INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 779, 21 February 1871, Page 2

INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

Sir James Martin, through the columns of the "Sydney Morning Herald," replies to the Hon. Qavan Duffy on the subject of Australian federation. Sir James does not think the Colonies ripe for federation at present.

The Government astronomer of New Soath Wales announces an interesting discovery in the Southern heavens. He has found a new double star of great beauty in the constellation of Cetus, near the South Pole.

Many of the Polynesians imported by planters in Queensland are now out of work, and are causing a good deal of annoyance to the residents of Brisbane.

A survey held on the barque Runnymedc, which recently took fire at Hobart Town, showed that she has suffered very little damage. The damaged wool and bark were submitted to public coin petition, and realised fair prices. The loss to the underwriters will not be large. The Launcestou and Western Railway was to be opened on the 6th in-

stant, and on the following Monday the Governor and Ministry were to make a trip, aud officially declare the lino completed. The Registrar-General of South Australia has published his periodical estimate of the population of the Colonv, based- upon the last census and w ekly returns of arrivals, births, and loatbs. He sets down the total p"i dilation of South Australia at the > sit of 1870 at 181,146, which is an increase of nearly 5000 during the year.

Iho Government of Victoria has sent home for a thoroughly efficient man to instruct aud drill a local artillery. The idea is to get a man who has risen by the force of his own ehal racier aid intelligence, one who has passed all tho necessary examination, and who ia thoroughly acquainted with all the improved kinds of artillery, new projectiles and torpedoes, and who is also competent to teach the new drill and manoeuvres. The officer will take the rank of lieutenant, and will probably bring with him two or three other efficient men to assist ia thoroughly organising a local force.

The Chief Justice of West Australia, lately fined Mr Parker, a barrister, £2o, for omitting irrelevant matter in an affidavit, and afterwards imposed a second fine of £IOO, for contempt of Court, in consequence of a mild letter of complaint written by Mr Parker in a public journal. A peti. tion to the Queen for the remission of the fines, and general redress, has been sent home by Mr Parker, accompanied by a full statement of the cir; eumatances of the caso.

The wheat harvest in Victoria is turning oat Worse than was expected, and it is very certain that the Colony will have no grain to export. The sly-grog sellers at Greytown, near Beudigo, have held a meeting to protest against the decisions of the Magistrates in fining some of their body. Immense swarms of dragon flies have recently appeared in aud about Ballarat. "These," remarks the "Star,' " are hawks among the insecta, and catch even the largest flies upon the wing. They gobble them up as they float about without stoppingj just as gold fish swallow the much minutef infusorice in the element in which they live. This year, so far, there ia a great absence of grasshoppers, and the beetle very erroneously called the cockchafer—both probably because of the excessive moisture. Dragon flies in myriads have also appeared in the neighborhood of Stawell."

The floods in Victoria, which occurred a short time siuce, were very destructive to rabbits, " thousands upon thousands " having been drowned in their holes.

Two aboriginals, named Charley and Harry, had a desperate fight on the 28th of January, at High fields, road, Toowoomba, Queensland. The one fought with a raZor, and the other with a butcher's knife. Charley was fatally wouuded, and shortly afterwards expired Au inquest was held before the police magistrate, when a verdict of manslaughter was returned against Harry.