AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 311, 13 May 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

<> (From the Argus, April 30 to May 4, inclusive.') " Among one of the novel industries," says the Mount Alexander Mail, " may be classified the cultiration of liquorice, a remarkably fine specimen of which valuable root, in the green state, was left in the hands of Mr Kced, of the Talbot drug store, who pronounces it in many respects superior to the imported article." A case of mushroom poisoning, that nearly had a fatal termination, took place the oilier day at Warrnatnbool. Mr J. P. Cave, after partaking of some fungi believei to be mushrooms, was taken ill with a violent vomiting and rigidity of the limbs. Medical assistance was promptly called in, and the life of tfte patient was with difficulty saved. The visit to Victoria of His Excellency Sir James Fergus3on, the new Governor of South Australia, promises to be a pleasaut one. He will, during his short stay, remain a guest of our own governor, but his movements are uncertain, it is not at all likely that he will appear much in public, but nevertheless, we | believe, he has accepted the invitation of the " natives of Ayrshire," resident in Victoria, to a dinner ut Scott's Hotel, on Thursday next. Me has also promised to be present at the " viceregal command " performance at the Theatre li >yal this evening. At the meeting of the Adelaide Anglican Synod on April 29, an exciting debate took place on the ritualistic question. The following motion was carried almost unanimously : — ' That in the opinion of this Synod it is of the highest importance to the unity and wellbeing of the Church of Kngland, that the bishop be earnestly requested to use Ms influence for the correction and prevention of such evils as are known by the t"rm ' Kkualistic 'or 'Romanising,' in keeping within the tenor of his lordship's address at the opening of the Synod, and that all the ceremonies of the Church be strictly curried out in accordance with ihe directions of the Common Prayer-book." The Australasian Woollen-mill Company, whose factory at Footscray for some timo past has been at a standstill, is at present in a state of transition. Many who pass by the buildings when travelling to Geeloug or Ballarat, have been struck with their deserted appearance and want of progress. Two men might occasionally be seen within the ninencre paddock chasing goats from the enclosure, and the sound of a hammer might sometimes be heard echoing within the empty buildings, but nothing could be s.-en or heard to warrant the conclusion that the building was being erected by an enterprising company for tha purpose of turning some of our extensive wool staple into manufactured cloth. Hut things are changing; a new directory has been appointed, and they have taken the sensible plan of ordering efficient machiaery from home, which they hope to have erected and in working order before the end of the year. We are glad to observe that, notwithstanding the difficulties naturally encountered in establishing a new industry, owing to the indomitable perseverance of the proprietors of the only salt manufactory attempted to be set agoing in the colony— Messrs. W. M'Kee and Co. — the manufacture of this article is likely to meet with the success it deserves. The Victoria, a little sdooner, just arrived from Western Port, has brought a trial shipment of that now made, to test the feeling in th? market. A sample has been shown us, the quulity and appearance »f which in no way differ from Liverpool made salt, and as a thoroughly practical man has of late been engaged by the proprietors to take the mamigement of the works, all the faults common to a first undertaking have been succjfsfully got rid of, and we are, moreover, informed that there is no doubt but that the standard of excellence now attained will be kept up in future. " In ulrnost every part of this dutrict," cays the Wangaratta Despatch, " we have good accounts of the vintage, which has proved itself larger, perhaps, than that of any former season. On the Murray the work is nearly over, and although in our own neighbourhood the vintage is always a week or two later, yet, stiil, nearly all the reports are satisfactory. Messrs Docker will have over 14,000 gallons of wine, against 11,000 last year. Mr C. A. Heid, of Tarrawingee, has made 7000 gallons. The vineynrds in and about the town hsive yielded a large crop. In some cases the yield of grapes has been enormous, and two extraordinary instances have came beneuth our notice. Mr Webster, of the Moodemere vineyard, near Wahgunyah, has made 2000 gallons of wine, besides having sold two tons of grapes off three and three-quarter acres of ground; and Mr C. A. Reid, of lieidsdnlc, has got 700 gallons of Maalbtc off about threequarters of nn acre." The case of Everest v. the Bank of Auctralasia, tried in the County Court yesterday, was one illustrative of the liability of banks for money deposited with them. Home timingo, I' verest deposited with the bank a sum of £55, a deposit receipt for the money being handed to him. lie put the receipt (which puported to be given to George Everest) in :i box which he had at a restaurant in Bourke street, where he was lodging. The box also bore bi3 name in writing. He left the bnx at the restaurant, and went to Wagga Wagga for some months. On his return to Melbourne he applied to ihe bank for the money, and was informed that it had been paid, tin deposit receipt being shown to him, purporting to bear his signature for the .£55, but which he.prouounced to be a forgery. Thinking that the bank should not have paid the money, he brought this action. Judge Pohl-

