Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston, Tas. : 1835 - 1880), Saturday 12 July 1851, page 436


LOCAL.

The George Town Clearing Department — It is any thing but a pleasant duty on our part to record continued acts of omission, or faulty acts of commission, on the part of the person appointed by the government to overhaul vessels leaving or entering the Tetnar : but as we find, in the Victoria papers, much objectionable matter in reference to that official, we cannot avoid the performance of our duty in calling the

attention of his Excellency Sir Wmi Demson, to the fact of vessels, both under canvass and coal, being detained by the want of capability (evidently) of the person employed to discharge the duties of boarding-officer. It seems (and we are indebted to the Melbourne Argus for the information) that the screw propeller, City of Melbourne, was detained on her last trip upwards op four hours, waiting for the boarding officer, who happened, ns report states, to be engaged overhauling the steamer Shamrock ; now ttw the boarding officer could, if he knew his duty, overhaul a dozen vessels, entering the Tamar, in thirty minutes,— and one hour is quite sufficient to overhaul any vessel departing from this port. We do trust that Sir William Dcnison will, on bis visit to this side of the island, designate the position of boardingofficer at George Town, and so instruct the person employed to discharge the duties, that they may be properly performed, and spare the press the irksome duty of everlastingly reporting such flagrant mismanagement. We have a tnotive for sparing Mr. Davies from censure, which that individual cannot be ignorant of, and we hope that the public service will not suffer from our delicacy.

Non-attendance as a Juryman. — On Tuesday last Mr. Wm. Gee was fined in the highest penalty, ten pounds, for non-attendance at the Supreme Court as a juryman. His Honor the Chief Justice refering to the jury act, and stating that be much regretted his inability to inflict a higher fine. Jurymen should not neglect this important duty, as it is a hard one, and becomes most unfair to expect others whose time is equally valuable to do it all. Irregularity in summoning Jurymen. — On Friday Mr John Sinclair complained to His Honor the Chief Justice, of the apparent irregularity in summoning jurors for duty at the Supreme Court. There are some men, said Mr. Sinclair, residing within a few miles of town, qualified for jurors, who are never called upon, while others residing upwards of twenty and twentyfive miles away were called upon for more than their share of this irksome duty. Hit Honor stated that proper representations should be made to have the matter rightly regulated. Rain, rain. — During the week heavy rain has incessantly fallen, and our streets and thorough* fares are almost deluged. Although from the ?xcellent arrangements of the Town Surveyor in properly draining it, we may expect to have the town dry directly the weather clears up. TJie farmers will not have occasion to complain of the drought this season, but may expect abundant harvests.

Meeting, — There was a meeting of electors on Thursday evening, at Mr. Duncan's, ' Bull's Head Inn.' There will be another in the course of next week, and we forbear publishing the particulars thereof until the second meeting is over. The parties present were the friends of Mr. Evans. Francis Evans, Esq.— We much regret that the advertisement of Mr. Evans to the electors of Launceston, should have by inadvertence been published in tbis issue ; contrary to the wish of that gentleman The Portland Herald, Changed Hands.— the Rev. Alexander Laurie has made over the preBS, types, and copyright of the Portland Herald to trustees, for the benefit of Mrs Laurie and the family. Friday's number was the first of the new issue. The material of the Herald was some time ago purchased by a few benovelent individuals, and placed at the disposal of Mr. Laurie, to aid him in making provision, for his wife and children. Matters, however, would appear to have been so badly managed, that he only involved himself and them in greater difficulties by the gift than without it. Mrs. Laurie has now taken the matter into ber own hands, and promises to conduct the Herald much more profitable than her husband has been able to do. — Portland Guardian.

