SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 525, 14 August 1850, Page 2

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

We have received South Australian papers to the 24th June. The Legislative Council had voted £10,000 towards introducing a supply of water into Adelaide. Captain Bagot moved that a bonus of £2,000 each be paid to the two first iron steamers, of not less than 40 horse power, and drawing not more than two feet, which should successfully navigate the Murray from the Goolwa to the mouth of the Darling j this motion was agreed to ; but another, proposing v a loan of £5,000 in aid of an equal amount raised by parties engaging in the navigation of that river, was rejected. A proposition had been brought before the Council to reduce the postage on letters, and a bill was to be introduced ; the amount .talked of was a postage on ship letters of 4d., on country letters a uniform postage of 2d., and on town letters of Id. ; and these rates it was considered would meet all expenses. Motions approving the principles of a loan for immigration purposes, and of guaranteeing dividends on railways had been withdrawn, the sense of the Council being that it was well not to impose fresh burdens on the revenue on the eve of ft change in the constitution. The official return of the exports of South Australia had been published, for the quarter ending 31st March. The exports were £243,220 (including a cargo from Fort Lincoln) against £153,357 in the first quarter of 1849. The principal increase was in ores, £92,215 against £57,861 ; grain and flour, £20,737 against £11,123 ; copper, £30,617 against £700; and wool, £82,916 against £77,578. The return of passengers during the quarter gave 3,127 inwards, and 1,753

outwards, showing an increase of population in this way of 1,374. The principal topic of discussion was the Governor's Goolwa railway scheme, and the question raised by it of whether the advantages likely to flow from the attempt to throw open the Murray to commercial enterprize would repay the outlay, the doubts being excited by the singular want of exact knowledge among the colonists as to what are the present capabilities of the Murray for interior navigation. Borra Burra shares, which for a long period had stood at from £160 to £170, were still rising, the South Australian quoting their price on the 27th June thus :— " Burras, £200 cash, sellers. Sales this day— two at £196, cash ; six at £215, six months ; and eight shar.es at £200, three months. Aerival of the Second Judge. — The second judge, Mr. Crawford, has arrived by the Midlothian, accompanied by his lady and three children. — South Australian ,June 28. The Burra Burra Mines. — The quantity of ore raised at' the Buna Burra Mine during the last two months has been, on a rough estimate, about 5000 tons — about double the amount of any former take. This is in consequence of a new system of working commenced in April last, as an experiment, by which the miners were encouraged to raise the poorer ores, which under the old arrangements were neglected. The effect of the experiment has yet to be tried ; it is likely to prove profitable ; but it must not be supposed that the mine is actually yielding double what it did before. — Ibid. Keeping the Judges out op the New Court-house. — On Thursday last the officials connected with the administration of justice were taken aback by the contractor refusing to admit them to the new court-house. As negociation was found useless, the Crown Solicitor proceeded there yesterday evening, with the posse comitatis, headed by T. Gilbert, Esq., effected a forcible entry, and placed constables in possession of the building, who are prepared to hold it on behalf of our sovereign lady the Queen against all assailants. — Register, June 29.