INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1652, 22 October 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

» From files per Alhambra. Melbotjbne, Oct. 12. Parliament is still in session, and is not likely to be prorogued until the end ot November, or the beginning of December. Tbe Land Act Amendment Bill has been rejected by the Legislative Council, and the Mining on Private Property Bill so altered as to make its rejection by the Assembly certain. The Education Bill has passed its second reading in the Legislative Assembly by 42 to 21. The new Public Loan Bill for rather more than a million sterling has passed both > Houses. Sir James M'Culloch has been appointed agent-general for the colony, iD the place of Mr Childers, resigned. The rush to Charters Towers, in North Queensland, has proved a failure, and hundreds of miners are returning. At the Yam Creek, near Port Darwin, some payable reefs are said to havebeen opened, but no alluvial leads have been discovered. The submarine cable between the Australian continent and Java haa not yet been repaired, but arrangements have been made for a temporary steam service between Port Darwin and Banjoewangi, Java, to connect the two land lines. It is expected that the first English meesage will be transmitted from Port Darwin to the several colonies early in November. Arrangements are being made here for the forthcoming exhibition in London and Vienna, and it is expected that the colony will be well represented. The convict John Weechurch, while located in the Melbourne gaol, pending his removal to Pentridge, made a deliberate attempt to commit suicide, by opening a vein in bis arm with a piece of glass. When discovered, he was lying on the floor of his cell, weltering in blood, which flowed freely from the wound, but the gaol doctor, after examining him, pro nounced the wound not dangerous. The convict had, it appears, managed to secrete the glass in his coat-cuff. Tbe reason given by Weechurch for the attempt on hia life is that death is more welcome to him than Pentridge. It is proposed to start a meat preserving company at the Little River. The company will be a co-operative one to a great exteut, and most of the partners, being practical men, vrill actively assist in the operations. There are 126 breweries in Victoria, and the beer brewed last year amounted to " the enormous quantity of 13,061,145 gallons, or an 18-gallon caskful for each man, woman, and child, teetotallers included, in the colony." The capital invested in plant and premises is £470,000. Sydney. The quarterly statement of revenue shows an increase of £250,000. The land revenue has been trebled. Tbe high price of caitle continues. One lot of prime description was sold yesterday at £10 a head. A Queensland pa ter reports advices from Fiji announcing the attempted murder of the Chief Justice. Adelaide. Some fine samples of fl ix are being shown. The crops look spleU'lid, but there are stiil some fear.s of the ravages of locusts. A sale of 150 tons town fl *ur has been made at £13. Wheat unchanged. Cornsacks 15s, holders asking au advance of 6d. A tailor named Serin bas lodged a claim against the Government for £5,000 for the discovery of a payable coal-field. The locality indicated is the East Park lands. Similar indications were found in North Adelaide some years ago, but tbe specimens upon being examined were found not to be coal. The Government {have decided to appropriate £2,000 for the purchase of gold for the London Exhibition. The Permissive Bill has passed the Becond reading. Pout Daewin. The Acting-Resident has been memorialised by diggers with small means for work or passage back. Nothing fresh has been heard from the reefs.