THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AT MELBOURNE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 482, 25 March 1869, Page 2

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AT MELBOURNE.

The Duke of Edinburgh was to leave Melbourne for Sydney on Saturday, the sth inst. The Atistralasia7i says that during this visit his Royal Highness has had opportunities which were wanting on the first occasion, of mixing without formality among the people around him, and making their acquaintance in their everyday life. No gunpowder has been wasted in his honor, nor a single public holiday been proclaimed on account of hispresence amongst us. Had he been in London he could not have been treated with more real friendliness, or less pomp or ceremony. He has been permitted to follow his own inclination without restraint. The rabbits and pigeons may feel more gratified at his departure than at his arrival; but this will be an exceptional dislike—reasonable enough under the circumstances. Besides hia shooting excursions, in which he evidently takes genuine delight, he has paid unostentatious visits to one or two of our fellow-colonists, and has honored the theatres and recitals of Mr Montgom-

ery with his presence. One of the private visits paid by the Duke at the beginning of this week exhibits the amiableness of hi s disposition, and, we may also add, his appreciation of intellectual brilliancy, in a noteworthy light. It will be remembered that when Mr Aspinall went to Sydney to defend the miserable assassin O'Farrell, some of the Sydneyites imagined that the Duke would be chagrined at the arrival of a Victorian barrister bent on such a mission. The allusion was amply dispelled at the time, and its utter absurdity has now been made more evident by the fact that the Duke has driven out in the most friendly way to a luncheon at Mr Aspinall'B house.

LARGE NUGGETS.

In connection with the discovery reported of the largest lump of gold ever yet found in Victoria or in the world, it may be interesting to recapitulate some particulars of several of the greatest nuggets hitherto discovered. First of all stands the great Welcome Nugget, which was found by a party of twenty-four at Bakery-hill, Ballarat, June 15th, 1858, at a depth of 180 ft. This magnificent mass of gold contained only about ten pounds of quartz, clay, &c, and its net weight of gold was 1841b 9oz troy. It was sold for £9,325. Other good nuggets had been previously found by the party in the same hole. Next to this comes the Blanche Barkly nugget, which was got by a party of four men at a depth of thirteen feet, at Kingower, on August 27,1857. It weighed 1451b 3oz, and was worth £6,905. On the 31st January, 1853, there was found, at Canadian Gully, Ballarat, at a depth of sixty feet, and immediately after the discovery of a lump of 70oz, a fine nugget weighing 1341b lloz, and of the value of £5,532. Next to this in point of size, but before them all in date and also in historical fame and importance, is the celebrated " hundred-weight of gold," found in 1851 by a Native boy on the surface of the ground at Meroo Creek, near the river, Turon, New South Wales, which did so much to attract European attention to the first-opened goldfields of Australia. This mass was, in fact, in three pieces, although originally one, and besides the hundred-weight of quartz it contained, it yielded 1061b of gold. Two specimens of gold distributed through a rust-colored matrix, found together at Dunolly, in 1857, yielded 1131b 7oz, and were worth £5,500. At Burrandong, near Orange, New South Wales, there was found, in 1858, a nugget weighing 1071b, and worth £5389. The Lady Hotham nugget, discovered near Canadian Gully, at a depth of 135 feet, was a fine specimen, containing 981b of gold. From the same claim there was obtained upwards of 2201b in smaller nuggets, the value of the gold taken from this hole being more than £13,000.

NEW AUSTRALIAN SETTLEMEKT.

A description of a new settlement in Carpentaria appears in the Queensland papers. The new capital of the district, Norman Town, is situated on the banks of the River Norman, which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The river is navigable for sixty miles. Vessels of heavy draught come to a point twelve miles from the town, and on the removal of some slight obstructions, will be enabled to come to the landing, about a quarter of a mile from the town. The great drawback to the place is the want of water. Several wells have been sunk, but they have to pass through limestone rock impregnated with oxide of copper, and in such circumstances good water connot be expected. The climate is better than that of Burke Town, as during the day there is a good sea breeze, and a good land-breeze from off the Elinders Plains during the night. The mineral prospects of the district are very promising. On the Leichhardt Ranges there are immense quantities of copper, some of which is said to be almost pure. Gold, also, has been found in these ranges, and also in the Gilbert Ranges, but it does not appear in what quantities. Several parties of prospectors have set out to examine thoroughly the latter ranges, and it is likely that we shall hear of the locality again. The aspect around the Norman is not very pleasant; the barrenness of the soil, the scarcity of pasture, and the obnoxious spinifex make it unfavourable for pastoral and agricultural purposes. Some of the trees drop their leaves, so that the forest there presents in the spring a similar appearance to that of Europe. Ducks, geess, and pelicans sre abundant, and pigeons are in myriads. The kangaroo and emu are not found there, so that the aspect around is less Australian than what one expects, and much different to the southern parts of this island continent.

A Christmas Wait. —Policeman — ' Hallo! what's the matter—are you hurt ?' Boffin, lying prostrate by the railing in the snow under the light of the bull's eye, (feebly)—' Not (hie) the least in the (hie) wold. Shimply (hie) waitin' for a (hie) friend!' The first number of the Daily Telegraph appeared in Melbourne on the Bth ultimo. It is the same size and the same price as the Age. It is printed on paper manufactured at the mills of Mr Ramsden, of Melbourne. Its appearance and contents are very creditable.