SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Tub Far North.— A gentleman who has juat arrived from the neighbourhood of Chambers' Greek, . informs us that M r. Stuart had left tltat spot as was | intended, and had proceeded for Kome considerable distance northward. He is not able however, to furnish precise dates or further particulars. He says that the intense heat in the early part of January was followed by occasional heavy showers which have caused many of the creeks to run, and have greatly improved the feed. He remarked on his journey southward the general scarcity of grass for a mile or two around the houses of accommodation. This he supposes to have arisen from the love of the shepherds to oe near those spots where refreshment and company are obtainable. It could htirdly, he imagines, be the wish of the sheepowners to have authorised the establishment ot eating-houses on their runs that weary travellers should be compelled to hobble their horses, - aa they are often obliged to do, a couplo of miles from tho place whero they themselves are to pass the night. 8. A. Register, 7th February. • Tbadk ov the MtrKBAT.— We have • already called attention to tho increasing amount of produce, brought down by the Murray and shipped at our ports, and to the circulation of money in Adelaide in connection with sheep and cattle stations upon the borders of the adjacent colonies. We are glad to understand, from a highly respectable and reliable source, that our business relations .with the Murray and Darling are likely to be considerably extended ia the'eourse of the next year, assome large sheep farmers who .have hitherto been, in the habit of doing their business in Victoria or New. South Wales have expressed their intention of transmitting it to Adelaide. -It is said that the extension of the railway to Viotoria Harbor will be an additional inducement to' wool-growers on the Murray to send their produce in this direction.— B: A, ' Register, 14tjr February. • < M'KiHLAt's Expedition.— We havebeeri obligingly favored with % use of a letter containing-the'sub. joined vxtraeVreoeived. from v settler » v ABgjpena, (< ■

fandTdafed'SOJE January":— " We ljave hiTnifttle information with regard' tor Mr. M'Kinlay and party. A'-W(iokfellow, named" Frank, whom' -he' took from Pekina, returned to Tooukatchiua at the commencement of this month, and informed me that the party were all well, and that Mr. Hodgkin&on had joined the remainder of the party wiih stores; but I uould not- glean from him whether the party ha 1 nuvle m aO\ progress, only that it took him (the native) ei»htda-,s to come from their cirap to Jiai.mv.dkaninnfi. lie was fed well by the other tribes nil the way in and was not molested by any of them." According to this, we imdjrctand Mr. M'Kinlay would have been when the native left him, about nine days' jouvnoy f f°"i Toonkatcliina. Jt will be recollected that shortly after the -discovery of the remains at Ls.ke rando. Mr. Hoilgkinson was dispatched to the outstations for stores, and as instructed to return as early as possible to Mr. M'Kinlay, who would await his return at some arranged spot, previous to commencing the Government explorations of the country to the north-west. As the stores were safely' receiwd the expedition is now probably started northward. It is to remain out, we believe, eighteen months from the date of its leaving Adelaide, and will, doubtless, be the means of supplying us with much valuable information concerning an extensive couutry, which although within the boundaries of the colony is at present almost unknown. The blackfellow mentioned m the above extract as sent by Mr. M'Kinlav is I probably the one whom he spoke of in his diary,**and ! whom lie took with him as a guide through the country beyond Mount Hopeless.— B. A. lieqister Dili Fej^nary.

Gigantic Shark.— We have been informed tlmt several efforts have been made to capture a most gigantic shark, which has been seen in the Gulf of bt. Vincent, between Yorke's Peninsular and Port Gawler. Two boats recently gave it chase, and after letting out about 150 fathoms of rope, they were oblige! to desist. It is stated that the monster is 40 feet in length, that it carried off a boy who «&! bathi-ig last summer, and that it is often seen in comparatively shallow water. It is the terror of many, and its capture is most fervently desired — & A Register, 10th Feb.