before he can retire on a pension (his only chance otherwise being from infirmity of mind or body), and after all lose it, although he shall have paid 5 per cent. of his income as insurance, It is said that some declare, under such circumstances, they will decline to allow this reduction from their pay, the option of which, it is to be hoped, rests with themselves.

His Excellency the Governor, is pleased to announce, with reference to the minute of 1st February last, that the Right Honorable the Secretary of State has directed that the time within which the officers of the civil service of this Colony must divest themselves of their land, be extended to two years instead of one, and the time within which they must declare their option to one year, from the date of the above-mentioned minute.

By his Excellency's command, P. E. WODEHOUSE, Acting Colonial Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, July 10, 1845.

CHINA.

The latest China papers are of the 12th June. They contain no very stirring news. The import trade scems tolerably brisk, but little is doing in exports for want of shipping. The Governor of Hong-Kong had issued an ordinance, establishing a tax on houses and land for the maintenance of the police of the settlement, retaining for himself and his successors the power of fixing the rate, appointing assessors, and disposing of the money without reference to the inhabitants. The editor of the Friend of China has had to maintain the liberty of the press against Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, who indicted him for libel, for that he had been too free in his remarks on the alleged parsimony of his Excellency in bestowing only 100 dollars on the commander and crew of the trading schooner Vixen, who had rendered very important service to Her Majesty's schooner Wolf when she was aground. The editor was acquitted.

The weather just now is very hot; ut little sickness I am happy to say

prevails. We had a grand parade on the evening of the 24th May, followed up by a ball and supper, in honour of Her Majesty's birth-day; the troops in line, the Royal Artillery on the right, 18th Royal Irish Regiment, 42d Regimeni Madras N. I., and China Gun Lascars, on the left; the shipping in the harbour were gaily decorated, and every thing went off pleasantly; but I regret to say the gaieties of the day ended otherwise. About nine o'clock p.m., a fire broke out near the water's edge, and adjacent to an immense pile of buildings in the course of erection, and spread with fearful rapidity; a market, built upon piles, was burnt to the ground, and several Chinamen who resided there lost their little all. Were it not for the meritorious exertions of the troops and seamen, the conflagration must have spread, and doubtless would have been attended with the most dis

astrous consequences. A very handsome order was issued by Brigadier Chesney, Royal Artillery, Commandant of the station, (the general is still at Chusan)-which, but for its length, I would transcribe. In returning thanks to all for their gallant conduct on the occasion the brigadier observes, "Had it not been for their (the seamen's) kind assistance, there is reason to fear the unremitting and arduous exertions of the troops, which were continued with unflagging energy for six hours, would scarcely have been sufficient, notwithstanding many acts of individual daring, to check the progress of the flames."

Of late the harbour has been visited

by a good many junks from Chin-Chew and other places on the coast. A gentleman, who boarded one of them a few days ago, informs us that she is loaded with camphor, and that there are about half a dozen more now at anchor in the harbour with similar cargoes. Compared with the trade of China, the arrival of a few vessels with camphor is a trifling affair; but we look upon it as the commencement of

will gradually give them confidence ; and we may reasonably anticipate that ere long, we will have abundance of them in this harbour, bartering their cargoes of camphor, rhubarb, &c., for cotton goods and Straits' produce. At present the sales are so trifling, that it is not customary even to store Straits' produce here; but an evident demand for these articles, and the prospect of a future trade in them, will soon influence a supply.

We are also pleased to hear that a good many of the Parsee merchants will very shortly take up their abode on the island, adding to its prosperity, and, we think, affording them better facilities for correspondence, and conducting that part of their business which is done out of Canton, than they now have at Macao. Altogether, the prospects of the colony are encouraging, provided our respected rulers will for a time only refrain from ordinance making and taxation, which, though they afford amusement to them, are death to us. - Friend of China, June, 4.

AUSTRALASIA.

NEW SOUTH WALES.-Our dates from Sydney are to the 11th May, and from Melbourne to the 12th April. We make a few extracts from the papers, which are, however, rather barren.

Colonial Exports-By the ships which leave the port for London to-day, produce worth £100,000 in the colony, and at least £150,000 in England, will be exported. The "General Hewitt takes by far the most valuable cargo that ever left the port, the principal items being four hundred tons of sperm oil, which is now worth £90 a ton in London, sixteen hundred and fifty bales of wool, one hundred tons tallow, and two thousand four hundred hides. The "Palestine" takes fifteen hundred and thirty-five bales wool, sixty tons of tallow, and four hundred and sixty hides. The "Autumnus" takes home thirteen hundred bales wool, thirty-six tons tallow, and five hundred eighty hides. Previous to these vessels, there have been exported this month, by the "Herald," two thousand five hundred

and fifty bales of wool, one hundred tons of tallow, eighteen hundred hides, and one hundred and nine tons black oil. By the "Bright Planet" there were exported one hundred and nine tons sperm oil, and four hundred and seventy hides. The English value of the exports to London for the month of April cannot be less than £200,000.-Sydney Herald, April 26.

