|
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864-1933) (about)
|
Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1296838
No comments yet.
5 corrections, most recently by poshtotty - Show corrections
TELEGRAPHIC.
[ATJSTBALIAN ASSOCIATED PBES3 TELEGRAMS.]
SYDNEY.
September 21.
Tun Wonga Wonga took 400 passengers for Townsvillo to-dny.
The United States tear steamer Narraganset ."J bas arrived boro to rout.
jf Three whales wore caught ¡u Twofold Boy '
to-day,
jt MELBOURNE.
3f Septoinbor 21.
Tho Bangalow cleared tho Heads at raiinight. An English telegram received by tho Govornor states, that on appeal it bus been declared that Pental Island is the property of Victoria.
ADELAIDE.
September 21,
A largo salo of wheat bus been effected at
5s. 0(1.
Tho Winifred, for Brisbano, was spoken on August 19. All well on board.
to ts
30 Tus Enoggera water has on one or two t> occasions lately boen turned off on a Friday ^t j morning, with an uncertainty as to whether it
could bo turned on again that night, in consé- quence of experiments that wore being made to cleon tho inside of tho pipe at the ond near the reservoir. On Friday last tho attempt was entirely successful, and tho scraper was Bent twico through tho main for a length of sixty chains, driving before it a largo quantity of iron rust and vegetablo impurities which muBt have greatly reduced tho capnoity of the pipe. It is not oxpected that tho water will in futuro bo turned off on Fridays for longer than is required for new connections or othe^ works in tho city.
THE new Moss, which has been composed by tho Kev. D. Carmusci, was sungntSfc. Stephen's Oliurch yesterday morning. Tho congregation iros rery lnrgo, the oliurch being oven moro in- conveniently crowded than is usually tho coso at divine service. The occasion attraoted a con- siderable number of members of other denomi- nations. The choir was an excellent one, oom« prising ii good proportion of our professional omi amateur musical talent, and tho composer had little reason to complain regarding tho ren- dering of his composition. Fnthor Carmusci, while not aspiring to tho genius of a Mozart has given to tho world many musical produo. tions, chiefly of a roligious choroctor, which havo been largely appreciated, and his latest effort will add vastly to his reputation. Tho Mass, as u wholo, must bo epokon of very favorably, and abounds with passogoB of great beauty. Tho " KyrioElioson " moy bo termed the gem of tho composition. Tho " Gloria '* has the fault of being rather long, mid there- fore taxes severely tho powers of lho choir. Tho " Benedictos, " which is arranged as n duet, is very swcot and pleasing, and was rendered full justice to by Mrs. and Master Atkinson. In a larger building, and accompanied by a good organ, thoro is hardly a doubt that the Mass would bo deemed by the most critical congrega- tion a composition worthy of all praiBe.
TUB Municipal Oouucil will hold their UBUOI fortnightly mooting this aftornoou. The busi- ness on tho paper oompriBos u report from the Finance Oommitteo and the following notices of motion :-By Aldormnn Sinclair : " That from oight to ton feet bo cut off tho top of the hill on tho road loading from Alico-streot ferry, on Kangaroo Point." By Alderman Mooney : "That Vulturo-street, from Stanley-street to Tiibuno. street, bo formed and put in a passable state of ropair." By Alderman Spence : " That Grey (or Cricket) street, Potrio-terrace, bo put in a pass- able stato of repair." By Aldorman Sinclair .. " That tho sum of twenty pounds bo voted as a contribution iu aid of tho sufferers by tho Maryborough boiler explosion." By Alderman M'Master : " That tho blue motal already used bo apportioned to tho various wards." [Wo havo copied this motion verbatim et Uterafim from tho Council's notice pnpor, but must leave Aldorman M'Master to explain its menning.]
A GOOD Templars' Lodge has been formed at Bockbampton, entitled "Tho Excels!« iodgo, No. 1, Rockhampton District."
MB. JABDINK, tho Commissioner for tho Port Ourtis gold-Hold, loft Bockbampton on Wednes- day last to toko charge at Charters Towers.