Bachelor's Ball— Every preparation is being made to carry off this ball with great eclat ; upwards of four hundred invitations have been issued. No doubt it will be a brilliant affair. Mr. Cane's exhibition.— The inhabitants of Campbell Town may prepare for a treat on Wednesday evening next. The dissolving views, chromatropes, &c., which Mr. Cane has selected for the exhibition, are of a very beautiful and varied description. Murder.— Last night about 10 o'clock a man named William Gowly was found stubbed in the shop of a person named Me Bean in Elizabethstreet. Tbe sufferer survived only about ten minutes. Me Bean and another man, a lodger in the home, are is custody. — SI. D. News. Economy in Colonial Expenditure.— It it said that one of the measures of economy which is contemplated is the consolidation of the duties of colonial treasurer and of the commissariat officer in charge of the military chest. Royal Amphitheatre.— Extensive preparations bave been in course of operation during the past few days in order to render every thing complete for the opening night of this house of amusement, which event takes place on Monday evening next : visitors will find accommodation of the most comfortable description, and the audience will experience no small surprise at the extensive and agreeable metamorphose which the Circus has undergone since the last entertainment held there. Of the talent comprised in tbe corps dramatique, the amusement seeking folks must decide. The pieces announced are entirely new, and are entitled 'The Wraith of the Lake' and 'Methinks I see my Father.' The audience will be able to form a correct idea of the outlay Mr. Johnston has expended in catering for their amusement, and will, it is hoped, testify their appreciation of his liberality by affording him unlimited support. Bigamy. — James Chambers, residing in Collingwod, was was yesterday brought up at the police office on «varrent, on the charge of bigamy. Sergeant Colwell proved the arrest, and stated that he bad known the man for some eighteen months, and that he was of good character. Mr. John Matthew Smith defended the prisoner, aud urged tbe bench as tbe case must be remanded, to let him go on bis own recognizance ; but Mr. Belcher stated to the bench, that there was a report abroad that Chambers had made over the whole of his property to other parties, and therefore ought not to be allowed to go at large on his own recognizance. The case was ultimately remanded until tbis day, (Friday.) We understand the facts of the case to be, that Chambers had married a young lady named Windsor, at Patterson's Plain's near Launceston Van Diemen's Land, 1845, and that he coon afterwards came to Melbourne, bringing with him some properly belonging to his wife, to enable him to commence business, his wife, remaining behind with her family in Van piemen's Land. Since 1845, bis wife beard nothing from him, nor did she known even that he was alive until a abort time since, a person wrote to her father to say that he was married again, which information proved to be correct. The first marriage took place at Launceston, the ceremony being peformed by the Rev. Mr. Dowlingi the second marriage took place at St. James' Cathedral in this city in May last, (be maden name of the lady beia£ Walker.— Argus June 17th. Scene in a Church.— Whilst the Rev. Mr. Falloon was delivering a lectnre on tbe subject of transubstantiation, in St. John's Church, a display of feeling, most common in sacred edifices, was indulged in by the audience. We are informed that, after the rev. lecturer had delivered an eloquent and argumentative discourse in support of what he had urged against the doctnne of the real presence in the Sacrament, be related an anecdote in reference to Bishop Hooker, who, when in prison for tbe ' cause sake,' was aisked by a delegate from tbe Pope bis opinion with iCBpect to the actual Body of Christ in the bread of the Sacrament. Before answering, the Bishop wished, on his part, to put a question to the querist, and asked him whether, in breaking tbe bread he believed that he was bieBking the body of Christ. The priest replied in the affirmative; when the Bishop remarked that, if this was so, it falsified tbe prophetic statement, that not a bone should be broken. This argument of Bishop Hooper's was held by tbe audience to be so conclusive and pugnant, that a great number of persons in the body of the church expressed their approval by the clapping of hands and other demonstrations of applause. The exhibition was immediately checked by the reverend gentleman in the pulpit who remarked that, had he thought the illustration would have provoked any display of feeling so unbecoming, be would have refrained from using it.— Liverpool Times. Corpulent persons, desirous of regaining their shape, should apply to some newspaper establishment for tbe office of collector. They will run tbeir fat off long before their office becomes a siuecure. — American Paper.

Gold for tlit Queen,— A betiutiful specimen of virgiu gold, from the Summerhill Creek, hag been purchased by the Government for tract, mission to her Majesty the Queen. It is nearly round, about 4 incites in diameter, half an inch thick at one edge, and gradually tbinnins to about an eight of an inch. It is free from quartz, and as smooth as if it had been melted and cast in a mould. It weighs twenty-three ounces, and was purchased from the oneioal finder for £3 5s. an ounce. Struck by its beauty, Mr. D. Cooper gave £4 an ounce for it, handed it to Government at that price. It will be transmitted to England bv an mri» vessel.-S. M. Herald, June 20th. y To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald —Gentlemen,— I will thank you to insert the following, which I vouchsafe to be correct:— A. party of three persons have been on an exploring expedition, and have found cold and claimed the reward of Mr. J. Solomon of West Maitland. Since the discovery of gold between Dungog and Clarence Towjj it has altered tbe destination of hundreds who were ready to start for the Batburst district These three persons have been amply remune-' rated ; and ere long the Maitland district trill outvie Batburst. Iliave seen tbe gold, and seen it tested, and indications of diamonds ; the specimens of diamonds were offered for sale and £30 refused. At the time of writing this the parties are returning to tbe district.— I remain, yours, respectfully, William Burgeu, Thristan d'Acunha.—k new mission has been opened by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, through the liberality of an individual member of the Church, who desires to remain unknown. He bad been struck by a brief account of the island of ThriBtan d'Acunha, which was sent home by the Revd. John Wise, who touched there, on hit voyage to Ceylon, in 1848. And as the inbabitants, though few in number, seemed anxious for the ministrations of a Clergyman, he generously determined to supply the means of Jiis support. The Bishop of London warmly approved of this design, and tbe society having readily undertaken to defray tbe expense of passage and outfit to the first missionary, the Rev. W. F. Taylor, who bad expressed a desire to enter this new field of labour, has been or. dained to the spiritual charge of the island, and will aail thither at the earliest opportunity.