NORTH AUSTRALIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 329, 12 October 1866, Page 2

N OR T H AUSTRALI A.

(fKOM THE LOWER FLINDERS COBHESPON-

DENT OF THE PORT DENISON TIMES.) Since we have been favored with a monthly mail to the Albert, I shall endeavor occasionally to make you acquainted with the progress of this remote district. Though it has only been settled for a little over twelve month?, the, expectations that were entertained at that time as to the quality of the country, and the likelihood of stock thriving, have fully realised the anticipations of the most sanguine.^ The lambings for the present season r have been very good, the average percentage being at least over ninety, and would in many instances have exceeded that had our knowledge of the seasons been sufficiently extended. From my " short experience (having witnessed two lambings), I have very little hesitation in saying that April and May are the most favorable months. The stock are looking extremely Avell, and the lambs of last season, notwithstanding the drought, are equal to any I have seen on the Comet or Peak Downs, both in quality of avool and carcass, thus con- ■ tradicting the assertions of those who predicted the climate unsuited for the growth of wool.

It is universally allowed that that country which will support sheep muslfc * prove fattening country for cattle, which the condition of the cattle out here fully~ ' bears out. • • Messrs Edkins have nearly completed their boiling^down establishment at the I Albert, which will be a great boon to the district. At present ,they are en-gaged-curing beef and in'the coui*set)f a few days intend to commence boiling. I think this alone, from the splendid condition the stock are in, will prove very remunerative to stockowners inside. Stock on the look-out for new country , £re finding their way down. One lot 6f sheep (Little -and Hetzer's) arrived at ' the station a short time since. Another lot of Mr Nash's are lambingjust now at Mr Palmer's. Mr Piggott has located hiiu3elf between Lara and Richmond Downs. ' 3009 head of cattle belonging to the Landsborough River Company - are making x their way to the 4 Plains of Promise. There are several other mobs on the road, but have not yet peached this length.

Last year, particularly at this time, ' the country was very much infested with native dogs, but now, strange to say, noqe are to be seen. This, I presume, is brought about by the disease which was very prevalent last year among them.

The blacks also do not show themselves, but the smoke of fheir fires is to be seen every day. As yet they have been very peaceful, and, from the open nature of the country, must remain so. A melancholy accident took place the other, day near the crossing of the Cloncurry. A young man in the employ of • Thompson, the carrier, was accidentally killed by falling from his horse, and being dragged iv his stirrups. I am glad to inform you that sickness has disappeared. All new countries are more or less unhealthy, occasioned « by t,he overgrowth of "vegetable matter ; but this I think has been moresubject to it than most country taken up ; the rapid stocking of the districjt will, however, gradually diminish it. When* one considers the amount cf exposure and the absence of proper nourishment and medicine, it is only to be wondered there have not been more deaths. - The weather just* now is extremely cold, the nights and mornings particularly so. With the trade winds blowing from the South-east, one hardly . imagines he is within the tropics. Wages still continue very high and labor scarce ; the rate at present is 35s .per week for shepherds, bullock drivers ' and bushmen, L 2. I believe it is the intention of people to shear early, as last year taught them a lesson, through the non-arrival of the drays and the setting in of the wet weather occasioning the frequent use of pack-horses.

1 A recent number of the " Maitland^ Mercury' reports tho following extraordinary case :—": — " A shepherd named John Wallar was admitted to the Maitland Hospital on Friday evening last, suffering sererely from a spearwound, which, he had received from the blacks " on the Big River, in December last. It seems that Wallar was shepherding on Mr King's station, and one evening his hut was surrounded by the blacks, who were armed with spears, waddies, and. boomerangs, and in full fighting costume. They demanded 'rum' from Wallar, who refused, and-on his doing so they immediately attacked him, 'inflicting several severe wounds on the, head and arms, and 'driving one large 'spear into his body, where it broke off, leaving the man quite unconscious. Since the affray the man has ' been suffering the most excruciating torture ; and although having been treated by some of the most eminent up-country doctors, and been in the Tamworth hospital for three months, he experienced no' alleviation of his misery till he was visited by Dr Spink, of thi3 town, on Saturday morning last. Dr Spink at once determined on an operation, the result of which was the extraction of a spearhead about seven inohes in length,- which, if • Suffered to remain much longer where it watf,

would moat assuredly, have caused the man's death. As may be imagined, the removal of a foreign body of such dimensions (which had been festering in the body for nine months without being discovered before) has given the poor man great relief ; and there •is now, thanks to Dr Spink's promptitude, knowledge, aud skill, every prospect of his speedy recovery. Dr Spink was assisted in the operation by Drs. Harper and Waddell."

A Victorian paper understands that the article in the " Cornhill Magazine " by one of the survivors of tlie, London is from the pen of Mr Wilson who used to be a miner in Ballarat and elsewhere in Victoria. Mr "Wilson is a native of Nova^ Scotia, and is now in some part of the American continent. It is said that he received a good round sum for his contribution to the " Cornhill." A narrative by Mr Munro, another of the survivors, will probably see the light in New Zealand, as that gentleman haa been written to by Judge CJiapman for particulars of the disaster which deprived his Honor of so many members of his family.

Two of the Fathers on False Hair.— Tertullian says :—": — " If you will not fling away your false hair as hateful to Heaven, cannot I mate it hateful to yourselves by reminding you that the false hair you wear-m ay have come not only from a criminal, but from a' very dirty, head ; perhaps from the head of one already damned ? " This \was a very hard hit indeed, but it was" not nearly so clever a stroke 'at wigs as that dealt by Clement of Alexandria. The latter informed the astounded wig- wearers, when they knelt at ' Church to receive tlie blessing, that they must be good enough to recollect-that the benediction remained on the wig, and did not pass through to the wearer ! This was a stumbling block to the people, many of whom, however, retained the, peruke, and took their chance as to the percolating through it of the benediction— .H.A. -Women never stood higher than they do now. — Look at their heels, ' I

even street.