Appointments.-His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint the following gentlemen to be magistrates of the territory and its dependencies, viz. Thomas Baynton, of Darlington, Mount Macedon; Donald Cameron, of Deep Creek, Loddon River; David Norman Innes, of Goulburn River; Alexander M'Cullum, of Mount Greenock; Robert Thomson, of Clyde Bank, Gipps Land; and Evelyn Pitfield Shirley Sturt, of Mount Gambier Esqs.; all of the district of Port Phillip.

Sundries.-There are, at present, one hundred and four coaches, carriages, &c., licensed and plying for hire, in Sydney. The total number of carts and drays which have been licensed to ply within the district of Sydney, since the Act for licensing them came into operation, is one hundred and ninetyfour. There have been twenty-nine licences issued to porters to ply within the city of Sydney, under the same act as the dray licences have been granted. The total number of slaughter-house licences granted in Sydney for the current year, is fifteen. There have been only one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four dog licences taken out from the Sydney Police Office this year; the total number of dogs, in the district is estimated at upwards of four thousand. Within the limits of the Building Act, which does not include even half the ground on which Sydney stands, there are at present forty-eight new buildings in progress. Besides which, there are twelve buildings at present undergoing alterations or receiving additions; independently of these there are about as many more within the electoral boundaries of the city in progress of erection or altering, and fully as many more erecting within the Sydney district, but beyond the limits of the city, which gives a grand total in round

numbers of one hundred and forty-four new buildings in progress, and thirtysix edifices either altering or receiving additions within the city and district of Sydney. The total number of Water. man's licenses issued for Port Jackson is two hundred and forty-five, of these one hundred and one are at present being plied with at the following wharfs, viz.: Market Wharf, 7; Commercial Wharf, 22; Miller's Point, 8; Windmill Street Wharf, 6; the Queen's New Wharf, 27; Dawes' Point, 13; Circular Quay, 18.-From the 1st January last, up to the end of April, last, one thousand three hundred and seventy-four seamen have been discharged at the Water Police Office, which is nearly the same as the number of seamen who have been engagǝd during the same period and at the same place. During the current year, about one hundred persons have paid fees at the Colonial Treasury, for licenses to act as auctioners within the Colony of New South Wales.-The total number of publican's licenses taken out for 1844 and 1845 has been five hundred and forty-seven; besides which, twentyone confectioners' licenses, for the sale of ginger beer, lemonade, &c., have been granted, together with thirtythree licenses for the sale of wine and beer only.

Port Fairy.-We learn from Mr. J. Dawson's advertisement, that the boiling down process is carried on with spirit and success at his establishment. His advertisement gives the weight only of the average of each separate beast of each lot; but the gross amount stands thus:

From February 12 to April 9.
CATTLE.

Thus we find from Dawson's advertisement of to-day, that 317 head of cattle yielded 68,518 lbs. of tallow, and 15,933 lbs, of beef, free from bone, and these not picked cattle; and that 1616 sheep produced 42,125 lbs. of tallow, and that 360 good mutton hams were saved at the same time. Here is a good remittance in tallow from a private estate, at an out-port, worth in London £2426; besides the beef and mutton hams, worth at least---the beef at 11d. per lb., £120; and the mutton hams at 1s. each, cured £18, or in all £2564. SOUTH AUSTRALIA.- Abstract Return of Imports and Exports at Port Adelaide, for the Third Quarter of 1844, viz., from July 1 to Oct. 10.

lbs.

49 head of cattle, average 186 lbs. of tallow each

231 head of cattle, average 212 lbs. of tallow each

Total imports

49,972

Imports re-exported

£119,648 18 3 12,988 0 10

May, from which we extract the most generally interesting items.

Reaping Machines.We understand that Mr. Govett has at length succeeded in perfecting a machine, by which, with the assistance of two horses, he can reap twenty acres per day. It consists of series of knives, and may be set to cut grain at any distance from the ground.--Launceston Examiner.

Water.-Major Cotton has recommended a plan by which water may be easily brought into Launceston. He proposes to construct a dike of solid masonary, about nine feet high, across the South Esk, at the upper cataract, and convey the water from that spot in pipes. The level will be as high as the vane of St. John's Church.

Emigration.-A disposition to emigrate to Adelaide is still prevalent amongst the labouring classes. The vessels laid on for South Australia, will convey fifty or sixty passengers from this port, who have been induced to leave by promises of constant and remunerative employment.

Norfolk Island.-We understand that Fielding Browne, Esq., Barrister-atLaw, as been appointed as Judge to 'Norfolk Island.

NEW ZEALAND. We have intelligence from this Colony, via Hobart Town to the 13th April, by the "Sir John Franklin" which arrived there on the 8th May, after a tedious passage of twenty-five days.

