The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-15 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, WIDNISDAY.
The Marco Polo, arrived from Melbourne yester-
day, brings a few .days' later news from the gold
regions. She sailed on the 10th June.
At the time of her departure the arrivals of gold
in Melbourne were rather small, which had caused
an advance of 3d. per ounce, the price then being
31. 17s. per ounce, with an upward tendency. Capt.
Forbes has been able to make his voyage out and
home a second time under six months, which is
exceedingly creditable to him; but there are other
ships which stand on pretty even terms as compared
with the late voyage. the Marco Polo brings a
copy of an act to regulate the conveyance of pas-
sengers to the colony of Victoria. which is to come
into force in regard to English vessels on October
Ist, 1853. The act specifies the number of passen-
gers ships'may carry. It further specifies cargo
not to be carried by emigrant vessels. It contains
provisions as to the food supplied to pass•:ngers,
and as to their maintenance, inspection, &c.,
utter arrival; together with orders as to the
property of deceased persons, &c. 'this act is one
which enforces penalties, and applying, as it does,
to ships carrying passengers from this country, it be-
comes important to shipbrokers and others to make
themselves acquaintedwith its det ails. The Marco Polo
also brings a supplement to the government Gazette,
containing a proclamation as to harbour rules, &c.,
and the following code of signals to be used in the
ports of Melbourne and Geelong:

Harbour Pilot.—The ensign at the foretopgallant mast-
head.
- -

Bay Pilot.—The Union Jack at the foretopgallant mast-
head.

Water Police.—Day signal: The ensign at the maintop-
gallatt mast-head. Night signal: Two lights vertical at
the mast-head or peak, having tire feet between the two.
Customs Boat. —Union Jack at the peak.
Lloyds' Surveyor.—No. 7 at the peak.
Steam Boata.—Rendeavous Sag at the peak or mizenmut.
Uunpowder on Board —Union Jack at the main.
Medical Assistance.—No. 6 at the peak.

A meeting had been held in Sydney for the pur-
pose of presenting Captain Parfltt, of the steamship
Shanghai, with a silver salver and 340 sovereigns
for landing the London mails in 63 days.
From Ballarat the advices state that the weather
was very bad. Government were looking very
sharply after the gold-diggers' licenses. The " dig-
gings" were reported to be going on much as usual.
The Bathurst Free Press states that two nuggets
had reached that place from Abercromby county;
one of them had a very peculiar appearance, pre-
senting a surface not unlixe that of a sponge, and
weighing seven ounces. The other, smooth and
free from impurities, was dug out of • chain in the
bed of the river.

From Van Diemen's Land we learn that influenza
had been very rife, but not fatal in that quarter.
The Hobart Town Courier states that transportation
had been officially declared abolished in Van
Diemen's Land. The government Gazette, of 31st
May, contained 200 conditional pardons. It was
reported that Sir William Denison was to go to
Victoria, and would be replaced in Van Diemen's
Land by Sir Charles Grey.
The banks at Adelaide had fixed the rate of ex-
change same as those current at Melbourne, and
raised their purchasing price of gold to 31.145. 3d.
per standard ounce, with an advance for any extra
fine carats at 3s. 4d. per carat.
Amongst the latest sales held at Melbourne were
fat wether sheep, at 205.; ewes, 165.; lambs, 7e. 3d.;
large bullock; 191. 10s.; working bullocks, 301. to
381. per pair; Wellingt3n boots, 31e. per pair; flour,
301. to 361. per ton ; hysun tea, 38s. per chest; butter,
2s. 6d. per lb.; oats, 16s. per barrel.