The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-13 00:00:00

THE GOLDFIELDS.

We have news from Otago to the 9th of Nov.
We take the following from the Witness
EN ery fresh account from the goldfields affords reason for
renewed confidence in their permanence. Yesterday we saw
one of a party who assured us that in four months he and
his mates have cleared nearly 100 lb. weight of gold at
Tuapeka. A man named George Brown, late from Sandy
Creek, Victoria, cleared to his own share, in eight weeks,
between 5 and 6 lb. weight at Waitahuna. Another Bal-
larat man made 51b. in nine weeks. Several new rushes
are spoken of in the neighbourhood of the present diggings;
in fact, scarcely a week passes by without something of the
kind. A small number of miners are said to be doing well
in the neighbourhood of Tokomairiro.
People at a distance may form some idea of the splendid
nature of the gold discoveries already made, from facts that
admit of no dispute. Last escort brought 19,700 ounces;
and it is known that several thousand ounces were left be-
hind, without reckoning the gold at Waitahuna, which,
owing to the want of a gold-receiving office, has accumu-
lated for some time. It is calculated there are nearly 20,000
oz. at Waitahuna waiting escort and purchase. In Dune-
din about 50,000 oz. have accumulated, which, added to the
amount lately exported, shows that in addition to the total
received by escort, about 20,000 oz, must have come down
by private hands.

ARRIVAL OF KING, THE EXPLORER.

(From the Melbourne Herald of Nov. 26).

John King, the sole survivor of Mr. Burke's Exploration
party from Cooper's Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria, ar-
rived in Melbourne yesterday evening by the train that
reached the Spencer-street station at 6 o'clock. From about
5 o'clock groups of persons anxious to welcome back the
first who had crossed and re-crcssed the Australian conti-
nent began to pour into the station, and its vicinity was so
crowded with cars and spectators that it was impossible to
reach the entrance. The arrival of the train was hailed with
vociferous cheering. The carriage in which King was a
passenger was at once recognised by its being decorated
with flags. Such was the " rush" to see King that it
was some time before the porters could reach the
carriage door, and when they had reached it they ex-
perienced very considerable difficulty in getting
the door opened. Dr. Gilbee, who was accom-
panied by Dr. Macadam, was in attendance with his private
carriage to convey King as quietly as possible to the Royal
Institute, where the Exploration Committee and a nume-
rous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen were in waiting to
see him. Those gentlemen, however, were unable to reach
the carriage; and Dr. Wills, who was fortunately opposite
the door, seeing that it was impossible for the arrangements
to be carried out, immediately conveyed him to an open car
and drove off. Dr. Gillbee and Dr. Macadam, with King's
sister, immediately followed. The cars were then rushed,
and cars, buggies, horses, and pedestrians raced along
Collins-street to William-street, and thence to Government
House. A great many were, of course, disappointed by this
alteration, as it was generally expected that King would
be received by his Excellency and the committee at the
Royal Institute, and therefore drove along the streets
that were likely to facilitate their reaching the
institution before King's arrival. On reaching Go-
vernment House, King was assisted upstairs, for though
he looked very healthy and robust he was scarcely able to
stand. He was taken into the room adjoining the Chief
Secretary's office, where he was shortly afterwards joined
by his sister. Their meeting was, of course, strictly private.
In a few minutes the approaches to Government House,
the lobbies, stairs, 'and landing were impassably crowded,
so that it was necessary for the police to clear a passage for
his Excellency from his own office to that of the Chief
Secretary. His Excellency, accompanied by Capt. Timins,
entered the Chief Secretary's office, and after a short con-
versation with Welch, who accompanied King to
town, went into tke ante-room, accompanied by
Captain Timins, and followed by Dr. Wills, Welch,
and Brahe. When his Excellency entered the room,
King and his sister respectfully stood up, but his
Excellency requested them to be seated, as King was
evidently unable to stand on his feet. His Excellency
cordially shook hands with King, and said, "I congratulate
you heartily on your safe return to Melbourne. Do not
stand up to receive me; you are rather weak. Has your
health recovered ?"

King (faintly)—Yes, sir.
His Excellency—l suppose you were in a very reduced
state when you were at Cooper's Creek with the blacks ?
King—Yes, sir ; very much.
His Excellency (to Miss King)—Where is your brother
going to stay ?
Miss King—He is going to stay with me, your Excel-
lency, at St. Kilda.

