The Express.
London, England, 1856-10-15 00:00:00

LATEST FROM AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, TrESDAY.
Privete letters and advice, have been received by
shipowners and merchants here, per overland mail
from Melbontne, to the 28th July, conveyed to Point
de Galls by the Formosa, Captain Robeson, which
sailed from Melbourne on that day.
The letters, being private, convey little news, and
report commercial affairs generally as withont any
material alteration.

The Royal Mail ship Red Jacket, with the English
mails of the 20th of May, had not arrived at Mel-
bourne when the Formosa sailed.

The official returns for the first half of the year
18f6 show that during that period 1,689,051 ounces have
been shipped fromVictoris, which, at the customary compu-
tation of 2,000 lbs. troy to tte ton, make the produce of the
gold fields of tbst colony amount to the enormous quantity
of 66 toss 3 ewt. 1 qr. 121bs. 7 os.; moos by above 16 tons than
has been shipped during the first half of any previous year
The Argus has " not any doubt that the shipments for the
second halt of the year will equal if not exceed the first."
The prospects of the verious " workings " are most promis-
ing, and the pursuit of gold digging was never more system-
atically and steadily prosecuted. The coNtinuance of wet
weather during the last two months reported on had, how-
ever, to a great extent interfered with the operations of the
miners on the wet as well an on many of the dry sinkings,
and had oompelled them to devote their energies to the
gnarls reefs.

The colonial demand for all kinds of unskilled labour
was increasing. The balance of arrivals over departures
during the month of June had been inconsiderable, and im-
migrants capable of performing rough work had readily met
with engagement*. Of skilled labour there was little de-
ficiency ; the demand for artisans was not
,likely to exhibit
much activity for lime time to come. Female servants were

more plentiful than they had been of late, but great com-
plaints ezieted of the difficulty of meeting with really cult-
able domestics.

The Melbourne papa► notioe, among the atrial aspects
of the gold fields, the increuing spread of the co-operative
principle in mining pureuits, and, as a natural consequence,
the more extensive employment of machinery by the dig-
gers. This improved state of things is partly traceable to
the enlightened spirit in which many of the lccal courts
have framed the mining regulations far the districts under
their jurisdiction, and partly to the sounder views enter-
tained by the diggers themselves of the conditions
under which the operations of industry can be most success-
fully prosecuted.

The new houses of parliament et Melbourne were rapidly
approaching to completion. The government have invited
designs for frames and statuary to decorate the building.
The foundaticas bad also been laid of a ctmtnodicus county
court. Considerable prrgress bas been ale) made in the
erection of the new Eubanks', which promises to become
one of the srohitectural ornaments of the city.

There is some promise of the railway from Melbourne to
Geelong being completed by the end of the year. Six miles
of the line (at the Geelong end) were opened for excursion
trains on the let of July, and the experiments which were
made with a view to test the speed of the kcomotives were
perfectly satief►ctory. The Argus regrets to be unable to
report that any apparent propel. has been made in the pro-
secution of the works connected with the Melbourne, Mount
Alexander, and Murray River Railway.
The intelligence that peace has been restored, received by
the James Baines, diffused general satisiactiint to far aa the
event itself was concerned. As soma se the news was pro-
mulgated, a 'elute of 101 guns was fired, by order of the
Acting Governor ; and at the Theatre Royal, on the Name
evening, before the rifling of the curtain, a all of " God
Nave the Queen" arose simultaneously from the large
audience assembled to witness the performance of the opera.
The cell was promptly complied w.th by the orchestra, and
the audience, rising, greeted the familii r melody with the
heartiest applause. " Portant pour la Sy fie " wu then de-
mended, and some lusty cheers were given for our gallant
allies. By a proclamation from the Acting Governor, Wed-
nesday, the 2nd July (the day following the anniversary of
our separation from New South Wales), was observed as a
g 1 holiday ; and a review of the troops in garrison sad
a sham fight took place, under the inspection of his Eacel-
lency.
The 80th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
by the United States of Americo wee ogle bested by a public
dinner at the Criterion en the 4th inst. About 130 persons

anembled, under the presidency of the American Consul.
and the panel tone of the velars was rrongiy in favour
of the maintenance of pacific relations between Gnat Bri•
taro and the republic.