INTERCOLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Southland Times, Issue 1187, 24 December 1869, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL EXTRACTS.

On the night of the 7th there died near Gordon, under the following somewhat unusual circumstances, a child aged five years, daughter of Mr Carton, farmer. It appears that on Friday last, while the mother was engaged in her domestic duties, the child goc hold of a large-sized tin box full of wax matches, and swallowed nearly the whole contents. The mother's attention was drawn to the state of the child on its vomiting some of the matches, but nothing was done by the parents in the way of procuring medical assistance until the following; Monday, when Dr Kieserwas consulted. By this time, however, the poison was so absorbed info the system thatall remedies proved ineffectual and death took place as stated. Several young ladies were on Friday (says the Geelong Advertiser) placed in a j very awkward predicament through the self-assurance of a young midshipman, who fancied that a blue coat and brass buttons are all that is necessary for the management of a boat. Beally believing himself to be a full fledged sailor, ha invited two or three young ladies to accompany him in a small boat. They accepted his invitation, and the -wind being off the shore they drifted merrily out to sea. could be more agreeable, the middy " did the grand," and the young ladies were quite fascinated. Suddenly their pleasure turned into despair, waking from their trance they found they were along way out, and that to reach the shore again it would be necessary for their protector to scull against a head wind. Before starting he had not examined his craft like a good sailor would have done, and when he eatne to look he found there was only one Oar in the boat. Scull he could not, and the ladies were quite frightened, knowing that if not seen from the shore it was more than probable they would drift out to Cowie's Creek or some other spot on the other side of the bay, a termination to their journey that was not at all desirable. Fortunately they were observed, and boats put off to the rescue of the damsels in distress. When the drifting craft was approached the middy had the impudence to call out that no aid' was required, an assertion that was quickly contradicted by one of his lady companions, all of whom will probably never again go out to sea with a beardless youth as their only navigator. A lady named King died a few days ago in Albury, having attained the great age of 82. Mrs King, says a local journal, came to the colony an infant of two years of age in the year 1789. and may thus be said to have been an eyewitness of nearly all the history of settlement in this part of the globe. She was the mother of nine children, four of whom are still living. Through this family she could call herself the grandmother of 58 grandchildren, and of 28 great-grandchildren — almost by themselves a foundation for a colony on a small scale. Mrs King resided for the last 18 years of her long life in Albury, and now lies buried in the cemetery there. Speculators in -tea are said to be anticipating a rise in prices, in consequence of the shipwreck of vessels consigned with cargoes to this colony. The first loss experienced was the Bella Kosa, off the island of Formosa ; and the total loss of another vessel, the Marie Gabrielle, off Moonlight Head, is now recorded a short distance from Cape Otway, on the 24th instanh The vessel was consigned to Messrs E. Towns and Co, and had 320,0001 b. of tea on board. A joint-stock association to provide a constant supply of fresh fish for Melbourne and the interior is, we believe, on the tapis. The proposed capital of £30,000 is intended to be raised by the sale of shares at £1 each. A fleet of about twenty well-smacks, upon the plan of the vessels used in the North Sea fisheries in Europe, will be provided, and divided into three squadrons. One part of the fleet will discharge cargo, while another is coming iv laden, and the third is employed at the fishing grounds. A steamer or a fore-and-aft schooner with an auxiliary steam propeller is to be attached to the fleet to tow smacks from the Heads. The cost of the smacks with their fittings and appliances, together with the steamer, is computed at £20,000, or two-thirds of the capital. It is intended to establish a curing station as soon as convenient, and the refuse of the fish will be manufactured into a fish. guano, which, it is stated, would be readily purchased by agricultarists. The curing and guano establishments would give employment to a large amount of unskilled labor. It is thought the company will meet the requirements of the community, and will yield large dividends to the proprietary. The plan of working will not be confined to deep sea fishing only, but the productions of the bays and harbors will be fully developed. — Herald. The South Australians have commenced to push a trade with India. The Vemon and the Jane Bell have sailed for Calcutta ; with assorted cargoes, in which every local industry but squatting had some share. The Vernon took 150 horses, several hundred tons of copper, nearly a hundred casks of preserved meat and tallow, and a consignment of jams. The Jane Bell's is the " sample " cargo, and a very respectable manifest it has ended in. The Government specimens comprise 154 packages of wheat, flour, preserved meats, biscuits, confectionery, jams, wines, cordials, liqueurs, raisins, pickles, oranges, bark, butter, honey, soap, &c. Nearly all the furnishers of samples have made consignments of the goods on private account, and some of these are extensive. The flour alone amounts to 2600 halfbags, the wheat to 573 bags, and the wine to a good many hogsheads, besides 30 casks of ale in bulk, and a dozen or more cases in bottle. The hitch between English cricketers and the agent employed to engage them for a trip to Australia, is likely to be adjusted, and the following professionals will form the " eleven -."— J. C. Shaw, A.

Shaw, J. Oscroffc, F. Silcoclr, Willsher, Marten, Jupp, Pooley, Humphrey, Griffiths, and Southerton. The voyage will be made early in October.