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

THE GOLDFIELDS.

CHINA.
The following is from the Hong-Kong Overland
China Mail, Nov. 30:—
" A coup detat has just been made at Pekin
by the party that Prince Kung represents, and it
has resulted in the entire overthrow of the Council
of Regency nominated by the late Emperor. The
exclusion of the Prince of Kung from that Council
was the subject of general remark at the time,
and the well-known anti-foreign tendencies of
certain members of the new Council gave rise to
considerable anxiety. The Council now dissolved
consisted of eight individuals, five of whom have
been sentenced to banishment, one has been be-
headed, and two have been allowed to commit
suicide in prison. The prime movers in this coup
d'etat appear to have been the young Emperor's
mother and the Prince of Kung ; but very ample
reasons are adduced for the adoption of a measure
so bold and decisive. The charges preferred
against the members of the late Council, and. in-
vestigated by a special court at P( kin, were vat i-
ous and striking; among others we hear of the
following :—Tampering with the late Emperor's
dying manifests es—perverting the declarations of
the successor to the throne—excessive and unrea-
sonable assuraptim of power and authority_
defiance of the young Emperor and the Empresses
of the deceased monarch—maladministration of sisTtehre affairs last year, especially in connection Mayor shook hands with King and said, Mr; King
with lam glad to welcome you back to the city of Methourne. I
foreign countries—advising the treachery practised do so, not only for myself, but also OR behalf of the cor
upon the foreigners last year, which led to the poration and the inhabitants of this city. The corporation
will take an early opportunity of prepenting you with an
sacking of the Summer Palace—withholding from
addressEcongratulating you on your safe return.
the late Emperor information about the successful
cellency, the Mayor, and the Town Clerk then
treaty ratified at the metrepolis, and frightening willidisrewx
him with fabuious and alarming /stories. The Re- Several gentlemen busied themselves for some time to

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 Lack. I have no doubt but in a few days' time you
will be sufficiently recovered to race all the receptions that
are waiting you.

llis
Excellency then withdrew, but immediately re-
Altered the room and introdueod the Mayor to King and his

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 trainwas 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
ho 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 the 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, atSt. 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—I hole you will at any rate leave his
address with me.
[Dr. Wills wrote down the address and gave it to Captain
Timins.l