man held that the plaintiff had been guilty of negligence in the taking care of the receipt. He ought not to have left the document in a box in a place where any ono who cho c to pay a shiilins could spend a night. The plaintiff was, therefore, nonsuited. The old tactics of "King Cobb ' have been brought into piny to keep any other line of conveyances from plying between Sandhurst and .spring Creek. Two lines had been com peting ag.iinsfc each other — Cobb 'sand O'C >nnor's — and a week ago matters had been brought to such a pass that- passengers were conveyed the fifty miles for 2s 6d. This had the effect of driving O'Connor and Co. out of the field, and, as a natural consequence, up went the fares — ss, 7s 6<l, 10s, and 15d were the alterations effected in about as many days in the cost of transit between this ami Sandhurst. It is quite possible that if things had progressed satisfactorily the fares would have risen to something like 255, or 62 per rui!e ; but unfortunately for Cobb his old antagonist had only been quietly resting his wheels and recruiting his horstfles'i. On Saturday afternoon the main street at Spring Creek resounded with the loud cheers of the miners as O'Connor's conveyances from Sandhurst pulled up in the centre of tho township. The resumption of the competition meant the resumption of cheap fare 3. O'Connor, it appears, is content to convey passengers for 7s 6d. Placards were speedily posted through the town announcing that the fares by Cobb's coaches had suddenly fallen 15s to 2s 6d. " The Ballarat Corner men." writes the Geelontj Advertiser, " are, generally speakinsr, set down ,13 a very sharp lot, and they fully deserve the de cription. Sometimes, however, they are too sharp, and an instance of this kind occurred on Tuesday, when our old fellow townsman, Mr L. Ki'z, who for years carried on business as a jeweller in this t'<wn, was walking in Sturt-street with a black leather valise in his hand. He was cogitating on business in general and his own in particular, when hia reverie was disturbed by an old acquaintance, a well-known character at the Corner. c Hullo,' Ki(z, old fellow, how are you ? What will you take for that box of yours ?' Before v?r Kitz had time to reply, M' — sai ), ' I will eive you £5 for it.' 'If you will,' says Mr Kitz, ' it is yours.' The two then adjourned to theb.'irof a public-house, were they were supplied with a blank cheque, which was quickly filled in by M' — , who was not aware that Mr Kitz had given up the jewellery business, and taken to colonial wine selling. Imagine his surprise when, after carefully unstrapping the case, instead of jewellery, he found medicine bottles containing samples of pure Albury. The bar was full of people, for whom he was only toy happy to shout, and further gave £1 to the hospital or poor-box to be let off his bargain." There can now be no doubt that the introduction of the omnibuses by the Melbourne Company will be productive of lasting benefit to the public <;f this city. Not only has the fare on most of the main lines of traffic been reduced, but the commencement of the time system must be a great convenience. The cab-owners, however, have so far looked forward to the probabilities of the future that they have already contemplated the formation of new lines. Thus the Emerald-hill men, no longer content with the Swanston street stand alone, propose to form one in Queen street, which will certainly be a great convenience to persons travelling between the western portion of the city and " the hill." The Omnibus Company, on their part, have not been inattentive to what is likely to happen. We learn that some months ago the promoters of the company placed themselves in communication with parties in Glasgow, where the large omnibuses, known as Menziea', roll along all the principal streets, drawn by three horses abreast, in the French fashion, and carrying enormt.us loads of passengers at the charge of a penny for the whole journey. Specimens of these vehicles have been ordered, and are now on the way to Melbourne. When they arrive the company, as we are informed, will place them on tbe Collingwood line, possibly at such fares as twopence inaide and one penny outside, and the experience of the company has shewn them that at those fares the omnibuses will pay them well, so large is the Collingwood traffic. When these Glasgow omnibuses arrive, no doubt those now in use will be placed on the other lines where they are so much wanted. An interesting experiment with one of Robey's improved traction engines, recently imported by Messrs Macfarlan and Co, of Flinders-lane was yesterday morning made on the S -ndridge-road. The success which has attended the application of these engines to f»rm work and agricultural purposes generally, suggested their adaptability for use on common roads as a substitute for horse-power. Several engines of the same description, manufactured by the firm of Hansome and Siras ; have been imported into the colony, and have been found to answer the purposes intended admirably. ft obey 's, however, is the first introduced for the specisil purpose of traction, and is said to be an improvement upon these made by Hansome and Sims. The difference between them consists in the former being worked by a chiiu, and the lattir by a spur gear. Robey's engine can be worked with wonderful facility. It weighs eight tons, and has a nominal capacity of hauling ten tons, though capable of readily moving double that weight It is capable of working up a gradient of o: c in thirty-five — of course without any weight beinfc attached. So fnr as the test was applied yesterday the result may be regarded as satisfactory. An airangement had been made with Mr Morley ■ and Mr Giirriek to have a number of trucks ready at f'andridge to he drawn into town by the engine. At six o'clock the engine started from Messrs Macfarlan'3 premises, in Flinders- lane, driven by Messrs Walker and Whitelaw, and accompanied by Messrs Blythe, M'Gorern, Mitchell, Curry, and Morley. ,It proceeded over Prince's bridge, in the direction of the Sandridge-road, and went very satisfactorily

