Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-28 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1857.

had stated it to be. There were different opinions
07spressed by different memberiof the government upon
the subject, and they did not know whether they were to
look upon the disturbances as an outbreak of superstition,
or a mere military revolt, or an organised consioracy and
a national rebellion. It was necessary that this question
should be solved before it should be decided by the gover; -
what steps it was necessary to •take to instate the
restoration of tranquility. They had first to con-
sider what was the cause of the present state
of affairs, and then what measure should bt adopted
under the circumstances. Devoting his attention to the first
point, be quwed 'he opinions of Sir Charles Napier, Lori
Melville, and Colonel Jacob, to Meow that some time ago
the Bengal Army was in an unsetisfactory state, and
havingdeclared, that of late that condition had deteriorated,
and stated his opinion that the late dicta bances were
attributable to discontent at their condition rather than to
aay particular grievance. The discontent in India he
Accounted for on these grounds. Our forcible
destruction of native authority. Our disturb-
ance of the settlement of property, and our
tampering with the religion of the people. The
right hon gentleman then proceeded at great length to
refer to each of these points, condemning the policy of
annexation, and especially alluding to the annexation of
the kingdom of Oude. Upon the religious question he
stated that the discontent of the natives principally arose
from the association of missionary preaching wi:h the
government, and censured the passing of the law which
sanctioned the re-m rrriage of widows, on the ground
that it was most revolting to the feelings of the
people of India. Having stated the origin of tho
feelings of discontent in ledia, he declared that the revolt
was more immsdietsly brought about by the annexation of
Oude, from whence a great poi Con of the army came, and
by the withdrawal of European troops to Persia and
China, which offered a favourable opportunity for the ris-
ing of the natives. Let them new take masons for quell-
ing the disterbance, and he would suggest that for this
purpose a larger force should be seat out, and that an
expedition should be sent no the Indus, and that having
been accomplished, he wanted the government in future to
devote their attention to the internal improvement of India
rather than to a course of aggression.
Mr. V. Smith stated that while her Majesty's govern-
ment anticipated the bear, they were preparing for the
worst. He deprecated the course taken by Ore right hon.
gentleman as calculated to increase the alarm of the
people, and as touching upon matters dangerous to the
state. There were, he observed, iu these transactions, two
consolatory features—that the revolt was not rs national
demonstration, and that it was not caused by dis-
content of the native princes.; both of which
the right honourable gentleman, without a little
of evidence had endeavoured to destroy. Of the papers
moved for the first he could not dad, and he believed hqd
no existence ; and the second, so far as it related to the
defence of our frontiers, ought not to he unadvisedly pro-
duced. The part relating to the state of the troops did
not bear out the right hon. gentleman's supposition,
though if it had, it was transmitted to the Duke of
Wellington, who never took any notice of it ; nor had it
been noticed by any subsepent government, and there
was no ground therefore for a condemnation of tire
present government founded upon it. The question of
the disturbance of property he passed over. with the
remark that the complaints upon that point at present
formed the subject of investigation by a commission; and
with regard to interference with religion, he (toilet:Erred in
the condemnation pronounced by Mr. Disraeli upon
persons connected with the military and civil service acting
as missionaries, but added his opinion that a proposition
made by him to•recall officers for this offence, would have i
met with but little favour in the house. Regarding
annexation, he objected to it as a system, hut defended the
policy in the particular cases alluded to by Mr. Di,raeli,'
and declined to draw a distinction between the policy in
these cases auj that displayed iu the annexation of Scinde.
The annexation was a question of itself, and wes justified
upon the ground of saving the kingdom from anarchy.
It had no bearing upon the Resent disturbances in India.
He denied that the Government were in any way fore-
warned of the mutiny, and quoted the opinions of Lord
Dalhousie and Sir Vir.'Gomm to shrive ghat immediately
bdore the outbreak there was no appearance of discontent.
A connection had been established between the with ira,val
of regiments for service in Persia and China
and the mutiny in India, but no European regiments had
been sent from India to China, and the troops from Persia
returned to Bombay on the very day on which the outbreak
took place. The-government were;justified in this policy
of withdrawing troops from India for seivice elsawhereeby
General Evans, who thought that it would have been ad-
yantageout if regiments had been taken from India during
the Russian war. for service in the'Crimea. Having shown
that the government had no ground for expecting the
recent disastrous occurrence in India, he observed
that it was verfeasy for members to attack the government
upon what had taken place, but in their justification it
was to be urgedtbat they were not called upon to provide
against a danger which was not even anticipated.
Sir E. Perry reprchended the whole eye; em of resump-
tions of estates, considering that an alteration in the
tenure which had been in existence for upwards of furty
years could not be effected without producing diseffsction.
He hoped that the preseet disturbances having been put
down, India would in future be governed upon a system of
internal improvement, and not by subjugation and violence.
Mr. Campbell thought that the government should not
be embarrassed with motions like the present, at a moment
of such diffionlry. _ _

