PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 348, 22 September 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

" There can be no doubt" (writes the " Bruce Herald") " that malting barley of superior quality can bo ruisocl in most districts of Otago, but in some particularly favored localities such as Inch Clutha, the finer varieties of barley, such aa Chevalier, give an extraordinary yield and of oxcellent quality. Wo aro informed that on the farrn of Mr Win. Ferguson, there was raisod last year a crop yielding 70 bushels per aero, and in tho previous year, it gave G3 bushels." The latest intelligence with respect to the Panama route is convoyed in the following paragraph from the " Southern Cross" : — '• We loarn, upon what we deem reh.iblo autliouty, that the New South Wales Q-overn-ment have written to Mr Vine Hall, tho London manager of the P.N.Z., nnd A.R.M. Co., to tho eifaefc that they purpose to withdraw their contribution to tho Panama subsidy, unless Auckland were made the port of c til, alleging several reasons for such a course and among which are tho following, viz., that Auckland possesses greater remunerative trade, and that hor port is reached two days earlier than that of Wollmgtou. We aro also informed that tho merchants of Sydney aro anxious to have tho steamer again laid on once a month between that city and Auckland. Wo arc strongly advised by the " Tasmanian Times" to cultrt ate the acquaintance of tho kangaroo I ribe. In a recent issue, that journal said : — " On the last trip of tho schooner Swordfish to Duncdin there was despatched by that vessel, as a present from the Hobavt Town Acclimatisation Society to tho kindred association of Otago, a dozen .English perch, and threo brush kaugaroos or wallabies. Unfortunately, owing to tho rough passage experienced, and the violent motion thereby imparted to tho vessels in which tho fishes were contained, only three of the perch reached their destination alive. The kangaroos were landed in safety, but through some oversight were enabled to escapo from tho onclosuro in which they wero placed ou their arrival. Our local society has recently received a letter, thanking them for these presents, and requesting further contributions of similar !kind°. Whilst on this subject we can scarcely too strongly urge ou our New Zealand fiiends the great advisability of availing themselves of the opporlumtj of introducing to their colony tho brush kangaroo, which here oxist in such abundanco us to render them unappreciated. Their skins yield a leather which cannot bo excelled, and their flesh is a food equal to the English hare, and adapted for tho nutrition either of tho laborer or the epicure." It was rumored in the town on Saturday evening, that a new rush had taken place to a piece of ground about six miles on this side of Fo<c's, but no confirmatory news has reached us. We hear that the same rumor had reached Hokitika, and that a number ol miners had started overland for the scene of the repoited disco veiy. — Grey Kiver Argus. According to the " Westport Star" of tho 7th inst., a young man, a clerk in one of tho Auckland b.'iiks bought a share m a claim for L100, u fe»v months back, and sold it the other daj for L14,0'J0. The "Thames Advc tiser" sijs alluvial diggings have beeu discovered at Mercury 13oy. The prospects are good. The following sad instance of juvenile intoxication is from a telegram in tho " Daily Times" : — " Thrco children were discovered lying dead drunk on tho beach afc Auckland. They hod clubbed togelhcrnnd bought a bottle of brandy, the whole of which they drank. One of thorn is dangerously ill m consequence." Another telegram in the samo paper states that people aro fast leaving Taranaki, and the Pro\ince is being gradually deserted. Gold-bearing quartz has been discovoed there. The trip of the s.s. Albion to Jo-nan 13 the subject of a paragraph iu tho " China Mail" of tho 10th of July, under the heading of Japan news: — "The steamer Albion has arrived from Australia with about eighteen passengers, who fancied that Japan was an Eldorado, and had left employment m the colonies to seek a foituno there. 'Iho Yokohama papers comment stron ly on this eveut. The " Gazette" says : — " Wo cannot too strongly urge upon our brethren of tho Australian press to do all in their power to counteriet the false impressions which letters have given rise to, and prevent colonists leaving their shores, however dull tho times may be with thorn, for tho certainty of disappointment hero." Many of the settlers at Poverty Bay lvivo left for Auckland, having been compelled to desert their homes in consequence of tho hostilo attitude of the natives in that district. The following; account of the extraordinary inciea&o of labbits, and the damage they are doing to the pasturage of Victoria, is clipped from tho " Goelong Adveiti&er," 22nd August It says : — " Tho wild labbits have increased to such an extent at tho Wamou Hills, near Colac, and destroy so much glass on the purchased land in that locality, that tho piopiietois have commenced a war of extermination against them, and for this purpose Mr William Robertson has for some thno past had a small ainiy engaged iu their destiuction. Theie are now eighty-five men camped on tho ground in tents, and a butcher and baker aie fully etnploved in administering to their necessities, aud it takes four bullocks weekly to fee I them, besides au unknown quantity of flour. The iabl>its have taken possession of tho deserted wombat holes, which aro very numerous, and the lamificationsof these buirows extend a coniideiablc distance under ground, and owing to the rocky naturo of the land, cannot bo dug out, as in saudy sod. The wombat constructs a deep bin row against tho stiabmod rock, always selecting a spot in which the natuial lock foims a lintel to their hole-., and the flat sui face of the rock appeal s like a stiaight wall above. Tho lahbit-killeis have been busily employed blocking up the entrince hnle3 with stones, and and then p.utially filling the buriows with sjiI ; it was thought iu this manner the rabbits would get binotheied as it was supposed they would not bunow peipendicularly to tho surface ; this, however, they have done, and the animals are killed as they attempt to escape, in tiaps or otherwise. Mr Kobeitson estimates that tho new year will have airived befoie ho consideia the work will be done, and that an cxppndituio of between three and four thousand pounds will have been entailed. Tho richly-giassed lands of the Wan ions havo been famed for tho fat cattle they havo pioduced, but sinco tho land has been so infested by the labbits, it is as much as the cattle can do to exist, and flocks of sheep have been staived out. Dr Stoiiart and Mr Murray have also a number of moneugiged in destroying thebe destructive animals."