The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-31 00:00:00

In 1852 a large number of persons—say about
70,000—were packed in rooms, outbuildings, and
tents. Now all are limped. The wool-created
town of 1852 contained about 27,000 ; in 1853-4
the number was computed at 75,000, all housed—
partly in Melbourne, partly in the large and popu-
lous villages around. Building is still going on
rather extensively. 'lt ought not to cause surprise
if some of the building speculators fail. Land has
also fallen in value very considerably.
My own impression is that we shall have nothing
at all serious in the way of commercial revulsion.
The process of restoration will be rapid. In all
countries low prices check supply and accelerate
consumption ; but here we have another element
—waste. It would be difficult to give your readers
any adequate idea of the wasteful habits of the in-
dustrious classes and of servants ; nor are the su-
perior classes exempt. Some is inevitable. Thus,
in England, when your boots get out of repair, you
can have them renovated for, a few shillings. Here
the bootmakers will not mend, so that the practice
is to wear the boots as long as you can, and then
throw them away. Even if you could get them
mended, the cost would be more than that of a
new pair ; and this is more or less the case with
every article of household or personal ,utility. A
sol-
dering hole in the old one. This.doublos the Itss than tin tea-kettle of English make,togs
con-
sumption of tin tea-kettles, and the statement
might be indefinitely extended.
There is another very conspicuous feature in the
trade here, which will tend to knock down rents
and knock up the small tenant shopkeepers, The
great difference between the wholesale and retail
price of consumable articles induces people to estab-
lish a store-room, whereas formerly they lived from
give an illustration.
polrtmerusctanagabien had at about 13s.
24fosu.
,r
ox at
ILi aenndd
et
no
bmoot ut
ltehd.
ensend to your
least; 20s. The
consequence is, that families are beginning to
pgrerecodroaznend in
ne
cchasaersgeosf
purchase tea, sugar, coffee, rice, wine, beer, Vic.,
wholesale. Thus they decline to help the shop-
keeper to pay a high rent, mil the consequence is
a considerable loss of custom. The decline of rents
I take to be part of the process of restoration.
The price of gold has continued for some time at
3/. 18s. per ounce. The banks draw on London at
5 per cent premium. At these rates gold cannot
be deemed an article of speculation, but is, as specie
is at home, an instrument foreffecting foreign ex-
changes. The above prices show conclusively a
fully supplied import market. An increase of
exports, or a falling off cf imports, would depress
the exchanges, but I have no reason to believe that
any increase of gold is at all likely. The diggers
are now an experienced body, who pursue it sys-
tematically, and their production does not greatly
vary.
Your readers are aware of the loose way in which
the Melbourne Post-office • has been carried on.
Well, a short time since the Argus people found
out that the Herald people were favoured in being
allowed to receive their papers on Sunday when an
English mail arrived. On inquiry, it was found
that the Herald paid a gratuity for the privilege,
or, as the phrase is here " squared " one of the
Post-office clerks. Of this the Argus complained,
when the Governor issued au order to the Post-
master directing him to deliver to the editors of
papers their English papers on the arrival of an
English mail on Sunday, adding, " besides the
resident clerk, two or three must take it by turns
to help." Now read the following copy of the im-
pertinent order issued by the postmaster on the
subject :
"By his Excellency's command the clerks, letter-
carriers, and messengers of the General Post-office are
to hold themselves in readiness to attend at the office
any Sunday they may be called upon to perform the
special duty of sorting newspapers of the English mails
for public convenience by furnishing the editors of the
Melbourne journals with their files of newspapers by
the mails arriving on the Lord's day."
His Excellency wrote a minute, penned in a very
calra and sensible tone, pointing out the discre-
pancy between his own directicsu
"
two
or thr"a
10 sste.sa in turns," &mi the postmaster's
order to all the clerks, letter-carriers, and messen-
gers (the bewspapers send to the post for ,their
letters, &e.) Mae Governor then directs the Post-
master to recall his first order, and draw up an-
other embracing his Excellency's directions.
The overland mail came in on Thursday, the 9th,
bringing dates to the 9th of September. We are a
little disappointed that nothing decisive has taken
place in the Baltic or the Black Sea.