INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1546, 5 March 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

♦— ■ Melbourne, Feb. 26. A cake of gold from the Queen Victoria Company's reef, at Myrtle Creek, was exhibited on the 23rd in the window of the Oriental Bank. It weighed 155' >z 12dwt, and was the result of a crushing of 50 tons stone, got out by five men in four weeks. The largest land sale in the agricultural district of Echuca was held on the 23rd at the Courthouse. The police magistrate presided, and was assisted by Mr Langford, district surveyor, and Mr Henry Luth, the mayor. There were 79 applications for land, amounting to 20,000 acres. The proceedings were very quietly conducted. The applicants were principally of the agricultural class. Large quantities of corn are being purchased in | the district for exportation to England, , A great fire occured at Inglewood on the 24th. Several houses were burned down, including the Shamrock and Empire States Hotels. The damage is estimated at £8,000. The United Kingdom Mining Company, Majorca, has struck the Western Keef at 150 ft. level. They have struck sfcone which is estimated to yield 140oz per ton. The reef is 20in. thick. The steamship Great Britain arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 21st, after a very good passage of sixty days. The trial of Captain Collard for the loss of the Sussex was expected to be concluded on the 26th, as the case for the prosecution was closed. Mr Ireland, Q.C., in his address to the jury, attributed the whob blame of the loss of the vessel to the Pilot Board. The Admiralty regulations provided, he said, that pilots when at sea should flash their lights once every 15 minutes. It was admitted they had flashed oftener than that on the night the Sussex was coming in, and the consequence was that their light so closely resembled that of the Schanck that it was mistaken for it. Had they flashed only once every 15 minutes it would never have been taken for the Schanck light, which flashed every two minutes, and so the accident would have been avoided. The members of the Pilot Board were quite aware that the Admiralty regulation was infringed, and it was their duty to enforce its observance ; if they did not do so they were responsible. The Ballarat Star says the Rev. Mr Inglis's congregation will probably offer to secede from the Presbyterian Church, and constitute an independent congregation or church with Mr Inglis as the pastor. Mr O'Shanassy has been entertained at a dinner at Launceston. Alluding to Tasmania he expressed regret at her present unfortunate position and prospects, pointed out that annexation to a more powerful colony, under fair conditions, could not be to her disadvantage, and said that should the proposition ever be seriously made, and he have the power to facilitate it, he should certainly be found in favor of annexation. He disavowed, however, that his visit had anything to do with that subject. The Diphtheria Commission recently formed are instructed to inquire into and report upon the following subjects : — (1) The cause or causes of the appearance of diphtheria throughout the colony ; (2) the general and local aspect and sanitary conditions of places in which the disease has been known to have occurred ; (3) the progress of the disease throughout its various stages in certain ascertained and carefully observed cases ; (4) the treatment adopted therein ; (5) the result ; (6) the relation of diphtheria to other disease, inferred or presumed ; (7) the question of contagion or infection ; and (8) the remedial measures. By the last mail intelligence was received to the effect that since his arrival in England the mental condition of Sir Joseph Wilkie had not improved, and that his bodily health had considerably weakened. The Herald remarks it will also be learned with regret that symptoms of paralysis were manifesting themselves, and an opinion prevailed that anything like a permanent recovery in his case was quite out of the question. It appears that the Australian MeatPreserving Company has once more been resuscitated. According to the Argus, the new proprietary comprise 17 share holders haviug 40 shares amongst them, yalued at £500 each, and, as the plant is in good working order, operations are intended to be resumed at once. John Austin, the defaulting secretary of the Alfred Hospital, has been sentenced to six years' hard labor. The 20th ult. was observed in Melbourne as a day of thanksgiving for the recovery of the Prince of Wales. Mr George Cotterill, the clever polyphonist, burst a blood-vessel in his lungs while performing at Beechworth. After being seriously ill for Borne time, he j recovered bo far as to be able to undertake the voyage to Nelson. A scientific gentleman, in Ballarat, has for some months been experimenting \ upon various silicas and clays, with a view to test the practicability of manufacturing a good porcelain ware in Victoria. These experiments, the experimenter states, have been very I successful, and he expects to have some samples of good " biscuit " ready for public exhibition before long. He says, — (we quote from the " Ballarat Star ") — that good clay exists near Ballarat, but that a mixture of various clays and silicas, including Bulla Bulla kaolin, will be desirable. The question of fuel is one of importance in connection with the establishment of a pottery, and for some reasons, not clearly denned as yet, the projector is of opinion that a site near Melbourne will be desirable. He is anxious, of course, to have Buch aid from the Government as may be obtainable in the form of bonuses or assisted emigration passages for skilled potters from Europe, and if this rather " novel industry " can be shown to be establishable, tbe Government may be disposed, probably, to meet the case with liberality. The following official communication,

