AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2606, 12 May 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(From the Argus, April 23 to April 29, inclusive.) It is stated by the Launceston papers that the West Arm goldfield is about to be thoroughly prospected by a party of experienced diggers from this colony. Schafer, the poor little German traveller, has now been released from his short durance in Melbourne gael, and appears to be wandering about, uncertain where to go or what to do. The supply of winter tweeds manufactured by the Victorian Woollen Company has been so materially reduced by the demand, that shifts of workmen will have to be employed to keep up the supply. Three members of au Austrian exploring expedition, now on a tour round tbe world, reached the Cape of Good Hope in January last. Their names were Or Smuke and Messrs Scala and Schonbsrger. Business would not seem to be thriving in the North of Queensland. At Rockhampton, the company to whom the property belonged have been compelled to wind up the affairs of the Bulletin newspaper—one of the best journals in the northern portion of that colony. The Langlands Foundry Company held their fourth general meeting last evening, at the West .Melbourne Literary Institute. The report of the directors showed a very favourable financial result. A ballot was held, which was unfavourable to the appointment of Messrs Gowan and Davis as directors, and an election to fill their places will be necessary.

A small invention, but one which promises to be extremely useful, and may be the means of saving many lives, has just been patented by Mr Holyoake, saddler, of Burke street west. It is a lever stirrup bar, the lever of which gives way and releases the stirrip immediately an oblique backward pressure is brought to bear upon it. The advantage of this is that when a rider is thrown, his foot being at the same time retained in the stirrup-iron, the lever falls back and releases the stirrup, so that there is no danger of the unfortunate equestrian being dragged along the ground. A new process of sheep-washing has been patented by Mr Munro, who has tried its efficacy in presence of a number of gentlemen interested in pastoral pursuits, at the works of Mr Patrick Hayes, Saltwater River. The principle of tbe patent is to lessen labour, and make the sheep wash themselves, by swimming and passing under spouts, without any rubbing, forcing, or crutching. The sheep, one after another, enter the bath, and pass along under the spots, coming out perfectly clean and white. By this process two or three men can superintend tbe washing of a large flock. A meeting of the shareholders of the Melbourne and Ballarat Glass and Bottle Company was held at the office of Messrs Baillie and Butters, Collins street, on Saturday, and directors and manager appointed. The success of this new industry is now placed beyond a doubt, as about 1000 dozen bottles have been turned out, which have been subjected to the severest test possible by Tyler’s No. 1 machine, even an attempt to burst them not having succeeded. A certificate of the quality of tbe bottles has been given by Mr Goulding, manager for Mr E. J. Prevot, so that they are now fairly in the market. The alteration produced in the back country by the change of the weather is thus alluded to by a local writer “ Now is the time to travel from the Lachlan to the Darling. There is no danger of dying of thirst, while the mail drivers state that there are places on the read where the water is still several feet deep. When you camp at night, it is no longer a mockery to turn out your wearied horse for a feed—for the shifting sands on which, a few weeks ago, he would have been obliged either to feast or starve, have been changed, as by an enchanter’s wand, into blooming wild flowers and native oats, rich grasses or juicy saltbush.”

Advices from the Fiji Islands are not of a very favourable character. Severe hurricanes have devasted Bau, Vewa, and Levuka. The barque Ellesmere was driven ashore high and dry amongst the cocoa-nut trees. The first arrivals holding the land warrants of the Melbourne Fiji Company complain that they cannot obtain possession of the lots to which they are entitled; and some, unwilling to wait, have purchased land from the natives. Fighting has commenced at Suva, the native proprietors holding possession of the land ceded to the company, but King Thakombau’s party are endeavouring to obtain it. Native outrages continue to be perpetrated on European settlers in other portions of the group. The following notes on squatting matters are from the Pastoral Times :—“ They will shear about 70,000 at Coree, and about) 40,600 at Yanko. The old sheep (culls) boiled down at Moama from Coree run gave aa average of 13lb of tallow, those from Hartwood 121 b, and from the Yanko 101 b each. There is much culling going on on various stations, as most of the settlers evince a determination to get rid of all inferior sheep, so as to improve both carcase and wool. The drought has nerved many of the squatters to do things that even five years ago were never thought of. We hear that some of the settlers intend to ‘ boil down ’on their rims the refuse sheep, as it is believed that the returns would be more satisfactory. The animals would lose a great deal of fat by being sent away, to be rendered down at the public establishments, along roads deficient of grass and water.” By tbe arrival of the Ida, from the South Sea Islands, at Sydney, the Polynesia Company have received despatches from Fiji up to the Ist April, containing reports from their agents ami the various island authorities, which, we understand, are satisfactory. The Alfred, the first of the Polynesia Line of Packets from Melbourne, arrived at Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji, on the fith of March. The Polynesia Company’s representatives were well received, and it is satisfactory to know that the difficulties heretofore existing between the company and the British consul have been set at rest by this timely arrival. King Thakombau is said to have been busily engaged clearing the lands of the Polynesia Company from native occupation, preparatory to its being taken up by the settlers of tlie company. Mr Glenny, the Polynesia Company’s representative, had visited King Thakombau at Bau, and was about to commence the survey of the company’s property at Sovs. He had not been able, however, to settle the shareholders of the company who held land warrants, by reason of the time required in making the boundaries.

