The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-26 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The first session of the Legislative Council and
Legislative Assembly of South Australia under the
new constitution was opened at Adelaide on the 22d
of April. Mr. J. H. Fisher was elected President
of the former body, and Mr. G. S. Kingston
Speaker of the Assembly. The following passages
are selected from the Governor's address, to show
the condition and prospects of the colony :
The revenues of 1856—amounting to 456,0001.—toge-
ther with the available balance brought forward from
previous years, have sufficed to meet all expenditure for
the service of that year, including that on account of im-
migration ; leaving a balance exceeding 200,0001. avail-
able for the service of the current year. During the
past quarter the proceeds of the chief sources of revenue
have so far exceeded the moderate estimate of ways and
means adopted by_ the late legislature as to afford
assurance that a balance exceeding 100,0001. will re-
main to be appropriated, after defraying all liabilities
as yet authorised on account of the service of the
current year. The sound financial position of this
colony is evidenced by the facility with which Govern-
ment securities are disposed of at moderate premiums,
in England and the adjacent colonies. It will also
be satisfactory to you to learn the following facts con-
nected with cur material progress during the past
year :—The population—as nearly as can be deduced
from previous returns, from the difference between ar•
.rivals and departures, and from excess of births over
deaths during the year—may now be estimated at about
109,000 souls. The land sold by the Government during
the year ended the let April amounted to 188,000 acres,
and the price realised to upwards of 229,0001., whilst the
quantity under cultivation exceeded 203,000 acres, of
which wheat and other grain crops formed more than
172,000 acres. The extent of crown lands held under
leases comprises about 24,000 square miles, which is
divided into 485 holdings, yielding an annual rental of
13,3801. The foreign trade, as included in the customs
returns during 1857, shows the value of the imports for
consumption in the colony at 1,205,0691. ; of the exports
of the staple produce of the colony at 1.364,9041. Of this
total export, the value of grain and flour amounted to
534,780/. ; of wool, to 412,1631. ; and of ore and metals
to 408,0431. I have ranch gratification in calling your
attention to the indications of advancing prosperity fur•
niched by the above analysis. The repeal of the act of
Parliament which has hitherto regulated the sale of the
waste lands of the Crown in this province imposes upon
you the task of forming a system for their future ma-
nagement. There a ill, at the same time, be laid before
you a series of resolutions embodying provisions designed
to afford encouragement to the nomination of immigrants
by persons settled in the province, and the voluntary or
assisted immigration of suitable persons who may arrive
in the colony without aid from the public revenues. These
resolutions will also contain as an important feature, a
provision that the powers and functions of the Land and
Emigration Commissioners in England shall bean:forth
be exercised by persona responsible solely to the goverta
ment of this colony. With reference to the means of
)mmunication and transport—so important in all new
c iuntries—bilis will ba laid bcforo you providing fir idle
amendment of the system at present in force as regards
main roads, and for the extension of the present rail-
way from Gawler Town nortilward, as far as Re.
punda, and eastward towards Gameracka, as far
as the base of the hills. The increased facil-
ties, and diminished cost of transit, resulting
from the use of nilways, and the saving in the cost
of roads, which must otherwise be constructed,
appear fully to justify the proposed extension ; while
the resources of the province are abun lantly adequa e
to meet any temporary burthen which it may occasion.
Concurrently with these measures, your attention will
be directed to a plan for developing the trade on the
river Murray, and securing to this province the terminus
of that navigation, by affording facilities for the ship-
ment of river-borne goods, at Victor Harbour, in sea-
going vessels. Ia connection with this trade, I have to
inform you that the original arrangement made with New
S. Wales and Victoria, for the collection of duties upon all
river borne goods imported into those colonies, has been
superseded on the part of the government of Victoria,
since the Ist March last. I have directed copies of the whole
correspondence connected ith that subject te be laid before
you, from which you will perceive that the governments of
New South Wales and Victoria propose to adopt, in
common, the tariff of New South Wales, and to collect
the duties under that tariff through the instrumentality
of a joint custom-house at the junction of boundaries,
unless this Government concur in adopting the satire tariff.
The negotiations on this important point are still pend-
ing, and there are grounds for belief that a conclusion
may ultimately be arrived at advantageous to the com-
mon interest., involved. I have also directed a bill to be
laid before you to authorise this Government, fur a
limi'ed period, to become a party to the c3ntract made
by the home Government for the mail service to these
colonies, and to make arrangements for the branch
service to this province. I have also directed to be laid
before you a bill to amend the present Education Law,
both with a view to the enlargement of the present
sptem, and to its more effectual support. This measure
leaves untouched that principle of the present law which
declares that education shall be based upon the Chris-
tian re:igion, without doctrinal teaching ; but it is
intended to provide for tte erection-4i reughoet
the settled districts of the province—of suitable school
buildings, and for the augmentation of the stipends
of teachers; and it provides for the cost thus occasioned
by the imposition of an education tax. Your at-
tention will also be directed to a revision of the Electoral
Law, which has been found to be cumbrous and costly
in its present form ; and a bill will be submitted to you
applying a remedy to these evils.
Several other administrative and legal reforms are also
announced.

TELEGRAPH TO MELBOURNE. —We are glad to learn
that the tender for the construction of the whole line of
telegraph from Adelaide to the Glenelg has been ac-
cepted, with a probability of the work being commenced
without any unnecessary delay. We have not yet been
favoured with particulars, but we believe the successful
tenderer is Mr. Thompson, of Halloran Hill, and that
the amount does not much exceed 401 per mile, if,
indeed, it amount to that sum. It this be the case, it is
probable that the entire cost of the line, including the
material furnishal by government, will felt short of the
amount voted for its construction by 4,000/. or 5,000/.
The work is to be completed within twelve months, se
that the line will have to be constructed at the rate of
nearly a mile per diem.--Adelaide Observer.