MB. WIKO WAFI, of Bockbampton, is sending largo quantities of sugar-cane to Sydney, where it will meet with a ready markot amongst his Chineso fellow-countrymen. Frost-bitten cano is quite as good as any other for ohowing pur
poses, and perhaps somo of tho East Moreton growerB will take the hint, In evory sugar producing country pieces of cano aro hawked about the Btrect and sold for a trillo, and you will see not only children but grown-up persons innsticating the saccharine delicacy with great
gusto.
BASIL E. KENDALL was committed for trial at the Toowoomba Police Court on Tuesday last, on a charge of forging and attempting to utter an order for the payment of £3 14s. 6d., purporting to bo signed by Mr. Thomas Han- mer. Prisoner, who had beeu employed at Talgai somo eighteen months ago, was given into custody in trying to pass tho forged order on Mr. Bird, of tho Post-office Hotel.
WE havo again to remind Good Templars and others that tho soirée in connection with the " Star of Peace Lodge," South Brisbane, which is advertised iu another column, tate« place this evening, in tho ¡routh Brisbano Mechanics' Institute. An attractive programme has been arranged ; and, judging from previous efforts iu the samo direction, thero will probably bo a
largo gathering.
Two drunkards were brought up, cautioned, and discharged at tho Central Polico Court on
Saturday.
THE tenth of the Monday Popular Concerts will toko placo this ovoning. The proceeds will be for tho benefit oí tho Bufferera by the late boiler explosion at Maryborough. On such occasions it is the custom with musical and dramatic artists to give a réchauffé of previous performances ¡ but in thiB instances the pro- gramólo, which will bo found in our advertising columns, is almost entirely new. Those who attend the concort in the cause of charity will
find their virtuo well rewarded.
WH havo seen somo very good samples of sugar from the now sugar mill at Doughboy Creek, tho property of tho Doughboy Sugar Company. This company, which is registered in accordance with tho provisions of tho Limited Liabilities' Act, has beon formed on tho co-
operativo principle, the farmerB in the neigh- ' borhood, who aro the shareholders, and who, year by year, aro paying increased attention to the cultivation of tho sugar-cane, having com- bined for the purpose of manufacturing their own produce. Tho affairs of the oompany have gone on smoothly and rapidly from tho bogin ning ¡ and through tho able management of the chairman, Mr. Charles Drivor, and a board of director;, a substantial mill, capable of producing from 20 owt. to 25 cwt. of sugar per day, ¡snow in full operation. It was orcctod from plaUB by Mr,
William Harrison, of Brisbane, undor whose - superintendence the work was successfully carried out. With the exception of two of Taugye's high pressure steam engines, 6 and 4 horso-power, from Birmingham, and one of. Monnalovo and Allicott's 40-inch centrifugal,, from Nottingham, tho machinery was manu- factured by Messrs, Smellie and Co., of Bris- bano. The following dimensions will convey somo idea of tho capabilities of the mill:-Boiler,, 16 feet 4 raeheB by 4 feot 6 inohos ¡ crushing rollers, l8 inches by l8 inches j battery, 23 feet 4 inches by 4 feet, with four partitions ¡ three clarifiera with steam coils, capable of holding 200 gallons each j a finishing pan, with reel, 8 feet by 6 feet, and 12 inches deep. The mill has beon in active operation for a few weeks ; and in a lottor to Messrs, Smellie, tho chairman of tho company, aftor referring to tho successful completion, by Mr. Harrison, oi what ho calls a substantial piece of work, states that every- thing works well and smoothly, and entirely to
the satisfaction of all concerned.
THE SorÛtem Argus of lost Wednesday says ! -" Either tho stock of flour at Charters Towers is far too groat for the population, or the population is far too poor to purchaso it ; conse- quently storekeepers and speculators oro reduced to tho sad necessity of Boiling, even at a loss, in ordor to meet their liabilities. Wo saw a tele- gram yesterday evening, which stated that flour WOB fotohing ¡C18 per ton only; tho price in Rockhampton is £17 10s ; therefore it is ovident that the latter is tho bettor market for those who have a stock in hand and are desirous of part- ing with it. Again, if flour be sold at £18, it is pretty ovident that those who aro on the ground havo no great faith in the lasting nature of tho diggings ; for if the prospeots of a large population settling down wero certain, there would bo found plenty of speculators ready to purchase and to hold on for a rise. The con- tents of the telegram havo dona much to satisfy us as to tho real natura of the Ohartors Towers rush ; it is merely a spasmodic 0113, so far as tho alluvial is concerned j and tho absence of
water, the difficulties of getting stone crushed, ' tho intensely hot climate, and tho provalence of fovor during the only season when water can bo procured, and consequently work proceeded with-aro too many odds to fight against, to ronder largo bodies of men, who can to a cer- tainty obtain good wages in other parts of the colony, very desirous of Bticking to tho reefs."
