INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1335, 15 November 1870, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

By the Alhambra, which arrived at the Bluff on Saturday, we have Melbourne dates to the 7th inst : — Some uncertainty exists in the public mind as to the possible effect of the European war .in, inteEruptiag-<H?-alt»rJa^^be~ routes of the homeward mails by Marseilles and Brindisi. On enquiry, we (Argus) learn that the postal authorities of Victoria do not purpose to take any special stops to secure the passage of the mails for the United Kingdom, &c, via Marseilles or Briodisi. The mails will be of course accompanied by an Admiralty agent, upon whom the responsibility of making all necessary arrangements will devolve. The weather did not prove favorable for the opening of the Victoria Racing Club Spring Meeting. The attendance is estimated at GOOOor 7000. The Melbourne Stakes was won by Tim Whiffler, with great ease. The Hotham Handicap was won by Nimblefoot. The Victorian Derby only brought out seven younsters. Mr Tait having declared to win with Pyrrhus, his price quickly rose, until he was at evens against the field. As the horses came round the turn for home, Tait's pair, Florence and Pyrrhus, were in front, the filly having the lead, and all the way up the straight-running Stanley, who was on Florence, appeared to be trying in vain to atop the mare, while Pyrrhus, within a couple of lengths, was going under the whip but unable to pass her. The fact of such a finished horseman as Stanley not being able to hold the filly, was considered such a capital practical joke by those who had no money on the race, that the exhibition was greeted with roars of laughter, while those who had placed their trust in Pyrrhus wore extremely long faces. The performance lasted until after passing the winning-post, when, strange to say, both horses appeared to be pulled up easily. \ Very great dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner in which this race was run, many persons being heavy losers by Mr Tait's declaration. The Essendon Stakes was won by Trump Card. The day's racing concluded with the Footscray Plate, won by The Dane. A very good clip has been obtained this season at the station of Stewart Bros., near Carisbrook. About 3000 sheep have been shorn, with an average of about s£lb of wool from each animal. Shearing operations are very late in the Warrnambool district this season, says the Advertiser. Advantage has, however, been taken of the few days fine weather for a start, and the first load of the season's clip of wool had arrived at Warrnambool. The total amount of gold exported from the colony of Victoria since the beginning of the year is 1,252,568 ounces, of which 215,077 ounces were transhipped from New Zealand. During the corresponding period of the previous year the entire quantity exported was 1,418,549 ounces, and of this total 216,245 ounces were from New Zealand. The moist yet warm weather has been so forcing vegetable growth, that great injury has been done to crops falling and matting on the ground. On the hills near Gastlemaine (says the Mail), wheat and oat crops are heavy, but still erect. The fruit trees are overladen, and in low and wet places the trees show signs of decay, the roots actually rotting with the continued moisture. At Campbell's

Creek much complaint is made of fruit trees dying, and many of them of several yeara' growth. This will be a very late wool season (says the Gselong Advertiser), as, in consequence of the bad state of the roads, settlers are unable to get their wool down, and half the men at the stores engaged to dump it when it arrives are standing idle. Last year ships had sailed by this time, whereas not one has yet finished loading, although the Moravian will, it is expected, leave in a day or two. It is thought that the season will be fully a month later than it has been for years. Notwithstanding the very wet season experienced, the crops in the Lake Bolac district never looked better than they do now, we learn from the Hamilton Spectator. A few look sickly on the lowlying grounds and where the drainage is deficient ; but everywhere else they ap- i pear excellent — in some cases too much so* as late heavy rain had completely prostrated portions of them ; however, if the weather takes up, we may expect such an abundant harvest in this district as has not been known before. Sydney, Nov. 5. The bill to reduce the future Governor's salary has passed the Assembly; ' . Adelaide, Nov. 5. The English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank have now on hand 3,0000z. of South Australian gold, purchased recently on the various diggings. The Scrub Land Bill, introduced into the Assembly, extends the operations of the old act by the addition of a large number of new districts. The old act has been found to induce settlement upon a large area of what was at one time considered worthless land. Messrs. C. Gooch and Son, an old-esta-blished firm in the wholesale drapery trade, have sold their business to Messrs. D. and W. Murray. HOBABT TOWIT, NOV. 5.; The volunteers met last night, Captain Tarleton presiding. They passed a resolution, that as the Government declined to ask Parliament for a sum of money towards the maintenance of the corps, the members considered they were liberated from their obligations of service ; but they protested against the odium of breaking up the only defence force in the. city at a time when England may possibly be involved in war, being cast upon them, and they declined to resign or assume the responsibility of disbanding, which belonged to the Government.