AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 20, 10 June 1871, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[From the Ab&its, May 15 to May 20.]

The rough estimate compiled from the census returns shows the present population of South Australia to be 185,000, of whom 95,000 are males and 90,000 females. The population of Adelaide is 27,200.

Tenders new Treasury bills of the New South Wales Government were opened on May 15. Over a million was tendered for at from £9B to £IOO Is Id. £143,200 was taken at 5d premium, and £IOO,OOO at Is Id premium, with accrued interest on each. In a slight discussion which took -place last night on the introduction of a bill having for its object the continu-’ ation of the charter of the Bank of New South Wales, some hon. members drew attention to the propriety of establishing a national bank of issue, and also of reviewing the whole banking question as it affects the colony. In reply the Chief Secretary said that it was the intention of the Government to appoint a committee to inquire into the matter, but that it was not possible to deal with it in a legislative manner during the present session. Mr Vale said he should oppose the continuation of the charter for more than five years.

The South Australian Government, it would appear from our Adelaide telegram, is making a sort of a bid to the eastern colonies for their consent to the Suez mails being sent round by Glenelg. They tell Mr Parkes that they are willing to bring his proposals regarding the Sydney San Francisco service beiore Parliament, if an assurance can be :given that the Glenelg scheme will be agreed to by the eastern colonies. But how it is supposed that Mr Parkes can give or in any way procure such an assurance, does not appear. Neither is it at all clear where, in the offer of the ‘South Australian Government, it is considered that the equivalent lies, for the sake of which the eastern colonies are •expected to consent to a day’s detention of their mails.

The Post-office department has just

made an arrangement for taking charge of telegrams from Europe, which would have been more appropriately made years ago. Made now, when direct telegraphic communication with England has become only a matter of a few months’ time, the movement is very tardy, and is scarcely worth making at all. The following is the departmental notice on the subject:—“Telegraphic messages to India or Europe, via Galle, will be received at this office, or at the Telegraph Office, Market Square, up to 6 p.m. on Saturday, the 20th inst., for transmission by the mail steamer, on payment of 7s 6d in addition to the telegraphic charges from Galle. Messages will also be received up to noon on Monday, the 22nd inst., for transmission by telegraph to Adelaide, and thence to Galle, on payment of 2s in addition to the above mentioned charges. Further particulars can be ascertained on application at the offices above named.”