SOSIE ttvclvo months since wo (X). D. Gazette) had occasion to comment upon the manner in which the lond-ordor Bystem, which WSB intended for the benefit of immigrants to this colony, had apparently been " manipulated" by tho proprie- tors of a Btation not very far distant froom Too- woomba. Very recently a case-connected with tho same station-has como under our notice, tho circumstances of which seem rather peculiar. A married couplo tvero engaged ia Dublin under tho Immigration Act of 1860, by one of the owners oí the station, to servo for the statutory period of two years, at tho woges of £30 per annum, tho employer, it soems, paying £16 on account of tho servants' passage-money. The immigrants aro said to havo been induced to agree that the amouut so paid should be de- ducted from their already anything but high wages. This has accordingly beon done, eo that tho employer practically gets tho service of man and wifo at tho extremely liberal rate of £22 per annum, being rather less than 10s. per wcok! Wo boliovo that tho writton agreement between the parties contains no provision en- titling tho employer to deduct anything from the wages, nor do wo think that the alleged arrangement did or could receivo the sanction of the Government. That it is 0 cloar violation of the spirit of the Immigration Act of 1869 is evident, as, under that Act, immigrants making good tho stipulated amount of passage aro en- titled lo receivo land-orders on BO doing. But in this case tho parties engaged appear to havo had no opportunity of complying with the Act. Thoy oro made to pay their own passage-money, and yet do not get the land-orders whioh would bo as valuable to them as " hard cash." It is tho duty of tho Government to keep a sharp eye on the working of the Immigration Acts, other- wise we fear unsophisticated " new chums " will stand a good chance of being deprived of thoir just dues by certain of their liberal " ducal " employers.
WE aro glad to note from tho Mackay Mer- cury that up to the 7th inBtont the sugar making season had fully verified tho oxpeetationi which were formed prior to its commencement. The production of sugar from tho canes crushed at the several mills has been quite up to the average amount of former seasons, and Borne hundreds of tons havo already been shipped to
different ports in this and the neighboring colo-. nies. Accounts describing the busy operation now in progress ou the various plantations in tho district oro very satisfactory, and the season promises to bo most successful. The recently orccted mill at Foulden plantation, as also those at Nebia and Dulverton plantations, ero all working as well as could be desired by their owners, and both as regards quality and quantity of sugar manufactured from the caneB grown on those estates the best anticipations have been more than realised. At the older plantations tho Alexandra, Pleystowe, Pioneer, Meadowlands» Braneeombo, and one or two others of less extent, the labors of tho field and factory aro vigorously carried on with results that afford unqualified satisfaction j and, iu a word, the sugar industry is in a decidedly prosperous stato, inspiring confidence among all engaged
in it.
THE following aro the inBolvenoy sittings for fhie day (Monday) -John Currie and Thomas Slaughter, jun, certificate, E 0 Stacy, ad- journed third, Thomas Morton, third , Jacob Foster, adjourned first and Becond, David Mor- gan and Thomas Burstall, second, W C Cle- ments, William Butler, and O B Daveney, adjourned first, Henry James Wheatley Phillip Marshall first.
