SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1252, 17 May 1870, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Adelaide, April 28. The report of Mr Goyder, the Surveyor- General, on the Victorian Land ■ Act is very exhaustive. It is opposed to free selection before survey, butisin favor of large agricultural areas being surveyed and extended credit given to the purchaser. Samples of Queensland sugar exhibited on the table of the Exchange to-day i excited considerable attention. The ballot for the order of choice of the i Northern Territory sections will be held , in Adelaide, but the selection of land ; itself will take place at the Northern Territory settlements. ; April 29. The Warrakimbo rin was offered at i auction but withdrawn, the highest bid . being 8s 6d per head. The alteration in the lands regulations extends the term of the credit to five l years, and allows a longer time for the i erection of fences and other improve- ' ments. The proceedings of the North Austrai lian Company against the Government, in re the Northern Territory, have been i temporarily suspended through an inforl mality in the writ. April 30. The instructions given by the Cabinet L to Captain Douglas, the G-overnment , resident at the Northern Territory, have ; been published. They are very explicit, i and generally approved of. A splendid lode has been cut at the i Paramatta Copper Mine. " Twenty-five per cent, of the ore is pure copper. j i It has been suggested tbat Mr M'Kin- , ' lay, the well-known explorer, and Mr Daly, \ nephew of the late Governor Sir Dominick • Daly, who are proceeding to the Northern l Territory, should return overland, with . the view of finding the best route for a » land line of telegraph to meet the , i {proposed line via the Eastern Islands. I

May 2. The drought still continues, and th< alarm about the scarcity of water for the use of the city increases and causes mud anxiety. May 3. The Q-ovemmenfc have chartered the Bengal at A'Boo for the voyage to Port Darwin, but no arrangement has been made to bring back her passengers. Great anxiety is being felt in the city respecting the water supply. The water in the reservoir is very low, and fears are entertained of a scarcity, unless the rain sets in early. The man Goodman, who was injured by the police in the late " unemployed " riots, has accepted £30 as compensation from the Government. A man was much injured at the Gawler Bailway Station, whilst working on the line. l . May 4. , The press draws special attention to Mr Lorimer's address to the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, as an able and masterly exposition of the industry an<j commerce of the colony. j A good deal of speculation is rife as to who will succeed Mr Young here in the management of the National Bank, in the event of his being transferred to the head institution in Melbourne. ''. The Marine Board, after duly investigating the circumstances attending the late collision on the river at Port Adelaide, between the City of Dublin and the Lubra, lays the entire blame upon the pilot, and condemns the general method of towing vessels in the stream. • -: May 5. i There have been heavy rains in the far north, and several light showers have fallen in town. ' \ The corn market is quiet, and wheat remains steady at 5s 3d. •■ May 6. The .Ministry have resigned, and Mr Strangways has been entrusted with the task of forming an Administration. ; The National Bank meeting, held here in accordance with the local act of incorporation, passed off much more quietly than was anticipated, owing to | the satisfactory explanations given by the Hon. Mr Blyth, who had just returned from being present at the meeting of the head branch of the institution in Melbourne. A resolution was carried declaring the advisability of a dividend, and it is generally understood the principal part of the Adelaide shareholders are inclined to support the action proposed to be taken by the shareholders in Melbourne on the 30th : inst. in furtherance of that object. Messrs Blyth and Hughes, the retiring directors, have been re-elected. An influential deputation from the holders of Northern Territory land orders j waited on the Government, requesting a postponement of the drawing for the order of selection until the 30th of June next, on the ground that the proprietors have the option until that date of accepting the increased area. The Government, however, declinßrtcridteriibie present arrangement. ■ r r~~- r -:-...: - .' " | M^ 7. ! ' Mr Strangways has not yet succeeded in forming an Administration, . but the difficulties in the way of his success are not expected to be insurmountable. The weather has changed, and the fears entertained of a short supply of water are dispelled. Several showers have fallen, with every indication of steady rain setting in. .The drought has seriously affected the yields from our gold-fields. The corn market is firm, and Bales of wheat have been made at 5s 4d. ■