The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-25 00:00:00

11.AIL1 'AYS FOR AUSTILILIA.

DEPUTATION TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
Yesterday a deputation of gentlemen interested in
railway communication between Sydney and Melbourne
waited upon the Duke o[ Newcastle at his official residence
in Dowsing street.

The deputation consist:a of Mr. John Macgregor, M.P.,
Mr. Pigott, M.P., Mr. P. Grant, member of the Legislative
Council of New South Wales, Mr. Thomas Chandler, Mr.
George F. Young, Mr. J. F. Harrison, Mr. William Ash-
ton, Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, Mr. Gcorgc L. Fuller, Mr.
Henry Roberaton, Mr. Richard Duncan, Mr. E. N. Plow-
right, Mr. John Kent, &c.

Mr. MAcn REGOR said the deputation wished to submit
for the consideration of her Majesty's government the out-
line of a project for constructing a great trunk line of rail.
way from Sydney to Melbourne. It might be regarded
as the London and Liverpool of Australia.

Mr. DREDGE and Mr. Bt:LL, the engineers, explained
that the proposed railway would pass through the great
gold fields of the southern district, and near to that of
Mount Alexander. It would also pass through or near all
the principal towns and stations between Sydney and Mel-
bourne, and, in a geographical point of view, would give a
seaboard to the valleys of the Lachlan Yeas Murrumbedger
and Murray. The total distance would be 500 miles, and
of this about 2•io miles would be on a deed level. Owing
to the favourable nature of the country, and the abundance
of materials at hand, the line could he constructed for
3,000/. per mile, which was more than the average cast of
the railways in the United States, on the principle of which
it was to be constructed.

Mr. P. GRANT said that Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-
General of New South Wales, had carefully esaminid the
maps of the proposed line, and had esprened his satisfac-
tion at and approval of the undertakingoshich he regarded
as one of essential importance to the welfare and ads ance-
ment of the colony.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE inquired what was the esti-
mated centime of the line ?

The ENGINEER said that the capital proposed to be raised
was 1,090,0001.

The Duke of Nan-cams—Do you know anything of
the line to Goulburn ?

The ENGINEER said there was a line from Sydney to
Goulburn in course of formation, and of which a few miles
had been made. The Sydney and Melbourne Company in-
tended to take powers to buy that lino or work over it ; but
their line would not oppose it.

Mr. PLownto lir and other gentlemen having addressed
the noble duke,

The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that he need not explain
to Mr. Macgregor, with whom he had repeated interviews
on colonial subjects, that on a subject of this description the
Secretary of State for the Colonies must really suspend
anything more than a general opinion of its importance, of
which, however, in this case, there seemed to be no
doubt. Any question relating to public works, such,
for instance, as the proposed railway, must be taken up in
the first instance by the colony, which should decide
on what plan to proceed. It would not do for the Secretary
of State to take the initiative in such matters : he could only
give a private opinion, because he could not say, not
knowing anything of localities or of the feeling of the
people, whether the proposed line would be the best that
could be devised to meet the requirements of the districts.
A line might look admirable upon paper, but he could not
tell whether there might not be others which might be
better for the colony. On some occasions it was also known
that there were jealousies between rival towns, and any
overtures for putting them in direct communication with
each other might not be at first as much appreciated as it
would be certain to be in the course of time. Under these
circumstances he could not be expected t 3 express any
official opinion upon the undertaking as explained by the
deputation, until it was fairly introduced to the proper
authorities at Sydney and Melbourne.
Mr. Mucci zoos said that the deputation did net expect
the noble duke to say more on the subject. Would the
noble duke have the kindness to forward the plans to the
colonial authorities at Sydney and Melbourne
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he would do so with plea-
sure, sad that he would also forward any statement the de-
putation might like to make in writing.

The deputation then thanked the noble duke for hie
courtesy, and withdrew.

DEATHS AT MIDDLESEX HOUSE OF CORRECTION
—Yesterday Mr. Wakley held an inquiry at the House o•
Correction, Coldbath-fields, touching the deat°e of Henry
Liouyo, aged 55, formerly overseer of the extensive printing
establishment known as Beaufort House, Strand, and John
Thomas, aged 45, both prisoners under sentence from the
Old Bailey.—The Coroner remarked that eight or ten years
ago it war ascertained, by means of an inquiry like the
present, that the prisoners' filet was insufficient, and that it
did not consist of the materials of which it should chemi-
cally consist in order to preserve health. The matter came
under the notice of the visiting magistrates, and able medi-
cal men were examined. The diet was changed, and since
that time the health of the inmates had been extraordinary.
Out of between 1,300 and 1,400 prisoners, there had not
been twelve deaths during the year, a circumstance which
war in the highest degree creditable to the establishment.
Evidence was then given showing that the deceased had
both died from natural causes, and that they had received
the kindest possible treatment. Verdicts to that effect were
therefore returned.

BURNING OF ANOTHER STEAM AND WIND MILL
AT Livansuot..—On Wednesday evening a fire broke out
in Medan. Rawithorne's steam and wind mill, Limekiln-
lane, Liverpool. The fire rapidly progressed from floor to
floor, until it burst out at the top, and roared with all the
fury of a Gunton. It continued to rage fiercely for three
hours, when the mill tails and a portion of the machinery
attached fell upon an adjoining cottage with a terrific crash,
completely destroying it, and such was the force of the
concussion, that the tall shook the ground. Fortunately no
one was hurt at the time. Two millers had a very nurser
escape for their lives. There were altogether about twenty
men employed upon the premises, and at the time the tire
broke out the two named were at work in the storeroom at
the top of the windmill. Theircompanions appear to have
been so alarmed, that they forgot to communicate to them
what had occurred, and the poor fellows only found out
what a frightful situation they were in by the immense
muses of smoke which came up the trapdoors and stair..
cases. In making their escape they were met by a great
body of flame from the steam-mill, hut fortunately there
was another staircase leading to the ground, by means of
which they 'secured their safety. A few minutes more and
they must have been either suffocated or burned to death.
The windmill had just been newly renovated at n cost of
1,0001. The machinery drove nine train of grinding-
stones. The loss, including stock, dm, is estimated at
9,0001., audit is doubtful whether the premises were intend.
RAILWAYS IN HEREFORDSHIRE.—The opening of
the Shrewsbury and Hereford, Hereford, Ross, and Glou-
cester, and Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Rail-
ways, on the Gth of December, is to be observed at
Hereford and the principal places in the district as a general
holiday.