AT tho Criminal Sittings of tho Northern Dis tuet Court at Bockbampton, on the 9th in stont, Ah Lee was charged with obtaining £5 5s 6d from tho Union Bunk under tho falso protenco that somo buso metal ho offered for sale was gold The nccusod, being an uheD, claimed that six of his countrymou Bhould bo empannolled to Bit upon tho jury on his trial Tho case was postponed until tho following day, when an alien jury was summoned but owing to the number of challenges by tho Crown, and on behalf of the prisoner the regular pouol hod to bo re oited to There wero four ChinoBO nnd three otbor allons on tho jury who returned a verdict of guilty, after an absentó of fivo minutes and the prisoner was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with haul labor, in Bns bano gaol John Denison was found guilty of larceny as a bailee m having disposed of a r/">rr- hat was lent him by John Protheroe, a publican at Bolleston, upou tbo condition that ho was to îeturn it lu a fortnight Theie was another chargo ngoinBfc him, of forging and Uttering cheques but it was not pressed Pri
Sober was sentencou to turto yeaiâ Imprison- ment Tho only other conviotion at tho sittings was that of Charles Prain, who was sentenced to two niontliB1 imprisonment for unlawfully using a horse, the property of A K Penny-
cuick, at Gainsford
BOTH of the Maryborough papers advortiso a petition to the Executive which appoars to havo originated with Mossre Travis and Co, tho ownors of tho notorious " schoonor Jason," for tho release of its lato captain, tho man Coath, w1 was convioted of kidnapping in Decomber lost, and ia now serving a term of impri=onmont
Brisbano Gaol The Wide Bay News of Saturday laBt says -"In our advertising columns will bo seen the text of a petit on which WO understand, will bo circulated for Bignaturo, asking for the íoleaso of Captain Coath Tho potitioneu, it seem« olloge that they have now ovidonce to produco from Mr Bradbury, the Government Agent on the lato cruise of tho Jason and they aBk, further, that the islanders atolón by tho prisoner should bo examined If there is any ovidonco boaring on lho facts of tho case tobo given by Mr Bradbury it certainly would bo well to havo it m such shopo that tho tiver can bo subjoctod to croBB oxauunation It would bo also well if the kidnapped islanders oa ' be clearly identified, that they also should bo examined-always providing that their dentity is first proven, and that thoy havo acq ired sufliciont mastery of the English lan guage to bo able to Btnnd forward in open Court, away from tho presence of masteis, em ployers, and interprete«, aud thoro give thoir ovidonce, and stand croea examination on it If tho ovidenco thus produced proves of sufficient weight to outwoigh that of tho white sailois whoso testimony convioted the prisoner, wo should adviso our roaders to Bign n petition not only for the rolonso of Oaptoin Ooath, but for tho prosecution and punishment of the men who wero the causo of Ins conviotion j for if ho is innocent, thoy were certainly guilty of tho grossest perjury The conviction of Captain Coath was the result of a careful ti lal, and con iii mod by both Judges , still, if thcro is any chanco thit, in spite of all precautions, a mistake has been made, it should bo rectified Wo must, however, ropeafc our dist act convie t on that the ovidenco produced at tho ti ml OB oloarlj proved his crime as it was possible for ony cume to bo provon "
IHE Feak Downs Telegram in on articlo ro fetrmg to tho supposed mineral wealth, of tho distuct, says - ' What wo want and what wo must have is a geological Burvoy This is tbo only mineral distuct m the colony that has not had some attention of this kind bestowed upon it, aud if the Government aro blind to tho ad tautagts to bo dorivod from a small outlay for ouoh a purpose, tho pubho must endeavor to draw the attention of Parliament to it Ho woulü Jo a bold man who attempted to defino tho mineral resources of tho Drummond Range and the spurs running from it Gold and cop per ore found in abundance, and it is the opinion of ¡.cologist«, who have poesed through tho district, that these form only a small pro- portion of tho metals concealed in tho bosom of tho mountains We are informed that tho
member for the district, in conjunction with ono of our leading mineral speculators, waited upon tho Minister for WorkB, and drow his attention to the subject, and that tho matter was dis cussed by ilio 1 xccutive Couuoil But no action was taken in tho matter, and tho Ministry aro not believed to bo favorablo to auy expenditure ii this direction We trust, however, that tho subject will bo brought prominently before tho Bouse next session, and that science will soon bo brought to tho assistance of tho prospectai "