Mr. Whit' sid; contended that the government had shown
a criminal remissness in not having taken precautions for
the preservation of tranquillity in India.
Lord John Russell generally supported tho government,.
and thinking it expedient that in the present emergency
they should have their bands strengthened, moved
that an humble address be presented to her Majesty,
to assure her Majesty that this house will ccrdially support
her Maj,s y in any efforts that may be nece4bary for the
suppression of disturbances in India, and any measures
that may be-required for the 'restoration of tranquility and
content in that portion of her Majesty's dominions.
(Oheers.)
Mr. Ross -Mangles vindicated the Eat India ,'Govern-
ment, and contended that on account of any reasonable
amount of danger, they ought not to refrain from improving
-the condition of the people of :India.
Mr. Liddell observed that the amendment was altogether
incongruous with the motion, and deprecated the course
taken by the noble lord, in . endeavouring to set aside an
appeal for information by a resolution to which no one
could object.
Mr. Hadfield then moved the adjournment of the
debate.
The house dividad. The numbers were—
For the motion
Against the adjournment

Majority OO •.•

Ayrton tendered his thanks to the member for
Bucks for bringing the quesion forward, and concurred
in the opinion expressed by him upon most of the circom-
stonees to which he alluded, though he could not agree in
connecting such circumstances. with the recent revolt.
Mr. iludfield expressed en opinion that British rule in
India was only to be maintained by securing the good
ciion of the natives and not by.force of arms,
anion
Disraeli then replied, stating that, though be bad
expressed an opinion that.the Government had not attached
to recent events in:lnditi the importance which they deserved.,
time alone would show whether he ,was right, and he had
not asked the House to pledge itself to any opinion 'what-
ever. The right bon. gentleman then p oceeded to
recapitulate the charges made by him against the Govern-
ment in his statement .opening the discussion, unit con-
tended that no.answer ,to them had been afforded by the
speeches of the President of the Board of Control, or the
Chairman of the Court of Directiw. s far as India
was concerned, lie was ready to admit that flip present
Government was the most ignorant that had ever swayed
the destines of that .vast Ern, ire. Ho ti-enied that either
of the papers referred to in his motion bad no existence,
or had no reference to the subk•ct under di=cusouw, and
rediceling the motion if Lord John R issell as devoid of
meaning, st,ited that he was content with havi-g nun n-
.ciated opinions which would ultimately be the policy
pursued in regard to IneWt.
Mr. Thomas Baring vindicated the committee of 1852,
and expressed surprise that the .rielit lion. member tor
Bucks should base deferred. to tlie prese t cri-i44 a justi-
fication to the people of India for revolting against
British rule.

Lord Palmerston would l-awe the replies of others as
antidotes to the ill-advised spacell ,it the member for Bucks,
and only reply to the motion of the right hon. gentleman
The first paper was not in the ptessssion of the govern-
ment, and the second related to che mgan.k.tion of the
army, and in oppuaiii n to the ,so- ciation of the right
hun. gentleman, contaitn-ti the opinion of ' the gallant
general, that assembling the army in gr at numbers, would
increase rather than endanger the ti ttlitv of the na!ivo
troops. Ile hotted the Llou.le w,111,1 unanimously a!opt the
motion of his noble friend, Lard J Inn Russell.
Sir John Pakitiron appealed- to the noble lord to
produce the paper to which he referred. .
Lard Palmerston was willing to prodnee the extracts
relating to the Indtan army troat the documents to which
he had referred.
After a few words from etteral Thrmpson, Mr.
Disraeli's motion was n.gat‘ wed ill/About a division, and
agreed to.
the Lunatics (Scotland)
Lord J. Itu-sell's amendment was
The Municipal Corporrtion
;
Bill, and the Oxford Uuivers:ty rp p 1 a third
time and passed. •
The House adjourgei at two o'clock.

