The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-07 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RIPLORATION.

The following is an extract from a report dated
the Bth of July, from the Assistant-Surveyor-
General of South Australia, of a recent expedition
into the northern districts of that colony
"In the extreme distance to the north and north east
we perceived a belt of gigantic gums, beyond which are•
peered a sheet of water with lands on the opposite side,
evidently increasing in elevation. There also seemed to
be a large lake about ten miles to the east, but this our
prevnes experience told us had no existence. To the
north-east the M'Donnel continued its course, diverging
into a number of channels as the rocks neared the sur-
face, and again converging into one as the depth of
s increased. To the south.east the extreme end of the
eastern range was still visible, Mount Hopeful, bearing
south 32 degrees east, and apparently about 30 miles
distant.
•
" From Weathered-hill we descended in a north-easterly
direction to the M'Donnell, following its course down
for about seven miles, passing several large and perina-
teat t waters, Vie last of which, about half a-mile long, 50
yards wide, and very deep, was extremely fine, having a
native encampment on the eastern bank at its lower end.
The Wurleys did not appear to bay, been used since the
rain, however, the floors being caked ever and cracked
by the heat of the sue. They are constructed in a
similar manner to those described by Captain Sturt, and
are warm and comfortable, the largest capable of holding
from 30 to 40 people, quite round, from three to four
feet high, and entered by a semicircular opening, through
winch weiwere obliged to creep. This water we named
the Warta-Warta, from the name of the tribe frequenting
the plains north of the Blanche.
" Next day we continued our course to the north-east
down the bed of the creek for about 14 miles, passing
over vegetation of the most luxuriant kind, which covers
the valley for a width of from three to four miles, the
timber in the creeks changing from lofty gums to a bas-
tard peppermint which was rapidly assuming a more
stunted appearance, and the creeks bending away to the
eastward. We then lett the M'Donnell and made for
the nearest point of what was rapidly assuming the
appearance of an immense lake, and after travelling about
six miles and a half to the north-east our doubts were
set at rest. Wo were in latitude 29 deg. 13 min., and
stood upon the margin of Lake Torreus, the waters of
which were unmistakably fresh.
"From the spot where my observations were taken the
lake stretched from 15 to 20 miles to the north-west,
forming a water horiz in extending from northwest by
west to north-west; the south portion terminated by
high land running south towards Weathered-hill, at once
explaaning the cause of the various creeks bending so
much to the eastward. An extensive bay is formed
inside this promontory, extending southward to west-
north- Neat, when the laud again runs out to a point,
approaching and passing us by a gentle curve to the east,
and inclining gradually to the south-east, and ultimately
disappearing in the distance. The north portion of
the horizon is terminated by a bluff headland, round
which the water appears to extend to the north. • This
land passes thence to the east, and forms the north
boundary of the visible portion of the lake ; and from a
higher elevation than that upon which we stood appeared
to extend round to the eastern wing. It is covered with
vegetation, as also are several islands seen between the
north and south shores, apparently about five miles dis-
tant from where we stood, their perpendicular cliffs
being clearly discerned by aid of the telescope.
"From the first I had anticipated finding large lakes
of fresh water at the termination of the various creeks,
or one large lake into which a number of them discharged
their waters ; but in such I should have discovered
flood lines, indicating the rise and fall of the waters,
and, even supposing them to have attained their
maximum, height, the vegetation on some portion
of the surface inside the water's edge would have re-
vealed this fact. But in this case there was an entire
absence of such mark, the water's edge being clearly
defined ; and the bed, changing it, character so sucl•
denly from an alluvial soil to blue loam, covered by an
inch of tine silt, renders it almost beyond the possibility
of a doubt that the surface of the water is eubject only
• o the most trifling variation of level, and the absence of
deltas at the embouchures of the creeks tends to show
tbatther
fioeoisdnflwooreaucntiinngterforurcpet,edblyuteitshaawthretehe,
and I a
watersit:
inclinedt
of
clined to be!ieve in a generally north-west direction.
"In using the words ' unmistakably fresh,' with re-
ierence to this water, I meant to imply that not only
old they appear fresh to the taste, bnt that also there
was no indication whatever of the presence of salt; and
I only regretted the absence of the means which would
have enabled me to test, not only their extent and dim.
tion, but also their depths and action."

THE TRIAL OF THE PAISLEY RIOTERS.--011 Saturday
the Paisley rioters, Daniel Wynne, Daniel Coyle, and
Edward M'llanus, who were convicted of riotous con-
duct and assault on the previous day, were brought up
and sentenced—Wynne to three years' penal servitude,
Coyle to 13 months' imprisonment, and M'Manus to 12
months' imprisonment. On the same day five of the Coate
bridge rioters were found guilty, and three brought up
who pleaded guilty. Sentence was deferred in both oases.
MURDERSBY A MANIAC.—The Inverness Circuit Court
was opened ou Wednesday—the Lord Justice Clerk pre-
siding--when Angus Macphee. Liniclate, in the island of
Benbecula, was brought up on the charge of having mur-
dered Mary Macphee, his aunt, Angus Macphee, his
father, and Catherine Macinnes, his mother, all of whom
were persons of an advanced age. The circumstances of
this painful case will be fresh in the recollection of the
public. The prisoner in a fit of insanity attacked his
father, mother, and aunt, and murdered them one after
the other on the 9th July last. The evidence clearly
proved the insanity of the prisoner, who said he was the
Christ, and had the divine command to commit the mina
dere, and was doing God service. Re also said he had
intended to murder some others. The jury found him
insane, and he was ordered to be kept in custody. The
Lord Justice Clerk administered a reproof to one df the
witnesses, named Macsween, a ground officer of Colrnel
Gordon, and a member of the parochial board, for having
failed to send him to an asylum.—Northern Daily Express.
EXTENSIVE SMUGGLING ON THE SUSSEX COAST.—
Yesterday (Pueeday), Thomas Bruce and Henry Everett,
of Portsmouth, and John Wicks, Angmering, mariners,
and Thomas Castleden Elliott, master of a vessel called
the Intrepid, were charged before the magistrates, at
Arundel, with smuggling between 60 and 70 tubs of
spirits, with intent to defraud the revenue of 3001. All
the prisoners, except the master (Elliott), pleaded guilty.
James Bishop, a coast-guardsman on the Littlehampton
service, deposed that about two o'clock on the morning
of the 24th ult. he obeerved a boat with three men in
it cornieg towards the shore. At this time between 30
and 40 men, whom be did not know were hovering about
the shore. Mr. J. D. Beach, master in the Royal Navy
and chief officer of the Littlehampton Coast Guard Ser.
vies, stated that he had a galley manned and put off to
sea. After pulling about two miles from the shore
they came up to a vessel of suspicious appearance, which
they boarded. On it they found only the master (Elliott),
wao raid be was on his way from Portsmouth to Shore-
ham. Shortly afterwards they pulled up to a boat, which
had the other three prisoners on board. They had with
them between 30 and 40 tubs of Geneva, and near the
boat were floating from 15 to 20 other tubs. They
took all the prisoners, with the tube, into custody.
After some further evidence it was stated that the tubs
comprieed 33 of Geneva and 26 of brandy, all nearly 50
per cent. over proof. The daty upon the same amounted
to 3001. The bench sentenced the master (Elliott) to
nine months' imprisonment, and the other three to eight
ruoi,the each. The vessel and other property were cons
fiscated.

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