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ADELAIDE Friday Afternoon.
The Municipal Elections are going on.
Flour is quoted at£17 to £18 per ton.
ERRATA.—The remarks of Mr. Deas Thomson in the
Legislative Council, on Thursday evening, relative to the magis-
tracy, were, by accident, attributed to Mr. Eagar.The speech in
question immediately followed that of Mr. Wilshire. On the
same evening, Mr. Capes' notice of motion, given in the Assem-
bly, for restricting the time of each speaker to not more than
twenty minutes, was not intended to apply to the mover of a
motion.
It is notified in yesterday's Gazette that E. C.
Merewether, Esq., who had been absent on special service, has
resumed his office as Clerk of the Executive Council.
The following appointments are officially notified :—
Henry Lumsdaine, Esq., to be Chief Inspector of Distillories, in
the room of John Stirling, Esq.. resigned ; Mr. A. Brooks, to be
Superintendent of the Hornby Lighthouse, South Head, in the
room of Mr. Thomas Brown, resigned.
His Excellency the Governor-General has appointed
Timbarra to be a place for the holding of Courts of Petty
Sessions, under the Act 3 William IV., No. 3.
Among the business on the paper of the Assembly for
Friday next, is the following notice of motion by Mr. Cape :—
1. That it be an instruction to the Standing Orders
Committee to consider and report upon the expediency
of adopting the following as a sessional or standing order, for the
better regulation of debates in this House. 2; That no member
speaking on a motion made by another member, be allowed a
longer period than twenty minutes. 3. That on the present-
tation of petitions no member be allowed to speak longer than
ten minutes, and in rising to speak to order, or in explanation,
not longer than five minutes.
The Secretary for Lands stated in the Assembly, on
Thursday, in reply to a question, that the electric telegraph from
Parramatta to Bathurst was completed, with the exception of
leading the wires into the stations. The line from Sydney to
Parramatta will be completed in a few days, and the whole opened
on or before the 1st January next.
The annual election of Auditors for the city of Sydney
will take place in the several wards on Thursday the 15th
instant.
We have received a pamphlet from Mr. Harrison, who
is temporarily residing in this city, elucidative of a new ice-
making and refrigerating process, patented by him in London.
The ice-maklng machine, which is the invention of that gentle-
man, is driven by an engine of ten-horse power, and is estimated
to turn out from 8000 to 10,000 lbs. of ice per day. Refrigeration
is produced by the evaporation of ether in a vacuum, and this
ether (to quote the words of the prospectus) is condensed and
used over again, without appreciable waste, and without exposure
to the air. One recommendable feature of the invention is that
with very little alteration in the existing plant of a brewery, it
may be introduced for the purpose of cooling the
wort—thus obviating the necessity of delaying the operations of
the brewer during the heat of summer. Mr. Harrison has a
machine in operation at Geelong, and there is another in course
of construction for Melbourne. The chief novelty and merit of
the invention is the way in which steam power is applied to the
abstraction of heat. Mr. Harrison purposes leaving at an early
date for India, in order to introduce his useful invention amongst
the inhabitants of that torrid clime. We shall take an early op-
portunity for noticing the matter more at length.
The commercial world of Sydney is greatly indebted to
Mr. W. Blackwood, the well-known photographer, for a very im-
portant work just issued by him, which will perpetuate the
present extended operations of the mercantile community. The
work in question is an Album of the Sydney Banks, and deserves
to rank as the most brilliant specimen of the Fine Arts issued in
Sydney. It contains a series of nine beautifully finished photo-
graphs (folio size) of the whole of the banks in this city—The
Bank of Australasia, the London Chartered Bank of Australia,
Bank of New South Wales, Commercial Banking Company,
Savings' Bank : English, Scottish, and Australian Bank : Joint
Stock Bank, Union Bank, and Oriental Bank. Each plate in pre-
ceded by a printed title-page, giving all the necessary com-
mercial particulars respecting the institution. Theplates are
remarkable for their extraordinary distinctness, every line being
perfectly apparent. A warm tone and true colouring is likewise
given to them, so that whether as a specimen of photographic
art or representations of some of our principal public buildings,
the Album of Mr. Blackwood is likely—as stated in the preface—to
serve as a memorial of the progress of art and architecture in
Sydney, as a reminiscence to the chiefs of the commercial world
of Sydney of the scenes of their past efforts, and as a fitting
present for European friends, by which they may judge of the
flourishing condition of Australia.
