The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-27
The News.

The News.
Our files from California, received on Saturday by
the George Law, contained some highly interesting
extracts relative to the state of affairs in the Society
Islands, American explorations in China, and the
opening Of new port and valuable trade by one of
our ship captains who ran from Oregon Territory to
the island of Formosa in that country particulars
Of the late attempt Of the Mexican authorities at
ManzanilIo to seize the American schooner Flying
Dart and Of the imprisonment Of Mr.. Halsted,
Of Newark, N j. at Colima; with full details Of the
losses Of life and property sustained by seamen and
ship owners during the late gale at Mazatlan. We
publish the whole this morning.
We publish to-day additional news items from
Australia, dated to June 9Th, which will be found
valuable to our commercial, and interesting to
general readers. The new mode Of re penishing the
treasury of the colony Of Victoria had caused much
anxiety in financial circles. The gold market had
improved. Flour ruled high at Melbourne. large
reshipment Of dry goods had been made to England.
The latest Melbourne markets reported. Mrs.
Dexter, the American Bloomer, had been lecturing
On "NothiDg.m
BY dates from the Society Islands to the 18th Of
June, we learn the old paralyzed King Tammatoa
was lately driven from his throne by fiery fish
bone armed warrior named Tamarra, a sort of elo-
quent Kossuth, whose excuses when in power 30
utterly Disguised his late partizans that they sent
delegation to the exied monarch and restored him,
with the aid of q few Americans and Englishmen.
The native population of the Island being de-
emated through disease and dissipation, both intro
duced by foreign immigrants Forty American and
English setersw resided the islands Of Raeatea
and Tahiti, monopozed the orange trade. The
Islanders were fierce rum drinkers. The climate
is spoken Of as exceedingly healthful. Lum
her, tobacco dried salmon and furniture were lately
exported from Tahiti to San Francisco
Captain Crosbie, Of the American bark Louisiana,
who lately sailed from the Columbia river, Oregon
Territory, to the island of Formosa, in the Chinese
Sea, has returned to San Francisco, and gives
most graphic description Of the explorations which
he made and the new acquaintance which he form
ed during his journey. lie anchored in Che port Of
Taku, on the south side Of Formosa, and had an
agreeable interview with the mandarin in command
As Captain Crosbie was the first white man which
this official or his people had ever seen, his appear
ance excited great astonshment did his revolver,
his boots and his mode Of eating without chop sticks
Taku is large and handsome city, situated in coun
try cultivated and fertile as garden. Afteran audi
eHce of the head mandarin, at Tayou, the captain
obtained verbal permission to trade, in future, at
the ports Of Taku and Keleang. The last named
port is situated at the northern extremity of the
island and here the United States squadron, its
return from Japan, discovered rich bed OF coal.
The exports from Keleang, Sam Sug, Tux Lum,
and Taka are very valuable, and the wages for la
borcrs in loading ships cheap.
Mr.. A. H. Halsted, son of ex-Chancellor Halsted,
Of Newark, N. j., arrived in san Francisco, in the
latter end of july from four months Imprisonment
in Colima, In Mexico. He relates fully the treat
ment he received at the hands Of the Mexican au
thorites from the time OF his landing at Manzanllo
in the American schooner Flying Dart 70 the period
of his discharge through the exertions Of Gen.
eral Gadsden, the United States Minister. II APP
pears that Mr.. Halsted was induced TO 60 to Colima
for the purpose Of purchasing corn, without pass
port in order that the officials might have pretext
for selling him. and thus conscate the Dart, which
they wanted, and Of which they supposed him to be
the commander. However, by his vigilance and ac-
tivity they were disappointed, and Mr.. Halsted was
finally released after having made strong protest
and demand for ieparation.
By way Of Aspinwall, we learn that Colonel Kin
ney and his expeditionsts found much favor in the
eyes Of the people at San Juan, where they were
engaged in clearing land laying of lots and building
letters from them TO the United States in their
steamers, but will pass any Of the party up the river
the Nicaraguan authorities permit.
Colonel Walker had marched into Costa RIGA and
after some negotiations, gave up his arms to the
authorities who guaranteed him protection from the
Nicaraguans. However, in short time after the
latter seized twenty OF his men when the Costa
Ricans raised fifteen hundred soldiers and sent de.
mand for their delivery. II Is thought that this has
produced war between Costa RIGA and Nicaragua
The crew Of the English bark John Patchett fur
nish full particulars of the losses sustained both ia
lite and shipping, by the terrific gale which visited
the port Of Mazatlan (NIexico) on the 1st OF june
last. Six yessels-Englsh, French, American and
Peruvian-lay of shore that evening, and about ten
O'Clock at night slight undulation Of the sea gave
notice OF the coming calamity. From this moment
the storm commenced, and before il terminated
eight vessels were either totally lost or much dam.
aged. Thirty persons were drowned, md about four
hundred thousand dollars worth OF property des.
troyed. The Mexicans along shore and even the
officers, appropriated all the floating property they
could lay hands on.
Advices from Bermuda are to the 18th Of August.
The Presbyterian Minister'S Salary bill had passed