Colonial Notes. | 47 
ScARCITY OF SEED GRAIN.—We regret to learn that in several 
parts of the Island oats are not to be had, and that unless 
Government comes to the aid of the poorer people much land 
will be left unsown. This is a very important matter, and we 
would suggest to the Executive, which will meet in a few days, 
the proprigty of at once instituting inquiries, and, if necessary, 
procuring a few thousand bushels of oats and supplying them to 
poor persons destitute of seed. If this be not done, we fear 
that the applications to the Executive for means to prevent 
destitute persons from starvation will be very many.—‘ Islander,” 
et. 
KerosENE Ort IN New SourH Wates.—A Sydney paper 
says that energetic steps are being taken to develop this branch 
of commercial enterprise in this colony, and every step in advance 
only tends to confirm the great value of its oil-bearing minerals. 
It could scarcely be expected that ina colony like this, where 
few could have been acquainted with what is comparatively a new 
manufacture—the process of kerosene oil production not being 
many years .old—the necessary works could be completed without 
the delay which prudent inquiry would necessitate. Whatever 
inducements there, might be for prompt action in putting these 
mineral treasures into a marketable shape, no very large amount 
of the shales of Hartley, Wollongong, and Stoney Creek have 
yet been submitted for distillation, but the Australasian Mineral 
Oil Company has operated upon a considerable quantity of 
cannel from the Hunter district. The shales*are well known to 
yield an oil of an excellent quality, though small in quantity, but 
this inferiority is to some extent qualified by the valuable coke 
that is left from the cannel, the shale leaving only a pale coloured 
ash. This company has constructed near Sydney extensive works 
replete with the appliances for an immense production. ‘They 
have had the services of an engineer, who, added to his qualifica- 
tions for superintendence in construction where so much 
machinery is required, has the not less important acquaintance 
with the modus operandi adopted in the largest and most successful 
oil-producing establishments in the United States.—“ Journal of 
the Society of Arts.” 
THE SuGAR ReFINERY.—The community will be gratified to 
learn that Mr. Dustan has commenced operations for the erection 
of the sugar refinery at Woodside. Workmen are now engaged 
in preparing the granite, large quantities of which are being 
brought over daily. Next week, the work of levelling the hill 
where the buildings are to be situated will be proceeded with. 
The establishment is to be on a very grand scale, and when 
completed will not be surpassed by any other refinery on this 
continent, and certainly not equalled in British North America. 
The work will be carried on under the superintendence of a 
Scotch engineer of large experience ; all the machinery will be 