The School of Arts Debating Society met yesterday
evening in the lecture hall, Pitt-street. The subject for discus-
sion was, " Ought the State to support Religion."
There was a good attendance. Mr. Potter, who
opened the question, said it was impolite for the State to
support religion. State endowment endangered the peace of the
commonwealth, by fostering sectarian jealousies ; it encouraged
schisms, by supporting error and truth indiscriminately. It
checked the growth of spiritual religion ; the history of State
churches amply confirmed that opinion. The Church of Eng-
land had retrograded since the days of Latimer ; Tractarianism
was in the ascendant within her pale. Another State Church
that of Rome, had been distinguished for intolerance and
cruelty. She had prohibited the reading of the Word of God,
and the free preaching of the Gospel. The
Redeemer ; never sanctioned State support to religion ;
lt was an insult to true Christianity to say that it required the
assistance of any other government. Another gentleman, whose
name we did not glean, said that it was unfair for any portion of
the community to be compelled to support a faith which they did
not profess or believe. The Government ought equally to sup-
port Paganism and Hindooism, so long as there were taxpaying
Jews and Celestials ; but rather than that this should happen,
he would seek the entire abolition of State support to religion
On th question being put to the meeting, it was carried in the
negative by a considerable majority. The meeting then broke
up.
The united artists of the two theatrical companies
having no other work to do, are employing their vacation—rather
an expensive one to them, and from certain rumours, one that is
likely to last—in giving a series of concerts, the fifth of which
will take place at the School or Arts, this evening. As the
orchestra is good and the prices of admission are very reason-
able, these concerts of the Professional Union receive a con-
siderable share of public patronage. The programme for to-
night includes selections from Rob Roy, Macbeth, and Guy Man-
nering, numerous ballads, and other popular music.
One of the most pleasing waltzes we have heard for a
long time is " The Jessamine Waltz," composad by Mr. Henry
Marsh, one of the most popular members, of the musical pro-
fession in Sydney. By the frequency of his publications, by his
excellent method of imparting musical tuition, and by the estab-
lishment of a musical institute. Mr. Marsh is rendering good
service to the cause. The " Jessamine Waltz " is dedicated to
Mrs. Francis Bennett, a lady known for her love of the divine
art ; the subject is melodious, and well handled, the modulations
exceedingly effective, the key changing so smoothly as scarcely
to be perceptible, concluding with an scherzande in which the
original motif is introduced, giving a pleasing variation and
finish to the morceaux. The waltz, if practised,must become a
favourite.
The Maitland Mercury states that the toll dues, &c.,
for the next year, of the three bars on the northern road, from
Morpeth to Black Creek, were sold on Monday by auction by
the Clerk of Petty Sessions, at the East Maitland Court-House,
each at a considerable advance upon the upset price. The Mor-
peth toll-bar was sold to Mr. Robart Birmingham for £661 ; the
Campbell's Hill bar to Mr. George Young, for £1480 ; and the
Black Creek bar to Mr. John Coulton, for £690.
Thursday's Maitland Mercury says :-"We have been
informed by persons who are well acquainted with this subject
that the eradication of this plant is not so desperate a matter as
we had been led to suppose. Many industrious and cleanly
farmers have succeeded in entirely getting rid of the nuisance
by pulling it up in its green state ; but, of course this involves an
amount of labour which the lazy and slovenly are unwilling to
undergo. Many of Mr. Eales's tenants on the Lower Hunter by
persevering efforts have succeeded in entirely clearing, their
farms of it.