REÎEKBI>0 to tho weather on the Nort icrn Down' the Dalby Berala, Boys that it appears to have made sudden jump from the chills of winter to tho glowing heat of Bummer A week or ten days since people wero sitting cozily over fires or scoring rugs as a protection from the biting cast wind At noon on Friday the thermometer marked 83 degrees in tho shade, and tho sun went down in the dull yellowish tingo of cloud so well known as indi
cativo of another hot day to follow Tho ehr ige from winter to summer has boen marked this vesr by the absence of rain Showers have fallen along the coast lands in abundance aUo to the south weat in the vici
ntv of the Moonte but this district has not experienced tho ble«smgs of rain for many weeks It is hoped that the present heat will ho followed by thunderstorms so that the grass may get a 'tart, and o Eupply of water stored for stock during the summer
THE Associated Press telegram from New Zealand states that two vessels have been laid on the berth at Auckland for the Queensland diggings
THE Auckland ¡soutltem Cross says a tele gram from Mr W H Webb, dated New York August 1, has been received by Messrs Hender- son and Macfarlane, agents for the San Fran- cisco mail «tcamors Mr Webb had received intelligence of tho fall of the Duffy Government and the improbability of tho Victorian contrac1 being ratified by the Legislature Ho had therefore altered the destination of the Dacotab from Melbonrno lo San Francisco The Daco tah was to leave New York for San Francisco on Augus 10, and it was expected that «he would nrrivo lu San Francisco in time to tako the moils which leave tbero on November fi The Nevada will not proceed further that Hono lulu this trip, returnme from there with the August mails The Nebraska also will mako one more trip to Honolulu and back, but o her next outward trip the Nevada will go straight through to San iranoisco, followed by the No braska, and the service will thereafter proceed without transhipment at Honolulu, the steamers running through from Auckland to San Frau
TUB Observer of Baturday, states that the ball and supper givon by the Ipswioh and WeBt Moreton Caledonian Association, at the School of Arts on tho previous night, was a very suc- cessful affair. Thoro wero present about 160 per- sons including 35from Brisbane, accompanied by thrco pipors-Mossia J Cameron, and \V and F Frazer aud nino or ten from Toowoomba, accompanied bj the Dilling Downs Society's pipci, Mr M'Donald Mr John Hunter, the Ipswich Society's piper was also present Mr J Leith Hay, Vico President acted us M C , and was ably assisted by Mr James Clark, who fills a similar oflico in Brisbane lho supper was all that could bo desired, as far as tho excel- lence of tho viands and nppointnients %vorc con- cerned, and rcflootod much eredit on tho caterer, Mi Jp mes M'Gil!, of the Crilonon Hotel. At its conclusion tho health of tho Queen was pro posed und duly honored, nftor which the healths of tho Piesidont, tho Hon A Macalister, and tho Vico President, Mr J Leith Bay, wero pro posed and suitably responded to, the last named receiving well merited encomiums for his ablo services as MO Dancing was then resumed, and continued with unflagging spirit until an early hour of the morning
WE extract tho following lemarks from the Wide Hay News of Saturday last -Bunda- berg, although a town of magnificent aspirations, is still but a small place, and it has beon struggling into importance m spite of tho firm grip of two or three squatters of tho real old Btainp It IB not long ago that wo noticed tho barefaced monopoly of Baiolmbv tho Messrs Brown, whereby the inhabitants of Bundaberg hove beeu most efloctually deprived of their seaboard, in spito of diBtmct and ropoatod assurances that a portion at least should bo ro sorted Now another and still moro serious in jury has been donn to thom Messrs Hender- son and Moore have applied, as pro emptivo soleo turn», for lOOOaorosat tho book of tho selections hold by Mr Watson and the Messr? Stewart or, in other words, have applied for tho land surrounding what will uudoubtodlj bo tho town of North Bundaberg. Their application has boon approved by tho local Land Agont , and if approved of by the Minister for Lands will do privo tho town of what every potty bush town- ship onjoys-a grazing resorvo lo this point, bo it romombcred, nil tho carnors from tho Moolboolaman and the othor parts using Bun daborg as thoir poit must como, and, under ti oso circumstances, thoy will not havo an nore of commonage to graze their cattlo on This will inflict a most unjustifiable hardship, not only on tho inhabitants of Bundaborg, but on scores of hardworking carnors Lven if tho Minister for Lands is determined to allow this land to boconio private propertr, ho will bo grossly negligent of bia dutv as stoward of tho pu lie catato if ho allows Crown lands, whioh would easily sell by auction at £5 an nero, to be bought by lessoos at 10s.
