INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1653, 25 October 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

There can be no doubt; (remarks the local Guardian) that Kilinore is suffering at present from tbe depressing effect on general business caused by the opening of the North- Eastern line of railway past our doors Ihe Melbourne Telegraph of the 11th reports: — The weather during the past week has been genial and spring-like, warm showers having been experienced, followed by charming spring growing weather. The growth of rao3fc crops has been very rapid, and the grass- land is looking excellent arouni the metropolitan districts, while the majority of the reports from the country are of a favorable nature. From Mount Gainbier we learn that the recent rains have had a very beneficial effect upon the crops in that locality, which now give*prom;s3 of an abundant yield. From Ararat we he^r that take all is making its appearance upon the overworked land, while the crops upon the new ground are reported as looking very well. The general crops around Auburn, Penworthain, Watervalo, Sevt-nhill, and Kapundx are reported very favorably of, a great change having taken place iv their appearance during the past fortnight, which is very satisfactory. The Model Lodoin<j;house Company, which everyone said would full through, is progressing famously in its philanthropic mission. The memorial stone of the structure in King street, Melbourne^ was to be laid on the lGth ins-t A return has been laid before the Victorian Parliameut showing the number of sheep infected with scab iv the various districts on the Ist June in each year since the present Scab Act came into operation, specifying those sheep depasturing on freehold and Crown lands, etc. There are thirteen districts, and the number of infected sheep therein on the Ist June, 1871, was as follows: — On freehold land 192,934 ;on Crown lands. 498.977. On the Ist June, 1872 .- — Freehold land, 177,596; Crown laud, 409,052. TotU infected sheep for 1871, 691,911 ; for 1872, 586. J4S. The final report of the Victorian Commission on foot and mouth disease has been forwarded to the Chief Secretary for presentation to His Excellency. The delay in the sending in of the report was caused by the absence of sorna gentlemen on the commission whose signatures were not earlier obtainable. The eommissiou have framed regulations for the inspection and charge of cattle arriving in the colony. The commission recommend the establishment of two quarantine grounds — one at Duck Island for animals suffering from disease, and the other at Sandridge for animals not diseased ; that all diseased animals imported into this colony be removed into quarantine upon Duck Island, and there remain until it has been certified by competent professional opinion that they are free from disease, aud incapable of communicating disease ; such period of quarantine to be in no case less than three months, unless the owner of such cattle shall prefer to destroy them under the supervision of the inspector appointed under these regulations. Penalty for landing cattle without authority, not less than £100, nor more than £500 per head. Some of tbe commissioners recommended a six months' quarantine. The Standard upon reliable authority learns that a Mount Gainbier farmer two years ago finding his land " wheat-sick " determined to turn over a new leaf agriculturally. He sowed plenty of peas, thus cleansing and re-invigorating the soil ; and with the produce fed a large number of porkers. These in turn were reduced into cash, by dint of perseverance and shrewdness in finding a market, at a highly satisfactory price, per pound ; and the farmer in question, reports that this change in his operations has been better for him than growing wheat at thirty bushels per acre. He has killed fortyfive pigs within the past year. Farmers in tbe neighborhood of Geelong report that the wheat crop almost everywhere looks excellent, the warm weather having made it spring up vigorously. The oat crop threatens to be light, and not much barley has been Bown.