in the first instance, but en arriving near ihe 'ollgate it suddenly stopped. The cause of this was ascertained to have arisen from the heating of one of the bearings'. This defect was soon rectified, and asrain the engine proceeded on Us way at the rate of p.bout six iiiilea an hour, arriving at Sandridgc without any further accident. The great weight of ihe engine made no sensible impression on the firm macadamised roadway, and intetfertd but slightly with the Ordinary traffic. The trucks wire nut ready on the arrival of the engine, and it was deemed advisable to postpone auy further test. By the .--chooner St. Kilda we have date< from Natal to the 9th of M rch. She brings I ack a number of diggers wli i went by \wr to try the African goldfitlds, and a cargo of sugar. Ths: news from the diggings is of the very scantiest. The distance from DUrban, indeed, is so great that the absence of news is scarcely to bo wondered at. A prospecting p*rty from DUrban ln;d sent in an official report, which was to the purport that they had worked the l/titwalumi gold field for three mouth*, sinking shafts from six to thirty fei-t deep, and in that time obtained only twelve specks of g.>ld. A government p.nty of whites and Kaffirs, on the same field, had Vut abaut four miles of race or sluice, and had only got from a quarter to half-an-ounce of gold. At the Umziuto goldfield the same party had been unable to obtain a sptck of gold Better prospects had been got at Umblanga, but the supplies having run short, the prospectors had been obliged to leave it j before they had fairly tested it. One of tin's party — Mr George H. Watson — was an old Australian digger. A native, who had arrived in D'Urbitn from the Tatin goldfield, after a journey of twenty-seven days' duration, reported that the diggers had all left that field and gone northwards into the territory of the chief Mosena. They had been received ia a kindly manner, and had commenced to work quartz reefs, which showed gold. A company of twenty-one men, among whom there were several old diggers, and who called themselvas the Glasgow and Limpolo Company, had started from Potchefstroom for the diggings, accompanied by a party who styled themselves the Australian and New Zealand Company. To this we may add, that from Messrs Crook and Salmon, who are passengers by the St. Kilda, we learn that three districts on the rivers Umgheni, Tugeli, and Umtwaloomi had been well prospected, and the ground thoroughly tested by several indepeud-nt parties, and that only the colour of gold had ben obtained. Quartz abounds, and a quantity, about lOOOlbs, was shipped to England for analysis. A ttst of quartz, however, from the same lot, was made by a practical chemist at Pietc-rmaritz-burg, but he failed to discover the remotest trace of gold in it. Altogether, the miners who have returned speak strongly against the South African gold fields. Few persona are aware of the enormous progress recently made in a certain colonial industry — originally humble, but now assuming dimensions quite imposing — viz., the bottling of colonial ale and stout for home consumption and export. This has already given a large stimulus to the local manufacture of ale; for it is not in Melbourne, as in London, or other large English towns, where persons of the middle class send their servants to the neighbouring public-houss for daily supplies of beer for the family. Mere, persons iii similar condition must keep their ale or stout on their premises, and it is [ practically impossible to do so in the cask ; in the first place, because few houses are provided with proper places for storage; and, secondly, because the ale brewed here is mostly of a light quality, more palatable than strong, and o ly to be kept where there is whit publicans call a " quick draught." Knglish bottled ale and stout are generally speaking, too expensive for common use, and hence, for the convenience of families, this new industry of bottling has been established. It was first regularly commenced, we believe, by Mr Kidson, of Collingwood, who began by bottling Wild's No 3 ale, and succeeded to a large extent — so large, indeed, th-it his example wa3 speedily followed by the Carlton Brewery, Abbotsford Brewery, and other brewing firms. Not the least en-courageim-nt for them was the easy and cheap way in which bottles were obtained. For many years the millions of bottles brought here from England were utterly out of demand, and the majority were consequently destroyed, as many a heap of broken glass in the suburbs can testify. The colonial wine trade, and now the beer-bottling trade, have changed this aspect of affairs, but still bottles are procurable in Melbourne at much below the English price. Hitherto, the great drawback to the bottler, as well as to the consumer, hus been the difficulty of sending out the ale and stout all of one quality. But, gradually, even this difficulty is being surmounted. In one case a regular bottling company has been formed, v. hich turns out Wild's ale and other fermented productions at the rate of nearly 2000 gallons a-week, and in order to secure an average quality, keep 4000 dozen pints and quarts constantly in stock. Other similar establishments not quite so large are also to be found in Carl ton, ' ollingwood, and Richmond, and with a healthy competition thus established, the public may fairly expect to be we'd and properly supplied in this respect.