COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 45, 14 January 1843, Page 179

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

By the Union, we have received the Port Phillip Patriot, Gazette, and Herald to the 24th of December, the. Geelong Advertiser to the 19th, and the Portland Guardian and Mercury to the 7th. In Melbourner the first Municipal election had just taken place, and, as far as we can judge, the gentlemen elected are likely to give satisfaction. Mr. Justice Willis was about to retire from the bench, and previous to his doing so, his friends were anxious to have a public meeting, for the purpose of showing the estimation in which that gentleman is held. As his honour's conduct has, on several occasions, been the cause of much difference of opinion and party feeling, it was feared that a breach of the peace would ensue ; his honour therefore desired that no meeting should be held. We regret to see our Port Phillip contemporaries indulging in personalities towards each other, the use of which is a reproach to the Colonial press. Geelong appears to be rising into importance. At the present time, eight ships are laid on for London. The district of Portland is also advancing, notwithstanding the want of roads, which prevents much of the wool at distant stations from being brought into the market. Another great drawback, is the constant outrages by the blacks, who continue to drive away entire nocks of sheep and lambs, with no other motive than a love of mischief. Great numbers of snakes are met with in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, and a caution is given to those I walk into the country. Agricultural labourers are in great request at Portland, and a society has been formed for the purpose of securing by joint subscription, a supply from Van Diemens Land and elsewhere. The two newspapers published in Portland, although but a few weeks old, have already fallen into the bad practice of some of their elder brethren, and have commenced abusing each other. We subjoin a few general extracts : — Scarlkt Fkveh.— We understand that this epidemic is extremely prevalent in Hobart Town among the poor, and in families which are numerous. It has proved fatal in a few instances. Supposed Wreck. — A report has reached town that two gentlemen who lately visited Portland, from Adelaide, had discovered on their return to that province, from 103 to 200 porter hogsheads scattered along the coast of South Australia, about thirty-five miles distant from the cattle station lately formed by Messrs. Henty Brothers, near Mount Gambier. Tne casks are said to be covered w.th barnacles, denoting that they had lain under water for some time. — Geelong Advertiser. Portland's Prosperity. — To show ihe extent to which the exportation of cattle and sheep is being carried on in this district, we have only to draw attention to the subjoined facts : — There have been shipped within the last few days, 200 sheep and 26 head of cattle by the Essington, 19 head of cattle per Minerva, and 187 sheep are now being put on board the schooner Will Watch, all for Launceston.' The Prince of Denmark sailed the week before last for Hobart Town, with 400 sheep on board ; and the Naiad is doily expected from Adelaide to take in a cargo of 400 wethers for the same port. — Portland Guardian. Thb Weather. — We had flattered our«elves that summer had really begun to smile upon the district, a few fine days having iutervened last week to cheer our drooping spirits. ' On. Sunday, however, the scene was again changed : the rain fell in torrents, accompanied with a strong gale of wind from S.E. We feel much for the woolgrowers, who, from the miserable state of the roads, have hitherto being unable to bring any of their produce to Portland.-— lb. Thk Rural Districts. — Apart from the noise and riot of the town, our readers will learn with pleasure that, excepting where damaged by the late floods, the crops of all kinds in the rural districts are much more abundant and infinitely more luxuriant than in any previous season. In every direction much larger trac*? of land than formerly have been brought into cultivation, and the moistnew of the season has encouraged vegetation to a most remarkable extent At Pascoevale, the other day, we saw a tract of country of great extent covered with wheat, barley, and oati, scarcely a single stalk of which was less than fix feet in height, and as evenly a crop as the most experienced farmer could wish to cast his eye upon. On the banks of the Yarra, however, where there was every prospect of a luxuriant crop of potatoes, many acres of land have been left waste by the late floods, and some of 'the finest gardens nearly destroyed. A few weeks' continued immunity from the blighting influence of hot winds w.ll en- I sure to the farmer an abundant return for his outlay, and will render the province entirely independent of the supplies from without which have hitherto drained from m, annually, so much of our fund*.— «P«rf PhiUippqttr.