AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 730, 24 September 1870, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

♦ (From the Argus, Sept. i to Sept. 10 inclusive.) A sample of syrup made from beetroot, being in tbe stage one remove from sugar, has been submitted to us from the works of the Agricultural Distillery and Beetroot Sugar Company. It is a portion of 271 b weight made from 2£ cwt. of roots, according to the process patented by the company. We learn that the roots grown in the colony exhibit great richness of saccharine matter, to a degree remarkable when it is remembered that they were exposed to a very severe trial by remaining in the ground during the late wet weather. The result is considered to prove the thorough adaptability of our soil to the culture of beetroot. The syrup in the next operation is refined into sugar, the residuum being distilled into spirits. With reference to a telegram which appeared in our columns stating that the works on the Gulf telegraph extension had been temporarily suspended. Mr Cracknell, the superintendent of telegraphs in New South Wales, telegraphs to say that " As the circulation of such reports might injure Queensland, I give you the facts : — The Gulf line is in two sections: the eastern section, owing to the death of the contractor, not proceeding at the rate of progress required, the Government took the works into its own hands, and is now carrying them on with a large party until the contract is re-let, tenders for which will be i received until the 12th instant, the distance being 160 miles ; the western section is proceeding rapidly. I have no doubt they will be able to complete the whole work without any delay, and within contract time." The practice indulged in by merchants of obtaining advances on bills of lading signed in advance of shipment, has formed the subject of discussion in commercial circles here, and has been universally condemned. More than ordinary attention has been drawn to the subject by the wholesale fraud recently perpetrated in Bombay in connexion with the ship Teresa, and the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce has had the matter under its consideration. A sub-committee, appointed | to examine the question, has brought up a report, which has been adopted, and instructions given to forward copies of it to other chambers of commerce, and to all correspondents of the Melbourne Chamber in the European, Eastern, and American ports. The report, dealing with the question in its legal aspect, suggests that the owners are not responsible for goods described in bills of lading so signed, and quotes various authorities and decisions in support of such opinion. It also condemns the practice as facilitating fraud, and having a highly immoral tendency. The dulness which has prevailed in com- j mtrcial affairs since the beginning of the present year is vividly reflected in the recently published comparative tables of imports and exports." The imports to the port of Melbourne from the Ist of January to the 13th August are valued at £7,894,805, the exports from the port during the same period amounting to £7,167,327. The imports during the same period of last year amounted to £8,396,424, while the exports were £7,787,937. The decrease in the imports during the present year appears, therefore, to amount to £501,619 ; while that in the exports is as high as £620,610 ; making a total falling off in our commercial operations of £1,122,229. The exports of gold have also shown a serious decline during present year. The gold exported from the port of Melbourne from the Ist January, 1869, till the week ending 14th August, amounted to 995,195 ozs ; while this year it does not exceed 896,654 ozs, notwithstanding that the transhipments of New Zealand gold have sensibly increased, while a quantity of Tasmanian gold is also included in the returns for 1870. The South Australians would appear to be several degrees worse off than we are in the matter of defences. The Register writes on the subject: — " The war news by the last mail induced the inhabitants of Port Adelaide to wake up to the fact that colonial defences had been rather neglected. It is not very long since a. commission was appointed to take evidence. One of the commodores of Her Majesty's service, when here in H.M.S. Curagoa, was appealed to, and finally the result was the arrival from England of two guns, of most approved pattern, each weighing about 15 tons. For a few days they lay on the company's wharf, to the extreme wonderment of the 'larrikins' and Port public generally. Then by the aid of the boiler waggon, and some powerful teams, the two pieces of ordnance were taken to the rear of the Custom-house, and an iron shed was built over the precious pair. It would be as well to be prepared with means of defence, for if a hostile vessel arrived off the Port, it would be too late to remember the ignoble position of our colonial defences." The Brisbane Courier of Aug. 30 thus gives the particulars of a recent capture ; — " An interesting arrest was made yesterday on board the immigrant ship Young Australia. It appears that a few months ago a certain Lancashire cotton manufacturer, named John Carter, of Claytonle-moor, became insolvent, his liabilities amounting to about £10,000. He absconded, taking with him some property belonging to his creditors. The case came under the provisions of the new English

Insolvency Act, and the creditors having received information that the delinquent had sailed in the Young Australia for Queensland, under the alias of Clayton, a sharp member of the county constabulary of Lancashire, Mr Luke Wilkinson, was sent out by the last overland mail with a warrant to arrest him. On arrival here the warrant was endorsed by a judge of the Supreme Conrt, and the runaway was arrested on board the Young Australia yesterday, and brought up to town. His surprise on meeting Wilkinson, whom he knew at home, was extremely ludicrous."