The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-18 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN GOLD FIELDS.

Oa the Fiery Creek gold-fialds, at the dat) of our last
summary, there was some 20,000 persons congregated,
and the results, as far as could be ascertained, were very
satisfactory. The number on the ground was estimated
by many to exceed considerably the numbers we have
stated, and 30,000 diggers were by some asserted to be
congregated at Fiery Creek, drawn thither by the suc-
cess of about twenty or thirty men, who had steadily
worked the ground for several months. The result of
their, reported success was a " rush " from all the
other gold fields. The rushers being a'l experienced
diggers, with the will to work, and the knowledge
how to work to the best advantage, by fat the greater
number were highly successful in their search for gold.
A reaction, of ccuree, took place, as is always the case
with gold-fields hurriedly peopled, aad many returned to
the diggings whence they came or started in, search of
new spots ; but there are, by the most reliable estimates,
still about 15,000 diggers left, the great majority of
whom are doing well, and Fiery Creek may be safely
ranked as one of the established and practically inex-
haustible gold fields of the western district. It forms,
in fact, a portion of the great gold field of the Pyrenees,
the creek aftJr which the diggings are named, taking its
rase in that range of mountains. Lost the name of Fiery
should leave au impression on the minds of our home
readers of a parched or sultry locality, we may mention
that the name was given by Sir Thomas Mitchell, during
his exploration journey, because of the number of fires
seen there made by the aborigines. Far from being a
parched or fiery country, it abounds with fertile valleys
and green glades ; it is, in fact, a portion of the district
named by Sir Thomas Mitchell Australia Felix, from its
beauty and fertility. Fiery Creek is easily accessible
from Geelong, coaches running the distance right through
in one day.—Australian and New Zealand Cia:et!c.

CONTINENTAL MUSICAL. AND DRA&IA-

TIC GOSSI I'.

FARIS, Feb. 16.

"Don Giovanni" has been given this week at the
Italian Opera. Not one of the 4inv,ers appeared to
comprehend the music of Mozart. Tne whole opera,
with the exception of the trio of the masks, went
off very flatly. Madame Frezzelini, as Donna Anna,
sang like a great artiste, but she threw very little
perception into the part ; nor was Madame. Borghi
so successful as usual. The impresario works
this lady too much. Within the last week or two
she has been called upon to silg the music of Mozart,
Rossini, and Verdi, each demanding a distinct character
of vocalisation. Everardi, as the Don, gave us nothing
but a young fresh voice. Carrion, the tenor, appeared
to be suffering from indisposition, for he certainly did
not let us hear the full powers of his organ. " Don
Giovanni" has been so often well given, both in Paris
and London, that its reproduction is somewhat dan•
gerous under the present circumstances.
M. Bottesini's new opera, " L'Assedio di Firenze,'
the libretto by M. Corghi, which has been at rehearsal
some time, is announced for representation on Thursday
next.
Madame Ristori is positively promised us for the be-
ginning of next month. The affichcs are already up,
and, besides the names of the artistes who form the
troupe, give the titles of the works which will be per-
formed during the season.
A nevi opera has been given at La Pergola, of Flo-
rence called "Le Domino Blanc." The composer is
M. Picchi, and it appears to have been successful.
Madame Amalia Ferraris is at present the star of the
ballet at Rome.

SAILING OF THE AMERICA.—The British and North
American Royal Mail steam-ship America. Captain J.
G. Wickman, sailed from Liverpool on Saturday after-
noon, at 4.15, with the usual mails, a large cargo, and
upwards of 100 passengers.

MUNICIPAL /11001111 IN SCOTLAND.—A bill of Mr.
Ellice, Mr. Evart, and Mr. Baxter extends the provi-
sions of the Scottish Municipal Reform Act to certain
royal burghs in Scotland now excluded from the benefits
thereof ; these are Dornoch, New Galloway, Culross,
Lochmalen, Bervie, Wester AnstrutLer, Kilremy,
Kinghorn, and Kintore. Provision is made for the elec.
tion of a town council in each burgh, the number of
councillors to be six.

