The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-24 00:00:00

EVENING, SEPTEMBER 24,

THE GOLD REGIONS.

The statement furnished on Wed ncedny with regard
to the production of gold at Momet Alexander mines,
in the colony of Victoria, is sufficient to account for
the non-arrival of vessels from that quarter, although,
as some which were known to have sailed before the
date of the last advices have not yet been reported, it
is probable that adverse winds have also caused delay.
When it appears that the amounts brought in to be
sent by escort to Melbourne for the weeks ending re-
spectively the 11th, 18th, and 25th of June were
80,000, 91,000, and 105,000 ounces, making an
average of 92,000 ounces per week, or about 370,0001.
sterling, it may be supposed that the attraction must be
such as almost to preclude the possibility of crews being
retained byany precautiointsh, however stringent. A strik-
ing fact in connexion w
that the yield appears to have the present information is,
increased
with enormous
rapidity week by week, so that
conjecture, unless some sudden and unlooked-for
check should be experienced, what will be the limit
of the supply when the number ofof aho
s adventurersrt
time
not shall
be swollen, as it will be in the course
by the emigrants daily arrivingcolonies only from Eu-
rope, but also from the adjoiningand even
from Canada and the United States, indeed, the
totals now given appear so astounding, h
they do, from the Mount Alexander m isneoswingalob:, as,
extract
rate of production little short of 20,000;00
annum, that they suggest the possibility of so Inri'''
some
take in the figures, and as they rest upon an r;
from a single letter, they may, perhaps, be accepted
with some reserve. All the collateral information at at
hand, however, tends to confirm the probability of
their correctness. The communications from Sydney
mention the increase of excitement which had been
caused there by the last arrivals from Victoria, and
the fresh impulse which had been given to the gene-
ral population of New South Wales to desert their
own mines, in order to share the more extraordinary
wealth of their neighbours. It will also be seen, by
a reference to the accounts received in London from
Victoria on the 31st of August last, that the gold in-
trusted to the escort for the week ending the 28th of
May was larger than had ever before been known,
the total being nearly 38,000 ounces, and the suppo-
sition is consequently strengthened that with the
advance of the rainy season and the augmentation
in the supply of water the gatherings would in-
crease in an unprecedented ratio. At the same time,
the fact of our having had information of the
sums brought in up to the -28th of May leaves only
the week ending Jane 4 to be accounted for, and
we are consequently precluded from an explanation
that might otherwise be offered of the largeness of
the present totals, by assuming that they consisted of
the accumulations of several previous weeks, kept
back by the badness of the roads or other causes.
Under these circumstances the next advices will be
looked for with the greatest interest, and if they
should establish the circumstances now mentioned,
they will produce amongst merchants and ship.
owners a stronger impression than anything that
has yet been communicated. It must be borne in
mind that hitherto the amounts brought by escort
have by no means represented the whole earnings
of the miners, the estimate being that at least a
third of their gains are retained or sent to town by
private hands. In contemplating the riches of the
country, we must also recollect that although the
New South Wales mines are likely to be neglected,
owing to the want of population caused by the drain
to Mount Alexander, the last intelligence regarding
them was very favourable, and that they appear to
offer an unlimited field whenever the increase of com-
petition resulting from immigration shall lead the
colonists to consider moderate earnings to be worth
looking after. It is difficult, however, to form an
opinion as to when that period may arrive. Hitherto
it has been supposed that the labours at Mount Alex-
ander could be carried on with great success only
during the winter season, but if its deposits should
with any degree of Fermanency offer the rewards now
presented, there can be little doubt that before the
next dry season methods of irrigation will be devised,
whatever may be the outlay required for them, and
that hence the receipts from that singular locality will
be more or less continuous.
With reference to the statement received by the
overland mail of the production of gold at the Mount
Alexander mines, in the colony of Victoria, the fol-
lowing is an etract of another private letter, addressed
to a mercantile firm in London, which tends to cor-
roborate the probability of its
ne accuracy.
date The news
was obviously current at Sydney at the of these
communications, and there would consequently now be
no reason to hesitate in regarding it as certain but
for the possibility that it may have been fabricated by
some of the passengers of the Shamrock, by which
vessel it was brought to that port :
EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER DATED SYDNEY, JUNE 29,1852.
" The Shamrock is just in. It is reported 95,000 oz.
of gold arrived in Melbourne the week the Shamrock
sailed, 85,000 the previous week; and no less then 105,000
were expected the week following?'
The subjoined additional paragraph from the letter
originally quoted likewise indicates that even at Syd-
ney the difficulty of getting crews had greatly in-
creased, while it also mentions that a considerable
quantity of the Mount Alexander gold had just been
received :-
- The departure,' for London this month oro—tbn
Ganger,, on the 13th; the Maitland, on the 26th; and the
San Francisco, on the 27th. There are several vessels
ready for sea, but the difficulty of obtaining seamen
prevents their getting away. Even 101. per month will
not tempt them to go to London, and the Gleabervie
and Neptune have scarcely a hand on board. The
Shamrock, from Melbourne, had brought 10,000 ounces
of gold on freight, and about an equal amount in private
hands. These large quantities do not affect the price,
as at Sydney Vs. is freely given, and at Melbourne
63a. 9d."—Times.

