LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. - Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860) - 8 Dec 1849 (original) (raw)

" CHARGE."-In our issue of last week

a paragraph appeared, headed, " Chargo of Mis-

appropriating Public Moneys.** Mr. Armstrong,

the veterinary surgeon, was the accusing party,

and the Commandant of tho Mounted Police tho

accused. Tho latter gentleman has done us tho

honor of handing over to us tho following letter

from tho Colonial Secretary, which puts a dif-

ferent complexion npon tho affair. Prom that it

would seem that Mr. Armstrong's claim to tho

Government Allowanco of Veterinary Surgeon

of tho Mounted Polico is not well founded :

** Colonial Secretary's Office,

" Sir.-I liavo laid beforo tho Governor your

letter of last month, nnd I am to inform you

that tho particulars of your complaint, relativo

to tho claim which you therein advance on tho

department of the Mounted Police, havo already

been lawfully explained and refuted in a letter

from tho commandant of that corps.

" 2. It appears to his Excellency that you

havo no claim on either Major Nicholson or on

tho Government : and after such an evident at-

tempt nt extortion on your part. His Excellency

considers that Major Nicholson acted very pro-

perly in employing another farrier.

" (Signed) E. DEAS THOMSON.

" W. J. Armstrong, Sydney."

WANTED A PARTNER - FOR LIFE - A

SLEEPINO PAUT.vr.n.-Thc following lotter, from

a gentleman settler to his agent in Sydney, may-

be relied upon as authentic, incredible ns it may

appear. But, after all. it is not moro wonderful

than tho ad ctiptandum ads. which so fre-

quently appear in tho London papers :-.' You

will not, 1 beg, bo offended at tho service I so-

licit from you. Asa man of thc world, 1 flatter

myself you are superior to those pctlij prejudices

which the artificial morality of tho world have

created, and nt which you and I only laugh !

But to be serious, I feel a strong inclination to

enter into tho palo of matrimony ¡ and to con-

summate this desirable object, I only experience

ono difficulty-but that is insurmountable-viz.,

thc want of a wife ! To obviate, therefore, this

groat inconvenience I hnvo recourse to you-not

doubting from our old acquaintance, and your

present pnbliu position, that you will experience

? any difficulty during the present depressed stato

of tho labour market in selecting an eligible

person for tho object I ardently wish to carry

out. Thc qualifications I would wish to impress

upon yourattcntionarc :-1st. A young, healthy

person, of pleasing manners and address ; mid,

2nd. As youth is an indispensable condition, her

ago must not cxcoeil seventeen years. In a

business of this nature, I would not bo under-

stood as having any desire to pander to that

basest passion of our common naturo " Lust,"

which Byron says is " Love : but in the selec-

tion of a partner for life, surely youth must bo a

special recommendation; Ord. Country no ob-

ject ; although England indubitably preferred.

.1th. She must bo competent to read and write,

und nlso possess a sufficiency of clothing, ¿-c.,

Ac. But this last clause would bo overlooked,

only provy/fd the object was very young and

handsome; in which case I could instruct her

myself. As I do not expect to bo so fortunato

as to meet with a girl " fair as Hebe," w'th

"eyes of deepest blue," or possessing tho per-

sonal attractions of tho voluptuous " Haidee,-'

" Dudo," or " Zuleika ! " Yet I do depend

upon your taste and discernment in female beauty

to select mo tench a person as you consider, in

point of Intellectual and ;>»jvo>n/ advantages,

would bo likely to alford mo a pleasing wife.

But above nil things-that is, if yon feel dis-

posed to assist me in this important matter-let

her bo a person of pure, unsophisticated morals,

uncontaminated with tho vices of Colonial So-

ciety, with which we, who have seen the world,

aro so well acquainted. For this end, I beg then,

that if you do recommend a. girl at all, let her

be a recent arrival, and ono in every point that

you would yourself have no hesitation in accept-

ing : for in this matter J am willing to submit

entirely to your discretion ! '. Lot her there-

fore bo' a girl of tho ago, or younger, that I havo

stated ; no matter what country, creed, or whe-

ther she be an orphan girl or no."

CROWN SOLICITOR.-Mr. Cooper Turner

is reported to havo resigned his appointment

ns Civil Crown Solicitor, being about to leave

the colony. It is rumoured in the legal circles

that Mr. William Whalcy Billiard, the soi-disant

Judge of North Australia, is to bo appointed to

tho vacant office. We can only say that such an

nppolntmcnt is very Uko a Whale. Tho nows

is a littlo premature.-Mr. Turner lins not at

present vacated the situation which ho has so

long and efficiently held.

