The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

SYDNEY.

APRIL 26.—Since the departure of the Lightning
nothing of importance has occurred.
The discontinuance of the mail-steam packets is
loudly complained of. The substitution of the
Liverpool clippers and the excellent passages which
have been made by the James Baines and the Light-
ning, although producing a temporary lull in the
excitement, is not looked upon with much confi-
dence, as they are not expected to prove so regular
as the Peninsularand Oriental Company's steamers.
The patriotic fund is daily increasing. Nearly
41,000. has been actually received by the trea-
surers. This amount is expected very shortly to
be made up to 50,0001.
- The abstract of the revenue of the colony of New
South Wales in the quarters ended March 31, 1854
and 1855, presents an unfavourable aspect. The
formor quarter, in its receipts, showed an increase
on the first quarter of 1853, amounting to 126,3081.;
but the quarter just ended shows a decrease from
the corresponding quarter of 1854 of 62,5021. The
decrease is on every item save tea in the Customs
duties. The gross totals of both revenues are—for
the first quarter of 1854, 271,260/ ; and for that
of 1855, 208,6681.
There is a large falling off in the sales of land,
which the Auditor-General, iu a note, explains that
for the convenience of closing the accounts and re
turns, a regulation was acted upon last year that
no sales should he held in December, and the re-
venue in the first quarter of the present year is
thus largely reduced.
The falling off in the revenue created consider-
able commotion, and a report was started by some
interested parties that Sir Wm. Denison had deter-
mined to increase the import duties forthwith.
The agents of the Magnetic Telegraph Company,
for connecting Melbourne with this city, have ar-
rived here, and are exhibiting the apparatus. There
is every chance of the scheme being carried out.
During the week ending the 16th inst. 1,446 im-
migrants arrived at Port Jackson.
Some difficulties experienced by the Government

in raising the means for taking over the property of
the Sydney and Hunter River Railway Companies
have been overcome, and the whcile arrangement
will he perfected in a very short time.
The Sydney Railway is progressing favourably.
The works are so far advanced as to permit of the
line being opened in a few months.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
MELBOURNE, MAY 1.

The gold market has been very animated, but sellers
had to submit to a reduction of 2s. 6d. per ounce,
pending the export duty. The exports from the diggings
have again shown a great increase—the quantity being
greatest from the oldest fields—Ballarat taking prece-
dence, and Bendigo following very closely. Gold has
ranged from 775. 6,1. to 775. 9d. per ounce.
Exchange banks draw on England at 1 per cent. pre-
iniuin, and negotiate drafts against gold and produce at
1 per cent. discount. Local bills at 7 per cent, for 95
days, and 8 for longer dates,
The wool season is almost closed. The quantity
shipped from Melbourne to April 21, from October 11,
amounted to 13,388.618 lh., or 83,816 bales, being an
increase of 2,288,488 lbs., or 8,159 bales over the entire
of the previous year. The prices current were as follow
—Superior flocks, ls. 3d. to is. sd. ; middling to good,
is. 2d. to is. 3d. ; inferior fleece, is. to ls. ld. ; washed
slipe, is. to ls. 2d. ; and scoured, ls. 2d. to ls. 4id.
In tallow there was little doing. The demand for co-
lonial use, however, having increased, advanced rates
are demanded.

SYDNEY, Ar4IL 26.
The demand for gold has been brisk and prices firm.
Very little gold dust has been offered for sale. Good
prices have been realised. The quotations are a shade
higher. The escorts Western and Southern, brought
this morning to the treasury 2,547 oz. Prices—Bal-
larat gold 3/. 18s. to 3/. 18s. 3d. ; Port Philip, Bendigo,
and other diggings 3/. 17s. 6d. to 3/ 17s. 9d. The re
ports generally are satisfactory from the gold districts.
In the wool market a better feeling has prevailed. The
ratr! of freight, is. 2d., operates against a rise until later
advices from England are received. The tallow market
has been better supplied with beef and mixed tallow,
which caused a deg line of Si. or 61. per ton on previous
prices. Hides and sheep4kins without alteration.
The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the
Royal Bank of New South Wales was held today, when
the report of the directors was unanimously carried. A
dividend at the rate of 16 per cent. per annum was
carried.

LAUNCESTON, APRIL 28.

The provision market is are. Butter, 3‘. per lb. ;
bacon, is. 6d. to is. 101. ; cheese, is. 6d. to 2.. p.-r lb. ;
eggs, 4.. per dozen ; broad, is. 61. per four pound loaf ;
wheat, 134. to 13s. 61. per bushel ; fine flour, 381. to
39/. ; seconds, 351. to 361. ; beef, 4d. to Bd. ; mutton,
sd. to 61.

THE DESTRUCTION OF OIiAMOUSIX
BY FIR ••••

The Echo de Mont Blanc, of the 20th, states
that on the 19th instant a fire at Chamounix burnt
down 25 houses and three hotels. On the same
subject we are favoured with the following com-
munication by Mr. Albert Smith :
E-.4yptiail Hall, Wednesday Evening.
TEe following distressing intelligence has been re-
ceived by Mr. Albeit Smith, from Geneva, this after-

noon
" On Friday morning, at three o'clock, the fire broke
nut in the H.,tel d'Angleterre, and, despite every exer-
tion, 22 houses had been con- unied,
" d'A rigleterre, de Londres, and de la
Couronne are burnt down, besides 19 houses belonging
to the poorer inhabitants.
" The old Hotel d' Union has been saved by saturating
it with water, which renders it for the present uninha-
bitable. The new Hotel Royal de l'Union has become
the refuge of every one, as also the small Hotel du Nord.
No lives have been lost, but the. e have been sad
accidents. An ness describes the scene as ago-
Half bile village, including part of the church,
lam been burnt, and a great amount of property de-
stroyed.
" A subscription has been already set on foot by the
English chaplain, Mr. Ferryman, and by Dr. Malan,
who was at Chainnunix at the time. These gentlemen
were very active in giving relief to the wretched sufferers,
and i❑ aiding to extingui,h the fire. The wind was very
high, and a storm was raging all the time."