The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-08 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The following is an extract from a letter addressed to
Wm. Rendell, of Linkinhorne, near Liskeard, by his
father, who emigrated with his family to South Australia
some years since, and is settled near Adelaide.
Rendell, it appears, had written to ask his father if
there was any truth in the idle stories about the natives,
&c., which the wiseacres at home terrify each other by
fabricating. The letter bears date " Mount Barker,
Adelaide, June 21, 1846."—" I am rather surprised at
your abandoning the idea of coming out to make one of
us ; I trust you will alter your mind—as fur the blacks
committing such acts of murder it is all false, you have
a great deal more to fear from the white people than
them, believe me I would not wish you to come out un-
less it would be for your benefit. As for Australia, we
could feed all the poor in England by their only work-
ing thr, e days a week. We want nothing from hng!and.
We have gold, silver, copper, and iron mines in abun-
dance ; miners now got 3/. per week. Now I must tell
you how I get on myself. I have two sections of land
160 acres ; I have just finished ploughing ; I have 100
acres of wheat, and shall plant about four acres of pota-
toes. I have twelve working bullocks ; two horses
worth about 20/. each ; cows, heifers, pigs, &c., in fact
every comfort, and I only wish you were here to enjoy
it with us, which I sincerely hope will not be long first
—it is no use, you must come, for I want the boy to
drive the bullocks." " Wm. Tonkin has a farm to him-
self of forty acres, and six good working oxen."
" Joseph Bull has a section of $0 acres and six working
bullocks ; in tact they are all doing well, if they do not
it is their own faults. 1)o not think I want you to come
out to go mining, fur I can put you in a farm, that
the remainder of your life you may live in more ease
and comfort. Your mother is looking as young as ever,
but plenty of work tending the pigs, cows, and
poultry. I could give ou four or five pigs, and not
know they were gone, we have got so many : we have
about 45, two I should think weighing about 8001bs.; we
have been killing one every week. Win. Tonkin has
had this year about 400 bushels of wheat, and will hava
more next year. The rain is coming down beautifully
as I write this."

This be it rernemberel is th• letter of a working man
to his own son—a man who left home without money,
and realised property and attendant cumforts in a colony
blessed with a fertile soil and salubrious climate, and
where there are thousands of acres waiting to be made
productive by the labours of industrious Englishmen,
who have the moral courage to adopt a step which will
raise them and their families to a situation of comfort,
and perhaps affluence, to which it is impossible they can
attain here.—Devonport Telegraph.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW.
A general meeting of the above society took place on
Wednesday evening at eight o'clock; the Earl of Devon
in the chair.

On the motion that the report as to the masters' offices
be received,

Mr. STUART moved, " That much of the delay and
expense which now arise in the progress of a suit in
Chancery is to be traced to the present practice of bring.
ing the suit in the first instance before a judge, who
refers either the whole or part of the matter in dispute,
or involved in the suit, to the master to be inquired into,
which matters the master reports on, and these are
again brought before the court. That it deserves con-
sideration, whether in many suits, the whole of the
matters in dispute between the parties, or involved in the
suit, might not be disposed of by the judge, sitting in
court or in chambers, as might best suit the circum-
stances of the case. That it further deserves con-
sideration, wheth*r in many cases the whole matters in
dispute between the parties, or involved in the suit,
might not be satisfactorily disposed of by the master
without any reference to the judge. That it further
deserves consideration, whether the business of the
Court of Chancery might not be distributed between the
judge and the masters, in some mode better calculated
to insure the more speedy and effectual administration of
justice. That it further deserves consideration, whether
the judicial duties which are now discharged by the
masters, should be performed by an officer of court
subordinate in rank and of limited powers. That it
further deserves consideration, whether a more effectual
machinery for taking accounts, and for disposing of the
administrative business of the court than now exists,
might not be devised, and that therefore it is expedient
that the present resolutions be referred back to the
committee on equity, with the view of extending their
report to them. That no satisfactory report can be
made on the present reference without a proper con-
sideration of these matters." The Learned Gentleman
supported the resolutions in an able speech, in which he
complained of the abominable abuses in the Masters'
offices, and suggested the appointment of an officer like
the official assignee in bankruptcy.
Mr. SPENCE moved the previous question, as he
entirely objected to the form of the notice, and after a
debate of some animation, in which Mr. C. Clarke, Mr.
Field, &c., took part, the discussion was adjourned to
the next night of meeting.

Lady Charlotte Greville has taken a mansion in
Lansdowne-square for the season.
ST. PANCRAS ROYAL GENERAL DISPENSARY.—
Thursday the eleventh annual meeting of the governors of
this charity was held at the institution, in Burton-crescent,
K. S. Cox, Esq , in the chair. The report stated that the
funds of the institution continued in a satisfactory condition.
During the past year 2,587 patients have been admitted, the
majority of whom have been cured or greatly relieved. The
tAal number who have participated in its benefit sir* the
ormation of the charity are 21,865 poor persons. The ex-
penditure for the past year was 4441. 15s. ; the receipts,
5841,. 6s. 6d. ; being a balara •in hand of 1391. 103. Bd. The
'Tort was adopted.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. Two LIVES LOST.
About three o'clock on Sunday morning, the inhabitants of '
Bonnie
of
an
egtoxonosaiond the,.neighbourhood were alarmed by the noise
car-
ried on there It: which occurred at the chemical works car-
lives. It apnezraMr. Astley, whereby two men lost their
_ that, according to the practice of the esta-
blshment, the two men in questi•tn, of the names of hart
aid Forbes
jou,
nmatielvmei=isin charge of a still charged with highly
ma then progress of which the), were re-
quired to watch
articles, the men had become In the distillation of the
c tutiously approached the eipatient, and one of them in-
gas
arising!
_arntmions.
m irk the progress of the still rwi.th a lighted lamp, to
contact with the which coining in
instantaneously exploded, and kiltieh,; chemical liquid
companion ; the walls and roof of the hriliPial
d ionng thew
and his
partially shattered. The alarm hayinc,
. spread the 6
engine belonging to Leith Fort was speedilyre-
means of which the flames were prevented from esrPeOto,nblyy
to the adjoining buildings, and shortly the fire-brigade from
Edinburgh was in attend.ince, hut their services were rot
required. The bodies of the unfortunate men were soon
recovered, though much disfigured from the effects of the
explosion; and it is understood that they had unhappily
acted contrary to the usual practice of this extensive
establishment, in approaching the still with a light, which
had occasioned the unfortunate catastrophe. The melancholy
affair has occasioned considerable gloom in the neighbour-
hood. It is satisfactory to learn
that no accident of a
similar nature has ever occurred at these works. Both of
the unfortunate men were unmarried.—Edinburgh Advertiser.

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The "oldest inhabitant" is said to be a woman now
living in Moscow, in Russia, who is 168 years of age. At
the age of 122 she married her fi.th husband.