SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 107, 8 August 1846, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

We have received files of South Australian papers to the 27th June. In the statistical returns for that colony for the year 1845, the number of births are stated to be 708, the marriages 141, and the deaths 238, or somewhat more than one per cent, on the amount of population, which was 22,320 souls. The colonial revenue amounted to £36,182 : 9 : 10 being £8,303 : 17s. more than that of the preceding year, and £4,083 :6 : 5 in excess of the expenditure.

The following pnblic works wefe in contemplation, a new court-house, law-offices, and post-offices, near the Government offices, Victoria-square; a reservoir at one of the creeks at the foot of the hills for supplying the city with pure water; an extension of the Government wharf at Port Adelaide, and deepening the creek near it, a road on which, ultimately, rails may be laid, and wharfs built, along the creek to the north arm, to be connected with the Port road near Albert Town, and to be completed in three years; and a system of drainage and thorough repair of the streets of Adelaide. A new church was also to be forthwith commenced at Mount Barker.

Land Sales.—At the sale of mineral lands surrounding the Kapunda copper mine, which took place at the Treasury 13th June, about 3,000 acres were brought to public auction. All the sections were known either to contain copper ores visible on the surface, or were in such proximity as to render the probability of their being in the mineral " field" of that district. The highest price obtained was for a section of eighty acres immediately to the north of the Kapunda mines, which realized £7,100. For the five sections touching or bordering upon the Kapunda £18,517 were given. The whole sale realized £30,051. We have good authority for stating that the full amount (£20,000) necessary to secure, by special survey, the copper mountainjiear Mount Arden, was made up on.Saturday, and notonly so, but that the nucleus of a special association for another special survey is formed. The yield of pure gold from the crude ore of the Victoria Mining Company is ascertained to be fully equal to two ounces in the cwt. We understand many cwts. are expected from the mine this day.—SouthlAuatralian Observer, May 16.

Adelaide Markets, latest prices: —Wheat per bushel, 4s. 9d. to ss. 6d.; best flour, £15 to £16 per ton; English barley per bushel, 3s. 6d. to 45.; oats, 4s. 6d. to ss. 6d. per bushel; bread, 41b. loaf, 6d.; beef, 3d. to 4d. per lb,; mutton, 2|d. to 3d. per lb.; veal, 4d. to 6d.; pork, 4d. to 5d.; fresh butter, Is. 3d. per lb. ; cheese, 7d. to 19d. ; eggs, Is. 2d. per doz.; oxen, £4 to £6 each; cows, £3:10 to|£s : 10; wethers, 14s. to 16s.