The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) |
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Saturday 27 September 1862
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I ' ' _;.' i "' .NOTES'OF>THB"WEEK;' lj .?'.' -' . I1
I Fnn>_r, 19TH SBrTBMBEitiro SE-IB-DEB, 26TH.' I
'XUE arrival of the exploring party, under M'Kinlay, which set out from Adelaide last year in search of the Burke and Wills expedition, haj been the moat noticeable event of the past week.'_rom the accounts which had-reached Adelaide, it was generally be- lieved that' M'Kinlay and his patty were on their homeward route, via Menindie and Cooper's Creek, and it was expected that he would arrive in South AuBtralia within a few days. Suddenly, however, comes the intelligence that he has reached Fort Den- ison at the opposite end of tha continent, after leaving the Gulf of Carpentaria. The intelligence w as at first doubted by many, and it was not until the gallant explorer and his party actually arrived in. Sydney by the Balclutha from Queensland, that the people of Adelaide could believe the fact. Mr. M'Kinlay left this city on Monday afternoon for Mel- bourne, together with four of his party. His journal, giving full particulars of the journey, will be placea in the hands of the South Australian Government, by whom no doubt it will be published for general in- formation. It speaks well for the high qualifications of M'Kinlay as a leader, that the entire party re- turned in excellent health, and that no disputes or disagreement of any kind ever arose amongst them.
There has been> nothing particularly intereBtinj in connection with politics this week. Ia the Council the debate on the bill r to prohibit future grants in aid of religion has been resumed, arid stands adjourned again till next Wednesday. From the tone of the dis- cussion so far, it would seem probable that the bill will not pass, but it is generally understood that the
Ministers calculate upon a majority of one. |
Mr. Forster, the member for East Sydney, has an important motion on the notice-paper, contingent on the order of the day for resuming the committee of supply. It is a proposal affirming that the salaries of future Governors of the colony Bhouid be reduced, and that the salaries of the Ministers be equalised and subjected to the same mode of appropriation, The motion is one likely to lead to a very protracted do bate-the same principle having already been twice or thrice affirmed by the House, and with the concur- rence of a portion of the Ministry. A bill has been introduced and passed for appointing arbitrators to act in the adjustment' of the public accounts be- tween this colony and Queensland. Mr. AVeekes estimates that there is a balance of £112,000 in favour
of the parent colony ¡ but the Queensland Treasurer ' takes a different view, and makes out a balance tlie other way. I
A telegram from Goulburn, on Thursday, brought intelligence of the decease of Mr. James Macarthur, junior, J.P., of that town. The deceased gentleman was the eldest son of the late Mr. H. H. Macarthur, of Parramatta, and a relative of Sir William and Mr. James Macarthur, of Camden.
The Government have leased the Pitt-street tram- way to Mr. John Woods, who has since its establish- ment provided the horsing of the cars, Mr. AVoods is to be allowed to run the cara up and dotvn the street as often us he chooses, the only stipulation being that thoy must meet every arriving and departing trnin. The contract is terminable by either party at three months' notice, We believe that it is Mr. AVooda' intention to run the cars for chanco traffic as well as for the railway passengsrs.
There have been several alarms of " firs' ' during the week, but in no instance, save one, has the alarm been realised. On the 19th instant, a fire occurred in Woolloomooloo, resulting in the destruction of two houses, occupied respectively by Messrs. Harnett and Napier. On Sunday evening last, a chimney on the premises of Mr. Lenehan, in Castlereagh-street, ' ignited, and led to the calling out of the engines and fire brigades. The danger, however, was speedily suppressed, and the services of the firemen were not required.
The bill for reducing the export duty on gold has been passed through committee. The Government, though resisting successfully the efforts made to secure the total abolition of the duty, was forced to consent to a reduction of it to eighteen-pence an ounce, the change to take effect at the beginning of next year. Mr. Wilson, on behalf of the miners, expressed his willingness to acquiesce in the charge of a shilling an ounce, as equivalent to the escort carriage, and there- fore as a payment for services received, and not as a
tax.
AVe mentioned in last week's notes, the case of a poor fellow named Smith, who wag injured on the Penrith line while lying asleep near the rails. His injuries proved fatal, as he ciied shortly after being received into the District Hospital. The coroner's jury found a verdict of accidental death. He leaves a
wife and five children.
A splendid nugget of gold, weighing thirtv.five ounces, was found on Tuesday near Gundagi!, and
._U. _ __.l. 1,"_ t.L._ -Ion« in nniiijnonni tn tUo
locality. "The nugget Í9 the property ot two diggora, who were working together as mates., Several smaller pieces were also found at the same time.
The annual shooting match under the presidency of tito NOAr South Waloo Riüo ABSonîatinn, began, on Thursday. Volunteers in Government offices, com- peting for the prizes, are allowed a holiday for the three dayB ; the public offices were closed at noon for the first two days, and will be wholly closed to-day. The prizes will be presented to the successful " shots" on the ground this afternoon.
Mr. Degotardi has just produced, to the order of the Government, some copies, in photo-lithography, of one of the pen-and-ink perspective views of the" pro- posed new houses of Parliament and¡ Government buildings, according to the prize design marked "I Bide," A very clear and perfect impression of the beautiful picture has been obtained, every detail of the architecture being represented.
