MELBOURNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 480, 9 February 1861, Page 9

MELBOURNE.

From the Melbourne "Age," to the 2oth ult., we copy the following items :—

A despatch from the Duke of Newcastle to Sir Henry Barkly. relating to the exploring expedition, has been handed by his Excellency to Dr. Macadam, the Secretary of the Exploring Committee. It states that, in accordance with the desire of the Colonial Government, instructions have been issued to her Majesty's ships cruizing on the northern portions of Australia, to keep up a supervision of the roast, with a j-iew of rendering assistance to the Exploring Expedition should it reach to the northern shores of the continent. The despatch also expressed the satisfaction of the Home Government at the energy and liberality displayed by this colony in fitting out the expedition.

A rumour is current in Sydney to the effect that Sir Richard M'Donnell, the present Governor of South Australia, is to be translated to the Governor-Generalship of New South Wales. The report has an air of probability, from the fact that Sir Richard's period of office in South Australia h.as, very nearly expired.

A. Bellerine fai mer informs us (the Geelong Advertiser) that he anticipates the loss of half of his wheat crop tin's season from the ravages of the grub. His more immediate neighbours all suffer to the, same extent, and throughout the whole of the district the farmers complain of loss, more or less, from the same destructive cause.

Captain Ilarper, of the steamship Balclujtha, was summoned before the Wflliumstown Bench of Magistrates, fora breach of the 14th section of the Passenger Act, by carrying an excess of passengers on his last trip from Adelaide. Mr. Chambers appeared on behalf of the owners of the vessel, and admitted tbe excess, but sfated thit the larger number were stowaways. The Bench said that Captain ' Harper ought in that" case to have given them in charge on- Jjis arrival in port ; they should, therelore, inflict the penalty of £120 ss. 9u.,

being £5 for each passenger over the number allowed bythe Act, and sa. 6d. costs. By the Prince of Wales have arrived one hundred and twenty-two birds out of two hundred and thirty-eight shipped in London, viz., 4 white swans, 6 Canadian geese, 6 China geese, 3 Egyptian geese, 5 currosseurs, 12^ golden pheasants, 12 silver pheasants, 9' common English pheasants, 2 widgeon, 9 shell ducks, 8 ortolans, 19 wild ducks, 7 call ducks',10 turtle doves, 2 brent geese, and 2 white fronted geese. The way in which these birds have been brought out reflects very great credit on Mr. Lacy and the man brought out by him to feed and attend on them, for the excellent condition, both as regards health and plumage.