IHE Barcoo correspondent of tho Northern Arqin, Wilting on tho 14th instant, says - "Since my last I hato to report tho advent of glorious ram Carriers can now start for the Barcoo and Thomson without a íy fear of their oattlo knocking up, as grass is now rapidly springing ovciywhoro, in fact it is growing up to tho vorj doors in the township The opal mamu is still flourishing, and sanguino hopes aro cntertainod up hore of tho mino turning out first rato, particularly foi capitalists Tho surrounding country here is being taken up m haste, and to an immonse oxtont by large pro pno ors Sinoo tho solo of tho Portland, Mol
vorn, and Wilford's stations, Messrs Wienholt Brothers have taken up Saltern Creek country to the extent of 800 square miles. Messrs. Day and Neil, of Consuelo, 400 square miles, and Buchanan some 1000 square miles Hill, of leis Downs, about 1600 equuio milos, and J R Lomax 800 ditto ' Dar' country, tthieh last is splendidly groBsed and abundantly watered T Rulo about 500 squoro milcB adjoining Lomax A M'Niiughton 400 squaro miles on tho Thomson J T Allan anil partners up wards of 1000 square miles, independent of n largo block of backcountiy by tho owners of tho following stations-viz , Alice Downs, Malvern, Portland, Isis Downs, Walton, lately purchased by Mr Rome, and other Biirrounding stations
3000 hoad of cattlo aro just poBsiug en route for Southern markots in ohnrgo of Mr Edkiu "
Tun Telegram of tho 7th instant suid that shearing was boooming general on tho Peak Downs " At Gordon Downs, only a portion of tho Bheop aro to bo shorn at proBont (unless tho late showers havo caused a chango of ar rangements) and thoso aro now nearly finished At Langton shoanug is nearly over, tho shoop oro being Bborn this year va tho grease, in OOUBO quonce of the scarcity of water, but next year tho stoaming process is to bo adopted and tho wool will no doubt bo turned out m first CIHSB ordor At Wolfang tboro aro twonty four men on tho floor, who shear about 2000 a day. Whon wo visited tho shed thoy ttero opernting on a lot of 10,000 hogi'ets, representing tho in cronso of last yoar We wero astonished nt tho condition and growth of thoso sheep, considering how Bevero the wiutor boa beon Thoir floooos, too, are Bomothing extraordinary, being of a eba ractei rather coarso and open, but of remark ablo length of staple. This is ontuoly owing, wo understand, to tho pnddocking system adopted on this and rao«t of tho Peak Downs runs, from wluoh the beat roaulls appear to bo obtained Shearing is carried on hero in the grease, in consequonco of thora being no supply of water for washing purpo'os A rack and pinion pross is used, with which three mon turn out from Bixtcon to ninotoon bales a day Hitherto the wool has all been loadod as fast as it has left the sheops' backs, and nearly 4CD bales oro already on the road The ample storo room provided is not required this yoar, in con sequonce of tho number ef teams olfonng Tbo whole of the clip goes by Rockhampton, whoro it haB already commenced to ornvo in quantity Shearers aro getting 3s Gd j.or score, finding thoraBolvos, and pressmen work by contraot at 2s Gd per bale, making their own bales "
IT muBt bo gratifying to those benovolont porsons who tako the aboriginals under thoir special patronngo to know that at least ono blackfellow on tho Darling Downs has reached that advanced stogo of eiMhsation when tho white man " goes in " for mining speculation, and improvisos a mine if ho has not got a ready-made ono handy " A fow dnyB ago " sayB o writer in the D X) Gazette, " I received a viBit from ' King Dick,' and after a short in troduetoiy address, his ma|esty naively on quired-'You wont 'em tin?' I immediately responded to tho effect that I was open to a small venturo in that line , whereupon Bichaid produced a small parcel of ruby tin and a fow pieces of nuggety oro that appeared to havo been taken from the lode In reply to certain quest ons as to tho locality of the lode, Richard observed-'That fellow como down along big creek at Cedar Scrub , you givo 'em money, mo show.' Wishing to examine the speoimonB, and to get rid of his majesty for a few moments, I presented bim with a new shilling, and asked him to call again in tho aftcinoon Richard, in the meantime, was engaged with a cabinet of copper specimens that I had recently received from Bomo friends in tho North, and, pno- to his de parture, requested the loan of one of tbo most valuable fragments After a little hesita tion I consented, and my friend taking leave, ho promised to ' look around ' about 4 o'clock in tho afternoon. Richard had been absent about two hours when a gentleman entered my ollice, and having explained tbe cause of his visit, Bald-' I wont to know from you whether it IB as good as it looks ?' I looked at the parcel, and immediately observed that it was the idonti cal specimen I had lent to King Richard a few hours before There was no help for it. I on deovored to soothe the mind of my friend to the story, and ultimately informed him that, notwithstanding the fact that the specimen was the best of its kind, there was no doubt that he had beon most cgrcgiously sold ' What,' Baid my friend, ' is it possible that tho rascal ob tamed this specimen from you ? Why ho IIUB been drinking with my friends for the last two hours, and etatca that ho obtained it ' down along big creek at Cedar Scrub' I did not allude to the transaction in tin, and OB my neighbor in copper vanished from my sight, I inwardly resolved that, for tho future, I would bave very littlo to do with tin and copper solee
lions."
