The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have received papers from Melbourne to
Dec. 24. Sydney, Dec. 21, and intelligence from
Adelaide to Dec. 28.

The following is the list of the new ministry at
Melbourne :—Chief Secretary, Mr. Reales ; Preai-
dent of Board of Lands and Survey, Mr. Brooke ;
Treasurer, Mr. Verdun ; Commissioner of Public
Works, Mr. J. S. Johnston ; Commissioner of Cus-
toms, Mr. Anderson ; Commissioner of Railways,
Mr. Loader ; Minister of Mining Affairs, Mr.
Ilmulfray ; Attorney-General, Mr. Ireland ; Post-
master-General,

The Melbourne Argyll mays :
We are now very near the termination of the year, and
still without that improvement or increase in the yield of
gold which was some time back so confidently looked for.
A new gold-field has been reported by Mr. Hewitt, the
leader of one of the government prospecting parties, in
North Cipps Laud ; and a rush on an unusually large silo
has taken place to a locality in the Maryborough district,
known as " Mackinnon's Station." Some twelve thousand
people have congregated there within two or three weeks,
and the reports at present are favourable. Another gold-
field iu the direction of the Ovens has been reported by the
leader of the government party. His representations of the
character of the discovery are high, and are at present
underexamination. A fourth new field is announced—in
this instance in Kilmore district—and extended claims are
asked for by the proprietor. Quartz-crushing, however, is
rapidly taking the place of alluvial mining, end is extend.
lug over all the mining districts.

The 3frlbourne Herald says :
The commercial features of the past month may be stated
in a few word+. In connexion with great quietude, amount-
ing ut times to dulness, there has been a growing firmness
on the part of holden, notwithstanding the lack of eager
and large purchaser', sellers have been steadily advancing
their demands, and in several articles rates mole profitable
to the importer have already been established. The ebseuce
of activity in the markets has been owing to temporary
and lenl causes, among which the chief have been
numerous holidays and heavy floods.

From Sydney the news is unimportant. The
Herald observes respecting the goldfields :
At no period has our great gold interest been in a more
healthy state than it is just now. Capital is being lave: red
in machinery to work claims in a scientific manner, and as
our diggers extend themselves over the country, we may
expect to hear of new fields and new treasures. Kiandra,
perhaps, has not fulfilled expectation, but the weekly
escorts prove satisfactorily that the average yield is two
entices per man per week. The last weekly returns per
escort for the Western and Southern goldfields amounted to
5,000 and this is considerably under the yield, for
much gold finds its way to Sydney through private hands,
concerning which we have no account. In our next sum-
mary we hope to be able to place before our readers the
quantity of gold received at the mint during the year now
just passing away.

The same paper bas the following in reference to
flu) New Zealand disturbances :

Since the battle of Mabee!'hi, no aggresaive movements
on the part of our troops has been attempted, in come.
queues of the force at the dispoxil of Majordhmend Pratt
being divided, after that event, between Auckland and New
Plymouth. All, therefore, that could bo done wit+ to act
on thoddenaive. This has been accomplished so judiciously
that few casualties of a serious nature have taken place,
and the troops, although constantly on the alert, appear to
have been, to a considerable extent at least, freed from
that state of harassing anxiety that prevailed prior to the
engagement of the Gth ult.

AFRICA.
THE KIND OF DAIIOMEY AGAIN.

......
The Royal Mail steamship Ethtope, with the
mails from the West Coast of Africa, Teneriffe, and Madeira,
arrived in the Mersey at a lute hour on Monday night. A
telegraphic summary other news has been published.
Another barbarous affair hail taken place at Dahomey.
The IVe4 Af einem Herald publishes statements from
eye witnesses of the barbaric " custom " just perpetrated
at Dahomey. In thin fearful narrative we learn that the
recent " grand custom "of Barlahuug, King of Dahomey,
was one of the most revolting which had ever taken place.
Several persons agree in stating that the number of "anions
slain on the occasion was estimated at 2,000, but another ow-
respondent gives the number at 7,000. He says he was pre-
sent by compulsion, and that the blood swept past him hke
flood into alarm reservoir. Another gentleman, referring to
these inhuman butcheries, says :—" I assure you it made
me quite sick, and at the same time I felt stunned. The
poor wretches met death with perfect indifference." The
Herald, which gave government notice through its columns
many months since of the intention of the Kluge( Dahomey I
to hold an unusual " grand custom," in remembrance of
the death of the late King, concludes the recital of these
butcheries by stating that "Consul Foote has come out
with full 'lowers to ' treat' with the King of Dahomey as to
We abolition of these human sacrifices."