It seems quite evident that the French authorities of the Island re gard this Colony as a sink into which they will be allowed to throw their social scum, and unless we interdict them at once^ the countrymay chance to acquire, in addition to its own ways of villany — by no means few —the refined crimiealities of the French, from petroleumism to scientific burglary. Throughout the year two Premiers have been in frequent expostulation with the Frenoh authorities at Noumea on the sub j act, with no more satisfactory result than polite as surances without point, followed by New Caledonian traders with more released pri soners, Sir Henry Parkes has promised a deputation to Bee to tho grievanca at once; but I fear that the New Caledonians, having a laudable desire to witness thegExhibition, will be too prompt for him. In my last letter I mentioned the bush ranging vagaries and escape from tho police pursuit, at Grafton, of a young desperado named Sleigh, who had been for some time on the raid, a la Kelly, keeping that district in a state of terror and confusion. It appears tbat he also had sympathisers in the district, from whom he received food, shelter, and in formation which enabled him for a fortnight to dodge a hot pursuit. Hearing that he had been seen ab Coledale, and thit he v/ould probably make way back to his old haunts about the Stockyard Creek, tbe police doubled back, and mustering volunteers, set to work to beat up the cornfields where he

They went to a third party, and endea voured to induce him to join them— for, all three to ravish this unhappy young girl. Ho refused, telling them ot tbe enormity of their contemplat d crime. The othor two then went, planted themselves behind a bush, and as the poor girl comes past them, they spring out upon her like wild beaßtH. They throw her down. One of them holds her while tbe other commit a the capital offence. When that is over, he holds the unfortunate girl while the second man com mits the oapital offence. The evidence shows that ' there was no familiarity, though they lived together as ser vants, to give the slightest encourage ment to this enormous crime. 