The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-13 00:00:00

[Stamped, Id. Additional.]

quarter of 1862 were 142,2171. as compared with 164,3974
to the corresponding period of 1861. On totaoco there is •
difference of some 7,0001. ; on cigars, of 3,6001. ; on beer, of
2,400/. The other articles do not show much fluctuation,
the new duties serving to reduce the deficiency
to a total of 20,6001. These last have been more
productive than they were last quarter. Rice has yielded
4,0071. ; dried fruits, 3,073/. ; hops, 1,1431. ; melt, 1,4391. ;
and registration fees, 3,955/. In the principal heads of
revenue of the two quarters there has been a decrease in
customs, excise, and memellaneous. The two principal
Mans of increase are, the territorial revenue, which yielded
323,3291. in 1862, as compared with 306060/. in 1861 ; and
public works, which exhibit the figures u 63,729/. to 42,0501.
The increase under the Lead of public works is due to the
greater traffic on the Victorian Railways; and this is an
item in which we may reasonably expect a steady improve-
ment from quarter to quarter. Compariug the second with
the first quarter of 1862, we find an improvement au decided
as to call for especial attention. In the first quarter
of 1862, there were probably more payments on account of
the year previous then in the sewed questa ; and yet we
find an increase ref about 150,001 io the three months.
While the quarter *tidies March 31 showed a deficiency
of 133,2771., the quarter ending June 30 exhibits an in-
crease of 16,4321., which is to be carried to the credit of the
year 1862.
The appointment of a royal commission to inquire into
end report upon the condition and prospects of gold mining
in the colony is a noticeable item of news, and one likely
to he productive of much good, the more so as next 118111800
will probably be productive of some important
mining legislation. The objects of inquiry are thus
stated in the commission—drat, the character and
approximate extent of our mineral resources, Se-
condly, the hest mode of developing the same. Thirdly,
mining jurisprudence generally, with a view to the &mewl-
merit and consolidation of the mining !ewe and leasing re-
gulations; (a) the propriety .of selling auriferous lands
within certain defined areas, also the proper couditions for
mining on private property ; (6) the classification and codi-
fication of the Mining Beard bye-laws; (c) the best mode of
defining the rights and privileges of the miners, and as to
the desirability of granting generally larger areas for minis'
and residence purposes, with a better tenure than is pro-
vided under the existing bye-laws ; (d) and also de-
fining the powers and duties of the wardens, mining
surveyors, and registrars. Fourthly, the necessity for,
and the proper organisation of • distinct minis'
department in the government, under the charge
of • responsible minister. Fifthly, the desirability
and practicability of establishing • school of mines in con-
nexion with the Mining Museum. Sixthly, to inquire gene-
rally into the present condition end prospects of the
mining interests of Victoria.
The legislatorial privilege question was again before the
judges of the Sup ems Court no July 4. It came in the
shape of an argument on the demurrer to the pleas in the '
case of " Dill v. Murphy and another," in which the pub-
halm of the Argus seeks to recover from the Legislative
Assembly damages for assault sod wrongful imprisonment.
The arguments of counsel occupied the entire day. The
court reserved its judgment. The judges hue since been,
and now ace, on circuit. W bother judgment will be given
on their return, or not until the court meets, is uncertain.
The report of the argument. is given in full elsewhere.
The GOLD-FIELDS.—The escort returns have increased
much since the reduction of the export duty on gold at the
commencement of this mouth ; but our shipments have not
increased in proportion as yet, so that we have still =tab
leeway to make good before we can point to totals equal
to those of the same period in last year. It was scarcely to
he supposed that such • trifling difference as a sixpence
on the ounces would have been the cause of so much geld
being reserved from sale, considering the risk run by raw
of the misers in hoarding what they get from week to
week ; but those who have never been io the diggings would
be surprised at the way in which gold and wooer, sad
other valuables, are left lying about in the miners teats,
apparently unprotected, or else buried in some hole or
corner. These accumulations of gold are now coming fee
ward fast, by escort and private hand, sod the miners
have evidently been well employed since they have
had water to wash up with. Still, for three months at
least they were very mach retarded in their operations for
want of it, and there was then a deficiency in the yield
which can scarcely have been made good is the intervening
space of time. We have had no new spots of any especial
importance opened lately, the only rush of soy promise'
having set io to an exteusive fiat in the Pyrenees distriet,
which was untried until some returned miners from New
Zealand thought of sinking on it a few weeks niece. In the
second shaft put down they struck on gold of a comae,
water-worn character, which eave rise to the belief that •
lead of some extent would ultimately be found to exist
under the flat, but there have not Sew shafts immesh sunk
yet to piers tie Nature of the depoilit. irptioveries
of most importance are still those made amongst the
mountains, and every week we have to announce some
addition to the number of places taken up by
adventurous minas able to face wet and cold, mostly now
on the Gipps land side of the dividing range, but all show-
ing most distinctly that the auks peeling through them
derive their treasure from • great ceutnil gold field of wide
extent. All these diggings are on the creeks, and by them
the gold has been carried down from a distance, for
it is only found in quantity in the beds or under
the banks, close by the stream. And as these are
followed upwards to their source much additional light
should be thrown on the manner in which the par-
ticles of alluvial gold are detached and carried away
from the matrix, the changes having apparently taken place
near what is now the surface, whereas in most other dis-
tricts the deposits and leads of equal richness have all been
buried to a much greater depth. The progress of discovery
anionpt these ranges must needs be slow for some time yet,
hut against the summer there will be roads into them from
all sides, so that they can be freely explored at least.

The Melbourne Age save :
The distress the Lancashire operatives are enduring has
awakened a feeling of sympathy throughout the colonies.
A few days after the arrival of the last mail a meeting of
gentlemen was held, and upwards of 5001. was subscribed
towards the relief of the sufferers. The movement thus
initiated has been followed up with much spirit, and oms-
tributions are flowing in from all parts of the colony. The
highest and the lowest in the land have cheerfully joined is
the good work, and already subscriptions to the amount of
4,4441. have been acknowledged by the central committee.
At Sydney, also. a fund has been established, and about
6,0004 has been subscribed. There, as io this colony, all
classes have come forward of their own accord, with varying
means, but equally anxious to assist the cause. A large
amouut has also been collected in Victoria on behalf of Mrs.
Hughes, the widow of the clergyman who distinguished
himself by his zealous exertions at the wreck of the Royal
Charter.
The hon. secretary of the Lancashire Relief Fund
(Victoria) Las addressed the following letter to the
editor of the Argus :
Sir,—The committee to the fund have very good hopes
now of being able to remit at least 4,5004 by the steamer ;
and I shall have the pleasure to-morrow of sending you a
oopy of the letter which will accompany the remittance,
sod which 1 trust will be in entire consonance with the
wishes of all the subscribers.
From all and every side, the committee continue to re-
ceive most warm, hearty, and unsolicited assistance ; and
they have requested me especially to tender their thanks
to those heads of government departments, and public and
private °aloes, who have so kindly, entirely on their own
suggestion, taken charge of subscription lists. You will,
perhaps, allow me to take this opportunity of doing so, and
of informing subscribers who have paid in to•lay, that on
account of the pressure which there must be necessarily on
your space to-morrow, I omit to append to my letter this
day's subscriptions, but which they will God acknowledged
as usual in your advertisement columns.— I remain your
very obedient servant. E. F. Menem, Hoe. See.
Melbourne, July 24.