Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 11 June 1862, page 3


.QUNPOWDEB IMPORTED.

The following tables give a. return of ten quantity of gunpowder imported into Victoria la 1855,1856,1857,1858,1S59,1860, and 1861 ; thtj dcolared value of the same ; and tho country im-ported from. Also, a return of saltpetre for tho same years, and the declare! value of tho

some :

A Rotara of the Quantity ard Declared Value o'

Gunpowdor and Saltpetre Imported Into the colony,

from all part», during tho years 1855 to 1861, inolu

slvo :

Articles.

Count rie» whence Imported.

Weight. Value, Weight. Value.

Weight JValue.

Gunpowder

1

Saltpetre

"\

Great B-italn United States

Foreign States

Elsewhere..

Gi e»t Britain

Elsewhere -

17,408 1,333

42,596 1.060

15

2,847 46.518

CWt. pi 1,8.

Uo "ima 7» -

toas, ewe

. ii,

Note.-It Is Impossible to give more minute portion l irB dur'ng the period embracod in this trio, owing to» the statistics having boon kept on tho old system.

Articles.

Gunpowder .. Saltpetre

Oountri« whence

Imported. United Kingdom New South Wales . rfputh Australia Tasmania New Zealind

New York -t

Boston Timor.

Total

United Kingdom Ca'cntta New South Wale» iMmsnia. _"

Total..

1868.

Weight. Value. 17 10

£ 24,040 163

Weight.

lb. 633.C91 6,000 17^47 8,450

53.0G0 16,000 1,050 728.63S 1 C .0. 8

901 200

2,000 34,547 1,830

Weight. lb. 1,967,857 Ï80.7S0 120,000 2,279,887 89 13

Value. £ 81,765 6010 3,625

Weight. lb. 1 079,873

5,900 2.600 56,004

1,144,277

2.C61 32 19 1,062

Note.—From the beginning of 1858, the compilation of the trade statistics of this department was altered to suit the views of the Imperial Govornment, having reference to a general unformity in such matters over the British Empire.

J. CHATFIELD TYLER, Secretary. Department of Trade and Customs,

Melbourne April 24, 1862.

ANIMAL LIFE IN AUSTRALIAN RIVERS.— Observers have often expressed surprise that there should be a difference of a very marked character between the coast and inland rivers in reference to the animals with which they are stocked. As yet, the creatures which inhabit

both these classes of rivers are only imperfectly

known, but enough has been learned to prove that various species of fish, and some amphi-bious animals, are found in the waters of the inland rivers, when they are not to be found in those of shorter course, and designated coast riverd. By inland rivers, I mean all those waters which, rising on the western slope of the great eastern watershed in Queensland and New South

Wales, and on the northern slope of the central watershed of this colony, flow into the Murray, and enter the sea on the southern coast of

South Australia ; and by the coast rivers,

I mean all those waters which, rising on the southern slope of the central water-shed of this colony, and on the eastern slope of the great eastern watershed of New South Wales and Queensland, fall into the sea on the southern and eastern coasts. It will be understood by this description that the Murray and the coast rivers of Victoria all fall into the same sea, and therefore it is difficult to account for the fact that

they are not inhabited by animais common to

both. I cannot undertake to mention what crea-

tures are peculiar to each system, for, as I have already said, research has not yet been carried

far enough for this purpose ; I shall, therefore, merely give a few examples. In the Murray system of waters, as every one knows, there is the Murray cod, and this fish has never been found in any of the coast rivers. On the other hand, in all the coast rivers eels are found in great num-

bers, whereas it is generally believed that no eels are to be found in the inland rivers. At any rate, if eels actually do exist in the inland waters, a long residence on the banks of such rivers, with considerable opportunities for becoming ac-quainted with the finny tribes inhabiting them, has failed to make their presence known to me. Then, again, in the inland waters the fresh-water turtle greatly abounds, but I believe it does not exist in the coast rivers throughout Victoria, I have met with the same species, however, in the coast rivers within the tropics in Queensland, and

I am not aware whether or not it is to be met

with in the coast rivers of New South Wales. The small black crayfish, too, are found in all the waters of the Murray, even up to the dams of muddy water on the gold fields ; but I do not recollect having met with them in the coast rivers in Victoria. My impression is, that the presence of eels in the coast rivers furnishes a proof that fresh-water turtles and crayfish are absent, for I am inclined to think that the latter destroy the former. The small crayfish are, by the blacks on the Murray, called "yabbies," and hunting for them is a favourite amuse-ment with the gins, or females. The cray -fish digs a hole in the soft clay, and they are ob-

tained by thrusting the naked arm into the deep

hole, sometimes to the shoulder. Crayfish are as bad as water-rats for destroying dams ; and gold-diggers, if they attempt to keep them in their water-holes, will probably have reason to repent of trying to acclimatise such creatures. The platypus seems to feed much on crayfish. What does the cod-fish live upon ? I have caught them with whole fresh-water mussels in their stomachs, the mussel still alive, and holding the walls of his

house firmly together against a powerful enemy. On observing such cases, I have felt anxious to learn what could have become of the mussel

shells had the fish been allowed to digest their inmates. It is probable that the shells are

ejected at the mouth. I have here touched very hurriedly on many important points yet to be fully ascertained by observation ; and I shall be glad to see others take up such questions, and answer them fully.—"An Old Bushman," in the

Yeoman.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—We regret to state, Mr. John Bentley, of Tarrangower, has met with his death by the kick of a horse. On Friday he was about to mount the animal, when it reared and

struck him with its fore feet on the pit of the stomach, causing internal injuries, from the effects of which he died on Saturday afternoon. Mount Alexander Mail, June 9.

GIPPS LAND LAKES.—We have heard a report that the entrance to the lakes is closed, or nearly so. It is, however, certain that the rivers are rising rapidly, and it maybe from that cause that this story has got afloat.—Gipps Land Times, June 6.