THE NEW LIVERPOOL TIIG COMPANY'S BOAT

RESOLUTE.

SUCCESSFUL TRIAL TRIP.

(PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
A few days ago we briefly recorded the launch of the first
boat belong,ing to this company (limited), from the yard of
Messrs. J. W. Holsy and Co., at Renfrew, on the Clyde, and
we have now the satisfaction of recording her first trip, which
in every way was most satisfactory, and fully realises the ex-
pectations of her owners. It seems we are by no means to be
satisfied with the tugs we have at present, and the growing
necessity that presents itself daily for more powerful tow-boats
than Liverpool at present possesses has caused this company to
spring into rapid existence, and well may they be proud of the
precursor boat which anchored in our river last evening, after a
fine run from the Clyde. In order to expedite the working of
this boat, she bad her engines and other gear ready for working
when she was launched; and although this mode of proceeding
is unusual, yet in this instance it was quite successful, and
shows what can be done by enterprise and art; it was quite a
triumph in its way. This boat has been called--very aptly,
to&—the Resolute, and from the despatch used since she was
launched, the company seemed resolved that she shall be
Reso'ute in every way in giving the followirg figures
regarding this fine steamer, it may he remarked that she is the
largest and most powerful tug-boat ever built in the British
Empire. She is 160 feet long, 21 ft. 6 in. beam, and 14 ft.
deep. Her engines are a pair of disconnected side
levers, of about 200 horse power, with four tubular
boilers of very large dimensions, and capacity in her coal
bunkers for over 200 tons, and these are formed by four
watertight bulklievis, running athwart the ship ; these- are
again divided by tore and aft bulkheads, strongly stayed to the
hull of the ship, thus forining the vessel, in the part where the
weight is cirried, into complete cel`ular compartments. A
donkey engire, for pumping water into the boilers, is provided,
and it is .Iso arranged :kit by putting hose into a waterlogged
stranded ship, she can be pumped dry from this steamer.
Underneath the windlass are arranged two cylinders for the
purpose of seorkine it, lifting the anchor, in the
hawsers, &c., and the immerser in which the work is done is
surprisingly quick, effective, and correct. The whole vessel
and outfit, in all respects, is 'one of the most complete we
have seen, and adds to the reputation of the builders, Messrs.
Hoby and Co , and reflects credit on their manager, M-.
Russell, whose practical knowledge and experience are amply
shown in this tine ship. ' The principal woodwork of the
Resolute is composed of East India teak, which, for durability,
is known to be almost equal to iron. It may give some idea
of the despatch used in geeing, her ready, when it is stated
that she was launched on the 22nd and tho trial trip was fixed
for the 29th, that being the earliest time it was supposed she
would be ready. However, on the morning of the 24th, a tele-
graphic message was received at Renfrew, by Mr. John Taylor,
the active manager of the Company, from Messrs. J. Baines and
Co., requesting the services of the vessel, to tow the Treble ship
James Baines from Liverpool to Portsmouth, on Tuesday, 28th
(:his day), where the James Baines is to embark troops for
the East, and then the Resolato is to tow her out seaward as
far as possible. The builders,
,with alacrity, responded,
,and
,by unceasing exertions, which were ably secondsd by Mr.
Taylor, assisted by all concerned in the vessel, in forty hours
of er the receipt of the message, the boat was steaming down
the Clyde, ready for active service—a feat never befero per-
formed,. On Saturday night, some of the directors, (anxious
to see tire interest of the shareholders attended to,) accompanied
by other gentlemen who take an interest in the mercantile
welfare of the port, proceeded from Liverpool, by train, to
Glasgow, in order to be present on the trial trip, which, it
was resolved on, should be direct to Liverpool. They got the
boat that starts from Glasgow at half-past nine on Sunday
morning, went down to Greenock, and in the evening went on
board the Resolute, and all, were delighted to find the state of
forward perfection to which she was brought in so short a
period. She is a striking-looking vessel externally, having
two funnels, very lofty paddies, and an ample bridge between
them, wilh a -commodious wheel-house on it. Her

