Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 661, 9 March 1859, Page 5

Colonial.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

We have papers from Perth to the 12th January. The 'Enquirer and Commercial News,' adverting to ah official report that had been recently published of mining operations in different parts of Western Australia, observes:—lt is, altogether, a very satisfactory document, and it's statements carry more weight because there does not appear to have been any iittempt at exaggeration. It isi besides^ a business-like: production, arid calculated to exercise a due effect upon the<minds of businessmen. There is now, therefore, some prospect of our mines being worked niore extensively than hitherto, certainly with'more confidence, 'lip to the present time; operations ' have'been f carried ■. on 'with, considerable energy, && is evident by the quantity, of, ore raised and shippedj but having no practical .miner, to superintend anddifect/every thing effected was done at the risk ;6f erroiyan'd -with apro'speot of having, vat i some /future ipetiod.; to -start afresh; in consequence of the : absehoe-of,, professioniil i-skill. The report describes only the mineral, prpperby of the company, and only a we're' fractioh 6f the itiints-

' ral lands of the district, and there is every reason : to believe'that .lands of equal if not greater richness; I abound. It will undoubtedly be to. the advantage: iof the uolonyi if these lands,are brought into the market and, .purchased <hy private individuals or i companies.,. .If-, a dozen mint's were. in full 'work; not only the district .-but; the. whole colony would be benefitted.

The-s,ame journal states'that already; the price of Crown Lands in the locality of the mines has risen,, and purchasers cannot now .calculate upon securing laud under fifty per cent, on the'upset price.

, By the arrival, at Perth, of the Swiftsure, a variety, of English seeds and plants .had been introduced, for the-first time, in the colony for cultivation. They are to be planted in some favourable locality, and should they thrive, to be distributed among the; settlers. They are as under : Sweet chesnut, horse chesnut, spruce fir, yew, barberry, hydrangea, robur. arbor vitaj, aucuba japonica, sweet bay, box, weigela rosea, red cedar, upright .cypress,-holly- (green and variegated), juniper, laurestinus. Portugal laurel, evergreen privet, rhododendron,.filbert, gooseberry, currant* rosemary, laurel, beech, potato onion, &c.

Bush fires have been very destructive this season, and, independent.of much feed being destroyed, property to some extent has also been consumed.'

There appearstorbe much misapprehension (says the 'Commercial News') with respect to the capabilities of Warnborough Sound as an anchorage for the mail steamers. . It is very desirable, therefore, that this question should be set at rest. Recent explorers have stated'that there is easy access to a good; harbour.. Thisimay or rri'ay not be a misconception on their part, but the matter might be at once determined if the< Surveyor-General were instructed to report to-the Government the actual state of the anchorage, and facilities for ingress or egress, such report to be published for the information of the colonial and foreign public.

On;the ; sth of January, his Excellency the Governor laid the foundation stone of a new. building for the reception of the large and constantly increasing school belonging to the Wesleyan cpmmunioiu His address on the occasion milst'have pleased the most enthusiastic in the cause of,religious toleration and equality.— Perth Independent;: \ The ' Perth Inquirer' of 29th December says, concerning the crops:—From- the south we have most satisfactory accounts of the harvest, and as the grass-hoppers do "not attack, the standing corn the yield at the Vasse; will _be. equal to the. most favourable' anticipations ; of the- growers; The pest we have alluded td' does not. seem less annoying than in former 3rears, and the range of the ravagers is more extended.. In some localities which they formerly frequented in great numbers they are not now so plentiful, but to make up for this they have travelled, to other spots hitherto untouched, or only partially attacked; leaving a desolate track-in the line of their march.1 They devour potatoes and all garden produce, and strip the leaves from the vines and other fruit trees. Tile season is, however, now approaching for their departure or rather death, as they expire after, depositing their eggs.

The grape crop this season will be larger than it' was everknown, the bunches hanging thick and of very large' size; in many instances, however, we have noticed that the setting of the.blossom was, not perfect, and the bundles are not full of berries, a circumstance rather fortunate than otherwise, as, if perfect fecundation' had.taken place, the mass of fruit would have been so "great as; to have seriously weakened and damaged the plant— Perth Independent. A public meeting was about being held concerning the: muclr agitated, question of reforming the Legislative Council. .-..-..-.. -

The settlers in the country districts complain loudly of the scarcity of hands,, not merely of a want of harvest hands, but of a w*ant which will still be felt when even the busy season is over. In some instances^ sixteen shillings aft'acre has been refused for reaping.- Western Australia holds out to the laborer, at the present moment, more chances for success than any other Australian colony.—Perth' Gazette. ' "~\