We are informed, says the Maitland Mercury, by Mr.
Bewick, inspector of the northern railway line, that there is not
the slightest foundation for the statement made by a corres-
pondent or the Empire, that one of the navvies at Jump-up was
killed the other day by a stone from a blast. No man has been
either killed or injured. We are also informed that
though the culling from Larnach's to ' Singleton
will be but trifling, yet, inasmuch as the work
between Lochinvar and Larnach's is heavy, some con-
siderable time must elapse before the line can be completed.
Robert Hunter, Francis Trindall, and William Collins were
brought up, on remand, before the bench at East Maitland, on
Tuesday, charged with passing a forged five pound note to Julia
Murphy, of Morpeth. Julia Murphy deposed to receiving a £5
note, or what purported to be a five pound note in an envelope
from Mr. Close by the hand of George Monday, She returned the
envelope to Mr. Close with five one pound notes in it, This was
on the Tuesday after the Sunday she had had received the forged five
pound note. Witness was quite sure she sent Mr. Close the same
note she received from prisoners, Margaret Cochrane deposed
to being in the service of Mr. Close, and receiving a letter from
him which she gave to Geo. Monday to take to Mrs. Murphy. This
was on the Tuesday, the day she heard about the bad note being
passed to Mr. Close. The prisoners were committed to take their
trial at the next Circuit Court to be holden in Maitland. Bail
refused.
With reference to the late steam-boat collision on the
Hunter, Thursday's Mercury says:—On visiting Morpeth yester-
day afternoon, we found that neither the Williams« or Paterson
had then arrived there ; but we were assured that arrangements
had been made through the courtesy of Mr. Scroggle, the agent
for the A.S.N. Company, for the Illalong or Ballaarat to bring the
Paterson up last night. The arrangements for raising the
Williams are progressing satisfactorily.
On Monday night, (says the Bathurst Free Press) a
very impudent robbery was committed on the premises of the
Victoria Hotel, Bentinck-street. A dressing case, the property
of Mr. Merewether, was carried off through the window of the
bedroom in which it was lying, and the next day about four
o olook was found lying near the Creek, completely destroyed
and despoiled of its contents, some of which were of consider-
able value. From circumstances which it is impossible here to
mention, the police obtainod a clue to the guilty parties, and the
Chief Constable, having obtained a search-warrant, discovered
several articles of the stolon property, together with a flutina and
othor objects, the property of Mr. Beech, whoseshop was plun-
dered last week, concealed in the cottage of a man named Marsh,
(alias Mulgoa Jack,) below the Hospital, who, with his wife and
daughter, was immediately taken into custody, and will be
brought before the Bench this morning.
The people of Bathurst are expressing surprise and
disappointment at the long delay that has intervened between
the completion of the telegraph posts to that town, and the
arrival of the machinery neocssary for opening the line.
The Carcoar correspondent of the Bathurst Free Press
reports:—The weather during the past week has been very
changeable, being at times rainy, windy, and cloudy. We had
some heavy rains on different occasions during the week which
will be of great use to the farmers. The hayvcutting is about to
commence in some places it is very light, while at other places
it is very good and heavy. The wheat paddocks are beginning to
look right well, though there will not be above half a crop. The
wheat that was attacked by the aphis appears at the present time
not to haveo suffered so much as was expected, though there is
no doubt that when it is fit for cutting it will be rather pinched
up. The sheep-shearing is nearly completed, the clip being very
good. An accident happened on the Lachlan to Mrs. Yee, who
while cooking, set fire to her clothes, and before it could be ex-
tinguished she was severely burnt.
In the Wellington district, a considerable number of
cattle have died from the effects of the drought. The smell of
the decaying carcases is said to be very offensive, and it is sug-
gested that the owners of cattle which die on the way should be
compelled to burn, or otherwise destroy the carcases, under a
penalty.