interior is dam up in a style of elegance and
comfort, novel as the brat herself, and welcome as she
must be on the Mersey. On a thorough examination, every-
thing was found "all right;" and it struck every one, the
massive strength ilia exhibits all through, particularly in tho
midihip compartment, where it is so requisite to enable the
hull.to bear the working of the very powerful machinery. To
emigrant ships, towel out by such vessels as Phis—of such
power and speed—the dangers of the channel are materially
lessened. It may be in.-cresting to know that the company
very spiritedly have purchased, from the underwriters, the
steam-pumps that were to successful in pumping out the
Metoor, and bringing her safe to Liverpool, in a water-logged
condition, from Key West, in the United States. With such

a steamer as the Resolute, and the pumps started, there would
be 'no danger of bringing in water-logged vessels, which might
put into'ilicenstown, cr elsewhere, but which at present could
not be done. The compasses hiving been adjusted by Mr.
Basnett, of Liverpool:(wlefacconipar.ied the vessel on the trip)
The ship started. the machinery woi'ked smooth and even,
as if in operation for months, and there was a total absence of
the jarring usually observable on like occasions. The vessel
went down the Clyde in beautiful style, and was much
admired, although there was a strong wind against her at the time.
There was a heavy sea during the night, but the boat made gal-
lant way, and was " asifirm as a rock" in a roaring gale. She had
none of the tremendous shaking so common to steamers, but went
steadily and rapidly to the utmost satisfaction of all, and at
an early hour She anchored in Ramsay Bay, where she
remained for some time. Whilst in the bay, several boats
full of people put off to look at her, and some eiperienc. d
melee' gentlemen, including Commodore Higgins, went on
board, and after inspecting all her arrangements pronounced
her to be the finest model of her size they ever saw. After
about two hour's stay, she started for Liverpool with a head
bre,se and heavy sea, and yet, with these disadvantages
against her, she ran from Mangold Head to the Bell BnoV, a
distance of six y nautical miles, (equal to sixty-eight land
miler) under five and a half hours, being above twelve an
hour—this proves her capacity for speed, under the circum-
stances already stated. To all concerned this must be
cheering, as nothing could be more perfect than the success
of the vessel in every particular. Having said so much about
this remarkably fine boat, it may be stated that her master
is ono ot the most experienced men sailing out of the port,
and to the shipping trade of Liverpool, the name of Captain
Jevons need only ho mentioned to be ree rgnised and appre-
ciat d. His thief officer, Mr Bunster, too, is well-known and
respected, being a longtime connected with the American Mail
Service of the port. When coming up the river the ship was gaily
decor:ted with 113 gs, and it is almost needless to say she was
mach looked at. and admired. From the 801 l buoy her °peed
increased considerably, running in ono hour to 'the Rock,
against en ebb title, and.altogether she has more than realised
ihe ',trues entertained of her; and the importance of having
such a first-clase vessel, for the purposes she has been built, in
the trado of Liverpool, -cannot be over-estimated. The
company, which contains amongst the shareholders some of
our largest eliipowners, of which Mr. Mackay (of the firm of
James Baines and Co.) is chairman, are now having built for
them several vessels of a similar class, and we undo) stand
that the next will belaunched in the course of three weeks or
so, and that the others are in a forward state towards com-
pletion. On coming up tha river an interesting incident took
place. The American frigate Susquehanna met the Resolute
oppesite the Rock, and at once dropped her fl.sg in salute,
which was gracefully rettirned. The pilots in the vessels in
the river cheered she Resolute as she passed on, and a great
crowd of people assembled on the stage and pier heads t'
witness her arrival. During the voyage the gentlemen who
were on board were kindly and hospitally entertained, and.
every attention paid to them.
In closing this record of the triumphant success of the
Resolute, we must not omit stating that the exertions of the
man seer (Mr. - John Taylor) were, in all respects,
uncetsing, and such as won for him the good opinion and
thanks of all who were present on the interesting occasion ;
and, front his practical experience, he must prove of much
advantage to this important company. It
.may not be unin-
t to state that it is li:tle over four months since the
Resolute was laid down, and, when everything is taken into
account, the time has been short indeed, although the work
has been great. We only echo the voice of the public, with
which we heartily join, when wishing the company, and their
fine ship, prosperity, as the increasing prosperity of the port
has called her into operation.

