The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-26 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

By the arrival of the Light of the Age, from
Sydney, we have received files of papers from that
port, to the Ist March inclusive, being a week later
than those brought by the Eagle. From the
Sydney _Herald of the Ist of March we quote the
following summary of news :
Our last summary of colonial news for our English readers
was despatched by the Waterloo and the Wolloomoolco. We
have now the pleasure of continuing our commentary upon
public events, to be transmitted by the two best ships of
the season. The Light of the Age is a vessel of 1,200
tons, commanded by Captain John Williams, formerly of
the Marchioness of Londonderry, and is announced to sail
this morning, at ten o'clock.

We arc on the eve of a general election. The excite-
ment is perhaps greater, both in the towns and countries,
than on any previous occasion. The candidates are nu-
merous, and nearly every seat will be contested. Upwards
of one hundred candidates have entered the list to c rntend
for the honour of filling the fifty-four seats in the new
Parliament.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Le2islative
Council, and which also met the approval of the Chamber
of Commerce, a public meeting was held on Wednesday, to
adopt means for the formation of a nautical school in the
port of Sydney.
That the gold fields in New South Wales have never yet
had a fair trial, is a fact beyond dispute ; and the splendid
find of Mr. White and his companions on the Ophir, at
Yerkey's Corner, induces us to believe that, ere long, our
Bold mines will rival for richness the most favcured fields in
Victoria. On the 18th ultimo we mentioned the arrival in
town of a party of three, who brought with them, as the
result of three weeks' labour, 406 ounces 12 dwts of the
precious metal, principally in nuggets, the largest
weighing 212 ounces, another 13 ounces, and other
two the respective weights of which were 10k and 11
ounces. Atter minutely describing to our reporter the
locality selected for their operations, Mr. White says he
and his mates set to work and dug for about three .days,
first through a red alluvial soil, then a thick layer of gravelly
earth, coming next to slate and rock, where traces of gold
were first observed. On the sixth day after breaking ground
the party lighted on the largest nugget, which was extracted
from the rock ; and that same day they took out 91 ounces
of gold altogether. The daily findings were—first day,
after coming to the slaty rock, 6 ounces, second, 54 ounces ;
third, 78 ounces ; sixth, 91 ounces. From that time the
yield fell suddenly, until the hole was abandoned. The area
of ground from which this rich treasure was extracted
measured twenty-five square feet.
Since the last summary E 0 very important change has
taken place, so far as our shipping interest is concerned.
Seamen, however, are not to be procured quite so readily as
formerly, although no great difficulty has been experienced
in supplying hands when in requisition. The whaling trade
is much briEker than usual, and a considerable business is
doing with Chili and Valparaiso, chiefly in breadstuffs.
The arrivals from British ports have not been so numer-
ous as during the first two months of the present year.
In the department of public works we have to report con-
siderable progress since the last date of our summary,
although we cannot say there is much cluing in the way of
private building. The extension of the Sydney and Parra-
matta railway to Liverpool is proceeding rapidly, about two
and a half consecutive miles of the line having been com-
pleted so far as to be in a position to receive the rails.
Altogether there are about 70,000 cubic yards of embank-
ment executed, which leaves about 48,000 yet to be done.
Several of the culverts have also been finished, besides a
bridge near Prospect Creek and exclusive of the embank-
ments referred to. The heaviest work on the line will be
rho construction of three viaducts, one over Prospect Crcek,
one over Orphan School Creek, and another over Cabramatta
Creek. The whole three structures have been commenced,

and are, we understand, progrersing in a most favourable
manner. _ _ _

—i'leNewcastle and Maitland railway is progressing
rapidly. The cuttings, with the exception of one, are all
completed, and the quantity of earth-work executed is about
275,000 cubic yards, which leaves about 32,100 yards to
be dine. The bridges and culverts are all finished, and a
locomotive engine is already at work ballasting the per:-
magent way to the extent of twelve miles. The projected
permanent additions to the Legislative Council Chambers
for the purpose of accommodating the new parliament have
been stopped by the Governor-General, in consequence of
all the tenders sent in exceeding the amount voted by the
Legislature. The quantity of gold received by escorts from
, the southern and western diggings during the past two
months of January and February is nearly 15,000 ounces,
being an increase on the corresponding months of 1855 of
almost 5,000 ounces. Besides which there is a large
quantity arriving daily by private hands. The startling
news brought by Mr. White and tarty from Ophir, and the
sample of 406 ounces which they exhibited for inspection,
has induced many to proceed to Ophir, and we are informed
about one hundred diggers passed through Penrith during
the past week on their way to Opbir.
In our wool markets we have to report that during the
week the arrivals from the squattages have been but few ;
I but the parcels offered (in good condition) have realised