Concerning " Chappel's new quartz crushing machine,"
the Mudgee Newspaper says this machine has been successfully
erected, and works very satisfactorily ; it is one of King's patent
stampers, manufactured by Messrs. Russell, of Sydney. The first
experiment was made upon quartz from Avisford ; the return
from one ton of which was 4 ozs. 5 dwts. The next sample, we
believe, will be from the Broombee reef, which is expected to
yield more, and be more easily and thoroughly crushed, being of
a more porous nature. We regard this result from the first
attempt very satisfactory, and believe that the yield will improve.
It is intended for the future to burn the quartz, which will enable
the machine to do more work ; in addition to which, no doubt
practice and experience in the business will create improve-
ments in the method of amalgamation, and other branches of the
business, which will speedily be seized upon by the spirited and
enterprising proprietor. A great deal of anxiety was felt in Mud-
gee on Saturday last, to know the result of the first day's work,
and much satifaction given.
From Campbell's Greek the correspondent of the Mud-
gee paper writes :— We have been blest these few days past with
genial rain, and dear old mother earth joins our chorus of thanks
to Nature's God for the refreshing showers, by clothing herself
with a new and beautiful dress of Erin's lovely green.
Mr. Blackman, a magistrate at Mudgee, and one of
those refusing to act with Mr. Lyons, has been fined three
guineas by the Mudgee Bench, for an assault on one John Lang.
The local paper thus reports the complainant's evidence—John
Lang, being sworn, stated he was a billiard marker ; between 4
and 5 o'clock on the day in question, he was on the Government
reserve, between Mr. S. Hill's and Mr. Blackman's residences ;
had been sitting on a log some little time when Mr. Blackman
came and asked him what business he had there ; witness replied
as much as he or anyone else had; defendant called witness a
scoundrel and said he had seen him at different times with
different young women near the river ; told him to be off
or he would kick him off ; witness said he would not go for him ;
defendant then rushed at him and hit him ; he witness,
defended himself the best way he could, and a scrimmage
ensued ; was repeatedly kicked by defendant when he was
down. Caroline Milton, servant to Mr. William Blackman, was
sitting with him, Mr. Blackman's children with her; she did
not request him to leave her. Witness rose up when he saw
Mr. Blackman come up to him ; did not take off his coat, to fight
before defendant struck him : did not shape to defendant
before he struck him ; defendant was beating him for five
minutes ; wae down three or four times ; fell down to avoid
blows ; defendant knocked him down once ; Another witness,
however, deposed that " the little man"" (presumed to be the
complainant) struck the first blow, and the Bench remarked
that the case would have been dismissed but for the kicking
part of the affair.
At Goulburn, says Wednesday's Chronicle during the
past few days there have been extraordinary fluctuations in the
weather. On Monday we had oppressive heat, with a parching
wind, followed in the evening by a thunderstorm, and a sudden
depression of temperature. Yesterday, Tuesday, was quite a
winter's dav, the unseasonableness of the weather adding to the
general dullness which just now prevails.
On Sunday morning last, at Goulburn, a lad about ten
years old named Day, was driving in a horse for his father,
when the animal kicked out, and struck the boy on the cheek,
laying it bare to the bone. " He is now under surgical care. One or two other accidents with horses have taken place in the neighbourhood, but without serious results.
From the Wheo District a correspondent of the Goul-
burn Chronicle writes as follows :—No wheat will be sent from
this district for the next six weeks to Goulburn. The harvest is
decidedly a failure. The settlers hereabouts are half and half
graziers and farmers. They cannot get labour. Sheep-shearing
commands all the spare labour. Job hands are not to be had. I
am sure it will be a pleasing feature in my items of correspon-
dence, to say that the pastoral prospects in this district are
healthy. The sheep-walks are all that can delight the eye of the
beholder. Pasturing good. Men to be had : wages £30 to £35 a.
year ; and young men are supplanting the old hands. Vigourous,
active, and attentive to their duties, and encouraged by their
employers to settle themselves and form a homestead, these
young men, immigrants of yesterday, are establishing themselves
—frugal, saving, they are bidding fair to become the future set-
tlers of Australia. The Lachlan is up. Drays cannot pass. Three
days of the past week promised us rain. We were disappointed.