Tics RAVENIfALL MURDEll.—Charles Finch, who was
convicted at the la e assizes for the county of Essex of the
murder of Harriet Freeborn, his sweetheart, will undergo
the last penalty of the law on Wednesday next. The
prisoner, it appears, exhibits the same apathy and sullen
demeanour that has characterised him ever since the com-
mission of the offence, and he does not appear to be et
all impressed with the enormity of his crime. It will be
rt c .11te,ted that Mr. WoAlatt, the counsel who defended
him, endeavoured to show that his tnind was affated, and
we undersfand that a memorial has been sent to the
Secretary of State, representing, that while the prisoner
was in the Crimes, whers be served in the Land Trans-
Fort Corps, he was twice attacked with brain fever, and
his mollyr was also for a considerable time an inmate of
a iunalc . asylum before her death. The prisoner, it
appears, had no means of obtaining professional assistance
at his trial, and he would not have bad any counsel but for
th,, kind interference tf some
gentlemen belonging to the
town of Chelmsford, whir provided the necessary funds,
and retained Mr. Woollatt te
watch pri-
soner's behalf. All these facts have been representedexpected
casethe
e‘tlto
the Home Secretary, but it is not ex
any avail, and the sentence of death wi4.,1 no doubt, be
carried into effect,

AUSTRALIA.

We are now in possession of full details of the
news from Australia to the 2:sth of May from

Sydney, and the 29th from Melbourne.
The next homeward mail is advertised to leave
Sydney on the 15th of June by the European, to
be followed on the 15th of July by the Columbian
and on the 15th of August by the Australasian.
The Great Britain, as previously intimated, left
Melbourne on the 21st of May with 101,600 ounces

of gold and 34,000 letters from Victoria.
We proceed to supply our readers with a
summary of the news to hand :

VICTORIA.
POLITICAL.—By the James Baines, we received intelli-
gence that the O'Shanassy ministry had been defeated,
and that they had sent in their resignation to the Governor
who bad accepted it. We are now is possession of the
names of the gentlemen forming the new ministry, viz.:—
Mr. Haines, Chief Secretary ; Mr. M'Calloch, Com-
missioner of Trade and Customs ; Mr. E ;don, Treasurer ;
Mr. Miehie, Attorney-General ; Mr. Moere, President of
the Board of Land and Works; and Mr. Fellows, Solicitor-
General. The only new measure of any importance that had
yet been brought before Parliament is one for the imposition
of a duty of 10'. per lb. on opium—a tax which may be
regarded as a sort of supplement to the capitation-tax on
the Cainese. Mr. Michie (the Attorney-Gmeral) bad
given notice of a motion for abolishing State aid to
religion.
Gono.—During the month a steady supply of gold had
been received from the mining districts. but the average
weekly yield was below that of the past year. " The
causes of this," says the Afelbou(ne Argus, are not diffi-
cult to be traced. The employment of larger numbers than
at any former period of the mining population in deep
sinking and in quartz mining, their consequent withdrawal
from the immediate production of gold, and the protracted
drew ss of the season, are sufficient to account for the falling
off in the escort returns. When the labour of the
deep-sinkers has been consummated, and the boards
of the shallow-sinkers have passed through the process
of washing, the average of the returns of the
current year will be brought up to that of the last.
The steadiness with which the quartz reefs are being
opened up at a heavy cost of labour and of money, and the
large sums expended in the machinery for the erlection of
the metal, are sure indications of the faith entertained by
practical men in the hidden riches of our gold mines. We
have stated that at no former period haw such numbers
been employed in sinking. This remark applies especially
to the districts surrounding Ballarat and Bendigo. At
Ballarat shafts are being actively carried down at the
Durham and Delter leads, at the Gravel pits and Specimen
Gully, and all these localities promise to yield handsomely
for the labour that has been expended on them. Tee
quartz reefs at Bendigo are yielding fabulous quantities
from the small extent of rock opened up. At Dunolly,
water, which has hitherto been scarce, is now plentiful,
and lerge quantities of the, by comparisoe, "poor washing
stuff" will now be passed through the mill. A new lead
is reported in this district, about one mile and a half from
the Post-office, in which gold has been struck at a
depth of 5D feet. At Maryborou,gla greater activity pre-
vails. At the Avoca another powerful engine, the third
on the Avoca lead, is nearly complete, and %ill in a short
time be at work in keeping the water under command.
At M'lyor the puddlieg-machines are again at work.
The favourable accounts from the Ovens are fully borne
out by facts. The weekly escort returns have averaged
6,540 ounces for the 12 months past, while large quanti-
ties have be en sent down from this district by prieate hand."
The following comparative statement of the receipts by
escort, and the shipments during the first three months of
the past four years, shows that the year 1857 is second
only to its predecessor:—
1 1854.

