The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-09 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The ship Francis flentw. of London, Captain
Carinoress, 83 days from Melbourne, having left
Octeber the 13th, arrived off Plymouth on Friday,
and lauded a large mail.
The Francis Ilenty is laden with wool and tallow,
and brints home 04,800 ounces of gold, besides a
quantity in the hands of her passenger*. Gold was
;;;. 11;s. 9d. to 31. 17e. per ounce.
The passenger by the Francis Ilenty express the
greatest confidence in the gold fields, all of them
einging to Eugland substantial evidence of success.
Ao pswenger by this ship briugs home less than
Lowe. One of them has 3,000 ounces of gold.
/Luther belonged to the party of eight who dug in
the bole at Ballarat called the " jeweiler's shop."
Each of the eight men had for his share in this hole
401bs. sox. of gold. One of them then sold his interest
in the excavation for iOL, after which the remaining 7
bad made 31511. each, and were still at it. The popu-
lation at Melbourne and the neighbourhood was
again beginning to move for the summer diggings cam-
pwgn, and this movement had caused ao increased
demand fur commodities ; but there appeared no
chance and no expectation that the excitement,
speculation, and high prime of former years would
be again experienced. The labour market wu very
active, there being a great demand for all kinds of
labour, at increased wages. Seamen for the coast
were abundant, but for home few offering, as most
men stem unwilling to leave the colony.
Another instance of the universal dispersion of
gold throughout the colony of Victoria had occurred
at Flemington. A party fencing in some ground, in
course of digging the poet-holes, came upon a rock,
which. on being broken, was found to be quartz,
inttrinisid with gold.
At B.riligo the diggers are persevering, and the
incense in the quantity corning down shows that
they are being well rewarded. At Ballarat the
yield is still large, and the diggers contented end
happy with the result of their labours. Forest
Creek is attracting more attention than has been the
ease for some time past. Some experienced hands
had started for that field, giving it the preference to
all the others. The scarcity of water prevents the
Goalburn diggings from being thoroughly tested,
still a fair quantity of gold is being weekly sent
down, for the number of diggers actually at work.
The yield from Nl'lvor is email, and business is tepee-
seated as dull. Great results are expected from the
forthcoming campaign at the Ovens; and the num-
bers tending thither increases es the dry season
draws near. _ _ _ .

In the week ending Oct. 8, 1,760 persons had
arrived in the colony. Within the same period
39PS-1 ounces of gold had been brought down hoot
the diggings. The value of the gold shipped from
Victoria in 1833, including that by the Francis
Henty, was 7,132,6131.
From the Ovens Diggings a correspondent writes
to the Argus :
"Uolock the lands " is still the great and general cry
lice. Another land sale is advertised for tl.e 28:h October,
but only four suburban lots are to be then offered fcr sale.
What is the reason that the diggers at the Ovens IN not
glowed en opportunity of purchasing suburban land of an
average quality ? Why are all the lots put up for sale OW-
/eyed on lir. Gammilra run, which is quire seat for culti-
vation, obits the tine oath land on the 'di icest rot is so
quietly kept back trim the aactioneeis hammer.
Large numbers still motions to arrive at these diggings,
sad then ears he no doubt that they ate destined to become
folly as popular as any other diggings in the colony during
the coming 11411•011 T.
Messrs. Pockfeed, Coral* and Co., general carriers in
Melbourne, ere staking estemive arraignments fur /stab-
Miami • regular and somplete system of carriage to and
from the them dories the coming SMOG. They intend to
start both drays and amiss mute ea certain fined days
(whather lull or not), and to store goods, in a substantial
budding. till milled fur. The oast of such facility for the
conveyance of passengers, light semis, and heavy goods,
dying last season was severely felt..
A meeting of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce
was held Oct. 3, for the purpose of taking into consi-
deration the propriety of immediately establishing a
hospital in the Bay, and also of suggesting the proper
steps necessary to be taken for the prevention of
of desertion of vessels by their crews. It was re-
solved that a hospital for the use of the crews and
passengers of vessels frequenting the port should be
immediately established, either on shore at or near
Williamstown, or afloat in Hobeon's Bay. It was
further resolved, that to assist shipmasters and check
desert ion or mutiny in the port, it be recommended that
the police magistrate at Williamstown should have
policemen under him sufficient to grant, upon appli-1
cation, the services of two or more men at a charge
of one pound each per diem.
A good deal of dissatisfaction continued to be felt
and expressed on the subject of the act for prevent-
ing convicts at large by permission of government,
or the expiration of their penal term from landing in
the colony. The governor's assent to the bill was a
subject of doubt and expectation. A correspondent
of the .lryus of the 9th, writing from the Itl'lver
diggings, says: "The 21. quarterly license is now in
force, and from the readiness shown in taking them
out it seems to give general satisfaction."
•