COCKNET ToumsTS ix IRELAND.-Tho graphic

writer in Bell's Weekly Messenger, who report-

ed tho doings in Dublin on tho occasion of Her

Majesty's visit, in describing the grand roviow

of 10,000 troops in Pheonix Park, says-'* Then

carno quick time, double quick, chargo of caval-

ry, and charge all atong tho lino, accompanied

by tho " wild hurra" which tho 87th first intro-

duced into tho army, alt of which was done in

silence :"-Now giving a wild hurra on tho

silent system, is an idea worthy of a real bull

making son of tho soil, but how our cockney

friend could so stumblo, wo do not pretend to

MRS, BUSHELLS.-The admirers of this

clover artiste will bo glad to hear of her steady

and successful progress in London. By lately

received papers wo find that sho gavo a grand

concert nt tho Beethoven Rooms, Hnrloy-strcct,

in July last. A numcrousandfashionnbloaudlcnco

attended ; rind Mrs. Bushcllo was assisted by tho

chief vocal and instrumental performers of tho

season. Tho lending journals speak in high

terms of tho whole arrangements.

AN AFFECTING SCENE,-One of the most

heart-rending affairs which has como undor our

notice occurred opposite tho Victoria Theatro,

on Monday night. An unfortunate girl was ob-

served by her parents to emerge from tho upper

circlo boxes, and cntor a cab with tho Captain

of ono of tito " craft," now lying in harbour.

Tho mother rushed to tho cab door, exclaiming

most piteously, " Givo mo my dochtcr, givo mo

my dochtcr." Tho cabman in vain tried to get

tho horscB on, thoro was not a movo in them,

notwithstanding tho very moving scene. Tho

Captain endeavoured to convinco tho matron of

his innocent intentions, but sho was not to bo

persuaded against tho ovidonco of her own eyes,

and ho was compelled to rush from tho cab, and

"cut for dear lifo" into Market-street. Tho

damsel followed his example, but, not with thc

samo result, as sho fell into tho arms of hor

infuriated papa, who was standing by tho Shake

spcro Tavern. Tho wind-up of tho transaction

was, that tho cabman, finding ho had a fair

inside, double-thonged his animals and deposit-

ed tho matronly lady in her tea-caddy of a domi-

APPREHENSION OF AN ESCAPED PRISONER.

-Wo aro glad to seo that Louis Bretton, who

escaped from Darlinghurst Gaol, on tho morning

of tho 24th September last, has been taken :

but tho Sydney Hforning Herald is wrong, in

supposing that Mr. M.'Lorie lind offered a roward

for his apprehension. Bretton never was in his

MR. HYDES' LAST CON.-Why is a

baronet no hotter than his coat? 'Cos it's a

PUBLICANS' LiCENSINO MEETING.-A

meotlng of Magistrates was held nt tho Police

office on Tuesday last, for tho purposo of trans-

ferring and granting licenses to tho various

applicants moutloncd in our Inst issue. Thoro

being a sufficiency of Magistrates in attendance,

tho business of tho day wa» gono through. Tho

only liconscs not granted wero thoso npplled

for hy Mr. Thomas Cottons, Robin Hood,

O'Connell Town, willoh stands over for n fort-

night for consideration, mid Mr. Richard Linell,

Sca-Horso, Kent-street, which was refused on

account of tho houso not hoUig sufficiently largo

AMUSEMENTS OF THE WEEK.-A naval

bespeak at the Victoria on Thursday, and the

drawing of Grocott's Art Union at the Theatre

and Deane's promenade concert at the Royal

Hotel last evening, have dissipated somewhat of

the ennui of which our city pleasure-seekers

have latterly complained. The first affair was

under the patronage of Captain Erskine, Captain

Stokes, and the officers of the Havannah

and Acheron, and went off with great eclat, - the

favorite opera of the Night Dancers having been

selected for the occasion. The drawing of the

Art Union last evening attracted considerable

attention. We must take some blame to ourselves

for having omitted to call attention to the

affair in our last number; but we now do ourselves

the pleasure to refer to Mr. Grocott's very

deserving efforts in the cause of Art. By the

liberality of Mr. Joseph Wyatt, who gave the

use of the Victoria Theatre for the occasion, Mr.