O inces. Ounces. Ounces. Ounces.
Receipts by escort 192,991 407,394 748,303 527,154
Shipments 627,116 497,173 842,428 682,819
MINING.—It appears that fortune still fling; gigantic
nuggets at the feet of some et her favourites. At the
Whipstick, on the 30th April, a nugget, weighing 26
ounces was taken up in• Scotchman's Gully, a short dis-
tance from the claim where the 370 ounce nugget was
found, and on the day previous another nugget was taken
up out of a different claim in the same ground weighing
19 ounces. At M'lntyre's a person named M'Evoy has a
claim on a quartz reef lately opened, and he took out from
it two specimens, one weighing 129 lbs. and the other
8 lb.. 137 lb. in all. It is supposed that about 40 lb. of
quartz will be the outside, the remainder pure gold. On
the following day he end his mate, a yoang boy, took out
anoth, r specimen weighing 107 lbs., of which the better
half is pure gold. The claim is very little worked, and
the deepest part is 18 inch; s. The finder of the present
lot is the same party who found the nugget weighing 129
ounces 18 dwts. in No. 3 gully at M'lntyre's, which was
the occasion'of the last rush. Of course these are the
prizes in the lottery of gold-digging, and there are plenty
of blanks, of which we hear nothing. The quartz reefs in
various districts are yielding almost fabulous returns."
AGRICULTURIC.—" The question whether agriculture will
pay in Victoria is," says a Melbourne paper of the 29th
May, 'still raised by a few of those who adhere to the old
sysnm, and whose farms, being near the coast, are open to
competition from the neiglouring colonies. In. the
interior, near the goldfields, the question is never asked at
present. The higher prices obtained for their produce
enable the cultivators of farms in these new districts to pay
the current wages without difficulty. The stctistical returns
not being yet comple'e, we do not know exactly how much
additional land hes been brought into cultivation during the
past season, but there.is little doubt of the quantity being
large. Complete returns have been received from five dis-
t Ha's and connties, and in all these except one there has been
a large increase. In the district of Bendigo, there were 5,053
acres under crob last season, to 1,439 in the previous year; in
the Ovens district 4,045 acres in 1856, to 2,211 acres in 1855 ;
in the county of Normanby 2 730 acres in 1856, to 1,329
acres in 1855 ; in the county of Dundas 918 acres in 1856,
to 480 acres in 1855. in the county of Follet there has
been little change, as there is nothing grown there except
what the squatters raise for their own use. The numbers
are 128 acres in 1856, to 123 acres in 1855. These five
districts are in different parts of the colony, the Ovens
being at the extreme northeast. and the county of Nor-
manby at the south-west extremity, and will afford a fair
idea of the average produce. In 1855 the average yield of
wheat for the whole colony was 28 bushels to the acre ; the
average of these five districts in 1856 is 26 bushels, and we
may expect this to be about the general average for the
year The best criterion of the prospects of the agricultural
interest here is to be found in the conduit demand for more
free access to land. A. Land League has been established
with the object of obtaining greater facilities for settlement
on lands fit for agriculture, and the farmers are petitioning
Parliament for the opportunity of obtaining the use of
a portion of the grazing lands. A petition is also being
extensively signed through the country districts for the
establishment of a Board of Agriculture. The want of a
recognised head through which information of all kinds
might be obtained is much felt, as also the want of a good
inueeum, containing specimens of the most modern imple-
ments and machinery, and a library of the best and latest
agricultural works. There are now many local societies
springing up in different parts of the country, and something
jike organisation and union is wanted among them. This
it is proposed to bring about by having meetings once a
year, or oftener, of delegates from the several societies,
together with certain ex officio members of the Govern-
ment, the Professor of Natural Sciences to the Uni-
versity, agricultural chemists, and other persons devoted
to Sciences affecting this pursuit. It is to be hoped
that something will be done this session towards the
formation of this department, and it is impossible to foresee
all the advantages we may derive from it. The climate of
Australia is suited to the growth of many valuable plants
and the rearing of many animals not yet introduced, and
systematic action in this direction alone will greatly in-
crease our means of developing the natural resources of
the colony. The scarcity and dearness of horse corn have
led to the trying of all sorts of expedients to supply the
deficiency. Oats are enormously high. Barley is scarcely
to be had in sufficient quantity for seed. Maize is scarce
and dear, so there is a demand for oatmeal, grain, and split
peas. The only grain we have in abundance is wheat, and
this, being so much the cheapest, is coming largely into
use for feeding draught horses."
LABOUR.—The Melbourne Argun, in its summary, per
the Simla says During the past month there has not
been much change in the state of this matkot. Good
mechanics have little difficulty in obtaining work, but
there are still too many labourers and unskilled workmen
unemployed, and.the wages of this class have been gradu-
ally failing. As wages fall the demand increases, and the
number of men unemployed is not so great as it was. The
late rains also have enabled many of the employers of
labour on the gold fields to resame operations, and we now
hear little of a want of employment in the interior. Most
of the men seeking work congregate in town, and their
ranks are constantly increased by the new arrivals. Of
these there have been some within the last few days, and
we have seen instances of their being engaged on the
first day of their seeking employment ; but these must
be looked on as exceptional cases. Many of them have
to seek it in vain for many days. For a short time female
servants were more numerous than is usual with us, and
their wages fell about one-sixth—instead of £3O a-ydar,
ordinary general servants had to accept 425 ; but the
number of those unengaged is again decreasing. As
far as the working classes are concerned our politicians
have chosen an unfortunate eeason for their Ministerial
ehangcs. These changes, and the strong opposition to the
60-:,eleimppc measures which precctled them, have caused

