The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-14 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The following is an extract from a private letter
received at Southampton yesterday. The writer has bees
wo•king as a journeyman carpenter in Melbourne.
" Melbourne, Sept. 17, 18,52.
"The Australian reached this port on the 2.. d inst., ate,
• protracted voyage. The passengers who landed here
from her have published in our two daily papers sad cot.
plaints against the treatment and accommodation which
they received on board this, the first of that line of
steamers. She is expected to leave Sydney on the 15th,
and this port on the 22nd inst. I have also to inform yen
that I intend going to the Bendigo gold diggings next week.
The fine weather is now setting in, and great numbers nf
people are preparing to start. I, like every one else here,
have been seized with the gold fever, and therefore cannot
resist the temptation to try my hand at 'gold digging. I
have seen a great many poor men that was, but who me
now worth considerable sums of money. The masters are be-
ginning to be put to their trumps for want of men to work,
I myself have been offered a sovereign per day, but as
many parties do far better at the diggings I am ditermined
to try my fortune there. Bendigo is about 13U miles from
here, but men are now gold digging within 25 miles from
this town ; gold has also been discovered near Adelaide, bag
as yet they do not pay very well. We have had Hyena
ships in from England since our arrival; our latest news is
to June 17th. 1 have to inform you of the loss of two
vessels just outside Port Phillip Heads on the night of the
14th ; one, the screw steamer Conside, from Sydney, and
the Portland schooner from Hobart Town; it appears the
schooner was run on shore first, and the night being dark,
it Is supposed the captain of the Conside mistook
the lights on board the eehooner for that of the light
house, and ran the steamer right into her, and they are
now both on the rocks almost total wrecks. Fourteen per-
sons belonging to the steamer are miesing.
"A few days since a nugget of pure gold, of the large
weight of 28 pounds 4 ounces, was brought into town, and
is now advertised for sale. Last Sunday I saw Mr. S.,
that was once in partnership with Mr. D., at Southampton.
One of Mr. E.'s sons is also living in Melbourne, but I have
not seen him.

" (treat numbers of new chums (as they are here called)
are living in tents, for they cannot get better accommoda-
tion. House rent is very high here ; a house that would
be worth about 151. a year in Southampton, would fetch
51. a week in Melbourne. Bread is now 3s. per gallon, and
meat that was worth 2d. per pound a twelvemonth since is
now sold at 6d. An auctioneer's is as good as any business
here, for sales by auction take plane in every direction every
day. Robberies in the town are not quite so frequent as
11 they were • week or two since, but the roads to the dig-
gings are frequently the scenes of the most daring robberies.
Several parties have been drowned trying to cross the
creeks, which have been very deep, caused by the heavy
rains that have fallen within the last month."

In another letter, dated Sept. 20, he says:
" Melbourne is now very full. We have upwards of 100
ships in the bay, and they are likely to remain there, for
they cannot get hands to take them home, although they
are offering 601. for the run home. We have had
several ships from England lately, with large numbers
of people. Wo have English news to June 16. The
Post-office here is a great scene of bustle and confusion.
Parties expecting a letter have frequently to wait two and
three hours before they can get near the office window.
Postmen get 31. 10s. a week. You are aware I had a
parcel from Mr. B—, in Northam, for his brother in
Melbourne. As soon as I had leisure, I put an advertise-
ment in the Argus newspaper, stating that I had arrived at
Melbourne, and had a parcel for Mr. B—, of Southamp-
ton (you can advertise very cheaply here, which is a gredt
convenience to the immense number of strangers). By
means of this advertisement, I soon found out where to
deliver the parcel, and also discovered Mrs. G—, of
Southampton, for she saw the advertisement and came to
me. Her husband is in the candle trade, and doing re-
markably well here."