G. was enabled to blend amusement with the

more serious business of drawing the prizes,

and, aided by the operatic company and the efficient

orchestra over which Mr. John Gibbs

so ably presides, he presented a bill of fare which

proved a source of great attraction to the speculators.

In a word, the resources of the sister

Arts were summoned to the aid of Painting, and

they were obedient to the call. Owing to the

lateness of the hour to which the entertainments

extended, we must confine our remarks to the

brief but earnest expression of our hope that

Mr. Grocott's spirited effort may have met with

the reward it so richly deserved. There is but

too generally a paralysing apathy in New South

Wales in all that regards the higher branches of

Art, and it is only by perseverance that a more

generous spirit is to be infused. A slight hitch

occurred in the latter part of the drawing, from

some of the tickets having stuck in the wheel,

but this was subsequently satisfactorily explained.

Mr. Deane's promenade concert at the Royal

Hotel, notwithstanding the counter-attraction at

the Theatre, went off extremely well. The glorious

band of tho Eleventh formed the point

d'appui ; and, by their performance of an

admirable selection of the latest and most

fashionable novelties, afforded ample enjoyment

" NONE so WORSIÎR."-Mr. Selnon

visits his friend Mr. Kilbull Dones on Sunday,

regularly, therefore ho Mr. S. contracts to fhid

liquids, and Mr. B. solids. Mr. S. also guaran-

tees to perform tho houso duty of answering

door calls while tho maid is " taking her pleasure

all so gay on a Sunday out.*' It happened on

tho second instant that Mr. Bones, after shipping

a very extensivo cargo of all sorts, went to sleep,

and Mr. Selnon was wide awake. An appeal

being made to tho tintinnabidum, and tho svnat

having como out remarkably strong (as wo say

¡H thc classics), Mr. S. answered tho call mid

opened tho door. As tho orifice widened ho bo

camo awnro that there .stood before him n female

specimen of tho rising generation, about ton or

eleven years old. " What's yourpleasure, my little

dear," enquired the polite Mr. S. "Please, Mr.

Sir," replied tho interrogated in tho shrill tones

of infancy, Please, Sir, mother says, viii you

send lier a ha'porth of cat's meat ?" " My in-

estimable littlo darling," responded Mr. 3..

boar tho most polito of compliments to your

precious mamma, and tell her that wo have no

cats in cut at present, but that we shall kill late

this evening, nnd-sho eau have any joint sho

likes to-morrow morning, from a foro-claw up to

a whisker." Tho littlo girl departed in tho

greatest delight, and Mr. Selnon bolted tho

door, fancying that the next call might bo from

somo mighty capitalist wanting small change for

A ROUND ROBIN.— The cabmen of

Sydney, including Messrs. Chuck, Gannon,

Maxfield, Snatchem, Snatchbull Scully, and

every body else in the "raw-establishing-line,"

have sent a round-robin petition in to the City

Council, to pray against Mr. Abraham Davis

being allowed to drive his new horse so furiously

past the several cabstands in the metropolis.

As he came up Market-street on Monday, the

animal was doing at least a quarter of a mile an

hour, and Aby (quite oblivious of Mr. Martin's

Act) would have made the animal do more, if

the animal would have let him, but the animal

(being a very good judge of horse flesh) would'nt.

THE SYDNEY COAL-HOLE.-Among ilie

many fracas which take place in this antipodean

metropolis, two-thirds aro engendered by som»

Cupid-can faux pas ; and uover does that en-

venomed bindo of scandal escape making havoc

in ono quarter or tho other where theso littlo

tricks aro neting. It is said that tho purlieus of

Kont-stroct mid Erskinc-streot wero enlivened

somo short time since by the singular discovery

of two of Cupid's votaries courting (whore do

you think ?) in tho coal hole ! Yes ! positively

for once had lovo and poetry ceased to bo sym-

pathetic. No green fields or Elysian bowers

tho purling rivulet-or mossy bank did they

choose, but thc dark and sombro shades of tho

dusty conl-holo ; and there, retreating for somo

peculiar purpose, did tho unhappy spouso of tho

faithless ono make tho rueful discovery. Ah !