THE Pine Mountain correspondent of tho Queensland. Times wroto on Thursday -" Tho aggregate rcturnB of the season aro below tho avorago, particularly cotton Tho termination of tho bonus, combined with the low pneo willoh was given for cotton in tho seed the year boforo had a considorublo effect in reducing iho quantity of land under that crop last season, and tbo prolonged ani ixeesaivo rain which prevailed
in autumn had tho usuul destructive ellects, and roducod tho returns (which at ono time gavo ampio promise of a yield nbovo the nveritgi) to about ono-half However, notwithstanding tho sovoro loss sustained by wet in autumn, tho fine diy weather which pievuled during the re niamdor of the picking soaaou and tho absonco of c tterpillar combined, havo produced a much higher yield per aero than otherwise would havo bion, which will still avorago abovo half a bale of clean cotton pel aero Willi tho compara tivcly high price which has ruled duung tho season cotton Btill bears favorable comparison with ninizo as a payablo crop Tho oxporience of the pa t fow yonrs has raised a question in agnoultuial chemistry which cotton planters would do woll to solve without dolay Judging from past experience, two crops out of three aro partially diBtroyed by too much moisture m autumn, and thore is a circumstance which often transpires during rainy soasons which is vory puzzling to a casual obsorver Two forms adjoiuiug each othor will rocoive tho same cultivation aud general treat mont throughout tho soason, and the cotton plants on one of tho farms aro able to resist tho destructivo effects of the oxcessivo ram and snllor littlo or no damage, wlulo tho plants on tho noxt farm, aftor a month or six weeks' raia, aro found almost ontiroly devoid of pods, how over numerous thoy may havo boon provious
to the rain AB tho cause is not m tho cultiva
titra or general trcatmont, the prtsutnption is that it will bo found i» "uü L¡iemlUl¡ proportios of the soil A chemical analysis of their rospeo tivo soils would cnablo the farmers to supply tho defieionoy by artificial manuro, m tho ab senco of such analysis, it would bo well for the farmors to experiment with bonoduat, lime, or other manures As tho agnoultuial statistics of the Uuited States of America for the present year give an luoreaee of 13 por cent m the nero ago of tho cottell crops over tho provious T ou- ït is moro tbnu probable that pucos will bo lower noxt year, Wo must theroforo exert our eolves aud ondentor to moot low pucos by in croasmg tho quannty and improving tho quality, if possible
TUE Warwich iramtner says that tho Talgai reefs huvo lately boen tho subject of much con vorsation botii by visitors and munt old residents who know the placo and »ppoar convinced that thcro is u largo amount of hidden wealth in that district 'lho formation of a company to work tho reef known as tho " Big Hill ' is talkotl about, and nobeheto it will meet with consider oblo support With this view, Mr Gould, a minorulogiat, has during tho past wook mado a profosBionnl oxamiiintion of tho reef during which bo wont into each shaft and elosoly notod the nppenrnnco of tho stone His report has boon sent to the promoters of tho company and if it is suflicicntly fatorablo, a prospoctus will bo issued at nn oarly date.
