The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-13 00:00:00

AUSTRALI A.

The Melbourne papers record the rejection by
the Upper House of a bill for the sale of the public
lauds.

The revenue returns for the first quarter of the
year have been published. There is an apparent
deficiency of 130,000/., but it arises (says the Mel-
bourne Age) from the suspension of the land sales,
and the fact that the territorial revenue derived from
the squatters is not taken into account until later in
the year. In all other respects the return is satis-
factory, the actual receipts havinz met the trea-
surer's estimate with singular accuracy.
The previous month had been marked by no
finds of gold of an extraordinary character, or the
discovery of any large extent of new ground, but
mining operations on nearly all the gold fields have
been very steadily prosecuted, and in the majority
of instances the returns have been fully up to the
average, while a few fresh 'patches of very good
ground have been successfully " prospected."

The ten boxes of salmon ova retained in Mel-
bourne were conveyed, on the 17th of April, to the
ice manufactory. As soon as possible the ova were
removed from the boxes in which they were packed
by means of a camel-hair brush, and placed in
large earthenware milk basins, amongst a quantity
of fine graveL Only about a thousand were found
to be alive. The most careful arrangements to
secure their safety and development have been
made. Should the experiment be crowned with
success, as there is every prospect of its being, the
fry will be removed to some suitable river. At
present it is contemplated to place them in one of
the Gipps land streams.
We have our files from New South Wales to the
21st and from Queensland to the 16th inst.
Referring to a recent disastrous fire in Brisbane,
the Guardian states "that the entire sum for
which insurances have been effected with the
Queensland Insurance Company, and which have
fallen due in consequence of the late fire,
amounts to 1,954 L 12a. 9d. The total has been
estimated at 46,0001. The loss will principally fall
upon offices which, though having agents in
Queensland, are not of a local character as to
directory and proprietary."
Bushranging was rife in the neighbourhood of
Port Denison.

From New Caledonia we learn that the French
have abandoned transportation to that colony.

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

OBSTINATE FIGHTING OF THE MAORIES.
The advice* from New Zealand contain accounts
of the attack on the Orakau pa. situated about
seven miles from General Cameron's bead-quarters,
and where the natives had assembled in great fore.
after the taking of Rangiawhia. The advanoe was
commenced from Te Awamutu, Rangiawhia,
Haerini, itc., early on the morning of Thursday,
the 31st March. The plan arranged for
the attack was, in the first instance, to
surround the pa, and the several bodies of
troop* marched to places previously assigned to
them to occupy. The force numbered in all about
1,000 men, and consisted of the 40th, the 65th, and
the 18th Regiments, Militia, and detachments of
the Forest Rangers. Two six-pounder guns were
also taken. The whole was under the command of
'Brigadier-General Carey. On the first day uncle-
cesaful charges were made. Captain Ring and
seven of the troops fell mortally wounded. Capt.
Fisher was dangerously wounded. A dying sap
was then commenced, and by noon, on April 2,
near upon 500 yards had been completed,
including demi-parallels and traverses. It was
proposed to the rebels to surrender, when • chief
replied, "E wo• ma, te kupu tenei a te Maori. Ks
whawhai term, ake, ale, ake." (Friend►, this is
the word of the Maori. They will fight on, for
ever, for ever, for ever). On this determined re-
sponse being given, firing was recommenced, and
shortly afterwards • dashing, but ill-considered, at-
tack was made from the sap on the pa. Ten men
were lost in this attack, and then the Maories de-
termined to retreat. They appear to have slunk
quietly from the north-east corner, and, passing
through the scrub, to have emerged in the open on
the south side, entrusted to the 40th, under Colonel,
Leslie. A pursait began, and that the rebels must I
have suffered severely in their attempted escape
may be judged from the fact that on the next
day ninety-nine dead bodies had been accounted