We are glad to observe that, notwithstanding the difficulties naturally encountered in establishing a hew industry, owing to the indomitable perseverance of the proprietors of the only salt manufactory attempted to be set agoing in the colony—Messrs, W. M‘Kee and Co.—the manufacture of this article is likely to meet with the success it deserves. The Victoria, a little schooner, just arrived from Western Port, has brought a trial shipment of that now made, to test the feeling in the market. A sample has been shown us, the quality and appearance of which in no way differ from Liverpool made salt, and as a thoroughly practical man has of late been engaged by the proprietors to take the management of the works, all the faults common to a first undertaking have been successfully got rid of, and we are, moreover, informed that there is no doubt but that the standard of excellence now attained will be kept up in future. There can now be no doubt that the introduction of the omnibuses by the Melbourne Company will be productive of lasting benefit to tbe public of this city. Not only has the fare on most of the main lines of traffic been reduced, but the commencement of the time system must be a great convenience. The cab-owners, however, have so far looked forward to the probabilities of the future that they have already contemplated the formation of new lines. Thus the Emerald-hid men, no longer content with the Kwanston street stand alone, propose to form one in Queen street, which will certainly be a great convenience to persons travelling between the western portion of the city and “ the hill.” Tbe Omnibus Company, on their part, have not been inattentive to what is likely to happen. We learn that some months ago the promoters of the company placed themselves in communication with parties in Glasgow, where the large omnibuses, known as Menzies’, roll along all the principal streets, drawn by three horses abreast, in the French fashion, and carrying enormous loads of passengers at the charge of a penny for the whole journey. Specimens of these vehicles have been ordered, and are now on the way to Melbourne. When they arrive the company, as we are informed, will place them on the Collingwood line, possibly at such fares as twopence inside and one penny outside, and tbe experience of the company has shewn them that at those fares the omnibuses will pay them well, so large is the Colling-

wood traffic. When these Glasgow omnibuses arrive, no doubt those now in use will be placed on the other lines where they are so much wanted. An interesting experiment with one of Robey’s improved traction engines, recently imported by Messrs Macfarlan and Co, of Flinders-lane was yesterday morning made on the Sandridge-road. The success which has attended the application of these engines to farm work and agricultural purposes generally, suggested their adaptability for use on common roads as a substitute for horse-power. Several engines of the same description, manufactured by the firm of Ransome and Sims, have been imported into the colony, and have been found to answer the purposes intended admirably. Robey’s, however, is the first introduced for the special purpose of traction, and is said to be an improvement upon those made by Ransome and Sims. The difference between them consists in the former being worked by a chain, and the latter by a spur gear. Robey’s engine can be worked with wonderful facility. It weighs eight tons, and has a nominal capacity of hauling ten tons, though capable of readily moving double that weight. It is capable of working up a gradient of one in thirty-five—of course without any weight being attached. So far as the test was applied yesterday the result may be regarded as satisfactory. An arrangement had been made with Mr Morley and Mr Garrick to have a number of trucks ready at Sandridge to be drawn into town by the engine. At six o’clock the engine started from Messrs Macfarlan’s premises, inFlinder -lane, driven by Messrs Walker and Whitelaw, and accompanied by Messrs Blythe, M‘Gorern, Mitchell, Curry, and Morley. It proceeded over Prince’s 1 ridge, in the direction of the Sandridge-road, and went very satisfactorily in the first instance, but on arriving near the tollgate it suddenly stopped. The cause of this was ascertained to have arisen from the heating of one of the bearings. This defect was soon rectified, and again the engine proceeded on its way at the rate of about six miles an hour, arriving at Sandridge without any further accident. The great weight of the engine made no sensible impression on the firm macadamised roadway, and interfered but slightly with the ordinary traffic. The trucks were not ready on the arrival of the engine, and it was deemed advisable to postpone any further test.