell's with some little difficulty, but this line is still next to impassable for drays. Mr. Webber, the road superintendent, has stated that it will cost at least i>lo,ooo, to secure anything like permanent traffic. We cannot imagine, after all the representations, to this effect that have been poured in upon the Government, and with the certainty staving them in the face of absolute famine at Kiandra without a permanent highway for the necessaries of life,— ■> we cannot imagine, we say, the reason of the supineness and penurious parsimony of the Government on this vital subject. A few hundreds frif« tered away on parts of such a road as exists between Kiandra and Chalker's, is a mere waste of public money, and will but lure hundreds of men to destruction. With the immense through traffic that will shortly set in, unless the whole road ig well and efficiently constructed throughout at one and the same time, it will be cut up and rendered useless at the very moment that supplies will be. most urgently required. Local Court Meeting.—A great fuss and agitation has lately been made about a local mining court. Whenever a digger is dissatisfied with a commissioner's decision, he stoutly declares it " no justice," expatiates at length on the advantage of a local court;- whereas, it is an established fact, that they prove a curse rather than a blessirig, and have, in nearly every instance, had to be given up at the urgent request of the very parties who had petitioned for their appointment. A meeting, to consider the establishment of a local court, was placarded all over the town for Wednesday, at tour p.m., but, notwithstanding the vehei mence of a few, the better class of miners set their; faces entirely against the movement, and there being but a very poor attendance, it proved a total failure. It is well known that the best men will 11 not take the trouble to expose themselves to the annoyance of being members* and cocgiquently the lowest class, obtaining power, use it in such a manner as to become obnoxious to the community*

Ground Sluicing.—This objectionable practice, before river claims are worked out, having been once permitted, although we understand against the express order and in the absence of the Chief Commissioner, has, as he foresaw, become an intolerable nuisance, and a source of never-ending complaint. The tailinga from these ground sluicea on Surface Hill are continually overflowing, swamping and backing the water upon the river claims. This week two highly respectable assessors have been employed to solve the knotty point in such a mauner as to allow of both parties continuing to work. They have recommended a large dam to be built, and. an order is to beissusd to. the ground sluicers to construct the game without delay. Should this plan not succeed, their working must be entirely stopped until such time aa the river claims are worked out,