unhappy Horn-tuft ! ? I why did you ever unito

thy precious carcass to so frail a piece of mor-

tality. Por my part, I would drown, dclugo, and

exterminate tho faithless ono in brandy, or for

over destino her to the shades of that cool re-

treat, onco tho scono of her warm and ardent

passion. Yes ! condemn her lo spend tho resi-

duo of her cxistonco in tho coal-hole. Black

was tho deed, and black tho punishment

A LUCKY FIND.-The Thistle schooner

on its passage from Newcastle to Sydney,was for-

tunato enough to find a sperm whalo dead, floating

on tho water about midway between tho two

ports. Tho mumal, which is nearly fifty feet

long, was triod down nt tho establishment of

Mr. Hughes, in Barker-stroet. Between two

and tiirco tuns of oil havo been obtained from

TYPOGRAPHICAL SPECIMENS. - Some

kind friend forwarded us a copy of the bill of

Mr. Grocott's Free Concert, in which occur tho

following rather amusing errors :-" Ballad

Tho heart boiled down-Mr. F. Howson," and

" Seena-Sho comes in all her ugliness,-Ma-

tilda of Ilungnry." Theso are only to bc equal-

led by tho " Pas Suet,'" nnd Les Aubcrgo dei

Adrcts " of tho Victoria play bill.

MIMIC WARFARE.-«The usual militarr

doings in tho Domain havo been ngrceably di-

versified of late by tho gun and other field prac-

tico of tho blue-jackets, largo quantities of whom

have landed on ono or two occasions from tho

Jlavannah. and performed a variety of evolu-

tions which tho Sydnoy citizens hnvo hut seldom

an opportunity of witnessing. Wo hear that a

grand field-day. at an carly dato, will givo us aa

opportunity of .comparing tho merits of both

arms of tho scrvico, nnd that tho operations

will include a sham fight between tho seamen

nnd tho troops-tho former enacting tho invad

ing enemy, landing from their vessols, and

nttncklngtho military post defended by tho latter.

llEt-nEsiiiNO NBYVS.--The "Herald's"

Camden correspondent tolls us in his own pecu-

liar, pootlo strain, that "nomoro thunderstorms

havo been cxporioncod in that vicinity since lus

last, but (by way of a chango) tho weather MS

frequently alternated botneon heat and cold,

nnd thoro had been a few showors, tho sky gene-

rally exhibiting a surcharged appearance Inls

dav ii intensely hot." Wo can understand very

readily that nn intensely hot day will produco »

melting moorf, but why it should mano such ft

mixture of tenses is rather boyond tho renell ot

of our weakly intellects. By tho way, this

gentleman nlso rogrot» his innbility to toll any-

thing respecting tho meteorology of tho aayt

surrounding the hailstorm of tho (itl^ovcmbcr.

Tho Iden bf several four-and-twontv hours

danoing round nnd hailing tho storm Ij ratlicr

rich than otherwise. Perhaps, howovor, ho «rm

allow us to suggest that tho otb of Novombcr.

whioh comes (generally sponking) onco a year,

hoforo tho Oth. ls a day on which Guys exhibit

tHomsolvcs sometimos in print ns well as la tn»

FATAL ACCIDENT.-On Thursday e
ins a lsd about fifteen rears of ago, n,
Cream, while] ongaged in attending upon
ttcam-engino in tho Victoria Foundry, Sn
«trect, was drawn into tho shaft of tho cngii
accident, Immodiatoly ho was rescued froi
awful situation Dr, Rutter was sont for ; bu
foro ho reached tho spot, death had cn:
Tho body was tdreadfully mangled, tho bon
both arms being broken in several places ;
tho jaw and somo of tho ribs also fractured,
inquest was hold on tho body yesterday ; n
strange to relate, tho Coroner did not paj
Kutter tho compliment of reqnosting his att
ance to givo evidenco upon tho case. Had
jury been observant of their duty, this cou h

Jiavejoccurrod.

SUCH is FAME.-At a milking yard
a cattle station on Maneroo tho other mon
I was nstonishod at hearing tho following ?
mons to ono of tho calves in tho pen to par
of bis matutinal maternal repast. .* SUCK J
suck Bob Nichols ; suck, suck, suck Bob "

enquiring the reason of such honourable ap
lation being conferred on a six weeks old ii
I received tho following explanation-.' V
you seo sir, there's not such another hangna
íiwyer of a calfon tho run ; ho's up to all s
<if dodges, and so wo call him Hob Nichol
He'd rob every blessed cow in tho yard if E,
jis he could get at cm.-Suck Bob, ye vam
suck. Bob Nichols, suck, suck." And Uob
suck, as if his mother find literally been aa
portitnatc client ; no lawyer could more id
tually or speedily have drained her of her all.

