INTERCOLONIAL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1006, 20 September 1872, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL.

The rush to Charters Towers in Queensland has received a sudden check, in consequence of the rather important circumstance that the newly discovered lead, of which glowing reports were spread about, has rin out. The 'South Australian Time?,' a

German paper published in Adelaide, has tlio following telegram from Port Darwin, uuder date September 4: — "About forty men are at work at "Wcstcott's Creek, 120 miles from palmerston. The yield is 2dwts to the load of Washdirt, and the gold varies in quality. Water 1b scarce, and ouly to be got from a considerable distance: New arrivals have to provide themselves with the means of transport, as they cannot be got here." The Eandwick Spring Meeting commenced on the 7th Loup Garou was the winner of the Australian Derby. A thousand tons of sugar arrived at Sydney during the 7th and Bth. By news from Hawaii (Sandwich Islands) we learn, says the ' Sydney Morning Herald,' that the great volcanoes Manna Loa and Kilauea continue in activity, with, at times, fearful eruptions, and that the sinking of the shore which took place in ISGB still continues. The natives who used to live on the border of the sea had to rebuild their houses from a half to two miles inland; and where they formerly grew vegetables and grazed their horses, they now catch fish. The Sydney government has lost no time in taking action with respect to the San Francisco mail service. Tenders are already invited. The service is to be four-weekly, and sureties are to be furnished to the amount of £IO,OOO. It is intended to , commence in July, 1873, but contractors are at liberty to name a later date. The route is to be from Sydney via Fiji and Honolulu, but the contractors may name other routes, and |he Government may vary the route on paying for extra mileage. The time between Sydney and San Francisco is to be thirty days, with a premium of £SO for every day saved on the voyage, and a penalty of like amount for every day lost. The vessels are to be iron screw steamers of 1500 tons register, Al, with spar decks, with large cargo and passenger capacity, with complete ventilation, and with steaming powers of the most approved description. Preference will be given to vessels having spacious saloon accommodation amidships, and in any case they are to be approved by the agent-general in England, or the Marine Board at Sydney. The ' Age' says that when Mr G. Y. Smith introduces his bill for making valid marriage with a deceased wife's sister, he will have the testimony of the Jews to its being allowed by the Mosaic laws. The ' Australian Israelite' contends that the passage in Leviticus, so relied on by the oppo nents of the bill, is really in favor of it.

At Ballarat gold sinking is being carried on in very close proximity to business premises and residences. The 'Post states:—"The Town Inspector and the Clerk of Works for Ballarat East visited the Plank-road recently on a.tour of inspection, and found a number of people sinking shafts in and around tenements and driving under footpath and road. The stuff being got was very rich.

."•'oiiie idea may be formed of the amount of money circulated during the race week when the Peak Downs Telegrams mentions that one hotelkeeper 'it Clermont took £'Boo, solid cash, averaging £IOO per day. This is clearly demonstrative that Peak Downs is one of the richest districts in Northern Queensland. The ' Age' of the 7th inst. says : "An accident of au unusual kind occurred at the Geelong fire, on Thursday evening. While one of the members of tha brigade was directing the jet of water the supply was suddenly interrupted, at the same moment the tail of an eel was observed protruding through the main. The main was immediately detatched, and au eel was then discovered about fifteen inches in length. It had travelled nearly half a mile in pipes from the tank, at the top of Moorabool street." Mr De Koch, the promoter of the company formed to grow rice, &c, in the Northern Territory, purposes leaving for the scene of operations at the end of the month.