Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 22 September 1840, page 1


FINE ARTS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

IN the infancy of this colony, it gives us great pleasure to state that there is, we understand, a growing desire for the

cultivation of the fine arts, as also a very laudable disposition on the part of some of the friends of the colony at home to foster such efforts. Yesterday, on calling at Mr. Chas. Robinson's establishment, in Rundle-street, we had an opportunity of seeing "A View of the Old Port"—"A Bird's-eye View

of Adelaide" and "A View of the

City from North Terrace"—executed in a bold and spirited style by Mr. E. A. Opie, at the particular order of George Fife Angas, Esq., of London. From such efforts of Mr. Opie as have come under our own observation, we think him highly deserving of encou-ragement; and consider, moreover, that those of the colonists as may wish to send such views to their friends, might advantageously avail themselves

of his services.

THE NATIVES.—On Sunday fort-night, five sheep were stolen from Mr John Bowman, of Barton Vale, near Islington. A younger brother of Mr Bowman's got up in the sight on hear-ing the sheep rush, and saw a dog in the yard, which he recognised as be-longing to some of the natives. Next morning they tracked them to where some of the sheep had been killed, and

on proceeding farther they discovered the head, horns, and some bones, covered over with branches, beside the native

fires. Of this a complaint has been laid before Government. Since the above, however, on Sunday last Mr Bowman saw some of the natives in the bush, near the house, and fired in the air to intimidate them, when they dropped

one of the lambs and ran off.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.—On Fri-

day night last, Mr Menge delivered the first of an intended course of lectures, at the Baptist Chapel, Hindley street, on the Mineralogy of South Australia. After pointing out the difficulty of ob taining good specimens of the various minerals, owing to the action of the air and periodical fires upon the surface, he proceeded to explain to the meeting the nature of the various minerals ex

hibited by him. The opal, the asbestos, and many others,—in all 200 varieties —existed in abundance. Coal, he stated, might be found in the province, but the expence of seeking for it, below the surface, was too great for him as an individual to allow of his prosecu-ting his researches. If, however, a Mining Company were established, he would guarantee that they would be well repaid for their outlay. Se ex pected on his return from the interior, to be able to bring specimens of gold with him. The whole of the 200 spe cimens of minerals might be found within one square mile on the Barossa Range, Owing to the wet weather the

attendance was not so numerous as on former occasions; but we must do the indefatigable lecturer the justice to say that his audience were apparently much pleased with and interested in his discourse. We understand that the next lecture will be delivered on Friday se'night, by H. Watson, Esq., on the

culture of the vine.

WHALE FISHERY AT ENCOUNTER

BAY.—It will please our readers to

hear, that the success at the above fisheries has during the past season

justified the expectations of the colo-nists regarding them. Already, 260 tuns of oil, has been procured at En-

counter Bay alone, and, before the season closes, it is expected to be 280. The quantity procured, at Thistle Is-land, is, we believe, about 120 tuns.

THE PRICE OF BREAD.—Our read-ers will be glad to learn, that the hint we threw out a week or two ago has been taken, and that the bakers have

reduced the price of the two pound loaf, lt is now selling for ten-pence,

but cannot much longer continue at this if the flour market rennins as it is.

VEGETABLES,—The abundance, va-riety, and extraordinary size of the vegetables at present in the market, is a sufficient index to the productive

capabilities of the province. Cauli-flowers may be had at 4d per head ; cabbages at 1½d; turnips at 3d a bunch; new potatoes at 5d per lb; and all others in proportion.

THE CHURCH.—In a December number of the Colonial Gazette, we noticed the formation of a Church Endowment Society for the Colony of South Australia. The principle of this

Society is to collect funds for the purpose of establishing the Episcopal Protestant Church in that Colony. It is intended to endow a Bishopric, and to purchase lands of sufficient extent to secure to the Church an ample maintenance. The appointment of the Bishop will be vasted in the Society, and the inferior Clergy will be recommended by the Sociey to the Bishop for his approval, &c. ; and judging from what we have read and heard

little doubt remains of the success of this

Society's undertaking.—Sdyney [Sydney] Gazette.

[THE Rev. Mr Farrel, who arrived by the 'Lysander,' is, we learn, the representative of this society, the funds subscribed to which, in London, is upwards of £1000.—Ed. S.A.]