Wh (Bulletin) hive to report tho doBtruotion of three moro alligators on tho Fitzroy Kivor lho Dshorman Colombo, olutod by his succoss m capturing Big Bon, has boon einco omployetl in getting fuitber specimens of tho saurian tubo A fow days ngo, Colombo accompanied by his partner, Mr J Wilson, wero out on tho nvoi in Boarch of game whon a young alligator was espied on the bank lho oroaturo hating boen shot m tho nock, Colombo wont to tho brink of tho »ator and soizod it by tho tail
lho alligator instantly turnod, and snapped at ÜB assailant, but Antonio, with mai voilons dox tority, soizod its closed jaws and hold thom firmly fixed ni his clasp 'lho alligator lushed his tail m tho water, and struggled to got free and Antonio feeling lumsolf gradually boing drawn into tho ntor shouted lustily for Wilson, and lifted tho prizo as high os possible abovo tho water Matters »010 getting critical whon Wilson enmo along with a ropo in tho boat, and quickly caught the saurian in a no06o It was thus secured and has since boon skinned and stuffed WIIBOH IIUB proaervod tho skoloton, and, indeed, ovory portion of tho coicaea, and, wo behove intends oxlnbiting it with Big Ben A fourth alligator hue also boon shot, but it, with that shot by Colombo about it fortnight since has not yet boon captured, although on
ono occasion soon It is now bohevod that tho Fitzroy River has boen cleared of thoso terrible denizens lho alligator last captured l8 a malo, and eight fcot in length
IIIE following items uro from the Tenterfield kiar of lost Thursday -A post office has been oprnod at Ruby Cieek, thcro being a horBO mail between that placo anti Marylnnd, twice a tteok -Largo numbers of cuttle aud sheep are dung m tho district, and on tho Molo Tubleluud
through tho shortness of food Sovoral team ¡ sters in travelling down tho Lawronco nnd Ten torflcld road lately have also lost several bullocks
through tho samo catiBo -A fow days ago the ] Border Consols Company got Bovon buckets of ' itttshod tm from their lower block of ground on tho lwo milo Crook, boforo noon, oooh bucket woighing about 140 lbs-lho selection which was known for somo lime OB M Glow's claim, and since us tho î-ow Ii mea mino, comprising 320 acres on Quart Pot Creek, Quoonaland, ia to bo formed mto u propnotury company, tho owner, Mr Eisenstacdter announcing his intention, m Sydney, of doing so shortly -Marshall and party aro working a claim of 40 acros on Bark Hut Creek, Bituuto on Wellington Vale run, with threo mon and ono sluice box Trom 180 to 400 lbs of oro is obtainod per day, 2 tons boing now ready for despatch lho ground is exceed ingly rich but water is said to bo wanted Activo operations aro being proceeded with on Washpool Crook, Wellington Vale In ono claim a largo number of mon aro at work, and about 1 ton of tin ready for market Tho oro is found for somo distance in tho bank of tho crook, whilo tho waehdirt at tho bottom l8 highly stanniferous -300 acres of tin land have been taken up at Bolivia, and good spocimoiiB obtained, within half a milo of tho Traveller's , Rest Hotel Some 400 acrcB have also boon
taken up at Black Gray's Flat, about five miles from the Bamo hotel, on the Bolivia run -A pro motors' company is being formod to work various tin selections, and Í00 acres on Hurry'B
, Hill, Bolivia, whoro both lodo and stream tin is
being obtained Mr Batty, a Cornish miner, who was Bent up on behalf of this company, roports that tbo lodo is on tho selection, but that it will require capital to dovolop it Ho Ï considered the company's claim of 440 acros at 3 the Mitchell Rit or worth £50 000, and that,
with IO men ho could got 20 tons of oro from it por month -Four shares woro lately purchasod in Donnelly and party's claim of 120 acrcB on Ten mile 3womp, Wellington Valo run, by Mr 0 M Waro, for £300 The ground known as Ward's selection, on tho samo swamp was pur chased by Messrs Livingstone and Mortimer, at a high figure Captain Sherwood is reported to have bought a selection of 80 acros \ Catarrh Creek, for tho sum of £100
WE oro requoBted to call special attention lo the valuable block of oity property to bo offered for sale on this day (Monday), by Messrs Fraser and Buckland -[ADVT ]