COLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 11, 20 June 1840, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

Mr. Cooper and several other Government officers are about proceeding to New Zealand in the " Chelydra," which sails in a few days. — Sydney Herald, May 4.

Markets. — We have not heard any sales of sperm oil having taken place, but as the latest London arrivals state that it had advanced in price, and was worth £101 to £102 per tun, the quotations may be considered as rather below the actual value. The increase in the value of sperm oil made a corresponding advance in black, which is in demand, and it is probable that there will not be much in the colony after the present year, as some vessels will most probably be laid on at New Zealand for London direct. New Zealand flax, rough, per ton, £20; ditto, fine, ditto, £40 ; ditto, pork, per lb., sd. to 6d. — Ibid.

Messrs. Hebblewhite and Vickery sold on Wednesday last, the cargo of the " Fair Barbadian" from New Zealand, comprising: — 12 tons New Zealand flax, £40 per ton ; 3000 bushels maize'; 6s. 3d. to 6s. 9d. per bushel ; 50 tons potatoes, £5 ss. per ton ; 6 tons pork, at 4§d. per lb. a quantity of black oil,* at £21 per tun. — Ibid.

Aquatics. — A pulling match came off on Tuesday afternoon last, between the Australian gig Pelter, pulled by four native youths, and Captain Hews' American built gig Novelty, pulled by six hands selected from tlxe crew of the barque Orwell. The contending boats started at four o'clock from Dawe's Battery Point, and pulled round Shark Island, returning to the place of starting. The Pelter took the lead, which she maintained during the whole of the contest, and came in about five minutes before her opponent. After so manyvictories, we think the superiority of the Aus-. tralians in this manly exercise must be universally admitted. — Australasian Chronicle, May 22. The Turf. — A match hasbeeg; made between Mr. Charles Roberts aacU v M£. Daniel Egan, for £500 a side, (of mich.'sum a deposit of £100 has been already^ jpaid by each of those gentlemen) to run the Irorse Colonel, recently imported by the former, " against any horse which may be procured from "Van Diemen's Land by the latter, within three months. — Ibid.

Special Constables. — We understand that the ticket-of-leave holders of Sydney have been summoned, for the first time under the new regulations, to act as special constables on the Queen's birth-day. This has been done with a view of enforcing the orders of the superintendent of police in regard to fire-works, and for the preservation of the peace, which we believe these persons are now

responsible for in the districts to which they belong. — Ibid. We gather from the "Government Gazette" the following account of the revenue collected at Sydney, in the quarters ending 31st of March, 1839 and 1840 ;—; — £ s. d. 1839 77,859 3 1 1840 98,489 18 11 Increase ....23,180 19 5 Less decrease. 2,190 3 8 Increase on quarter .20,990 15 9 The following statistical information exemplifies the progress of Port Philip: — SALE OF CROWN LANDS. Town allotments, 1837.. 17,221 4 0 Country sections, 1839 . . 37,202 5 10 Ditto, Feb. and April, 1840 72,271 7 3 VESSELS. Arrived — 1838, 1839 133 1839,1840 195 Departed— lß3B, 1839 136 1839, 1840 189