Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-07 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES

The news from this colony is not of great impor-
tance. A trial had been concluded in Sydney after
occupying the Supreme Court for 30 days, and the
case being in litigation for a period of nine years—
a certain convict had many years ago purchased
a property of some 210 acres in extent. This man
died, and a relative of his stepped into the pro-
perty. Some years afterwards another (I,seendent
of the original o,vner commenced a suit of eject-
motif, but the defence set up was that the last
claimant was illegitimate. On this point the
whole of the case by,. as it was allowed bX the
defendant that if such was not the ease, plaintiff
was entitled to the land in question. Some four
or five trials have taken place, and several times
the decision has been reversed, the last verdict
being for the defendant. It is likely that the case
will be carried to the English House of Lords.

The Sydney al orning Herald, in its summary of
the 10th oruobor, supplies us with the following, :
Our last notes were made up on the departure of the
Emeu, September 11th. On the following Sunday the
colony sustained a severe loss, by the death of Mr. George
Robert Nichols whose state of health had, for some time
previously, been very bad. Mr. Nichols was one of the
oldest and ablest of our Australian lawyers, and for many
years prior to his death held the post of City Solicitor.
Three members of the :abinet—Mr. Cowper, Mr. Martin,
and Mr. Jones—have been reelected without opposition,
and there can be no doubt that Mr. Murray will be
returned with similar unanimity on the part of his con-
stituents. The speeches of these gentlemen at the
hustings have been for the most part but, endorsements of
a line of policy to which they and their party have been
already pledge i ; but on the great—perhaps the greatest
—question of the day, the management of public lands,
the project of a new and more comprehensive scheme has
been put forth, on which, as it is easy to foresee, one of
the most severe Parliamentary struggles of the year may
I be looked for.

On the 15th September Sir William Denison embarked
on board JIM S. Iris, for his new government at Norfolk
Island, with all the accompanying honors—military and
civil, which are usual on such occasions. He goes, it is
understood, for the purpose of making such arrangements
as may be neeesiary for the future government of the
interesting colony from Pitcairn Island, which has re-
cently settled at this place. Hitherto they have been
ruled ley their pastor and by a sort of elective magistracy,
and it is proble that the system will be little changed,
although it will be moulded into an accordance with
British institutions. The Iris proceeded at once to
sea, being towed out by the Washington steam tug.
At one o'clock p m., immediately after the departure of the
Governor-General, the three officers appointed by Royal
warrant to administer the Government of the colony
during his absence, were sworn in before Mr. Justice
Dickinson, the Chief Justice having left for Bathurst.
These gentlemen were, the Hon. Col. H K Bloomfield,
the local Commander of the Forces ; the Hon. J. 11. Plun-
kett, Esq., President of the Legislative Council; anal the
Hon. Charles Cowper, Esq., Colonial Secretary and
Premier. The Administration was confided by the war-
rant to the persons who might for the time being hold the
offices held by these three gentlemen, and not to the
office bearers themselves by name, so that any change
of Ministry during the absence of Sir William Denison
might necessitate some change in the Vice-regal Adminis-
tration. At all events, it would create a difficulty. But as
his Excellency's absence will probably be short, this diffi-
culty is scarcely likely to arise. Immediately after their
assumption of office, " their Excellencies," the new Ad-
ministrators, issued the usual proclamation, announcing
their assumption, and commanding obedience on the part
of all her Majesty's subjects. Mr. Cowper has also
assumed the post of Vice-President of the Executive Coun-
cil, but this is in virtue of an appointment by the Governor-
General, prior to his departure.
The ships Palmerston and Orwell, with the 77th Regi-
ment on board, arriTod at Sydney on the 27th September.