The weekly Placer herald., 1853-12-17

The New YORK SUB-TREAsURY.-The
n. Y. Herald, in its money article, gives
an interesting statement of the manner in
which the Government specie was kept
in that city on the 2lst Of September last,
ten millions Of dollars, consisting excIn-
sively Of gold coin Of the United States,
with the exception of few hundred dol
lars in silver, were l. cked up in the vaults
in the Assistant Treasurer's office. His
Office IS situated in the northeasterly room
Of The custom house, which s built of iron
and stone, having double iron shutters,
and heing guarded by two watchmen,
who occupy the apartment during the
night. The safe containing the coin is
composed Of double sheets of iron,
strengthened by cross bars, or lattice work
Of cast steel rods, between which no in
strument can cut or file. The safe is
fifteen feet long, eight wide, and about
a. many feet high 1t is divided into two
apartments, in the inner one of which the
money is deposited, and it has three thick
iron doors, each having two locks, the
keys of which are distributed at night
among the dfferen, clerks-the ASST slant
Treasurer keeping himself the register of
the principal key, so that the safe cannot
be unlocked unless all are present. On
the sides of the safe are tiers Of boxes,
eapab of holding in ali nine mi lions
six hundred thousand dollars. They are
now filled with coin, which is put in bags
OF five thousand do lars each, excepting
q few containing small amounts for con-
venience in making payments. The
weight Of the ten millions of gold now in
custody is eighteen and three quarter tons.
The clipper ship Contest reached Homo
lulu in eleven days and half from this
port. Louis r. Lul, Esq, former editor
Of the Commercial Advertiser, was pas
senger in her, and he writes from Homo
lulu TO the effect that everythng gives
Indication of n strong disposition, both
foreign residents, to favor annexetion with
the United States.-S. +. NeWs.
SINGULAR Fruit Tree IN SoNoRA.-
Throughout the town are numerous gar
dens, filled with every variety of tropical
fruits. Here can be seen the stately date
tree, with its rough trunk and singular
top, towering to the height Of eighty and
a hundred feet; and the pomegranite,
orange, lemon, pear, peach, lime and
ounce, are found in the greatest abun-
dance; and most singular of all, is the
"Iirtue," which first bears apricots, then
peaches, and lastly, u crop of small fruit
similar to the peach, about the size of
the damascene plum. ! have preserved
some ofthe seed, which | will send you."
The above is an extract from II letter
recently received from one OF the princ-
pal towns OF Sonora, and contains the
history of very curious vegetable phe-
nomenon. We call the attention of the
Messrs. Warren to ths odd lustus paturae,
and hope they will favor us with their
solution Of the problem it contains.
We suspect however that it belongs to
the same class Of western horticulture
which for long time contended that an
Irish potatoe, would gradually turn to
sweet one, after two or three years Of
cultivation in CaIifornia.-S. F. Netcs
CAPTAIN WALpo-The Marysville
Asysld says this gsDtlernan will return to
California in the spring, bringing his fam
~ with him