The Express.
London, England, 1857-09-26 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

(ram ors OWN cosararoxnrwr.)

SYDNEY, )uLT 18.

Business in Sydney, which as for some time re-
mained in an inactive state, now exhibits tokens of
improvement. The cargoes of assorted goods, wines,
and spirits, recently received, have been sold at auc-
tion—the what mode—at good prices.
Our colonial parliament has been summoned to
meet, "for despatch of business," on the Ilth
proximo. Among the earliest measures to be intro-
duced is a bill to enlarge the franchise, under the
sanction of ministers. It is proposed to add forty
members or more to the present number ; to distn-
, bute them on the basis of population, bat in prokror-
, tion to distance, on principles of real or nominal
equality ; the nomination of candidates to be made
in writing and published in the newspapers, thus
avoiding the necessity of appearing on the hustings
and the voting to be by ballot. We have a Reform
League here, who are busily agitating for universal
suffrage but it is likely tho ministers will carry
their bill.

The new Cathedral of St. Andrew, which will be
a very imposing edifice, in the pointed style, is fast
advancing to completion. The choir is ready to
receive the roof. The building will consist of nave,
choir, aisles, transept, a lancet tower, and two
western towers.

In the course of the last month we had tho most
extraordinary weather ever experienced in the
colony within living remembranoo. A succession of
heavy rains produced an overflow of the creeks in
various directions, and the River Hunter was so
swollen as to occasion serious disasters along its
banks. The town of Maitland was nearly over-
flowed, and in the low lands in the vicinity the water
covered the roofs of the houses. So rapid was the
rise of the river that the lives of the inhabitants
were endangered, and many had to be rescued by
means of boats. Unfortunately, there was at the
time a vast accumulation of goods at Maitland,
stopped in the comae of transit to the interior by
the continuance of bad weather, and the consequent
almost impassable condition of the roads. A large
amount of these stores, besides agricultural and
other property, was destroyed by the flood. In
order to compensate the resident sufferers, a
public appeal to raise a fund by imbeerip-
don was resorted to, and was met in Syd-
ney by liberal donations ; but the goods stored
at Maitland were almost wholly destroyed, not only
causing immediate loss, but great inconvenience to
the holders of stations and other settles who obtain
their supplies from Sydney. They have yet to pay
a very high price for carriage, the roads being still
In a wretched state. I was informed by a merchant
a few days ago that he had engaged drays to convey
a quantity of goods 200 miles northward, at a cost
of 401. per ton. What would be the charge per ton
for the same distance by railway in England? The
Governor-General has been on a tour of inspection
since the Maitland disaster, and has expressed his
determination to press upon. the legislature the ne-
cessity of an extensive repair of the roads.
The produce of the gold fields both in this and the
adjoining colony appears to be as abundant as ever,
though lucky hits of large nuggets are less frequent.
The receipt of gold by escort during the last quarter,
as compared with the same quarter of 1836, was as
follows : - . .

Western corort. Buulbern. Northern. T. 161.
1996 17,009 ounces 6,364 23.20
1857 19,225 „ 6,799 6,296 31,280

Increase .. 2,316 1,449 6,256 9,017
The increase is about eight per cent. front the
western gold fields, and 23 per cent. from the
;leathern. Bearing in mind the bad atato of the
roads, this increase is encouraging. The escort from
the north was not in existence in June last year ;
so that one total receipts by escort this quarter arc
nearly 50 per cent. above those for the quarter end-
ing June, 1836.
Not only are the gold fields over-populated just
now, but there is a redundancy of surplus labour in
Sydney, Melbourne, and other principal towns ; or
Whet, I should say, a superfluity of professional
persons, who hare come out in the hope of finding
profitable employ—music-masters, governesses, medi-
cal men, shopmen, clerks, and others, who might
become good farmers and shepherds with a bn+h
education, but at pm; nt are put to cad shifts for the
means of existence. Mechanics of all trades are yet
in request, X hose wages, though somewhat reduced
from former rates, still range from 12s. to 184. per day.

Intelligence has been received in Penrith of the
eddy of Capt. Harrison, his lady, and family. He was in
commend of the tad Nita= Cavalry, • division of the
fiwallor Contingent, which mutinied almost to • man. The
dangers, hair-breadth escapes, and privations, to which he
and his family have been subject during a ten-days' and
nights' wandering In a hostile country—utifed, unrested,
scorched by day, and drenched by night, impeded in their
flight by impemable rivers, harassed by swarms of kends,
thirsting for victims, and intent on plunder—all this and
more, which may be Imagined, bat cannot be described. All
will rejoice to know that so gallant an officer is dill spared
to drdend the henoar of the British arms, sad we (Carlis4
Pain;oo hops he will long be preserved to be • moist to
his aged hair, Col. Harrison.
CRYSTAL PALACE. ONI SHILLING DAT.
Tamar, lime. 25. Admiesions on lament, 1,626;
dills by miss Weft, 238 i total; 1,564.