We have been favored with the following account of the recent cruise of H.M.C.S. Vic toria : —The Victoria, in command of Lieut. H. J. Stanley, R.N., arrived yesterday from a survey cruise in the vicinity of King Island. The survey of King Island has been com menced, and about 25 miles of coast line charted, extending from New Year’s Islands round north by Cape Wickham to Sea Elephant Bay, on the east side of the island. The travelling was very rough, more so even than the Otway Ranges. Four hunters took four days to cross the island (a distance of twelve miles), and had to travel much of that distance upon their hands and knees, arriving at their destination with their clothes in shreds. In the experience of the survey party, the scrub in places is almost impenetrable, the best travelling being through partially open swamps in two feet of water. The Vic toria sailed across from King Island, having left on Sunday at noon, entering the Heads at 6 a.m. yesterday morning, and only getting up steam to pick up the moorings in Wii liamstown. Lieut. Stanley finds that he can often take advantage of the Victoria’s sailing capabilities to economise fuel. She returns to port after a month’s absence with about 90 tons of coal on board out of the 140 she took away, and though her surveying work lias rather exceeded an average cruise in the Pharos, she has expended 10 tons less fuel, and has on the whole been worked more economically. A survey party has been left behind to proceed with the survey of King Island. The Victoria will remain in port about a week, and again proceed to the sur veying grounds.—“ Argus.” On or about the 25th inst, the Parana, the pioneer vessel of a new line of steamships be tween Hong Kong and Melbourne, is expected to reach this port. The Pat ana has been des patched by Messrs Norton, Lyell and Co, shipping merchants at Hong Kong, at the in stance of Kong Meng, the Chinese merchant, of Melbourne. The Parana, acßording to a telegram received from Norton, Lyell and Co, was to leave for Melbourne ou the Ist Nov., with a cargo of tea, &c, and some passengers. 