INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1623, 23 August 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

♦ ■ Melbourne, August 15. The Telegraph says : — " The weather has, if anything, become worse as regards rain, rain, rain, almost without a single fine day to dry up the over-abundance of moisture. As a consequence, farm work is almost entirely at a standstill, and very unfavorable reports are arriving from various parts of the colony. For the last seven weeks we have had an almost daily downfall of rain, and, as may be expected, it is no longer beneficial to the crops, the ground in most districts being thoroughly saturated, and in low- lying localities the grass is beginning to assume a yellow and unsatisfactory color, indicating that the roots are rotting." It is reported by some of the farmers around Learmouth that the grub and wireworm are creating sad havoc amongst the wheat crops in that district. These pests, coupled with the almost unparalleled fall of rain, are causing considerable uneasiness to be felt. Owing to the scarcity of fat stock, the .Riverine Meat Preserving Company has had to suspend operations. The Assembly has voted L4OO for the Secretary and Council of Agriculture. The Town-ball organ was used for the first time on the Bth. It is said to be as good an instrument as money can buy, and one that will always be listened to with pleasure when skilfully used. An ex -mounted constable has received LSOO damages in the Supreme Court for injuries received by him from a bull •while attending an auction Bale. The alarm occasioned by the foot and mouth disease has abated, and the Soyal Commission appointed, to inn"i*» i«to tliw matter have submitted a progress report. It recommends a lengthened period of quarantine — six months as a maximum — and the selection of some island off the coast as a quarantine station. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of Victoria, a dividend of 10 per cent, was declared; and at that of the National Insurance Company of Australasia, one of 8 per cent. The workings at the Melbourne Mint are progressing satisfactorily. The new silver coinage has been received from home, and the total receipts of bullion to date amount to over 83,0000z. It is thought that the new Theatre Eoyal will be finished in November. The increase of telegraphic messages in the colony since the reduction of the tariff has led to the erection of a new central office inElizabeth-street, adjoining the Post-office. The operating-room is a magnificent one, and there is very fair accommodation for the convenience of the public. The Diphtheria Commission recommend that the sulphur treatment is the best. The 29th day of last month was the twentieth anniversary of the arrival at Melbourne of the Peninsular and Oriental ' Steam Navigation Company's iron steamer Chusan, which took the first mails from Australia by the overland route to Europe. Mr Gordon, the Chief Engineer of Water Supply, has returned from his visit of inspection to the various works of construction connected with the Victorian Water Supply scheme. He reports very unfavorably of the condition of the dam and reservoir at Stony Rises ; in fact, describes them as in a dangerous condition, and as to the Malmsbury works, his report shows that they will require considerable repairs. Owing to the close season having commenced, the Colac Meat Preserving Company (says the Q-eelong Advertiser) have been obliged to discontinue game preserving, but are actively engaged in preserving beef and rabbits. The G-overnment intend to increase the special appropriation of L 40,000 provided in the Estimates for main road construction purposes within shires by the sum of L 15,000, making the amount available L 55,000. Direct telegraphic communication with England has not yet been established. The submarine cable between Java and Port Darwin is still interrupted, and it is reported that it ia broken near Sandalwood' Island. There remains only 50 miles of the land line to be constructed. The Californian mail contract, proposed by Mr Duffy and Mr Yogel, has been rejected by the Legislative Assembly by 35 to 15. Owing to the approaching termination of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's contract, the Government will shortly submit to Parliament propositions for new postal services. It is probable that the Border Duties

question will be settled by an arrangement under which Victoria will undertake to pay to New South Wales the balance found to be due to that colony after taking an account for 12 months, the treaty to last for three years. Snow has fallen prefcfcy heavily in different parts of Victoria. A trial has been made or" the machinery of a beet sugar factory that has been started at the Anakies, in tlio Geelong district, in the midst of a considerable acreage of beet grown expresaly for the company. It is intended to commence regular work at once, and the result will be carefully watched by large numbers of farmers in these colonies who are anxiously looking out for some more reliable and profitable crops than wheat and oats. In Gippa Land the hop has found a home, the number of growers having increased 1 considerably. STMfET. Parliament was prorogued on the 13fch. The Governor's speech was short. It congratulated members on the prosperous state of the revenue, and said that the Border duties negotiations to the present time justified the early expectation of a friendly settlement of the question ; also, that the agent-general had been instructed to call for tenders in London for the Californian mail service. The Government has called for tenders until the 20th October for a monthly mail service to California, calling at Fiji and Honolulu ; the passage to occupy 30 days, with a penalty of LSO daily if over time and a premium of LSO daily if | under time, the vessels employed to be iron propellers of not lesa than 1,500 tons register. The service is to commence next July. The Sydney Meat-Preserving Company has submitted a satisfactory report. Heavy snow storms in the Southern districts continue. The subscription fund for Detectives Elliot and Camplin, for their services in connexion with the Parramatta Biver murders, amounts to Ll4O. The Lalla Rookh has arrived from Mauritius, with 216 tons of sugar, and dates to the 17th June. No sugars were offering, and freights were dull, pending the new crop. The Bulwark, from Londou to Auckland, had put in there badly damaged. The Marine Board had censured Captain Middleton as being responsible for the loss of the Clara Say erg. The Eliza Blanche, for "Western Australia, was the only vessel loading for the colonies. Several more diamonds have been found in the creeks and claims about Bathurst. News has been received that a terrific hurricane ravaged the island of New Caledonia last month. The schooner Trene was wrecked, and considerable damage was done to the crops. Seven girls escaped from the Female Reformatory at Cockatoo Island during the night, and succeeded in reaching the mainland, in a boat. Five have been recaptured, but two are still at large. Fiji via SroKET. Fiji papers state that the 10ca1,., court, had cesolved ta *01l a British^-reeaeT - ?r under a decree for wages, after a protest on the part of the consul and inter- ■■■- ference of the captain of the German corvette Nymphe. Mr Smith, a settler, had been committed for trial for shooting a native. Adelaide. A published return shows that L 840.000 has been expended on the construction of main roads within a radius of 100 miles of Adelaide. ,• ; i'^'^ A company is being formed for fehjß^ ' purpose of growing sugar and spice in ; .. the Northern Territory. Fifteen thousand bushels of inferior wheat have been sold in a line at 5s 4d ; 100 tons country flour, Ll2 10s. Prime wheat is firm at 5s 10£ d. A child 16 months old has accidentally hung itself by getting between the bars of its cot. Put wain, the diver, has recovered the wreck of the ship Grecian, which foundered 20 years ago.