MURDER.-The examination of Thomas
Collins, charged with the murder of Mr. David
Foley, at Pitt Water, was concluded on Thurs-
day, at the police office, and terminated in his
being committed to take his trial for the offence
The evidence, with the exception of that pub-
lished in our issue of last week, was precisely
similar to that previously given against Francis
Poynder. There is at present no direct testi-
mony against either of the accused, although
circumstances tell somewhat against them : but
these. it is almost needless to remark, must be
looked upon with great caution. Mr. G. R.

Nichols is engaged for the defence of Collins,
and Mr. Meredith, the surveyor, has been em-
ployed by Mr. N. to make a survey and plan
the locality in which the murder was committed.

APPOINTMENTS. - His Excellency the
Governor has been pleased to appoint Edmund
Thomas Blacket, Esq.. to be Colonial Architect;
and George Barney, Esq., to be Chief Commis-
sioner of Crown Lands in New South Wales.

TUE MANEROO MAILS.-The altérala
of the postal arrangements in this district, co
fcquont upon the acceptance by tho governme
of tho contract tendered by Mr. Rutledge, w
bo most advantageous to^ho residents in t
moro remoto parts of Maneroo, and especial
tothosoof Panbula and Eden, in consequent
of tho establishment of n weekly mail. Tl
weekly delivery has hitherto extended no furth
than Bómbalo, tho mail-bags being conveyed
that township from Cooma, by Mr. Joseph l,ai
ric, under engagement to Mr. Androw Hudgor
tho present contractor. There exists a goner
feeling throughout tho district ns to tho polit
of retaining Caurio's services, and Mr. Hntlcdj
will not only consult tho inclinations of the res
dents, but will find it tho most economical cours
by acceding to thoir wishes in this partictilar.
Laurio invariably employs first-rate cattle, an
is punctual ns clock-work in his arrivals ; whil
his intimate acquaintance with every mile of th
country renders it peculiarly desirable to retal
him in profererico to engaging a new hand to ucl
form this responsible duty, tho difficulties^!
tendant upon which must naturally, for flk
timo at least, embarrass and retard a stränget?

TRUTH -STRANGER THAN FICTION.
About ftvo months nineo, a female, the wifo of i
nohlier bolonging to tho detachment quarterci
here, accidentally swallowed a needle, but as m
pain or inconvenience was fell at tho time, ni
notico was taken of tho circumstance. Abou
thrco months afterwards, the woman became ¡
mother, her offspring being n. healthy bairn,'
but ono portion of its head presented a singular!]
inflamed appearance, which increased with it:
jrow.b, till a medical gentleman, Dr. Black, wa:
consulted upon tho subject, and ho a few day!
lince, performed an operation upon tho child
and actually extracted from its head tho identi-
cal needlo which had been swallowed by thc
mother five months before. Those who think
tho thread of our story savonrs too much of a
tough yara, havo only to proceed to the barracks,
»hero thoy may so« tho mother, child, and
needle [A friend of ours suggests that thu
child's head must ho tho north " polo," which
accounts for tho needlo pointing to it.]-Mel

>urne Daily News, Nov. 29.

THE FLOODS. Yesterday morning the
vicinity of the Prince's Bridge presented quite a
lively scene, numbers of tho citizens and their
families having resorted thither to see the floods,
which, in consequence of tho late heavy rains,
have been remarkably extensive ; the road way
to the wooden bridge was entirely under water,
and the floods extended over the road way on the
opposite side so far as the eye could reach ; the
top of the building erected upon the cricket
ground was barely discernible ; and hence, it is
hardly necessary to state, that the whole of the
parties residing on tho swamp, and immediately
on tho south bank of the Yarra, had been com-
pelled to quit their habitations, many of them
being glad to escape almost in a state of nudity,
after witnessing tho destruction of their little
properties ; pigs, geese, turkeys, met with watery
graves by dozens, and their owners narrowly
escaped a similar fate. Acting Chief Constablo
Bloomfield, with a detachment of tho police,
proceeded to tho spot yesterday morning, for tho
purpose of rendoriiig what assistance they could
o tho sufferers ; but wo fear thc chanco of their
recovering any of tho property of theso poor
fcoplo, who have beon loft without a bod, is faint
indeed. Daraago to tho amount of sovcral
ihousand pounds has occurred. - Melbourne

Daily News, Nov, 29.