SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Hobart Town Advertiser, June 7.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 728, 24 July 1852, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. [From the Hobart Town Advertiser, June 7.]

i By yesterday's arrival we have Adelaide jour* pnals to the 24th inst., being eleven days later than our former, dates. The consideration of the important question of the navigation of the River- Mvr r ray has been revived, and we extract the annexed remarks upon the subject from the Register: — "It has been understood for some time past that a gentleman has been in communication with the Government on the subject of the navigation of the Murray, and the practicability of entering at the sea .mouth. The gentleman alluded to is, we understand, Capt. Cadell of the Queen of Sheba, who has made a definite proposition for carrying a steam vessel direct from the sea into the lake, and navigating, her as far as the Darling. Capt. Cadell proposes to have the vessel constructed in Sydney, and to make the experiment by the Ist of October next. The proposed vessel is to be 84 feet long, with a breadth of 1 1£ feet, to be fitted with a sixteen horse-power engine, and to be calculated to carry a cargo of 54 tons. Several longitudinal sections, some of them representing models adapted for river navigation, have been constructed by Captain Cadell and are now on view at the Exchange. For taking a vessel into the sea at the mouth of the Murray, Capt. Cadell asks a bonus 0f .£500 ; for navigating the river as far as its junction with the Darling a further sum of £1000 ; and for any extra distance beyond that point a rateable addition ; and £250 per quarter besides. Although this scheme differs in so many features from that which was connected with the standing bonus of £200 for each of two iron steamers; yet so impressingly important are the considerations that render the navigation of the Murray river desirable at this moment, that any pecuniary cost seems to be little enough if we can thereby purchase " the desired advantage." An official return. of the exports and imports for the first quarter of the current year had been published, and from them the following results are ascertained : — The imports from Great Britian amounted to £61,249 9s. ; from British possessions, £28,143 55.; and from Foreign States £12,303 16. ; the total of imports being £101,756 10s., and the Customs' Duties charged thereon, £l2, lo9 12s. lid. The most considerable -items were the following : — Apparel £1,512; bags and bales for corn, ore, & wool, £3,545 ; beer, cider, and perry, £2,762; cutlery, £3,565 ; drapery, £16,186; earthenware and glass, £1,621 125. ; iron £3tli3; oils and colours, £2,170; sugars, £3,756 ; timber, wood, and woodware, £5,463 10s.; sundry manufactures, £2,703 175. ; spirits, wine, and tobacco, £6,441 ; tea, £4,763 ; beer, £2,794 10s. ; hops, £6,253 ; bullion and coin, £10,446. The exports during the quarter amounted to the unusally large surn^ of £356,622 12,. The total comprised — Imports re-exported £114,713 10s. (chiefly to the neighbouring colonies to meet the extra demand occasioned by the gold discoveries) and staple productions" of South Australia, amounting to £241,909 2s. Mr. E. B. Scott, the Sub-Protector of Aborigines at Moorundee, had resigned office with the intention of proceeding to Melbourne ; I the papers announce that the tribes on the Murray, and even on the Rufus and the Darling, will hold a grand "Corrobboree" when they hear of Mr. Scott's departure, for "Merrilee" he was a general favourite with all the natives of the river, and the perfect freedom from outrage which has characterized the upper overland" route for the last few years is the best proof of the unlimited influence which Mr. Scott has acquired over them. Some 150 stand of arms were in course of shipping by the Government for Melbourne, at the request of the authorities of Victoria. Most of the tradespeople in Adelaide having felt the great inconvenience of the present scarcity of silver, and being desirous that the evil should be remedied by some prompt means, it is intended to address the Manager of the South Australian Company's notes for small amounts until an adequate supply of silver can be imported. The'"Yatala." — The Government schooner has sailed to the head of Spencer's Gulf with a party of surveyors, intended to meet the claimants of some mineral leases, who are to point out the ground for the survey. Some late reports of copper discoveries in the Port Lincoln country have attracted^ attention. , The Yatala will visit Port Lincoln on her return from landing the surveyors at the head of the Gulf. . V A