Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-16
THE LATE NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA

ton passed the House OF Representatives on the
Cd of March, and was still before the Senate at
the latest advices. 1t is alleged in some of the
papers that the real object of the movement is
to make division of the State, so that slavery
may be introduced into the Southern part of it.
i A bill before the Legislature to enforce con-
tracts made beyond the State, for the performance
of labor within the limits thereof
A joint resolution has passed the Legislature,
requesting the General Government to furnish
the State with twenty thousand muskets and one
thousand Colts pistols.
Inc intelligence from the mining regions is
quite favorable. 1t was also thought that as
soon as the water should fully subside, extraor-
binary discoveries of gold would be made. The
surveyor General had sent to the Legislature
Especial report relative to the lands of the State
lie considers the of the State as set down by
the General Land Office at Washington (1se, 98l
| square nlles') as too large, and calculates, from
the boundaries laid down in the constitution, that
| 1t cannot exceed 1925 square miles-euual to
93622,4O0 acres. Of this, SO, 900 900 are classed
as either mineral, or useless at present for agri-
cultural purposes, leaving al ,622, 400 acres now
ut tor cultivation. The following classification is
made of the lands of the State -
Acres.
Mineral lands including that which is worth.
less being mountainous or desert, also much
that will eventually be cassed as agricultu-
| Agricultural, which can be irrigated oO.0oo.o0
6SilcuituIa' Whlch cannot be irrigated, 100000
| Swampy lands, 1922 400
Total. 93,e2a, 400
In consequence of numerous daring crimes the
members OF the former Vigilance Committee of
San Francisco were called upon to meet on the
18th, IS to take into consideration measures of
great Importance"
FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
San,
9th of March.
Mayor Helntzelman's command arrived at the
Gila on the 29th of February He found the
Yumas Indians decidedly hostile, and had had
two or three skirnishes with them. It was ex-
pected that vigorous campaign would be COM
menced, that would result In rendering the immi-
grant road down the Gila comparatively safe
Two Americans named Van Ness and McDon-
add had been killed in Lower California by de-
| tachment OF Mexican troops, commanded by a
commissioned officer. correspondence on the
subject has ensued between the commanding off
Ger at San Diego and the commandment ofSt. Thorn
Two hundred and fifty ofhe recruits lately sent
from this city. were landed at San Diego. The
officers accompanying the command were Major
Patton and Lieuts. Bond and Curtis, Cd Infantry,
and assistant surgeon Mihan.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
weeks later and are to the 21st of February
There is little news of Importance and business
had not improved. Several marine disasters had
occurred at one of the Sandwich Island gr,ups
the most serious of which was the loss. January
31st, of the ship George Thatcher, of Boston,
Capt. Crowell. bound for Calcutta, She went
ashore at Callhikai, not two miles from the spot
where the Kekekui made her plunge the night
before, and was high and dry upon the reef She
IF fouc h,rtbo ID 10
total wreck. She lies in such a position, how
ever that her stores, spars rigging, &c., can all
be saved.
SOCIETY ISLANDS.
BY the way of Honolulu, we have late adyices
from the Society Islands possessing little inter-
est. The schr. Excel arrived at Honolulu, Feb.
10th, IS days from Raiates.
The natives of Raatea, says the Poiynesian,
have quite recently changed the form of their Co.
vernment to Republican. 1t has hitherto been
under the rule of Queen Pomare, and she had ap-
pointed one of her to be Vice Regent or Co.
vernon OF Raiatea Before the arrival of Pomare's
the natives of that island and of several of the
neighboring islands held IL council, and elected
ruler tor term OF two years and declared the Sc
veral Islands in confederacy to constitute IRE
pubic.'' The Chief Magistrate elected is half
white, and is represented as a very capable man.
The "Republican' party, as the natives term it,
IS very strong and little doubt exists that the
change OF Government will be permanent, as the
French officials at Tahati are indifferent in the
matter, and Queen Pomare's power is too weak to
compel the islandersto return to her rule and intel
gent foreigners say that it is quite likely that the
new form of Government will extend to other
neighboring islands and groups.
At 1ahituquite n fleet of small vessels were
waiting for cargoes of Oranges for San Francisco.
Later from China-Hong Kong Destroyed.
l...J-
Francisco from Hong Kong brought the intelli-
gence OF most disastrous confagration there,
which destroyed nearly the whole city. Hun
dreds of lives, it is said, were lost; and every
newspaper office was destroyed. The public mar
ket was destroyed, and much suffering was the re-
suit. The total loss was put at 100000.
The San Francisco Herald of 5th March has
the following particu lars of the fire at Hong Kong
in China:-
The barque William Watson arrived Yesterday,
sixty days from Hong Kong bringing intelligence
of a most disastrous confagration in that city.
Nearly all the city is consumed. Hundreds of
lives have been lost. Every newspaper office
have been destroyed. The barque brings no files,
and we are dependent on the officers of tn 70 YES
sci for the few particulars which we subjoin
The fire occurred on the Goth December, and
commenced in the China Bazaar. 1t spread with
fearful rapidity among the bamboo houses of the
Chinese, and soon communicated to the finest part
of the city, becoming perfectly resistless.
The loss OF life among the Chinese was dread
full. The number that perished had not been as
certained One Colonel of an English regiment
lost his life in the attempt to blow up building
and arrest the flames. Also Lieutenant belong
ing to H. B. M. ship Hastings was killed by the
falling timbers of a house which had blown up
A Sergeant of sappers and miners met a similar
fate
The public market was destroyed, and much
suffering was experienced for II few days after the
fire. The Governor and Sir VIM. Bowmen had
convoked the Council, and among other provi-
sions adopted for the public welfare, was one for
bidding the construction of bamboo houses. The
Chinese houses were to be built of stone, or of the