The following ore the former and present estimates
of the revenue of the colony of Victoria, as published
in the Melbourne Aryus of Oct. 8 last—viz. :
18.52. 1853.
Tomer miasma. Present estimates.
Customs
Gold revenue
Harbour dues and
pilotage 4,000 15,000
Poona 17,900 23,000
Licenses
Ftnas and forfaltano
Feu of offices
Reitabonentanta in aid
of expenses by pa-
vorameat, and Ems-
cellaaeona l,lOO 3,860
2,400 ....
---.---
Totals

Auction duty

On the 10th Oct. there were in Hobson's Bay and
the Yana 423 reesels--vir., 70 ships, 5 steamers, 136
barques, 92 brigs, 112 schooners, and 8 hulks. The
Itorburgh Castle sailed from Melbourne about the
27th of September. 'fhe Star of the East arrived
there on the 4th or sth of October, 74 days frain Li-
verpool, and ailed on the Bth for Sydney. The
.)lersey. Johns, cleared out on the 10th, and the Hur-
ricane ironship was to sail about the 12th, both for
London. On the 15th of December the "Francis
Henty spoke, in 20 north let., the Hoehampton, from
the Mauritian for London.

By the arrival of the Walter Hood, Aberdeen
clipper, at Portsmouth, we have dates from Sydney
to the 13th October. This fast sailing vessel brings
a freight of wool and tallow, and gold from the dig-
gings, to the amount of 32,0001. She landed a very
heavy mail at Portsmouth, and passengers, among
wilom, in the first-class list, were Lieutenant
*Henry, Dr. Geddes, Mr. Kay, Mr. Bordier, Mr.
Tooth, Mrs. Norman and family, Mr. Davies, bliss
Burge, Mrs. Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Menzies and
child, and Mr. Goulding

The council steed adjourned to the Bth December,
when the discturion ou the constitution was to be
Termed.

The council have under consideration to appropriatel,
the sum of 160,0004. to be expended during the year
upon the roads of the oolooy.
The Hunter River Railway Bill received the royal
went on the 11th Oct., and the legislative council
concurred in a recommendation by the governor-
general to guarantee 4 per cent. interest to the share
holders. The Australasian Coal Mining Company's
Bill also received the royal assent at the same date.
The Sydmy Yorniwy Herald give' the act passed
by the Legislative Council fur the regulation of the
gold fields as the most important matter connected
with New South Wales since the sailing of the
Shanghai. By the terms of this act the license fee
to be paid for liberty to mine and dig for gold is re-
deed from 30e. to 10e. a month. The amount of
malty to be restored in eases where leases or licenses
dill be granted on the terms of paying a royalty in
I;rs of fees is lied at 3 per cent. oa the gross value
of the gold preeared, in place of 10 per cent., as PSe.
Tiously exacted. The fees and royalties in cases in
which lemma or leases are granted for mining or
dining for gold es private lends are fixed at one-
bait the redacal amount. to be paid in respect of
limits sad lames affecting crown lands. The see-
boas of the former act which directly or impliedly
rtstnetei its provisions to British subjects only are
ttptaled; and, until fart' er order, all subjecta and
tunas of foreign states are to be allowed the like
Pnytleges of working the gold mines and gold Bolds
New Beath Wales, and of employing therseelme
4"sos. es now are enjoyed by British sabfesta
tsrgyrasn, Ames in the public service, sink iss`
was, sad dinmetio servant', residing upon a geld

field, all of whom by the former set wen required to
pay licensee in respect of residence, an now exempt.
Upon the conviction of runaway servants or
apprentices, who may have obtained licenses or
leases, they shall be deemed to have forfeited the
acme. The eleventh section provides that persona
convicted of having upon en` gold field committed
any offence under the Vagrant Act shall be prohi-
bited boss remaining at, or returning to, such gold
geld, sod from coming toor being at any other gold
field for twelve months. The twelfth section pro-
vides facilities for the establishment and control of
licensed public houses on the gold fields; and the
last section enacts that this measure shall com-
mence and take effect from and after the lit of
October instant.