In reply to nn enquiry moeia in the Upper House, Government have intimated that they do not intend at piesent to take any steps in connection with the revived proposal for telegraphic communication with Europe. They will wait and see how events develop themselves. Something will depend on the progress made in restoring the Red Sea telegraph, the success of which project is still problematical. Something, too, will depend upon whether Queensland intends to push forward its inland telegraph, so aB to supersede the necessity of many miles of coast wire.
TendcrB w ere received by the Secretary for AVorks, on Tuesday lost, for the masonry of the railway via- duct across the Nepean at Penrith. That of Mr. AV. Tyler, being the lowest, has been «commanded for
acceptance.
The foundation-Btone of a new building for the Morpeth School of Arts has been laid, with the customary ceremonies, in that township. The stone was laid by Mr. Close, and the proceedings were wit- nessed by a large number of the residents of the
district
The Maitland Spring Meeting, under the manage- ment of the Northumberland Jockey Club, was held on Monday upon the Rutherford course. The race- course had a parched arid burnt up appearance, from the recmt drought. The running ground was, in some parts, loose and sandy, but was on the whole ia better trim than could have been expected, the re- cently Bown grass making it tenacious and firm in many parts. There were about five hundred people on the ground, a great many of whom were eques-
trians.
Three men were drowned on Saturday last in attempting to cross the river Lachlan, at Shepherd's crossing-place on the South Lead. The particulars of the disaster have not been received.
Robberies ore still very frequent, and it has become dangerous to travel on the roads in some of the in- terior districts. A dealer named Levy was recently waylaid near the Oaks, about four miles from Picton, by two armed men, who took from him two £5 notes, about thirty shillings in silver, his boots, and some portion of his wearing apparel. Not satisfied with this, they ill-used the unfortunate man, beating him severely about the head and breast. Further up the country, and particularly in the vicinity of the gold- fields, the same state of lawlessness prevails, and the police are, to all appearance, utterly powerless to suppress it.
Measures have been taken for establishing a local Court on the Lachlan gold, field, and eleven candi- dates have offered themselves for seats. The great benefit anticipated from the action of the local Court is in effecting a repeal or amendment of the Gold- fields Act and Regulations, which are in many respects unsuited to this gold-field.
The escorts which arrived on Thurday at the Mint, brought down in all nearly 15,000 ounces from the Southern, Western, and Northern districts.
Mr. Robertson's bill for legalising liens on crops, which was road a second time some while ago, has got into committee, and seems threatened wjth an opposition which had not been previously anticipated. It is urged that the bill would encourage fraud, that there is no popular demand for it, and that it is not wanted. On the other hand, it is contended that the farmer is entitled to the same privileges as the squatter-that the ¡agriculturist is often victimised by usurious storekeepers, and that the free selectors will need this assistance There seems to be still a
majority in favour of the bill, though its ul itnate fate
is uncertain. *
An old woman named Catherine Gatehouse, has been found dead in the waterhole near the Newtown Road. The Coroner's jury found a verdict " died by suffocation from drowning, the deceased being in-
toxicated at the time."
I1 - A"correspondo_t at Marengo writes, under datc'th»
19th instant ¡--;",Oix. the 17th, he says, no fewer than seventeen different parties -were stuck-up between this town and Burrowa-by one single bushraiger contiguous to where Daniel Crotty, the mailman had been shot. Among them, I am informed, was trooper Foley, of this town, who was, going on business to Burrowa. Though the highwayman was alone yet he seemed not any way discouraged to attack parties
consisting of as many as six.''
Extensive bush fires have been raging during the week, on the North Shore and along the Lane Cove Road, inflicting severe loss and ceaseless anxiety unoa the owners of property and residents in those locali. ties. A number of fruit trees, the property of Mr M'Millan, have been destroyed, as also a luge' | quantity of fencing belonging to Mr. John Brown,
The devastating element has reached from Middle Harbour, with but occasional intervening space», to South Colac, and the Field of Mars Common, and has consumed what little herbage the late drought had left. Tlie district presents a very dreary aspect. The hot-wind last Friday made dreadful havoc aram»
the orangeries, the ground being literally covered with
windfalls.
Referring to the condition of the roads, Mr. District Judge Blake, while presiding at Albury lately, said that all along the road he mot troops of road engineers road suxveyors, and road inspectors in every public' house, and also driving about in buggies, and rushing up and down on horseback ; all the actual work he saw doing as the result, between Sydney and Albury, was being performed by four moa making believe to do a little botching near Gundagai. His Honer added, there were almost impossible roadi and impassable creeks all the way. A few less officers and fifty more
men would not be undesirable.
Mr. David Bell, M.L.A., who was appointed steward for New South Wales at the coming chata I pion race meeting at Geelong, loft Sydney on Wed
nesday afternoon by the Wonga Wonga, accompanied
by several other gentlemen, who are proceeding to
v»itness the contes's.
A lady named Mrs. Dyson has died from the effects of an overdose of morphia, administered by herself for the purpose of alleviating pain and inducing sleep,
The body of a man named Addrew Bromley has been found in a well on at Lane Cove, with his throat cut, and suspicion is excited that the deceased has been murdered. The matter is now being enquired into by the Coroner and police authorities.