QUEENSLAND.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 90, 15 September 1863, Page 3

QUEENSLAND.

We have Brisbane papers to the 12th inst. We extract the following : — ■ Tin*: Financial Position. — On Friday last Mr Moffatt, for the first time, delivered a financial statement officially. Perhaps it would he more appropriate to siy that he was delivered of a vast mass of old statistics and returns, intermingled with some items which really bore tlie burden of tlie task which it was his duty as Colonial Secretary, to fulfil. The chief point which is worthy of notice is the fact that, in spite of tlie land order system, that branch of the revenue is nofc, up to the present time, very materially affected. To quote from the hon. Treasurer's speech, we find that — •' Notwithstanding the expense enlailed upon tho Government by opening up new country, and the burden upon tlie revenue caused by the land orders, he believed that, the returns quoted were a subject of congratulation to tiie colony. 1 hiring the year 1801 the number of bind orders issued was to the value of L 17,773, and the number cancelled to tlie value of L12.27G. During the year ISG2 the number issued was to the value of L0U,532, and tlie number cancelled to the value of L50,5!)1. The number issued from tlie Ist January to the 31st July, IS(>3, represented LO.")U 7s 6d, whilst the number cancelled for the same period amounted to L 39.51 1. In effect, the total of land orders cancelled to the close of ISG2 represented LG2.S7I. Those cancelled to the closeof July, 1803. represented L 102,653. The number of orders outstanding at the close of December, ISO 2, represented L'Ll,43G, whilsfctho.se outstanding at the close of SlvSiy, 18U3, represented L69.7U0. Thus, although alarge strain upon the revenue had been entailed by the land order system, and the great sum of L50,0'.)5 had heen paid out of the revenue during I^o2, for the cancellation of land orders, the finances of the country were in a healthy condition " The estimate of revenue for the year 186 1 is L 417,251). Ancl the estimated excess of revenue over expenditure is L69,-'34. An item for loan tothe amount of L 1,032,500, 032,500 appears on the last page ofthe Estimates. This sum, it is presumed, will have to be raised hy special Act of Parliament. — Daily Guardian, August 12th. A Dngong Calf was brought to Brisbane on Saturday, by Nr Hammond and his crew of blackfellows. The animal lias a singular appearance, and the flavor of the fiesh is no less remarkable. It is very shy, requires to be approached with caution, ancl resembles very much the walrus in general appearance. It was covered with barnacles, and had evidently hut recently heen floated into the bay from the North. — Times, August 10. Gold Field. — The Gladstone correspondent of the North Australian says: — I had just despatched my last communication to you when the news arrived in town of the finding of'a two pound nugget. At the time I thought the news too good to be true, but t now find it to be correct, and the lucky digger is a liurnec man. Several nuggets have been found during the past week ; a ;Chinarnan found one weighing.7oz sclwts, and a blackfellow two weighing respectively 2oz, 7dvvts, and lTdwts. I fancy your readers will hardly credit that the blacks are Working, and doing a stroke tco — bnt tliey are, ntv. vtheless. An application has been made for an extended claim to prospect the quarlz reef. Most of the diggers are earning move than wages, and men with tin dishes, tell me they make "tucker." 1 should think there are nearly 200 men on the ground.