The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-29 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The latest dates of our letters and journals re-
ceived by the Argo arc :—Syduey, 10th August;
.Meibourne, 213 t August; Launceston, lath August;
Adelaide,l3th August.
From the newspapers and communications of our
correspondents we have gleaned the following
outline of events in New South Wales, Victoria,
Van Diemen's Land, and South Australia, from the
departure of the Chusan from Melbourne (12th
August) and that of the Argo inclusive.

VICTORIA.
(Abridged from the Melbourne Argus.)
THE GOLD FIELDS.

Symptoms of a marked improvement in the yield
of our gold-fields have again begun to make their ap-
pearance. Fresh spots have been discovered which
give indications of extraordinary productiveness, and
even the old ground has been so mach more prolific
as to yield for the last week, as well as the one
preceding, more than has hitherto made its appear-
ance for any one week of the last six months. We
have, therefore, good grounds lot congratulation,
inasmuch as we have attained already a steady
yield, of a largo amount from mines of ascertained
character, worked in a regular and ayctomatio
manner, by a class of diggers who have now set-
tled down in a business-like way to their occupa-
tion as a work of labour, ensuring certains returns;
and not as a mere venture dependent upon the
chance or caprice of fortune; while, in addition to
this, we have fresh discoveries, promising brilliant
success to those who lack patient perseverance,
and who can be only tempted by a great prize
and a corresponding risk. There is no doubt that
for Lthe last seven months the yield has not
been all that could have been wishea—in fact, the
yield has declined till last month, when it seems to
have reached its lowest point; but every present
indication from which we can judge leads us to con-
clude that we are now entering upon a season of
activity, and that we have reasonable prospects of
great and satisfactory results. To show what the
fields have been doing, we shall be excused, we hope,
if we again submit the comparative statement of the
quantities received by escort, and shipped, which
was given in the Chusan summary, particularly as
the quantity for July is now complete, which it was
not in our former statement.

Go.l received per Escort. Gold Shipped.
1952. 1853. • 1852. 1953.
January 53,591 186,615 160,477 266,868
February
March 62,026 169,654 107,406 166,423
April
May . 77,217 116,812 94,075 213,319
June
July
Since the close of the month of July the remit-
tances per escart have been very great. The first
week of the month of August showed an amount
superior to any this year; and though the following
or second week of this month is not so productive, it
also presents a satisfactory result. The amount re-
ceived from the different mince for the portion of the
month now expired is as follows:
Gold received per Escort, since July 30, 1953.
Beadigo &
.

'Week NotTnt
ending Alexander. Ballarat. Ovens. M'lvor. Total.
Aug. 6., 55,617 4,749 5,205 6,137 70,700
Aug. 13,„. 33,506 6,302 ),637 44,4%

,
Should the next two weeks average as much as
the last two, the month of August will then show a
result superior to any month of this year, and so
afford confirmation to tho belief that the mines are
giving promise of again becoming very rich and pro-
ductive.
The only diggings in operation at this time last
year were those of Mount Alexander and Ballarat,
the Ovens and M'lvor having been since discovered.
We therefore compare the yield of those two fields
last winter with that of this year:
Yield of Mount Alexander and Ballarat.
For 1852. For 1853.
January
February 55,332 142,011
March
April 67,556 138,277
May
June 108,6:A 106,146
, ..
10,7

July
From these statements it will be observed that the
amount for July received per escort exceeds any other
month this year; and that the amount shipped for
that month also bears a favourable average as coin-
pared with any of the others. A feeling prevails in
some quarters that these returns do not indicate pre-
cisely the quantities received from the gold-fields, or
the quantities shipped ; but though they certainly do
not and cannot represent either of these quantities
with positive accuracy, still wo believe that, for the
purpose of exhibiting the progress of the mines, their
yield and results, they contain what may be relied on
as a pretty certain index of our mincial wealth.
The escort is now the chief source relied on for
bringing down the gold, although a good deal still
comes by private hands; and hence by this means
we may form a tolerably accurate impression of what
is doing at the gold fields. By this test we arrive
pretty nearly at the amount discovered ; but wo can-
not ascertain so easily or so accurately what has been
shipped; for much certainly leaves the country, both
for home and colonial ports, by private hands, which
is never entered at the customs; though it may be
assumed that the quantity so leaving the colony in a
manner which cannot be recorded, bears a pretty re-
gular average to the amount which is recorded. In
both cases, therefore, whether as regards the yield of
the mines or the shipments from the colony, we ven-
ture to say that the returns now given are essentially

accurate, and may be relied on ; and from our rr xe
rience of the mines, the present state of the weather
the period of the year, and the numbers now flocking
to the diggings, we may also venture to add that
there is a prospect of a growir
gincrease to the yield
of thie important branch of cur colonial wealth. Very
flattering accounts still continue to pour in, from a
new field just discovered upon the batiks of the Coul-
burn, at a distance of about SO miles Pima Melbou:ae.