COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 85, 21 October 1843, Page 339

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The two first sheets of an Australian Atlas have just been completed in Sydney. They are the maps of Cumberland and Durham, ana are said to be executed with singular fidelity and spirit. The only two rectifiers in Sydney, Messrs. Evans and Selkig, have been detected in illicit distillation. It is said there is evidence that in one day upwards of six hundred gallons were run off, the still having what is called a flat pan running off in a very little time. The Sydney Herald suggests the abolition of colonial distillation and a reduction of the importation duties. At present the duty on colonial spirits is nine shillings a gallon, and on imported spirits nine shillings for rum, and twelve shillings for gin and brandy, and if colonial distillation were forbidden, and the duties on imports reduced, say to six shillings for ram and eight shillings for brandy, or even a shilling lower, it is thought that the revenue would be improved and smuggling be put an end to. The Sydney Herald states, that in the year 1841, there were 1,924 marriages in the colony; and that in 1842 the number was 2,564. Of births, in 1841 there were 5,204; and in 1842, 6,333. The deaths were, in 1841, 2,894; in 1842, 2,717. The net increase in the population during the two years was as follows :—: — Births, 11,537; deaths, children, 2,555 ; being a net increase of children of 8,982, less death of adults 3,056 ; the net increase of the population for the two years was therefore, from births along, 5,926. A vessel which touched at Swan River on the 6th of May last (the Phantom), disposed of twenty tons of flour at £20 per ton ; and cows imported from Port Phillip realized £6 55., and sheep from 11s. to 14s. 6d. A flock of 900 ewes were sold at the following prices — aged ewes 10s.; four and six tooth ditto 14s. 6d.; two ditto ditto 205. ; wethers 19s. 6d. ; ewe lambs 108.; wether lambs 6s. 6d. each, all of which were considered extremely low. We have another addition to make to the already numerous list of our colonial manufactures, and one which we guess will give the London exporters and Adelaide merchants the blues, although it will no doubt be bailed by our thrifty housewives and economical laundresses; we mean the manufacture of stone blue, which is being retailed at English prices. The specimen which has been shown us is equal to any that has been produced in England or elsewhere. It is prepared by a medical gentleman, and is finding its way into the druggists' and grocers' shops. Colonial enterprise has now secured for our washerwomen three of the cardinal points of their craft, namely, soap, starch, and blue, a fourth, chrystals of soda, is alone wanting (with a due proportion of elbow-grease) to enable them successfully to compete with sistercolonies or mof&er-country. — Adelaide Observer. Cape of Good Hope. — The news from the

Cape, via Hobart Town, extend to the 15th July. I A cloud has again come over the bright prospects opened up by the extension of British authority I to the territory of Port Natal. The exploits of | a daring bandit, named Tola, are attracting a j large snare of public notice ; but no doubts

were entertained of his early apprehension. An account of a melancholy series of shipwrecks in the adjacent seas is also given. There is reaj son to fear the worst in regard to the fate of the Emu, from London to this port with immigrants. — Colonial Obeserver. The decrease of the Quarter's Revenue, ending 30th June, 1843, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1842, is £15,143 12s. sd. The decrease has been chiefly on the duties on imported spirits, tobacco, and foreign goods, auction duties and auctioneers 3 licenses, post office collections, assessment of stock beyond the boundaries, land sales, and licenses to occupy Crown land, lhere has been an increase on the duties, on spirits distilled in the colony, licenses to distil and retail fermented and spirituous liquors, the sale of confiscated, unclaimed, and other public property, rents of land temporarily leased, and repayment for the treatment of convicts in the lunatic asylum. In the article

of duties upon spirits imported into Sydney , there appears a decrease of £6,259 3s. 3d., the amount being £28,957 18s. 4d., in the second quarter of last year, to £22,399 15s. Id., in the quarter ending June 30th, 1843. It is proposed to discourage unnecessary litigation by the establishment of an Anti- Attorney Society. Matters in dispute are to be settled by properly-constituted arbitrators. A correspondent of the Portland Mercury says — " I have at present before me a sample of wheat, grown on a station about ten miles from the township, weighing 68lbs. per bushel, and there are hundreds of acres farther in the exterior equally as good, if not superior ; " and a gentleman of the first respectability, residing about sixty miles distant, reported to the editor that the produce of 12 acres of his land was as follows : — 64 acres, 400 bushels wheat; 3 acres, 210 busheUgjbarley ; 1* acre, 114 bushels oats; and 1 acre, 8 tons potatoes. There are thirty-five hands constantly employed at West Maitland, in the manufacture of tobacco. There are fourteen twisters, and as many stemmers, the latter being children from eight to twelve years of age. The tobacco manufactured is of excellent quality, and got up in a style much superior to any other colonial manufactured tobacco. From 1,800 to 2,000 lbs. are r munufactured weekly. The quantity of wool exported from Launceston, in the season just ended, was 8,374 bales. Potatoes are very plentiful in Hobart Town ; they are of a superior quality, but almost unsaleable in any quantities. Placards are posted offering them at 3s. 6d. per cwt. ! The twopound loaf is sold by the bakers at Hobart Town for 2d.