INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1729, 18 April 1873, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

.«. Melbourne, April 10. Two foxes, very fine specimens of their kind, were brought out in tbe ship Stonebouse, which arrived on the 9th. Parliament will meet for the despatch of business on Tuesday, 13tb May. Sir James M'Culloch advises the Government, in a communication dated February 21, that he bas chartered the Queen of Nations, Al, 1100 tons, for the conveyance of about 200 Government emigrants to Melbourne, at the rate of £14 2s 6d per statute adult. It bas been definitely ascertained that the cause of tbe death of a number of cattle at Camperdown, which were recently reported to tbe chief inspector of stock, is eating of a poisonous weed of the " lobelia" genus. Locusts bave made their appearance at Winchelsea, and although they are not to be seen more than half-a-mile off on the Geelong side of tbe township, it is feared they will soon be seen nearer Corio Buy. The revenue for tbe twelvemonth amounts to £3,803,683 4s Bd, showing an increase of £210,492 5s as compared witb the income of the preceding year, which was £3,593,190 19a Bd, whilst for the quarter the revenue was £978,120 9s 7d, which, as compared with that for the corresponding period in 1872, £939,348 19a, shows an increase of £38,771 10s 7d. Telegraphic communication was opened with Wilson's Promontory on the 3rd. Sydney. Parliament intends granting an annuity to the Eev. Dr Lang for services rendered to the colony. The convicts Scource and M' Crow were executed on the Bth at Darlingburst Gaol. They died penitent. Great disappointment was felt by intending passengers that the Nebraska is unlikely to return to California. The population of the colony increased 12,000 during the second balf of last year. The Hon. John O'Shannasey bas purchased the Berribone cattle station, Queensland, by auction at £4 5s per head. j The Exhibition will be opened by Hia Eicellencv the Governor at noon on the 22nd. Another lot of small diamonds has been received from Bmgera. The Californian mail contract is likely to be signed shortly. Adelaide. Eighty sheep on the Eastern Plains have been killed by eating a poison plant. It is reported that tbe stafionmaster at Port Darwin has telegraphed for fresh men on binding terms, as his men have

left for the diggings. The men are getting £5 a week wages. The Government has received information that Mr Anthony Musgrave, the new Governor of South Australia, may be expected by the mail steamer about the 3rd of June. He is proceeding direct from Natal to Adelaide by the new steam route, vid Zanzibar, Aden, and Gafle. Two thousand acres of land inthe area of Crystal Brook were sold at auction, bringing an average of £2 6s per acre. Mr Boothby's statistics on the harvest are just out. They show tlie total acreage under crop to be 759,811, being an increase of 67,303 acres. The total yield is 8,735.912 bushels, showing an increase of 4,768,833 bushels. The average yield is 11£ bushels, being an increase of 5 bushels and 461 b per acre. The estimated surplus for export is set down at 180,000 tons. The highest average obtained was , 21J bushels, and the lowest 2-§- bushels. j Palmerston (Port Darwin). I The Resident Governor and party \ went by the Flying Cloud to Melville Island, for the purpose of visiting Trepang Bay and Port Essington. At Trepang Bay they met four Malay proas from Macassar, with about 100 men engaged in trepanging (sea-slug-ging). The season's operations had been successful, and more proas were on the coast. The Malays were friendly. Tbey had no knowledge of the settlement of Port Darwin, the Dutch authorities hay. ing concealed the fact from them, but they promised to come here next season. The wet season is over, and great activity prevails in mining, all surplus labor being absorbed The ston© in all the claims is reported to be improving, and small parcels of alluvial gold are arriving at Palmerston daily. Cannibalism, it has been discovered, exists amongst the natives here. A portion of human remains has been obtained by the authorities, and some natives who were examined stated that the practice is a religious observance. Fiji via Sydney. There has been some fighting. The King natives killed and wounded a number of tbe mountain tribe, and captured their village. Two settlers, who signed a manifesto against the Government, have been arrested at Levuka on a charge of high treason. King Cakobau had sent a force against the Ba Coast planters who signed the manifesto. H.M.S. Dido has also proceeded to Ba. The charge of treason preferred against Mr Pat Sullivan broke down, as proof was given that the accused waa not present when the settlers ordered tbe native force back to Levuka.