The Legislative Council had awarded a further
sum of I,OOW. to Mr. Hargreaves, u the first prac-
tical discoverer of gold in the colony, and also 1,0001.
to be divided equally between Messrs. William Tom,
junior, James Tom, and John Lister, is consideration
of their instrumentality, in a subordinate degree, in
the: discovery of gold in this colony, in the year 1851.
The sum of 1,0001. has also been voted by the Cons-
eil as a gratuity to the Rev. W. B. Clarke, on the
completion of his geological exploration.
Mr. William Keene, the civil engineer who was
instructed to proceed to the Fits Roy Iron Mines, in
the southern district, and to examine whether there
are such indications of a workable opal field as will

warrant the leasing of it in portions on a royalty,
had made his report, from which we subjoin an ex-
tract :

The conclusions I bad come to, as to the existence of coal
is the valley of the Fits Roy. mine. were afterwards largely
confirmed by an examination in • locality called Black
Bob's Creek—a few miles from the mines beyond Birrima.
Here there is ample evidence of the existence of • very
regular deposit of true coal ; that is to say, it is not lig-
nite—it is not a &posit of the tertiary epoch, or m.re re-
cent than the sandstone ; it belongs, as does oil that I bars
seen here, to the secondary tree cool formation; is over4iti
by regular beds of secondary sandstone lying in conform-
able strata upon it, of • thickness of twelve fathom., and
frpswes lira a true coal•schist, which covers a second
bed of tom cif concideratle thickset•. The whole of
the sandstone strata are laid bare clown to the coal

seam in a water-cut ravine, seventy feet deep
from the top of the overhanging reeks, which
form the surface of a table-land, having a gentle
inclination to the south. One of the seams, four
feet thick, is laid bare for a length of eight... yards, the
other below it is sap d by a bed of moils clay Slav of
rare regularity, splitting readily into rou.th tiles fit fee
roofing. The top of the lower seam of coal forms the led
of the stream, and from an essiniLation of its coati% I
judged the cool to be about equal in thickness to the =
seam. I have been down into the pita of many coal
—the Pendleton pit, near Manehester, the deepest is
Europe (five hundred and slaty bee yards), the Wilsh pits
at Swansea, the western coal fields in the vicinity of
Bristol, and those of Saint Etienne and Rive-deOier, near
Lyons ; and in none of these do the strata present more
solidity or regularitv in roof and floor than is shown in
the beds at Black Bob's Creek. A block of coal from the
top seam accompanies wiy report. In trials made of it, I
found it a free burning, bituminous or caking coal, fit for
household or manufacturing purpeoes, and convertible into
good cake.

THE ESCORT GOLD ROBBERY.—EXECUTION OF
THlltit OF TUB CULPOITS.—Three of the ringleaders of
the daring gang of mounted highwaymen who stopped the
M•lvor gold escort, and plundered it of nearly 10,0002 of
treasure, suffered death on the scaffold at Melbourne jail on
the 4th of October, in the presence of a lug* concourse of
persons. The culprits were notorious London thieves, who
had been sent out under sentence of transportation, and
were known by the names of George Melville, George
Wilson, and William Atkins. They were mainly con-
victed through one of the gasp named John Frances, a
ticket-of-leave convict, transported from Sueffield, turning
approver. They evaded the vigilance of the polies until
the Alth of August, when bur of them, including the ap-
prover, were captured. Another of the gang committed
suicide. The sixth has not been taken. Melville was taken
on board the Madegasear, which was about to sail fur
London. Fusses and Wilson bad also arranged to leave
by the same vessel. Some boxes of gold belonging to them
were found on board, in all upwards of 2,0001. The pri-
soners were then brought to trial at the Criminal Superior
Court, found godly, and condemned. Neither of them
made any waled°. as to their gsilt.

GEELONG GOLD CIRCULAR.

SATURDAY, Orr. 8, 1853.

The poke opened this week at 76e. 9d., but it has since
fallen to 765., in consequence of an alteration in the bank's
exchange, who now sell their drafts on London at I per
cent. premium, instead of 2 per cent as quoted for some
time back ; thus depreciating the costal as a remittance by
about W. per ounce.