regarding telegraphic communication with Europe, has been received by the Government of Victoria from tbe Chief Secretary of South A ustralia : — "Adelaide, 9th February, 1872.— A-fter careful consideration, we have every reason to believe that through communication by horse express will be established within the next few weeks. lam informed that the temporary interruption (owing to extraordinary floods) to communication will be set right next week. We expect a telegram from Port Darwin by incoming mail, and to hear from Mr Todd by return of the Omeo steamer, due off Card well next week, when I will communicate further." James Middling, mine manager of the G-arden Gully Tribute (No. 6) Company, Bendigo, has been acquitted of the manslaughter of Edward Worrell. Ifc will be remembered that the latter was instantly killed by the breaking of a rotten rope. The jury found that the rope was unsafe, but that the deceased had been warned by the manager, and that the deceased need not have stood in the shaft to fill the bucket. The Crown prosecutor, however, pointed out that a witness had sworn it was necessary to stand in the shaft when filling the bucket. The M. A. " Mail " says that the peach trees in that district, as well as all over the colony, are dying from a mysterious disease. The leaves shrivel, and the fruit then drops upon the ground. The Melbourne papers report the death of a child from the over anxiety of the mother to protect the infant from cold. While being driven from Brighton, she wrapped her shawl so closely round the deceased as to cause suffocation. Operations have been commenced for the blowing up of the wreck of the ship Eliza, which, lies s*unk in the Bay, between Sandhurst and Williamstown. The work is nominally under the direction of Captain Payne, as chief harbor-master, but is in reality in the hands of Mr Ellery. Sydney. Sir James Martin (Premier) and Mr Cummins, a Ministerialist, have been returned for East Macquarie. Mr Lackey, late Chairman of Committees, and a supporter of the Government, has been elected, with Mr Hurley, for Central Cumberland. The Sobraon, with the Earl and Countess of Belmore on board, has sailed for England. There was a large assemblage to witness His Excellency's departure, but there was very little demonstration on the part of the citizens. At his Lordship's farewell levee, there were only 30 presentations. The Chief Justice has been sworn in as Acting Governor privately, the formal ceremony notified having been dispensed with. The City Council intends passing a congratulatory address to the Queen on the recovery of the Prince of Wales. Mrs Young, wife of a butcher at Gulgong, (N. S. W.) stabbed her husband dead, on the 20th. She has been committed for trial for wilfully murdering her husband. Another child's body has been found in the suburbs. The Gulgong escort has brought down 10,9000z. gold/ The bank rate of discount has been reduced to 5 per cent, for 9) day bills. Two tona of ingot tin from the northern mines were exhibited on Change. The steamer Waimea has been purchased for the Torres Straits pearl fishery. Mr E. Coombs, a new member, has been electsd for Bathurst, and Mr Dodds, a Ministerialist, for East Maitland. The Paxton claim has yielded over 7,0000z. gold from 247 tons quartz. All the shares in the Mount Mitchell Tin Company were taken up in an hour on the 24th. The Mudgee mail was stuck up on the 21st near Cherry tree, and the passengers and mails were robbed. The police are on the track of two men suspected of the robbery. Mr West has been returned unopposed for Carcoar, and Mr Cunneen, the Opposition candidate, has been elected for Wollombi. The schooner Ellen parted her cables and went on to the rocks on the 21st, at Eden. The vessel has become a total wreck. Mr Longren, who has just returned from New Guinea, reports that the fever season had set in, and stopped the pearl fishing. The Hunter River Steam Navigation Company has declared a dividend of 10 per cent. The mining mania is as rife as ever. An official from the British consul at Fiji has arrived with despatches for Commodore Stirling, urgently requesting that a ship of war might be sent there. Mr Hannell has been returned for Northumberland, and Mr Hoskin for the Tumut. Mr Wilson's (Minister of Lands) friends are canvassing Orange, but the I Opposition are confident of being able to beat him. Mr J. Byrnes (Minister of Works) intends trying a Western constituency, and it is said that Mr Webb will retire from West Macquarie in his favor. j Miss Want has been drowned whilst bathing at Newcastle. The body was swept seaward, and has not yet been recoyered. The barque Indus, coal laden, from Newcastle to Dunedin, has foundered off the Dromedary. The crew reached Bega in an open boat. At the wool sales prices were slightly dearer. Adelaide. The Eight Rev. Dr Shiel, Roman Catholic bishop, lies in a very dangerous state of health. He has removed the excommunication from the superioress of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Twenty thousand bushels of prime wheat have been sold at 5s 4d for shipment to England. Five thousand acres of land at Gum Creek were sold on the 22nd in Philip Levi's estate, at from 20s to 61s per acre. The Jane Bell' and Ayr have both

arrived from Mauritius, sugar laden; The latter's cargo is partly for New Zealand. Bowen (Queensland) , Feb. 24. Commissioner Sharkey fiaa' returned from Normanby, and reporta favorably on the place, especially for reefing purposes. Tough Brothers, of Sareiu* wood, have promised to erect a machine on the- ground within two months. There are at present over 300 men at work. Mr Sharkey will return and lay out the township immediately.