The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-02 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have this morniug received papers from
Melbourne to Feb. 16, and from Sydney to Feb.
10. Oa the former date the Victoria, with the
English mails of the 16th of December, was twelve
days overdue. So far, however, as dates are concerned,
these mails had been anticipated by the arrival from
Point de Chile of the colonial steamer City of
Sydney, but private advices were anxiously looked
for.

With regard to the gold-fields, the recent stop-
page in those branches of industry which depend
upon the supply of water had been of so serious
a nature to the mining population that attention had
become fairly aroused to the necessity of providing
against future inconvenience and loss from drought.
An aqueduct from the Coliban to the centre of
Forest Creek has been projected, the country sur-
veyed, and the practicability of the undertaking
ascertained. The inhabitants of Bendigo are turn-
ing their eyes towards tie extent of mountainous
country which surrounds that district with the like
object. The Besedigo ddrertiser says :
A very considerable extent of mountainous country exists
in the vicinity of this gold .field—most of it, too, at a high
elevation. 'lto. chief portion of the range consists of gra-
nite formation, abounds in springs, and furnishes the source
of a number of creeks of greater or learn importance. Are
we quite eatialied that in this country there does not islet
say area of watershed, or place capable of being formed by
artificial means into an extensive gathering ground ?
If we are not, why do we not tube means of
satiefying ourselves on a subject of such interest ? These
are practical movements, and such PA are best calculated to
put an end to the ciy that the gold-fields of Victoria see
dec;iaing. With emaciated enterprise in labour end capital,
the older gokbfields will keep up their yield for a long time
to coats, while those that ant new now will be ready for
ionailar undertakings when the best miners shall have 'alum
out all they can by their individual exertions.
Of political matters, Mr. Mitchie's bill for provid-
ing public instruction was engrossing the greatest
share both of public and private attention. The
principle that the State, as a state, should only pro-
vide secular education for children has received dis-
tinct expression in a motion of Mr. Ireland's, which
was carried on the 22nd of January by a majority
of 27 to 10. This motion as finally carried, was—
" That secular instruction only in the ordinary sense
of the term shall be admitted in the schools
to be established under this act, or in
any of the buildings thereanto belonging."
This clause has provoked very violent opposition
on the part of various religious bodies, more par-
ticularly on that of the church of England.
" Unless, however," says the Argus, " the Upper
House should reject Mr. Mitchie's bill, there seems
now at all events little reason to doubt that hence-
forward the state will not interfere to provide other
than *scalar instruction. It will insist nevertheless
that all children shall rawlye either private or public
training of this kind."
The Reform Bills were making progress through the
lower house. Mr. Haines announced that the minis-
try would resign if the assembly declared itself
unfavourable to the representation of minorities,
and by twenty-four votes to seventeen, a scheme had
been sanctioned, by which each voter is to be en-
dowed with the right to record as many votes u
there may be candidates to be elected for his dis-
trict, but according to which he is to be at liberty
to distribute them how he pleases, or to concentrate
them all in favour of one candidate. Hitherto the
elector, although at liberty to record only one vote
or plumper if he pleased, has not been permitted to
give more than one vote for any one candidate.
The Argus reports of the mines :
At Pleasant Creek the eyes of the miners are still tumid
towards the advanced parties prospecting round the Gram-
pians and the Victoria ranges, in which directions this field
appears to be spreading. Ararat has been dull. The works are
stesdily progressing on the several deep leads at &blares.
Carnghani is almost deserted, but at the deep lead at Preston's
then is more activity. At Bendigo, tnemost noticeable featu •
is the small quantity of quartz gold that is now being pro-
duced—a tact that calls for explanation. The klary-
borough district has had the usual number of small rushee.
At Tarrengower the ground about Hunter's sawpit, re-
ctaily opened, is still attracting sad retaining a numerous
popuknon. The Goullourn miners are now wishing out,
after having been at a standstill for want of water. We
have heard of little doing in the Ovens district. The Buck-
land quartz-reefs are proved to be extensive, but not very
rich, and it ie thought that they will not repay at pressed
for the expanse of the transport of machinery so long a
distance over a rough country.
The following shipments of gold had liken made
since the commencement of the year:

twin.

01p.
i

Dloa. I Oa.