a delay of three months in the commencement of
public works at a period of the year when many
of the labouring classes have nothing else to look
to. After the conclusion of harvest most of the men
thrown on the market have no other resources until there
is water enough on the gold fields to allow of the "dirt"
being washed up and the precious metal obtained. This
channel is now open, and is abso:bing most of the unem-
ployed men of the country, ant the inconvenience and
difficulty arising from the suspension and delay in the
commencement of the public works cannot continue mach
loner. All, classes seem to be strongly opposed to any
further waste of time, and the first work that will be
expected from patliament on the resumption of business
will be the passing of the estimttes and a definite settle-
ment of the railway questi in, so that the works may ,e
commenced forthwith. F orn the English papers lately
received there appears to be a strong feeling among the
nnemployed in favour of t.mitratbn to Australia: and the
stoppage of our grand scheme far the formation of a urge
department, wi h plenty of money to spend in forwerding
labour to the colony, will cause much disappointment.
This project is not likely to be cerr7ed out as was origi-
nally intended. Before the araneernents were c impleted
our statesmen were startled to find that, from some cause
unforeseen ;by theta, we could not employ the working
men already in the country. This circumstance was
taken advantage of by the so-called popular candidates
in attempting to secure their re-elecion. They
pointed out the impropriety of s ndine money away for
the introduction of more labourers when there were so
many idle men among us for whom we could find nothing
to do. But they either did n,t see, or were not honest
enough to acknowledge, that the dearth of employment
arose solely from a want of foresight on the part of those
entrusted with the expenditure of the public funds, them-
selves among the number. The parliament, and, by their
authority, the executive government, very much influence
the state of the labour market, and the unskilful use of
this power may lead to serious results. It was expected
that the railways and other works would draw so many
men from the regular branches of productive industry as
to cause quite a derangement of the business of the country,
but while measures were being taken to guard against
the anticipated evil, an unexpected one arose. This,
again, is likely to drive us into the other extreme, and to
prevent any means being taken for the introduction of
labour."