His Excellency—l suppose the better way would be to
let him have a few days' perfect quiet.
Miss King—l should like him, your Excellency, to have
a few days' undisturbed rest.

His Excellency—l hole you will at any rate leave his
address with me.

[Dr. Wills wrote down the address and gave it to Captain
Timins.]

His Excellency (to King)—You were in India, I under-
stand ?

King—Yes, sir.
His Excellency—What were you there, may I ask.
King—A soldier, sir.

His Excellency then rose, and again shaking hands with
King said—l wish you good afternoon. lam glad to see
you back. I have no doubt but in a few days' time you
will be sufficiently recovered f.o face all the receptions that
are waiting you.

His Excellency then withdrew, but immediately re-
entered the room and introduced the mayor to King and his
sister.

The Mayor shook hands with King and said, Mr. King
I am glad to welcome you back to the city of Melbourne. I
do so, not only for myself, but also on behalf of the cor •
poration and the inhabitants of this city. The corporation
will take an early opportunity
of linesenting you with an
address congratulating you on your safe return.
His Excellency, the Mayor, and the Town Clerk then
withdrew.

Several gentlemen busied theruvelvea for some time to

obtain a clearance of the passages in order that Kin Might
be conveyed safely to a conveyance provided for him by the
Town Clerk under the instructions of the Mayor, but they
were met with cries for King to appear at the balcony. It
was then stipulated that King should appear at the balcony,
but that he, should not be expected to speak, as he was too
faint to do so, and also that there should be no cheering to
disturb him. With this arrangement the crowd at once
complied, so far as to leave the passages. King, accom-
panied by his sister, was then assisted on to the balcony over
the portico by Dr. Macadam and Mr. Selwyn. He remained
only for a few minutes, during which time he was vocifer-
ously cheered by the crowd. King was then assisted down
stairs, and handed by his s'stcr and Dr. Macadam into Sir W
Don's carriage, which was kindly given up by the baronet
for his accommodation. Accompanied by the Mayer and
the Town Clerk, King and his sister were then driven off
to a friend's house in St. Kilda amidst reiterated cheers.
It was expected that he would have been conveyed in the
first place from Government House to the Royal Institute
to meet the Exploration Committee, and a party of police
were in attendance at the building to keep b • ck any crowd
that might assemble. He was, however, too much fatigued
by the joiriney and overcome by his reception at Govern-
ment House to be able to bear further excitement. The
Mayor, on returning to town, called on Dr. Eades, and
requested him to visit King at St. Kilda. Dr. Dades at
once complied with the request. He reports that King's
state of health is such that he must be kept in the greatest
possible quiet for several days. He will not therefore be at
the meeting of the Exploration Committee to-day.

KING LIVES.
Sole remnant of that martyr-band,
Burke, Wills, thyself, and Gray,
That pierc'd the darkness of our land,
And brought to light of day,
Knowledge whose power the world shall prize
Thousands of years away.
Partner in all thy leader's toil,
The march, the hunger, and the moil,
I think with bated breath
How thou, 0 King in more than name I
Sharing the lustre of their fame,
Had all but shared their death.

Recipient of the parting sigh
That told the end of Burke,
And seemed to shadow thine own as nigh,
Thoud'st soul for Christian work,
And heart too true to spare a chink
For thought of self to lurk.
Dauntless in all thine agony,
Sad—turning from the dead
Heedless of what may come to thee
Thou seek'st poor Wills's bed;
For him thine hands may yet find food,
And pillow to rest his head.
Too late I Past all pale whites can woo,
Past touching tribute of Nardoo
Barbarian (?) blacks would bring—
I mark thee lone by the lonely grave,
Starving, thou dug for Wills the bravo,
And say—" God bless thee," King I I
Nov. 23. SAMUEL JAMES.

2HE TUSCARORA AND TILE NASH-

I- ILLS.

SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY.
Matters remain, to adopt legal phraseology, in
statu quo, as far as relates to the actual positions
and probable future movements of the antagonistic
steamers. The Tuscarora still lies quietly at her
moorings, and the Nashville remains as quietly
berthed in the tidal dock, neither of them, as far
as outward appearances are concerned, manifesting
the slightest indication of an intention to change
quarters. During Friday night some more watchers
were found in the docks and summarily ejected from
the premises. A boat's crew from the Tuscarora
pulied into the outer dock at an early hour on Satur-
day morning, but no one landed, and the boat re-
turned to the ship.

