The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-15 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 14.
By the arrival of the Royal Mail Company's
steam-ship Atrato last night, with,the West India
and Pacific mails, we receive via Panama, dates
from Melbourne, August 15 ; Sydney, August 18.
At Victoria a great public meeting had been
held for the purpose of organising an association
to agitate for the opening of the Crown lands. A
committee was formed for the purpose of carrying

out the wishes'of the meeting. Preparations were
being made by the French consul for a grand ball
in aid of the wounded French veterans of the Cri.

mea. The various diggings are spoken of as pro-
gressing favourably ; several new " rushes" are
said to have taken place on the flats near Kanga-
roo Point, Fryer's Creek.

The escorts from Beechworth arrived at the gold-
office on the 13th, and brought the following re-
turns—viz., Beechworth, 7,6240 z., 1,5881. cash ;
Buckland River, 518 oz. 10dwt. Total, 8,142 oz.
10dwt. 1,5881. cash.
Intelligence from Sydney states that the Legis-
lative Council were engaged in discussing the esti-
mates, in which the independent members—repre-
sentatives of all the large constituencies—have op-
posed the Government, but without success, owing
to the large official majority placed at the disposal
of Government by the defective constitution of the
colony. The estimate for the formation of the ar-
tillery corps was warmly debated. The sum placed
on the estimate was 12,0181. 195., but the Govern-
ment declared that 2,0001. was all it required.
This sum would have been. readily voted, but

afterwards the Government demanded the entire

amount, which was resisted.

Division after divi-

sion took place, but at last the independent mem-
bers left the house in a body, and the Government
party then carried their own motion.
A large meeting was held in Sydney on the 30th
of July to petition the Governor-General for the
release of the Rev. Dr. Lang, imprisoned for libel
on Mr. Alexander Stuart. _ _

The drainage of the city of Sydney and other
public buildings were progressing. The works of
the Sydney and Paramatta Railroad were also fast

approaching completion.
The agricultural prospects of the colony were
favourable, the weather was generally fine, and a

. mach-increased breadth of land had been sown with
wheat.

In reference to commercial matters we learn

that trade generally continued in a depressed state,
and numbers of the business concerns established

during the last three years had been forced into
the Insolvent Court. There were, however,
evident signs of improvement, not the least of
which are the increase of colonial production and
more careful and economical habits among the pro.
ducti ve classes.

In sales of wools a better price was obtained for
good samples ; the bulk of the wools was of a rather
superior quality ; prices ranged from ls. sd. to
ls. sd. There was a large parcel of sheepskins
sold ; prices firm. Hides realised from 13s. 6d. to
14s. ; some of the lots were slightly damaged.
Ia the tallow-market there was an evident de-
cline, the consumers buying only for present con-
sumption ; both beef and mutton tallow were dull,
and holders not disposed to sell at prices offered.
From Melbourne we have intelligence to the
14th inst. The wool and tallow markets are thus
reported, under date August 11 :

"The favourable accounts of the home markets have
caused a considerable stimulus in this market, and some
large parcels have changed hands for shipment per
vessels now on the berth, and prices may be cansidered
firm at our late quotations, which are as follows, viz.:—
" Superior flocks, 15&d. to 171 per lb. ; fair to good,
14c.1. to 15d. ditto ; inferior to average, 121. to 13d.
ditto ; broken low, &c., 101 to 11d. ditto ; locks, grease,
&c., sd. to 74d. ditto ; handwashed and slipe, 101 to
121 ; scoured, 131 to 15d..; sheepskins, full wool, 2s.
6d. to 2-. 9d. each.

"Tallow and Hides.—Market barely supplied, with
considerable inquiry. Our quotations are :
" Mutton tallow, 58/. to 651. per ton ; mixed ditto,
371. to 401. ditto ; hides, salted, Hs. to 12 61. each ;
ditto fresh sound, 9:4. to 103. 61 ditto.

" Freights to London or Liverpool.—Wool, id. per
lb. ; tallow, 355. per ton ; skins, 40s. ditto."

Another circular says—
" Wool.—There has been little doing durin the
week, aid the arrival of the Arabian, or the D anal l
111`Kay, with the June mail, is Tooke I forward to with
coneiderable interest. AdVices of the progress of the
wool sales would be made up for the departure of the
former vessel, which may be hourly expected. A few lots
of superior scoured lambs, also scoured and washed
slipe wools, are in the market, being well worthy the at-
tention of persons wishing to avail themselves of some-
thing beyond the usual style in these descriptions.
" Tallow.—Very little is brought into the market,
and candle tallow still maintains a high price.
" Mutton, 601. to 651. ; beef and mutton, mixed, 371.
to 401. ; bides, salted, 11s, to 12s. 61 each ;
2s. 3(I. to 3s.

