The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

A STRANGE COLONY.

Some further particulars are now to hand concerning
the colony which Mr. Lawrence Oliphant has made
famous. A correspondent of the Buffalo Express writes :
" Brocton, a quiet place, fifty miles eastward of Buffalo,
and hitherto known only for its superior wines and grapes,
has recently attained celebrity as the residence of Law-
rence Oliphant, the British diplomatist and legislator. I
have very recently made a flying visit to the grounds of
the community to which be belongs, and of which he is
the cashier. While passing through the village we met a
lady and gentleman in a sleigh. The latter, in spite of
his plain attire, bore about him the unmistakeable
air of breeding and culture. He halted and
engaged in conversation with Mr. Ryckman, an
introduction from whom confirmed the surmise that the
'gentleman was no other than the former star of Belgravia
and petted companion of royalty; Mrs. Oliphant was
with him. Arrived at the office, we were joined in a few
mcnients by Mr. Oliphant. who at once proposed to
exhibit the grounds. The entire grounds of the society
embrace 1,600 acres, lying mostly between the main road
and the lake. The bead of the organisation is Mr.
Harris, a nephew of T. Harris, United States
Minister to Spain. Mr. Harris came here two
years since, and going from one fanner to another,
obtained their respective farms. No one was aware of
the general sweep which he was making, and when
he had completed his negotiations, the entire farming
community of a region embracing nearly three square
miles discovered that they had sold out. In the course of
the season the entire colony of over twenty families came
on and took possession. Mr. Harris is the originator of a
new system of theology, which resembles the teachings of
Emmanuel Sweden!. o The mcmbe:s cf colony are
converts. The property is held in common, but in other
respects there is nothing socialistic in the system. The
family is sacredly guarded. They do not cultivate social
relations outside their community. So strong is the desire
to seclude that they are removing the highway from its
former course. The intervening space thuscreated between
their dwellings and the road will be laid out in park. The
almost exclusive branch of industry is grape growing, with a
share of attention to otherlinesofhorticulture. Thirty acres
are set to one variety of grapes—though other varieties are
cultivated. It is evident that the accession of so much
capital, industry, and intelligence will add greatly to the
wealth. A few years of skilful management of the place
will convert the entire tract into one of the loveliest and
most productive places in the country. It is not known
where Mr. Oliphant first came in contact with the religious
teachings which brought about so strange a revolution in
his life, but it is thought lie first met Mr. Harris in Japan,
where he was Secretary to the British Embassy, and from
him he imbibed the doctrines. Ile expresses entire satis.
faction with his action."

Prince Arthur intends to visit the Isle of Man
on Tuesday next.

A man named Alliney was apprehended at Lincoln
on Wcdue:.:day, charged with a murderous attack on his
wife. Ifer Lit positions were taken at midnight. The ac-
cused was lately in custody charged with killing a man with
a crowbar, but was discharged.

The bold though unsuccessful attempted robbery
of arms from a vessel lying in Wheeler's dockyard at Monks-
town, Cork hal bour, is now found out to be nothing more
than an ordinary robbery. The depredators cast away the
greater number of the weapons on the dock watchman giving
chase, and all but four pistols have been recovered.

On Thursday morning a break fast meeting of
the members and friends of the Society for Promoting the Due
Observance of the Lord's Day was held at Freemasons' Tavern,
under the presidency of Mr. IV. T. Charley, M.P. Several
clergymen and other gentlemen addressed the meeting in
support of resolutions expressive of confidence in the society's
operations.

A mass meeting of the Sheffield men on strike at
Mr. Huntsman's pits, to the number of 700, was held on
Wednesday, at Attercliffe, when a resolution was passed to the
effect that the strike was to bo continued. Mr. Huntsman
has now got about 80 non-union men in his pits, and a move-
ment has been set on foot by these men for the formation
of a free labour association. This is the fourteenth week
of the strike, and there is no likelihood of its coming to a
to mination.

A banquet took place on Wednesday at Ipswich,
in honour of Mr. Cobbold, who for many years represented
the town in the Conservative interest. The speakers in-
cluded Lieut.-Col. Jervis, M.P., the Hon.J. 11. M. Henniker-
Major, M.P., Lord A. Hervey, M.P., and Mr C. S. Road,
M.P. Lord A. Hervey, in responding to the sentiment of
"Church and State," referred to the fact that the Conserva-
tives were in a minority in the House of Commons. "But
although," said his lordship, "the prospects of the Conserva-
tives might seem for a moment dark and cheerless, he thought
they had no cause to allow themselves to be dismayed or dis-
couraged; on the contrary, he thought there was much in the
position of affairs to inspire them with hope. Even adversity,
too, was the strongest tie which could bind them together."
BURSTING OF A RESERVOIR. —A disastrous occur-
rence has taken place at the Bannister Hall Print Works,
Higher Walton, a village a few miles from Preston. Thero
are two extensive reservoirs in connection with the works,
one of them, a very large one, covering nearly two acrei
of land, which was used for clean water purposes. At
the time of the accident it contained a depth of eighteen
feet of water. Between the hours of twelve at night
and three in the morning this immense sheet of water
burst through its banks into the river Darwen, near
which it was situated. It is considezed as a reason
for the disaster that the reservoir had been filled
too full the previous day, and water having filtered
into the rat-holes that lined its banks, worked its way
through until a continuous opening had been made, and
the banks being only composed eg clay, a large gap was
soon made, and the water rushed out into the Darwen
with immense velocity, carrying all before it. In a very
short time the reservoir was quite empty, and now the
place where the accident occurred exhibits an enormous
fissure, twenty yards wide by over six yards deep. It is
estimated that the disaster will cause a complete stoppage
of the works for three weeks, and will necessitate a large
number of workpeople being thrown out of employment
for that length of time.

SENDING THREATENING LETTERS.—The Rillarnty
correspondent of Saunder' News writes : " A young man,
named Joseph Stephens, and his father Richard, were
brought up at the last Milltown Petty Sessions charged
with having sent a threatening letter to Mr. R. J.
Marshall, J.P., of Callinafcrey, within a few miles of
Milltown, in this county. It appeared that the
Stephenses held a quantity of land which was not leased
to them, as was another portion which they occupied under
him. Mr. Marshall served them with notice to quit, and
accordingly in due time demanded possession on the 23th,
2Gth, and 27th of last month, but was refused. After
this refusal a letter bearing the 'l'ralee post-mark was
received by Mr. Marshall, cautioning him against dispos-
sessing the Stephen ses, and which was headed Tipperary.'
A subsequent letter was received by Mr. Marshall's coach-
man, cautioning him also not to sit on the box seat of the
carriage, or otherwise he would lose his life. A lengthened
inquiry having taken place, the younger prisoner was
committed for trial at the ensuing assizes, and the father
was discharged, there being no evidence adduced to sustain
the ci.ta;e agairst him. Mr. Marshall is one of the most
eAcn::..ve ia:l,'ed proprietors in this county, and has been '
seldom, i vLT, known to be gitilty of any oppressive pro-
tUdity w.,;.J.J.1 his to Autry."