DREADFUL DEATIL—A sad accident, resulting in the
death of Mr. Gilson, manager of the Glan-r-afon Col-
liery at Mold, has just occurred. Mr. Gibson, finding
that an engine he was about to set in motion needed a
start, placed himself upon one of the spokes of the fly-
wheel. The great accession of speed suddenly effected
caused the unfortunate man to fall with his head within
range of the wheel, which, in revolving, caught his head
and shattered it to atoms. lie has left a wife and three
children, and, being greatly mere:AO, his cloth has cast
I gnat gloom ow. Ike aeighbeitshoo4

The Telegraph steak Insport, .o. 184, Capta,
Nicholson, arrived at Spithcad on Saturday afternoon.
She sailed from Corfu Jan. 22, Zaute 25, Malta 28 ;
rivcd at Gibraltar Feb. 2, aud,sailed thence on the 11th
The same day, at the entrance to ths Straits, she sig-
nalled the Daedalus, standing in.
The Grasshopper, 2, gun-boat, Lieut. Lee,,airrived at
Portsmouth on Saturday morning from the eaatward.
The Geyser, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Tower, sailed
on Saturday morning from Portsmouth for Liverpool.
The Rodney, 90, Capt. Wilson, was taken into dock
at Portsmouth on Saturday for repairs.
The Centaur, 6, steam-frigate, Capt. Clifford, was
taken out of dock at Portsmouth on Saturday.
The Thistle, 2, gun-boat, was taken out of dock on
Saturday, and the Charger, gun-boat, taken in.
The Falcon, 17, steam-sloop, Commander. Pullen, will
have her compasses swung to-day.
The Cleopatra, N 0.136, steam-transport, hauled along-
side the yard on Saturday to take in troops.
The following ships are in Portsmouth harbour :---The
Victory, St. Vincent, Illustrious, Victoria and- Albert,
Calcutta, Colossus, Falcon, Perseverance, Rolla,Volcano,
Fanny,Seala ke Pigmy, Fairy,
11 Echo, And Sprightly,
-lbY
At Spithewl—The Royal George, Duke of Welling.
ton, Algiers, Caesar. Hawke, Pylades, Imperiouse, lir.
gent, Gorgon, and Resistance.
At the Motherbank-18 gun-boats.
SO-a•Ftai.re Queen,
In Dock—The Rodney, Bellerophon, Shannon, Fox,
Centaur, Vulcan, Basilisk, Charger, Skylark, and Pioneer.
In tla3 Fitting Basin—The Blenheim and Centaur.
In the Steam Basin—The Marlborough, Victor Em-
manuel, Arrogant, Lapwing, Fury, Flying Fish, and
Whiting.
The Majestic, 80, and the Forward gun-boat arrived
at Spitl ead on Saturday night from Sbeeraess.
The Calcutta, 84, will relieve the Winchester flag-
ship on the East India station.

The hired sailing-transport Alipore, Capt. Milnian,
from Black Sea, was towed out of Plymouth Sound, by
the Con lance steam-tug, on Thursday, and sailed for the
ea, t ward.

The hired steam-transports Northumberland and Cum-
berland, and the private steam-ships City of Paris and
Madge sailed on Saturday for Constantinople.
The crew of the screw steam-ship Conqueror, 100, Capt.L,
~.Th.os. C. Symonds, C.8.1-tereed over-from the 'Vigo kdk
on Saturday, and she was placed at her sailing moorings.
If the weather Le favourab)e she will take her trial trip
round the Edd ystone to-day.
The crew of the screw steam-ship, Orion, 91, Capt.
Jno. Erskine, have bent sails. She will be taken out of
the basin-dock at Reyham to-day.
The screw steam-sloop Varier, 17, Commander Sam.
H. Derriman, arrived at Plymouth on Thursday evening
from Portsmouth and sailed again for the eastward on
Saturday.