But, unless we are egregiously mistaken, seeing how the wind
was, we hope to be favoured with the receipt of a little. A letter
received this week from the Bland speaks well of the growth of
grass, and of the water-holes being ovorflowingly full. The
settlement of disputed runs is, as I have before informed you. a
matter fruitful of local disputation.
We are happy, says the Braidwood Observer, to be able
to record a benefical change in the weather since last publica-
tion. On Monday afternoon the rain was ushered n by a storm
of thunder and lightning the wind blowing from the southward
and eastward ; there was an occasional fall of small hail mingled
with the rain. The temperature became unusually cool. Towards
midnight the rain abated, but the atmosphere became heavily
clouded yesterday forenoon, and we have every reason to expect
a continuance of showery weather. This rain will be very accept-
able to the diggers, more particularly to those at the Araluan,
where we have been given to understand more rain has fallen
than in Braidwood.
The Braidwood Dispatch of Tuesday last says:—
The most of the settlers in this district are now busy shearing.
Some of them have, however, completed that operation, and they
state that the clip of this year is inferior to the average. This
is perhaps, to be attributed to the scanty pasture of the past
winter, as the want or grass deteriotes the wool both in quantity
and quality, It is to be attributed to the great dryness of last
winter that the deaths were not greater than they are found to be.
Mr. Henry Moreing, a magistrate, in the Braidwood
district-not one of " the new Creation "—has been fined £5 by
the Bench there, for cutting the throats or a sow and five pigs,
that had strayed upon his property. The defendant acknowledged,
the act ; but deposed that the pigs were constantly trespassing
in his cultivation paddock ; and according to a local paper, he
had said, when the ownor, a neighbouring digger named Moffitt,
claimed the pigs, that he was sorry that he had been obliged to
kill them, but that he did so under the impression that they
belonged to a Chinaman ; he further said that he had ordered
them to be killed, In order that the Chinaman might take them
away for food, when he came for them ; witness offered Moffitt a
harrow to take them away with, or a dray, if necessary ; he
believed that he was perfectly right in killing the pigs, under the
idea that they were the property of a Chinaman.
A new look-up has just been completed at Tamworth.
It is said to be a substantial and neatly executed building, but,
like nearly all other similar buildings throughout the interior, is
too small for the requirements of the district.
The Pastoral Times says :—During the last fortnight
millions of grasshoppers, locusts, and other winged insects, have
paid us a visit. They appear to be travelling up the River Ed-
ward. They have committed havoc among some of the vegetables
and a few of the vines. They seem, however, to be gradually dis-
appearing.
lt is said that eighteen or twenty mounted constables
are required for the protection of life and property in the Lower
Macquarie. There are at present only three mounted constables
in thw district, which is three hundred and fifty miles long, and
nine hundred in circumforence.
A late English paper reports an inquest touching the
death of Mrs. Eliza Harriet Perfect, aged fifty-seven years, at her
latr residence, No. 24, Porchester-terrace, Bayswater. The de-
ceased was the wife or Mr. R. Perfect, formerly a member of
Parliament. On the 13th instant she attended a dinner party
given by General Sir Archibald Maclaine, at 69, Great Cumber-
land-place, Hyde-park, and shortly after she had taken her seat
at the dinnor-table she appeared to be attacked with a fainting
fit, and her head droppod on the shoulder of the next lady. She
was removed to a sofa, where she instantly expired. Surprise
and consternation seized all present, and the body oe the deceased
lady was conveyed in her own carrage to her residence as above,
where a post mortem examination, was performed. The medical
man having deposed that death was caused from a diseased heart,
a verdict to that effect was returned.
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