The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-05 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

By this arrival we have advioes from Melbourne
to March 17, Adelaide to March 19, and Sydney,
by telegram, to Marsh 16. At Melbourne the
land Bill was still under discussion. Respect-
ing the gold-fields, the Melbourne Herald says :
Since the departure of the last mail there have been com-
plaints of a want of water all over the gold-fields ; and
our accounts are, therefore, not so encouraging as formerlT.
We have, in fact, to note a decline for the past mouth
the gold received byy escort of 30,413 ounces, as compared
with the corresponding month of 1859, and of 34,015 ounces
as compared with the corresponding mouth of 1858. The
shipments of the last month show • falling off of 3.2,518
ounces as compared with the corresponding month in
1050, and of 1131.17 ounces as compared with the corre-
sponding month of 1858.

The circumstance of the mail eteamer having
titled to arrive at her contract time has somewhat inter-
fared with business. Since the commencement of the pre-
sent month very few transactions of any magnitude have
been completed. There has been another and more power-
ful reason why our markets have been redness] to a condi-
tion which has been the subject of general complaint, for
confidence has been greatly shaken in consequence of three
respectable firms having found it necessary to convene
meetings of their creditors. These suspensions have, as
usual, given rise to exaggerated apprehensions regarding
the unsoundness of trade in this colony ; stud mischievous
reports affecting the credit of other houses have been
freely circulated, with the customary result.

From Adelaide we learn that the elections were
still taking place, 16 out of 36 men here having
been returned.

The following telegram was received at Melbourne
from Sydney on March 16 :

" Buyers and Learmontli's liabilities are 44,0001.,
and their &meta 33,0001. The gold fever has now
reached an extraordinary height. Another field,
said to be of surpassing richness, has been disco-
vered on the Tumut River, only ten miles from
the Snowy River. Nuggets have been found in
profusion, one weighing 131ba. There are already
1,400 persona on the ground, and people are rush-
ing in crowds from Snowy River.',

THE PATAGONIAN MORON. —A despatch from
Stanley, Falkland lahuads, March 14, says 'The Allen
Gardner (Patagonian missionary schooner), Fall, which
sailed hence for Woolga, Terra del Fuego, Oct. 7, was taken
by the natives sit Wooly., Beagle Channel, on the rith Nov.,
sad the master, mate, five mamma, and Mr. Garland Phil-
-IMs, the catechist, murdered, one man only escaping. The
Nancy Smyley, with extra hands and weapons on board, has
mailed hence to-day fur Term del Fuego to recover the
schooner."

ORLEANS House LIBRA RY. —An interesting sere-
! mossy took place • day or two since at Orleans House,
Twickenham, the seat of his Royal Highness the Duc d'Au-
male, namely, the laying the foundation stone of • new
library, destined for the valuable collection of books made
by the late M. eigoigno. This gentleman was gifted with a
fancy for book collecting, and lout himself with great enemy
and spirit to his life.luug teak, taking every opportunity that
offered itself of securing the tarot books and tuanuscripts.
At his death M. eigoigne left a wish that the first offer cirthe
whole collection should be male to the Dec d'Aunutle, who
instantly closed with it, and the library was removed front
Paris to Twickenham. Sonic idea of the importance at-
tached to M. Cigoigne's collection may be gathered trout the
fact that it was valued at 375,0001., or about 15,11004, at
which price it was bought by hie royal highness, and it 110 w
forms a moat valuable addition to the duke's awn library.
The foundation-stone of the new building, which is detaclial
from the residence, was laid by the Ditches& iTAivale, in
the pi...cow of a small, but select circle wAsembled for the
occasion. A parchment containing some account of the
library, enclosed in a bottle, was deposited in a space pre-
pared for its reception. The ceremony was performed by
the duchess with • silver trowel, presented by the con-
tractor*, engineers of the St. Pancras Ironworks. The de-
signs for the building wore made by Mons. Duban, who was
formerly charged with the maturation of the Louvre, the
style being that of the Renaissance.—Critic.
MmoruuTAN BOA RD OF WORKS. —Yesterday
the usual weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Board of
Works was held at ; Mr. John Thwaites in the
chair. The cash statement of the finance committee showed
a net balance of 2082/. 2s. 3d., besides cash on deposit,
280,000/. Mr. Robert Taylor moved that the Bata for
deadoriation be struck out of the approximate estimate
(20,0001.). Mr. Doulton seconded the motion. Mr. Deputy
Harrison moved an amendment, namely, that IO,OOW. be
pelt instead of 313,000/. After a long discussion Mr. Taylor
withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment. Upon a
division the amendment was carried by r 11541 w-iv of ;II to 2.
After the transaction of some unimportant business the
board adjourned.
CRYSTAL PALACR. --BEY ILN- A N D-SI X N Y DAY.
- FRIDAY, MAY 4.—Adnissions on payment, 8,698; ditto
by season tickets, 8,494 ; total visitors, 17,192.