The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-23
FIRST EDITIO N
The Great Tidal Wave y Settle
ment of United States Claims.

The very latest correspondence from Mel
bourne, Australia, has been forwarded by the
New York Iribune's correspondent.
Victoria Colony.
Political affairs in the colony of Victoria have
become somewhat less perpleXed than they
were last month, owing to the removal OF that
buebear, the "Darlng" Grant. The public
creditors and servants have been appeased, aud
although there Is stroug feeling on Doth sides
of he House, business has not been materially
retarded thereby; still great deal of time has
been wasted by several honorable members
In personal attacks and supeIfuous remarks,
neither creditable 10 themselves nor pleas
ing to their constituents. Even the Pre-
nier of the late short-lived administration,
Mr.. sladen, who is generally toeraoly self
possessed, has gone SO tar as TO accuse the pre-.
sent Chief Secretary, Mr.. McCullocs, with cor
rupuon, in using his high position In the
interests OF the firm of which he is senior
partner The charges we're indigL antly denied by
MIR McCulloch. and after sharp newspaper
battle the matter dropped. Mr.. Sladen has
retired disguised, no doubt) from political lie,
and Is about to visit England. The estim ates
fer 1867 were passed in a round sum, shortly
after the meeting OF the Assemely 1aey last monln;
at about f3 las, ,593; not by any means bad
sum for a colony containing population of
10000, but we have so many expenses, neces
sary and unnecessary, that by the end OF the
year there will not be much to sho " in the way
OF surplus.
United States Claims.
Our readers are doubtless all familiar with the
details OF the outrage committed on Americans
by the Fijans, and with the claim OF S45, 600
made by the United States Government there or.
King Thakombau was unable to raise the
amount to satisfy the claim, and the United
States Government threatened to enforce it. In
this strait a company, or rather some delegates
OF a proposed company In Melbourne, waited
upon His Majesty, and offered to settle the claim
on condition that certain lands we're ceded to
them. A charter was drawn up, which, how
ever, was protested against by Her Ma
jesty's Acting Consul, and decided against
by Commodore Lambert. Eventually, however,
q charter was agreed to- by which the King
agreed 10 cede 10 the Com pany 100000 acres OF
land embraced in various islands, harbors, etc.,
set forth IN the charter, with full protection for
all settlers and inhabitants, IN consideration of
which the Company were 10 pay the claim of the
United States Government and grant pension
OF $1,000 per snnum 10 KING Thakombau. DR..
Brewer, the American Consul. refused to recOg-
n re the agreemen Mt without the delegates would
become personally responsible for one years
interest upon the amount. The delegates did
not seem to quite appreciate this stipulation,
but, seeing no alternative, they eventually
agreed 10 the terms. The Company have the
sole privilege of estabs hing banking institu-
tions, and circulating bank notes in the king
dom, for the term of twenty years. Toe
Com oany have no doubt taken advantage OF "a
favorable opportunity, and made good bargain
for themselves.
Ti iIal Wave i'm the Harbor of Sidney.
On Saturday, the 18th of August, remark
able tidal wave visited the harbors of Sydney
and OF several ports in this colony, and also
Tasmania and Queensland. 1t was hign tide on
the morning OF the 10 b at about O'Clock, and
the WA er was ebbing rapidly at 8 A. NJ, when
suddenly the waters returned and rushed up the
harbor with great force. In some places the
Wster appeared to be boiling, while in
others rapid whirlpools were formed
steamboats, and shipping generally were
swung around and hustled about in remarka-
BILE manner; some ships snapped their warps
and had to proceed 10 sea. The waters were
much disdolored, possessing fully five per cent.
OF mud. At Darling Point the tide rose fully
two feet in five minutes. The water was rushing
fourteen kuos an hour, and interrupted the
navigation of the bay. The disturbance was
not confined 10 The morning tide, aud in some
parts OF Port Jackson the effects were more
noticeable during the afternoon. steamer
with q party OF eXcursionsts barely escaped
hainp driven aahOre.