Yesterday (Saturday) Captain Patey, R.N., the
Admiralty Superintendent at this port, paid an
official visit to the Tuscarora, according to instruc-
tions from head-quarters, to inform Captain Craven
that, in case the Nashville should leave the port,
the Tuscarora would not be allowed to follow within
24 hours, and vice versa. The Government were
determined to preserve strict neutrality by en-
forcing this maritime international law, and had
taken the necessary measures to enforce it in case
an infraction should be attempted by either party.
The interview between Captain Patey and Captain
Craven is understood to have been of a very friendly
character, and the latter officer expressed his desire
and intention to do nothing contrary to British
law while his vessel was in British waters.
A similar intimation to the above has been given
to Captain Pegrim, of the Nashville.

It is stated that the Dauntless frigate is under
orders to get ready for sea immediately, in case her
services should be required by any " difficulty"
arising out of these transactions, and a crew for her
is coming from Portsmouth; and, also, that five
gunboats are to be stationed in our waters.

SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY MORNING.

At daylight this morning the Tuscarora was dis-
covered to have left her moorings during the night,
and has gone down the river; nobody here at pre-
sent knows where.

The Assistant-Secretary of the American Lega-
tion in London was down here yesterday afternoon,
and went on board the Tuscarora.

The Nashville has her steam up in dock (10.30
a.m.)

THE CLE.RNY AND MARRIAGR WITH
A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

A respectable labourer, residing at Whaplode, has
been threatened with pains and penalties for con.
tracting a marriage with the sister of his deceased
wife, who, in accordance with the laws of nature,
and not in antagonism to Divine law, is the most
likely to prove an affectionate stepmother to her
sister's children. The following letter to Mr.
William Hunt has obtained publicity in the parish
of Whaplode, and has given rise to much commen-
tary. It must be noted that the registrar-general
is not a lawyer, and that it has yet to be proved
that his construction of the law will receive the
sanction of the judicial bench :
" Whaplode, Dec.lo, 1861.
"Mr. William Hunt,—Sir,—On hearing of your
so-called ' marriage' with Sarah Taylor, the sister
of your deceased wife, which took place at Hol-
beach one day last week, I communicated the fact
to the Registrar-General of Births, Dalths, and
Marriages in London, and I have received his reply,
of which I send you a copy :
" General Register Office, Dec. 9.
" ' Reverend Sir,—l am directed by the Registrar
General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,
and to inform you that the so-called marriage of
William Hunt with his deceased wife's sister is un-
doubtedly an illegal act, and the party who sub-
scribed the declaration that there was no impedi-
ment of kindred or alliance, or other lawful hindrance
to the said marriage, has incurred the penalties of
perjury, and may be proceeded against by any
person, &c.—l am, rev, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) " E. EDWARDS, pro Chief Clerk.'
" By this you will perceive that you have not
only committed an illegal act, and that the mar-
riage is no marriage at all, but you have rendered
yourself liable to be prosecuted for the crime of false
swearing or perjury, the punishment of which is
imprisonment for two years. You must now be
aware that any child or children born of Sarah
Taylor by you, are illegitimate, and that you can
leave your so-called wife any time, and contract any
other marriage you think fit; consequently, to pre-
vent any further mischief, I shall immediately in-
struct my attorney to prosecute you for wilful and
corrupt perjury, unless you at once give up the ille-
gal course upon which you have entered.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN FAIRFAX FRANCKLIN,
Vicar of Whaplode, &c.
" To Mr. William Hunt, Whaplode."
We are informed that William Hunt is fully pre-
pared to defend his position when required to do so.
Will the Clnistian minister who could pen the
above letter be prepared to defend his own position
as prosecutor P Credat trudceus pella !—Stamford
Mercury, Jan. 3.

A BRISTOL SHIP RUNNING THE AMERICAN
BLOCKADE.—We were told some days ago, on the authority
of a letter from the United States, that a vessel belonging
to Bristol had succeeded in running the blockade, and
although her name was at that time a secret, we are now in
a position to state that he is the brig Robert Bruce, Cap-
tain Muir ; that she is looked for at this port in about a
week; and she brings a cargo of spirits of turpentine, which
is of course of great value at the present time, and will yield
good fruit to her owner. The brigantine Napier, Creighton,
commander, which has arrived at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
and which ran the blockade with her, gives particulars,
from which we gather that they escaped from the harbour
at Wilmington, and that "without molestation." Captain,
Creighton states that he saw a Federal war vessel off the
inlet, but none off the bar, so that the " running" was com-
paratively easy work,—.Drista Norcury.