SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

We (Melbourne Age) have advices from South Australia to the sth March.

Mr. Babbage and party had arrived safely at Port Augusta, by the Marion. The horses were landed safely on Sunday afternoon. One of the party (Dawson, the saddler) is said to be unwell, but not so much indisposed as to render it unadvisable that he should proceed with the expedition. Mr. Babbage is said to have spoken in high terms of the utility of his tank-cart, and he expresses an opinion that it will prove of incalculable service to him during his journey. The following is a copy of a letter received by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration, from Mr. Babbage, mentioning the arrival of the expedition at Port Augusta, and detailing the steps which were to be first taken :—: —

Port Augusta, 23rd February, 1858. Sir— l have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, the safe arrival of the party under my charge at this place on Sunday evening. At Port Lincoln, wliich place we left on Saturday afternoon, wo shipped two of the horses and the "dray left by Mr. Hack's party. Owing to the low state of 'the tide here, it was not deemed safe to land the horses until yesterday evening. "Whilst in the act of landing them, a terrific squall, accompanied by thunder and lightning, came on. Nine of the horses were, however, landed amidst the glare of the lightning, when it became necessary for the safety of tho jetty, which consists of upright piles without any bracing, to haul the steamer olf, and the gale became, subsequently, too violent to allow us to continue our operations. This morning, however, the remaining horses were landed B&iely, thanks to the energetic proceedings of Captain Ward, of the steamer Marion. Owing to the protracted voyage, the arrangements made for supplying the horses with water on their arrival were insufficient, and I despatched one of the men on horseback to Mr. Patcrson's station for a further supply. Fortunately the storm of kit night Jilled all the roadside puddles, and by help of my tankcart and galvanized iron tanks, I tins morning secured 600 gallons of water for th? use of my horses, if neeescarv. The horses are rather woak after their sea voyag ■', aad I do not think it desirable to hurry off from

here until they have got over the effects of "it. There is good gra33 about one mile and a half distant, to which I shall send them to-morrow. In the confusion of last night two of the horses escaped from the stockyard, but I have sent one of my men, with a mounted black boy, on their tracks, and hope to have them back this evening. Mr. Murdoch Campbell, who volunteered to be my guide to Swinden'a Country, wont there about three weeks ago, and haa not yet 'returned. Mr. Boord has also gone with a party in the same direction.. Should I hear no tidings of either party in a day or two, my present intention is to take the water cart and three of the men across the Port Lincoln crossing place, and to work my way up to Swinden's Country, if not to Lako Campbell, whilst Mr. Harris takes the main body of the party to Sleep's station, near Mount Eyre, and procures the sheep, arranges the loads, &c. I regret to say that one of my men is ill, and I greatly fear will not be able to withstand the fatigues of the journey; but to provide against contingencies, I have taken on a young man who served in a cavalry regiment with the army m the Crimea, and who was about to go up to one of the northern stations, but preferred the dangers and excitement of exploration to the ordinary bu>h life. The storm of last night evidently blew round in a circle like the typhoons of the Indian Ocean, and I learn from a resident that there are some peculiarities in the oscillations of the barometer up here which well deserve to be recorded. I would beg leave to suggest to the Government that wherever, in the outer districts of this colony, there is a Protector of Aborigines, Government Resident, or other officer, they should be required to make a daily record of the height of barometer, force and direction of the wind, temperature, &c, which should be forwarded at stated intervals to Mr. Todd to report upon. lam convinced that if this were systematically done, results would be obtained not only of general interest, but of great utility to our coasting trade. I have, &c, B. H. Babbaoe. The Honourable the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration.

Fire on Lefevre's Peninsula. — On Saturday, 27th February, a fire broke out in a dwelling-house occupied by Mr. Porter, tailor, which caused the total destruction of the building, together with all the furniture and other contents. The origin of the disaster baa not been ascertained, but the unfortunate sufferer, who has thus lost his all, believes it was occasioned by the foulness of the chimney. — Register.

Colonial Raisins. — In accordance with his promise, "R. 5.," the writer of a letter on the subject of preparing raisins, which recently appeared iv our columns, has forwarded to us a sample of fruit dried and prepared by himself. The raisins have a good colour and flavour, but are small and rather hard. Whether they owe their good qualities and their defects to the original character of the grapes, or to the processes of drying, we are not able to say ; bufc the sample is certainly good enough to encourage further efforts, without being so good as to leave no room for improvement. — Id.