The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-08 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have received letters and papers from Mel-
bonnie to Nov. 16; Sydney, Nov. 10; Adelaide,
Nov. 12.

The Melbourne Argus 'of Nov. 18 commences a
summer), of the month's events with an emphatic
expression of dissitisfaction with the postal service
as at present conducted. Of the gold products, and
other matters of intelligence, the Argue reports :
While the commercial septet of the colony is clouded by
the recklessness which has continued throughout the year to
characterise the mercantile relations of home shippers with
this colony, ft Is well that we can point to oar gold-fisids as
evidences of our material prosperity. The vessel that will
convey this to Suez will convey a parcel of gold that will
complete the quantity of one hundred tow of that metal
shipped during the current year. From all the gold•pranc-
ing districts the yield has ban well maintained, and the se-
tort returns are still In exam of those of the year 1856.
The district around Mount Antra, the most westward and
the newest gold-Sold, is extending its lines daily, and a field
ix the employment of mining labour and enterprise as ex-
tensive es the. far-famed and still flourishing Bendigo, is
bang opened up. From thence to Beechworth the reports
ars alike. The yield is steadily maintained, and the popula-
rises is employed. Instanced of individual amens have not
hem wanting this mouth. A nugget of solid gold, two feet
bur inches in length, by ten Inches at its widest point, and
weighing 1,743.0ra. 13 dwt., or 1461ba., has been brought
down from Kingower by four man, named Robert and James
Ambrose end Samuel and Charles Napier. The treasure
was discovered in thirteen feet sinking, embedded in send.
It is perfectly free from extraneous matter. The lucky
owners have been above four years engaged In gold-
digging, during which they have acquired a com-
petence fur life, irrespective of this their last and
best hole. A gold field contemporary mentions the
following case, which is Interesting as showing the
fluctuations that beset a digger's queer ;—t' An instance
of luck scarcely paralleled even in the annals of Benearet,
occurred yesterday. Three men, nine months ego, left
Murat for Ararat, end remained there until the present
time, without being able to earn a livelihood. On Thursday
they returned here, possessed of only one single sixpence,
and went to work on the old shallow ground oar the Black-
hill Flat. At three o'clock la the afternoon they came upon
a large quantity of small gold, and a beautifully veined
specimtn weighing 125 ounce., which, from its small
is evidently nearly all gold. This ie 'nabw proof of the
unexbauated state of our ground, and a well-deserved re-
ward to these persevering men, who for nine long months '
have bailed with extreme poverty, and five minutes before I
they came upon them riches did not know wane to procure
their evening meal."

The normally for the economiming of labour, by the esta-
blishment of a "prospecting association," is being diet:used
fa public meeting and through the press at the Ovens, tM
most casters gold•fleld, and at Ararat, the newest and most
western. The miners of Snake Valley, in the former dis-
trict, have reduced the ides to practice. A small body of
practical miners, well appointed and provisioned at the joint
expellee of the storekeepers and miners, have been despatched
to thoroughly prospect Bowman's Forest. This kind of en-
terprise has extended to Melbourne, and parties properly
equipped have been despatched to test certain localities, by
storekeepers whose tole sdrantage is the certain profit
arising fmm the trade which they will secure by being
first on the spot, when such localities are known to be
auriferous.

After an adjournment of a month, the Legislative As-
sembly met on the 3rd inst., and Mr. Haloes, the chief
secretary, gave some intimations of what government pro-
posed doing in the matter of sessional arrangements. The
present motion is to be brought to ea almost immediate
close, and the now is to last only fur a week or two, so
that the house may meet again in time to do something
with the estimates for next year before next year begins
The expedient of a merely nominal recess is no doubt in
may respects objectionable, bat, under the drenmetanoes,
we Wien it to be the best that could have been adopted.
The discussion of the estimates for the premed year, though
It has occupied much lime, has been little 1110111 then a
formal ceremony. Our Assembly has been discussing in
September expenditure that has actually been going on
since January. The greater part ,of the money vote* that
were passed were practically yoke of indemnity for a-