- .
The intelligent. from the different digging localities con-
tinues good, although on the Ballarat side they complain
of the late heavy reins having greatly impeded operations.
The later dinoverien there have been at a much less
depth than hitherto; in fact, extensive surfacing has been
met with, thus holding out some encouragement for the
. .

digger of mew. The has of the lut discoveries ie
toward. Buniayoug. That which has long mince been pre-

dieted is now prett; well

41 the grouad

• -
between Go!den Point and Buninyong was one continuous
Geld. On the Wardy Yallock a few are at work, and said
to be doing well ; bat the western diggings will bays a fair
chance of being fully developed this season, from the lugs
numbers now swelling their population.
Since lest circular, there has arrived by escort as follows:

Cuticulae *snort
Mount Wivor ditto
Ovens ditto
Ballarat ditto

Total
Enduing* oa London: the banks at parent bay at 1 pee
coat. discount, and sell at 1 per mat. prentitua.

. _
Freight of gold delivered I. Loudon, ef per eases; la-
minae*, 21 guineas per east.
WILLIAM PA,MILSON, MAT/114411114.111.

MELBOURNE GOLD CIRCULAR.

BATOZDAY, OCT. 8, 1863.

The gold market hes been affected this week by as
alteration in the rate of exchange, shish was ?iodated from
2 to 1 per cent. premium, the result of which was the im-
mediate ►owering of the price of gold to Mk. The Name,
as usual, could net undentand how gold should be paid for
at a prim lees than that at which it was ealhag when they
►eft the gold fields, essay of them aot comprehasidisg the
effect of the rata of eackange on the prim of the article.
Under date 27th Augsst we stated that an alteration had
been made in regard to the time that the worts should
leave, and remarked "that thin new order *Vikings had
ben brought about at the expressed wish of memo ofliciala
at the diggings, without the 'lightest emeideration what
the effect would be on the public ken." Our prediction
has been correct. Strange to sup that the chief gold Goon
missioner listened to some sae-aided statements, and actually
reversed the previously well-arranged system without think
log of or consulting them interested in Melbourne. This
reversal has been themes of • gnat deal of inconvenience,
lam, and Cuppoialmont to many. A memorial has been
presumed to the goveraer,eoraplaining of this grievance. It
is now is the labyrinth of official routine, and when it is
likely to come to light is • very doubtful nutter. Our
advice to the chief gold commissioner is, to replace things
as they were, via., to let the retorts start on Wedneeday,
w►ich was a convenience not only to the public, but to the
Akins connected with the Otild-office.

Then is a 'mufti complaint of busimm Wag dull at the
whole of the geld fields, sad a very little gold offering for
sale. Ilse redaction is price may in some measure amount
for this ; by the diggers withholding it is expectatioa of ■
rise ; bat this maast take puma so keg as the esehaap
continues at the present rate.
Number of persons who have arrived ia the
colony during thrweek
Number why have left

Addition to our population this week ... , 1,436
The mute brought frombloantAlezeniier As.
and Bendigo
Balluat, iaelading Oeelong 8,309
What and Ooalburs 2,301

Gold shipped (roes Victoria in 1863 1,541,134
Per Fauna Runty, to London 66,411
1,907,616
Or, 79 toss 9 cwt. 2 qr. 17 lb. 11 os. at 76e.
L 7,162,666
per os.
Eutaw ea London Drafts galas, gold takes st 1 per
oat. discount. The basks advises front 60e. to 110 e. pa
eosin. Freight of gold delivered at the Bolltowolgoe,
London, 4t per woos. Insurance, 21, guineas per sent.
EDWLILD KILULL, Bullion Broker.
66, Orest Calkuvetriret West.

MELBOURNE PRODUCE MARKET.
blaireanse, OCT. 8, 1863..
The market is ma badly supplied, sad Friss us rising.
They may be pissed se Mikes :—Cauldlesere, Ws. sr Me.
pee doses ; gabbers, lie. to 251. pet doses ; sure% M. per
doss beadles ; turnips, Bs. per doss beadles; same, 40
per doses Immuilas ; selet7s f•. 6d. pr brad; dtPutillse. di:
per bustle ; eplemels, lr per brim ; tress pees, l►6rn. per
spirt; MMus, is. per doss. ea s, b. be ss. per isms