The gun-boat Skipjack, having completed coaling,
went from Hamoaze into Barnpool, Plymouth, on Sa-
turday.
The steam block-ship Forth, 12, Captain Lord John
Hay, will go out of harbour on Wednesday next, at
Plymouth, to try her engines.
At the Royal William Victualling-yard, Plymouth,
last w( ek, 340 barrels of pork were condemned as unfit
for use in the Royal Navy. The bakers at this esta-
blishment commence working 12 ovens daily from te.
day. On Wedresday next tenders' will be received
there for the supply of 3,000 quarters of wheat.
The following items of intelligence respecting the sta-
tions of her Majesty's steam-ships in the West Indies
were received by the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship
Magdalena, which arrived at Southampton on Friday
night with the West India and Pacific mails :—At Bar-
badoes, the Boscawen (Rear Admiral Fanshawe), the
Medea, and the Vestal ; at Port Royal, the Imanm,
the Powerful, the Termagant, the Argus, the Hermes,
and the Daring ; at Port au Prince, the Malacca and
the Arth ; at Greytown, the Eurydice and the Espiegle.
Two Lords of the Admiralty—Admiral Sir M. F. F.
Berkeley, K.C.8., M.P., and Admiral Sir Baldwin
Walker—accompanied by Mr. Charles Berkeley, secre-
tary, went down to Woolwich on Saturday for the spe-
cial purpose of inspecting the progress of fitting out the
numerous gun-boats, and more especially the new de-
scription of despatch gun-vessels—namely, the Coquette,
Intrepid, Sparrowbawk, &c., in process of being cop-
pered and prepared for service in the dockyard. Their
lordships' visit was confined to the inspection of the
above-named vessels, over which they were conducted
by the respective officers of the ehipwrights' departinent,
and were attended by Mr. Macdonald, master attendant
of the dockyard, and Commander Hoare, of her Majesty's
ship Vesuvius.

The steam-despatch gun-vessel Coquette, Commander
Risk, was taken out of the dry dock and admitted into
basin at Woolwich on Saturday.
The Intrepid despatch-vessel, and the paddle-wheel
.tearrer Vesuvius were docked on Saturday at Woolwich4
the former to 133 coppered, and the latter to uadergo
some considerable repairs,
Two new gun-boats, the Fervent and the Forester,
were towed down to Woolwich on Saturday, having been
launched from liessrs. Green's at Blackwall, and will go
into the fitting basin today.
Two gun-boats, the Louisa and Mayflower, arrived at
Woolwich on Thursday, and were taken into basin on
Friday morning, in order to pa=s through the hands of
the riggers. The engines of the Louisa were tested un-
der steam in the basin and answered remarkably well.
Tin Mayflow, r was built by Pitcher, of Northfleet, and
he Louisa, at Limehouse, by Flet3her.
Tae gun-boats Goshawk and Violet have been taken
into the weit dock. at, Woolecich, to hanoppered., The
Nightingale; Griper, and Herring are likewise ib,cotirai-
of being equipped for the spring campaign. k.
There is a numerous fleet of gun-boats and steamers
of various descriptions lying at Woolwich, many of
which are already in commission and ready for Pervice,
will be frond by the following list ,—The Fisgard, the
Black Eagle, the Merlin, the Coquette, the Intrepid,
the Firefly, the Pearl and Devastation (at Greenhithe),
the Tartarus. the Vivid, the Herring, thw Julia, and the
Dee, commissioned ; the Tyne, in commission ; the
Hesper, the Wildfire, and the Black Prince, Government
transports ; the Niger, the Vesuvius, and the Ardent,
lying in ordinary for repairs ; the Griper, the Nightin-
gale' the Violet, and the Goshawk, fitting for service ;
the Spitfire and the Vixen, in ordinary, undergoing re-
pairs • the Janus, under orders to be broken up ; the
Mayd war and the Louisa, being rigged for service ; mor-
tar floats, Nos. 1 and 2 ; mortar pontoon raft.
Large quantities of ammunition for revolvers have
been received at the Arsenal at Woolwich, samples of
which have gone through the ordinary 'proof satisfacto-
rily. Immense supplies •of Eley's prepared cartridges
have likewise been. received there, and stored ready for
an emergency. . . .

