The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-06 00:00:00

THE NAVIGATION OF THE MURRAY
RIVER.

The navigation of the Murray river seems, according
to the last accounts from South Australia, to have been
carried on with most satisfactory results. Although
the water had been lower than for many years, Captain
Cadell had again steamed in the Lady Augusta 2,000
miles from its mouth, and within 20 mites of the town
of Albury in New South Wales, which he would have
visited but for the river being impeded with snag..
The steamers at present employed by the Murray
River Navigation Company are the Lady Augusta
and the Sir Henry, and these, with four barges' have
been actively engaged during the present season in
carrying supplies to the farm stations along the hank:,,
and in bringing down large quantities of return arti-
cles, kuch as wool, sheepskins, tallow, &c. Iu this
way, the three colonies of South Australia, Victoria,
and New South Wales, are now furnished with an out-
let for the •produco of inexhaustible lands, which are
likely in a short time t• become rapidly peopled. Al-
together seven trips had been performed by the two
steamers with their barges, and in the last the quantity
of wool brought down was 792 bales. Meanwhile, the
Government committee, appointed to examine the en-
trance to the river from the sea, which until recently
was always considered impracticable, had arrived at the
conclusion that by au outlay of 1,500/. for buoys, &c.,
the passage may be made perfectly safe for ♦essels of a
certain draught. This outlay had consequently been
agreed to. It was likewise expected that two now
Scotch steamers, the Albury and Gundagai, lately con-
structed on the Clyde, together with four iron barges
from England, would soon arrive, and thus furnish the
Navigation Company with ample tonnage for all the
existing traffic. From the explorations he has already
made, Captain Cadell, it is said, has arrived at the con-
clusion that, instead of Australia being a riverless con-
tinent, as hitherto represented, her internal navigation
is such as few other large tracts of territory can excel.

RAIL JV A Y INTELLIGENCE.

ARDENNES.

A. concession has been granted by the French Govern-
ment for this railway, which comprises a line from
Rheims on the Strasburg Railway to Mezieres and
Charleville, with a branch to Sedan ; length 65 miles. 2.
An extension of this line from Charleville to the Belgian
frontier (length about 35 miles), to be constructed by the
State and handed over to the company under the law of
1842, by which the company have only to provide rails
and rolling stock, thus acquiring the line for two-fifths
of its actual cost. 3. A line from Creil on the Northern
Railway to Beauvais ; length 22 miles. 4. A preferen-
tial right of constructing a line from Rheims, by Soissons
to Compeigne on the Northern Railway. The total au-
thorised capital (exclusive of the prospective lines, and
of the line to be constructed by Government), accord-
ing to the estimates of the Government engineers.
is 29,600,000 f., or 1,184,0001., snaking the ave-
rage cost about 13,5001. per mile for a single line,
with land and works of art for a double line. This
comprises interest at 4 per cent. on the amount paid
upon the shares during the period of construction. The
main line from Rhei as to Mezieres and the Belgian
frontier, forming part of the system of principal railways
projected by the State in 1842, establishes a new North-
Eastern trunk line intermediate between the Northern
and the Eastern (Strasburg) Railway. It traverses the
departments of the Marne and Ardennes, and passes
through several considerable towns, such as Rheims,
Rethel, Mezieres, Sedan, and Charleville. The exten-
sion to the Belgian frontier renders it, as described in the
report of the Minister of Public Works, "a new line of
independent communication between France and Bel-
gium," connecting the French railway system with the
coal aid iron district of the Meuse, and at Namur join-
ing the leading lines of railway to Brussels, Liege, Aix-
la-Chs,pelle, and Germany. The branch from Creil
through the valley of Therain to Beauvais, the chief
11 town of the department of the Oise, will, it is asserted,
conatnand a large local traffic, being the only railway in
the district between the Northern and Rouen Railway,
and that it can be easily extended to Rouen.

RAILWAY BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS.
NORTH YORKSIIIIII AND CIATELAND.—The select
committee of the House of Commons have decided that
the stsnding orders may be dispensed with in the case of
thin company's bill, and that the parties may be per-
mitted to proceed with it.
WEST SOMERSET MINERAL.—The committee have
given a similar decision in the case of this company's
bill.

LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX JUNCTION.—The
committee in this case have decided that the parties be
permitted to proceed, provided notice be given to every
shareholder before the ith of February.
Yesterday the examiners of the House of Commons
declared the standing orders complied with in the fol-
lowing cases :
LONDON AND BLACKWILL.—For widening the lino
from Fenchurch-street to Rhodeswsll, near the Bow
Junction of the rastern Comities, at an estimated cost
of 160,0001.

SOUTH WALI3 MINErtAL.--For power to lease the
line.

GREAT NORTLIERN.—To authorize the company to
erect and endow a church and schools at Doncaster, at
a colt 0 6,0001.