" Freights on wool to Lon-ion or Liverpool, Ad. per
►b. ; on tallow, 355. per ton."
The Argus, of August 13, thus reviews the state
of the import markets :
•' The week just elapsed has been like its predecessors
for the pist two mouths—au extremely dull one in mer-
cantile affairs.

" This is accounted for in several ways. I. In the

winter season business is always inactive. 2. The traders
on the goldfields over speculated in the early part of the
season, and then, large stocks having to a great extent
remained on hand, or having been quitted at unremuner-
ative rates, they are unable to operate to the usual ex-
tent fur the ensuing sensor, and few orders from the in-
terior have consequently been received. 3. In firmer
seasons the banks purchased their gold through the city
broker;, hut this year their purchases are made on the
goldfields by their own lccal agents. Few digger=, there-
fore, come to town. They sell their gold and spend their
money on the spot, and the town trade is consequently
much reduced. This has greatly disarranged the calcu-
lations of the mercantile community in the seaport
towns, and added much to the embarrassments arising
from the late crisis. 4. That crisis and the high prices
of all kinds of provisions have induced habits of great
economy among every class 5. Above all, the stoppage
of Government works and the general tightness of the
money-market have severely affected the working classes ;
and the consumption of imports, and of all kinds of mer-
chandise, has been greatly diminished. Doubtless the
f►ll in the price of flour, the increase of cultivation, and
the excellent prospects of increased production of gold
by quartz-crushing, and of good crops, have a strong
tendency to maintain confidence ; but all these favoura-
We circumstances are greatly counteracted by the de-
pressing influence of very large stocks in most staple
articles, and there seems little prpspect of a decided re-
vival for two or three months to come. As the spring
advances, however, an impetus will be given to the tow❑
trade by the necessity of supplying the requirements of
the interior ; but it is not probable that any great im-
provement will take place until the summer has fairly
set in.

" Breadstuffs.—There have Leen several arrivals of
flour during the week, and prices have declined. The
town mills are now quoting first flour at 441. per ton, but,
in the absence of transactions, it is difficult to give prices
for Gallego, Haxall, and Chilian. The retailers are
buying in small quantities only, and the trade is very
much depressed in consequence of the want of demand.
It is reported, however, that the diggings are giving
signs of a reviving demand ; but, in spite of this, it is
believed that prices cannot be maintained, even at their
present rates. The supplies from abroad are now certain
to pour in, and will probably be in excess of demand.r
_
P
It is known that orders for cargoes have gone forward
to Chili from all the neighbouring Australian or
well as from this), and it is very questionable whether,
after all, their home supplies are deficient. This market
will, therefore, be affected not only by direct
but probably also by constant supplies of small
imports,
mall parcels
P
coastwise. dull, and
• • I
"Beer, Ale, &c.—This trade is Ail very.
a slig hto duction.
holders of bulk ale have submitted to a have advanced.
Porter and stout, in sound condition,
re
Bottled beers are dull of sale. is glutted with "
Boots and Shoes—Thin market is
in some cases, not
un-
suitable goods. For winterotr
and generally not more
more than invoice can g°t,
t baedvance. Some inquiry is now
than 10 to 15 per eend-f:.
American boots and shoes are
made for summer good..
dull, and do not realuisee, moforceotlhoanniarmtoan2usfapeetrurceent.
"Cand,es—Steari is. , have
sold readily at
and from
3d. to is. 6d. per lb.
" Cordage —Prices
ices are nominal. There have been no
large arrivals at Sydney are likely to
-
transactions,
have some effect on this market. Large-sized Manilla
is wanted.
This“Draga..— trade is overstocked with most arti-
cles
4nn_
carbonate of soda is inquired for.
,
A further fall has taken place in all descrip-
tions of grain, especially in horse-feed. Scotch eats
have been sold at from 68. 6d. to 7s. per bushel ; and
the quantities pouring in render purchasers unwilling to
speculate to any extent at that figure.
" Gunpowder. The consumption of blasting gun-
powder and safety fuses is now very large for the quartz
reefs. The former is out of first hands, and is advancing.
Safety fuses are worth is. per coil.
" Groceries and Oilmen's Stores.—Pearl barley and
sago are much wanted, and the latter article has ad-
vanced. Blue has declined. Large supplies of candles
have been received. Price's composition have fallepls.
per lb., and others in proportion. Fairfield sperm b`lv
e
been sold at Is. 10d., but holders are anxious too sell,very
and different prices are taken. Coffee stocks ar
low, and there is little of a saleable description in first
hands. A large lot of Rio has been shipped to Sydney.
Sales of Java have been made at 81d., and it is now held
• at 9d. A sale of chicory at 54
d. is
place in hay.
reported.
-1 " Hay.—A further decline has_
are " taken
‘, Hardwares...A.omi= *nem _ scar_ce as eYtt.
.