SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 48, 26 February 1864, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

(From the Register, February 9.) Acclimatisation. — ¥c hope there is now a fair prospect of the acclimatisation question being vigorously taken up. in this colony. It' is \ riot like South Australia, nor is it creditable to us to be so far behind the other colonies /on a matter of this kind. "' Apart from the ■ scientific interest of the subject, we have as much to gain by acclimatisation as our neighbors have. A greater variety in our food, and an addition to the songsters in our thickets, would undoubtedlp be welcome. We are, therefore, happy to find that an attempt has been made either to resuscitate the former society, which in some unaccountable 'way became defunct, or to found a neAV one on an improved basis, and with a more energetic executive. There is one gentleman who was present at the meeting on Saturday, who, if he could spare the time to devote to this important work, will, we believe, be generally acknowledged to possess in an eminent degree thenecessary qualifications for the oflice. We need hardly say that we -refer, to Mr. S. Davenport. That gentleman has shown the deep interest he feels in developing the industrial resources of South Australia, and" by his letters in our columns suggesting the introduction of neAV articles of cultivation, it is manifest that he has devoted no small amount of intelligent thought to subjects kindred to those coming immediately within the province df an acclimatization society. * The successful labors of Mr. Edward Wilson, give both an example and an encouragement to any gentleman to whom a similar work may be committed. StojSTecuttees' Stehos.— Yesterday the stonecutters in the employ of Messrs. English and Brown struck work, demanding an increase, of 6d per day, which that firm had already said should not be given. The men stated, in their letter to this paper, that as the " wallers" or - builders, were receiving 9s. per day, the stonecutters considered that they were fairly entitled to the same rate of wages. We are assured by a gentleman connected with thej. firm of English and Brown that the wages of "wallers" in constant employment range from Bs. to Bs. 6d. per day ; whilst that of stonecutters range from Bs. 6d. -to 95., and even 9s. 6d., according to skill. The stonecutters have also the advantage of sheds to work in protected from the weather. So that the real fact is, that -taking all the year round, the stonecutters actually receive 6d. per day more than the wallers. This comparison, our informant states, applies to the men in constant employment, although he admits that higher wages may be, and no doubt often are, obtained by inferior workmen on occasional jobs, ortoriieet an emergency. CrisTpars' Rettjen's-. — The Government Gazette contains the returns- for the quarter ended December 31, 1863. The total imports are shown to have been £570,573 135., and the total exports £875,374. Of these, the exports of colonial produce amounted to £770,041.. The AIXL-Estglaitd Ceicketeks. — A meeting .of the committee appointed on Monday night to arrange forthe inAdtatibri of the All-England /Eleven to this Colony, was called for Thursday afternoon. Through some misunderstanding^ the members, of the committee had not been communicated with. v During a conversation, it was mentioned that each of the £1 shares —2,500 of which it was proposed to issue to meet all expenses — represented eight tickets, which could be made available on' the match days. Some doubt previously existed as to" the object of the shares, but with this | explanation, there is little doubt.- that ; the movement will prove suceeß&ful.f-