QUEENSLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 98, 30 March 1866, Page 5

QUEENSLAND.

The Brisbane Courier, of February 24, has the following : —

We are informed that pleuro-pennmonia is still making its appearance from time to time near town. In one instance a small herd was inoculated, with the exception of one cow, which has since been attacked ; the others remaining well. This is important evidence m favor of the operation as a preventive.

A correspondent of the same journal writes

Squatters are jubilant, and superintendents now care no more. From all sides of the country come reports of splendid grass and full waterholes. From Roma to the Warrego, the longest st.i«e without water is only twenty miles. Not many days a«o a solitary traveller on that route would feel shy about committing himself to some stages of that jonrney without full confidence m the endurance of his horse. Now nature's mantle has changed from a semi-brown to a bright green, studded liberally with numerous species of the Australian flora. The Warego is running. The Angelala and Mungalala Creeks are running also. The Nive and Ward country has recovered itself, and there is every reason to believe that the Barcoo and Thomson country received its share of the grateful waters. The country on the Bungil Creek, from its head to its junction with the Balonne, is all that could be desired. Below St. George, and down toward the Culgoa and Narran rivers, the country has not so readily recovered itself. The country m the vicinity of the Maraoa Waters is fully grassed, with abundance of water. Shearing, excepting at Bnngeworgorai, may be pronounced over. The average dip is, I believe, equal to that of last year, but the condition of the wool may operate against it. Some have shorn m the grease, while others, from scarcity of water, have been unable to cleanse the wool as well as usual.

The Queensland Times says : — "The right goahead, wide-awake spirit exists among our fellow colonists at Port Denison, whose wit is not dulled, nor their energies relaxed, by the rays of a sun just now vertical. In the expectation that the steamer Souchays may shortly be expected m their port, with late news from England, the Bowenites have started a subscription for the purpose of despatching on her arrival a special messenger to Broadsound (where there is a telegraphic station), m order that the latest intelligence may be received here with the least possible delay. This intelligence will, of course, go on to Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and, if it should fortunately happen to be important, the prestige of the Queensland Torres Straits service will become conspicuous, and the public spirit displayed by the Bowenites will redound greatly to their credit. The fact speaks for itself, and we are delighted to find that our fellow-colonists m the north are thus proving themselves m every way au courant with th times."

The following extracts are from Rockhampton papers to February 26th : —

The Bulletin, of that date states that some further disputes have arisen with respect to the limits of the claims at Gavial Creek diggings. The interference of a magistrate is pra3»ed for, and one will proceed to the diggings this morning to hear and decide upon the rights of the lespective parties. It is said that the claim made the subject of dispute some time ago, and adjudicated on by R: H. D. White, is turning out well.

A man came into town yesterday, and exhibited fifteen ounces of gold as the product of prospecting at a locality about forty miles from town and m the direction of Gladstone. The gold consisted of nuggets, varying m weight from five to eight or nine penny-weights each. He refused to make known the spot ; and getting two friends m town to join him, he set off to work his "tiud."

Cattle Exportation. -We (the Argus) understand that Mr. Henriques is making extensive preparations at Broadmount for the shipment of cattle to the Melbourne market. A large stockyard is beiug put up, and a stage extending to the beach, at the extremity of which will be placed a punt to receive cattle, and a depth of water sufficient for steamers to come alongside. The first shipment, it is expected, will take place early m March. We hope the project will meet with the success it deserves, and that this first essay m cattle exportation will lead to regular and increased trade. Gladstone, with its poor back country for a spurt, did a good business ; there is no reason why Rockhampton with its large resources should fail to secure a greater success.

The Maryborough ( Wide Bay) Chronicle, of February 21st, says : —

We are furnished with the following, which cannot be without interest to the cattle breeders of this district :— On the last trip of the Kate Waters, barque, from Gladstone to Nelson, New Zealand, with cattle, running short of water, she put into Newcastle for a supply. Being the first vessel from Queensland with cattle which.

had touched at that port, and being an old favorite trader between that port and New Zealand, she was soon after her arrival visited by a large number of people, amongst them, of course, all the butchers and cattle dealers of the town, by whom the splendid condition of the stock was much admired. The report having got into the Newcastle paper that they were for sale, the Maitland butchers were also soon down upon her, and with difficulty could be persuaded that such was not the case. All agreed that nothing like them was procurable m that quarter, Several offers were made for the cattle at prices which would have paid the owner's better than sending them on to New Zealand, but the offers of course had to be refused. On the Kate Waters arriving at Nelson, the intelligence having got their before her of the unusual excellence m quality and condition of her live frieght, a great desire was manifested to see the cattle ; and Captain Johnson being m Nelson at the time, permission was kindly given to those who sought it, to visit the ship ; and if we are to believe the Nelson papers, quite a sensation was created amongst the butchers and salesmen. Great praise was awarded to the breeders of the cattle ; finer than which they had never seen landed m Nelson, and also to Captain Coulder, for the care he had taken of his four footed passengers on the voyaga The Kate Waters has just started again for Auckland with another cargo of cattle, the finest, Captain Coulder says, he ever had the pleasure of carrying, and he has now been eight years m the trade. The two cargoes of cattle referred to, though shipped from Gladstone, were from the stations of Messrs. Brown, Story, Walsh, and Merton m thi3 district.

The Port Denlson Times is responsible for the following extraordinary information : — A large shark was caught by the crew of the Princess Alexandra, off Port Bowen. On examining the stomach it was found that a snake and also a cheque book (!) where therein contained. The bonk was printed m the usual form, but without the name of any bank or firm except that of the priuters, Wauge aud Cox, 551 George street, Sydney. More than half the cheques had been torn out. One counterpart has the name of 11. Mackenzie, m whose favour the cheque was drawn on the 6th November, 1861, for £3 10s. Several other butts have an inscription on them but are illegible. From the appearance of the book, it could not have been long m the shark's stomach, and it is a puzzle where it could have come from, the dates beiug so far back. This is the only time we have heard of a shark carrying his cheque book about with him.