A continuation of experiments is to be carried out tn.
day in tke Wool ich Arsenal marshes with Capt. Boxer's
improved Congreve. rocket'. Some were tried a few days
ago with success.
In addition to the 86th Regiment and a battalion of
the Rifle Corps, which are about to be despatched to
Canada it is understood to be the intention to send
out several other regiments to British Nor:1 America,
so as to form, a powerful force in that country. In an-
ticipation of this step being taken, it is rumoured that
almost ev, ry regiment now at :ache 1 to the house station
has re e'ved private intimation that their services may be
required in Canada, and such early notice has been given
in order that the regimental clothing, which is made
expressly for teat station, may be in readiness in case
the exigencies of the service should require a large body
of troops to be moved to that country.
Two companies of the Royal Sappers and Miners (the
17th and 24th) wiil leave Brampton barracks on Wed-
nesday next to embark for the Crimea. The 17th com-
pany will be under the command of Captain Augustus
Meyer'Lochner, R.E., and the 24th will be commanded
by Car. George Pelly, R.E. This will be the first
draught of this important branch of the service, which
has left Brampton since the establishment of the head-
quarters at that station. Col. F. E. Chapman, CAI.,
R E., is the effieer appointed to take the command of
this divison of Royal Engineers, and Lieut. G. M. Stop.
ford has been appointed adjutant.
A number of fine young men, volunteers from the
99th Wexford Militia, have joined the depot of the 83d
Regime it at the Chatham Barracks.
Assistant-Surgeon J. M. Hyde, 14th Regiment, is re-
lieved from duty at Chatham garrison, and has received
orders to proceed forthwith to Portsmouth, there to em-
bark on board the Cleopatra steam-ship, in medical
charge of a draugbt of the Medical Staff Corps and
other troops for the East. Acting Assistant-Surgeon
J. J. Henry, at present doing duty at the- Provisional
Battalion, has received orders to be attached to, and do.
duty with, the Orinancm Corps at Chatham garrison.
A party of volunteers from the East Norfolk Militia
have joined the Provisional Battalion, at Chatham,
for the depot of the 5.2 d Regiment of Light In-
fantry. Captain S. G. Bunbury, commanding the Me-
dical Staff Corps at Chatham, has received orders for a
detachment of 80 men, belonging to that corps, to leave
to-morrow morning for Portsmouth, under the command
of Capt. Walter B. Parsee, 90th Light Infantry, to em-
bark on board the Cleopatra, for the hospitals at Scutari
and Balaklava.

Colonel Crutchley, commanding the Provisional Depot
Battalion at Parsonstown, on Thursday last received
orders for the following officers, belonging to the 63d
Depot, to proceed to the Crimea to join their regiments,
viz. :—Capt. Bouverie, Lieut. Grant, Ensigns Pouys,
Bunbury, Crowther, Stokes, Carnegy, and Kinahan.
These officers are going out to supply the vacancies
caused by a number of officers who have been transferred
to the Land Transport Corps, and of those who have and
are returning home on medical certificate.
23 men of the 2d Dragoon Guards, and 41 of the 34
Dragoon Guards, who recently arrived in Exeter from
Dublin as volunteers into the lstDragoon Guards, now in
the Crimea, are at present with the depot of the regiment
at the Exeter barracks, and will remain there until
ordered to the Crimea.
In the Gazette of Tuesday last the name of Arthur
Fleming Stack Payne, appointed Ensign in.the Worces.
tershire Regiment of Militia, was erroneously printed
Slack Payne. In the list of officers who left Portsmouth
the name
on Thursday in the Indian, for Malta, given-
as Ensign Coney should have been Ensign Chas, Covey.