No fresh battle had occurred, but several murders of the whites had been perpetrated. John Heki was said to be in full march for Auckland, but some native chief, who claims Auckland as his private property, had announced his intention of taking up arms in defence of his dominions, and checking the progress of Heki. The inhabitants of Auckland, however, continue to exist in hourly dread of an attack. Early one morning the town was alarmed by report of musketry. The women and children were hurried into the church, and the military called out, but it turned out that the firing was occasioned by the death of a chieftain's wife, and, according to the practice of the natives, they were firing off guns to frighten

VOL. VI. NO. 22. OCTOBER,

away the evil spirit. The "North Star," and the schooner " Velocity," with 200 of the 58th Regiment, had arrived. The "Velocity" had been sent to Port Nicholson with troops.

H.M.S. "Dædalus," reported as bound for New Zealand, had not ar rived when the "Sir John Franklin" left. The "North Star" was at Auck. land, the only vessel there. The "Terror," schooner, was to sail for Sydney the same day the "Sir John Franklin" left. It is asserted that all the customs' duties are put on again at Auckland.

The "Hazard" had sailed for the Bay of Islands to blockade the port.

The "St. Louis," U. S. frigate, had taken from a small vessel of about twenty-five tons some gunpowder, to prevent its falling into the hands of the natives.

Captain Robertson, of the "Hazard," had nearly recovered; all the musket balls had been extracted, but one lodged in the groin.

A civic gift of a sword was to be presented to Captain Robertson, with an address expressive of the gratitude and admiration of the Colonists for his gallant conduct at the Bay.

The number of natives killed at the affray at Kororarika is reported by Missionary Williams to be eighty killed, and fifty-four severely wounded.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor arrived at Colesberg of the evening of 12th June, and was to return to Graham's Town on the 17th. It is rumoured that the state of things in Cafferland calls for interference.

Henry Murray, Esq., an old Scottish Cape merchant, who left the Colony twenty years ago, has made a bequest of a sum of £5,000 to the S. A. College, and £3,000 to the Orphan House, Cape Town. The former amount is left expressly to form a fund for the free admission of the sons of the less affluent portion of the Colonists, "the sons and descendants of the old Dutch settlers to have a preference." What a fund of kindly feelings, long

T

treasured up, are expressed in these words,-equally creditable to the old Dutch Colonists and their old friend.

In connexion with Frontier affairs, the following very satisfactory statement respecting the business done between the two ends of the Colony by the steamer "Phoenix," has been furnished by authority :

Average amount received by freight and passengers:

June 1843 to June 1844 £527
July 1844 to Jan. 1845
Jan. 1845 to April.

April

578 756 892

to 9th June, These progressive averages indicate a progressive trade, and consequently progressive wealth throughout the whole Colony.

The total amount received by the "Phoenix" from 30th January, 1843, to 9th June, 1845, was £20,588 5s. 4d.

Roads and Bridges.-Notice has just been given that bridges have been erected and completed over the Eerste River, the Louren's River, and the Bot River, in the Division of Stellenbosch, and that these three bridges will be opened to the public for general traffic from the 1st July next.

These three bridges are in the line of the Great Central Road which connects Cape Town and Table Bay with Swellendam and Port Beaufort; George and Mossel Bay; Uitenhage and Algoa Bay; and Graham's Town and Port Francis, and the Eastern Frontier generally. They come next to the great, happily-conceived, and now nearly-completed road across the Cape Downs-an undertaking that reflects equal honour on the Government, the Central Board of Commissioners of Public Roads, and the Civil Engineer, Michell, whose whose genius is now impressed in lasting characters on rock and plain, on cliff and ravine.

It will be seen from our weekly report of the shipping trade, that a cargo of wheat has been imported from Adelaide, South Australia. This wheat is of a superior quality, much resembling that of this colony, is of good weight, and has been sold at twenty-four shillings sterling per muid, of 180 lbs.

Dutch. We are informed that the harvest in that colony has been superabundant, and that further importations from the same quarter may be daily expected.-Cape Shipping Gaz., July

11th.

St. Helena Coffee.-We are glad to find that some of the landed proprietors of St. Helena are about turning their attention to the cultivation of Coffee, which has been found to answer exLast ceedingly well on that island. year Mr. G. W. Alexander shipped from thence to London, about five cwt. of this Coffee, which we understand realised one penny per lb. more than any other description. At our request, Mr. Thalwitzer of this town, who is acknowledged to be a competent judge, kindly undertook to examine and report on its quality; and we now beg to refer our readers to his favourable opinion thereof. It is said that this berry could be cultivated there to a very considerable extent.

To the Editor of the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.

SIR,-It gives me much pleasure to offer my humble opinion on a sample of Coffee, which you sent me as the growth of the Island of St. Helena.

The beans I beg to observe, ought to have been reaped, when a little riper and more cleared of the fine skin or inner husk, which now prevents their showing that clear greenish color so much liked in the market. When roasted, a riper bean, will also swell more, and produce a better aroma. As regards the taste and flavor of this sample, I find the same very superior to any Coffee of the Brazils, Domingo, Surinam, or La Guayra, and most approaching to Mocha. The oleous taste, now found in the same in a very slight degree, would be totally removed by suffering the beans to become riper and by cleaning them more carefully.

The prospect that St. Helena may soon export such a commodity, for which this colony would offer a ready demand, is so interesting, that I have forwarded part of the sample to my friends in Hamburgh, for their opinion