HOP IN I ELLIGENCE.
MAIDSTONE.—Our hop reports are now drawing to
a close, as the Borough will now supply the best guide
to those who are interested in the subject. We shall
no doubt pay a large duty, but as we have often said,
many of the hops will be inferior, the mould prevailing
in some districts more than the planters like to con-
fess. The growth of choice hops will not be large,
and those who have picked mouldy ones will find
trouble in selling them. The weather retards the
picking, and has affected the hop as well as the other
plants. We are happy to add that at present we hear
of but little illness amongst the pickers.
EAST FARLEIGH.—The hops in this district are a
very heavy crop and require to be got down as soon
rs possible. Fortunately there are plenty of pickers
—upwards of 3,000 being employed. Should the
weather prove fine, one of our largest growers is ex-
pected to finish this week. The general hopping will
last about a fortnight longer.
RTE.—The hop picking has commenced in this lo-
cality, and in a few days will become general. Should
the weather prove favourable, there will be an abundant
growth.
TICEIIIIRST.—The hop picking is now in full ope-
ration, and we find them come down quite to our ex-
pectation as regards quantity. On inquiry we find
that about seventy bushels are required for the cwt.
CANTERBURY.—Picking has been carried on with
great activity in the past week—enough hands not
being obtainable for the growers who were anxious to
avail themselves of the fine weather, and get in their
growth in as good condition as possible, it being
evident that many of the grounds were fast going off.
Wednesday was a very unfavourable day—wet and
cold. The produce, as yet, has fully come up to ex-
pectations; and the duty is still laid at 250,0001.
SIISSEX.—The reports are generally favourable.
Picking is going on rapidly, but in some parts has
been much impeded by the heavy rains. The yield
will equal the average, and though doubts and fears
reach us from some quarters, the majority of ac-
counts are hopeful, and a heavy duty is still antici-
pated.
SEVENOAKS.—Picking has commenced generally
in this neighbourhood. The most sanguine ex-
pectations of planters will be fully realised, both
in the quantity and quality of the crop. There has
not been for years a finer or more productive hop
season.
ASHFORD.—We shall have a heavy crop; the crops 11
look extremely well—no mould to speak of.
WATERINGBUBY.—The picking has become ge-
neral, and we have an excellent crop, and shall pay a
heavy duty—some say 245,0001. There is a little
mould.
YALDING.—We are taking full advantage of the
fine weather, and are proceeding very fast with the
picking. We have not much to complain of in the
shape of mould.
FARNHAM—The picking has become general here,
and hops are coming down as well as we expected.
Some planters are getting 15 cwt. to 1 ton an acre.
EAST SIITTON.—Our hops are going on exceedingly
well (never better) ; picking is pretty general, and
the quality is good ; duty 235,0001.
MALLING.—We are proceeding very fast with our
picking, but the mould has spread ; there will, how-
ever, be a heavy crop ; duty 230,0001.
BARMING.—Onr
picking has commenced, and our
hops are remarkably good; there will be a high duty,
say 240,0001.

_ __ _7----------
FOREIGN
baskets of f •
FRUITS.-The large number of 4,335
,brought been
grhutits of the various kinds now in season, have
i)Y a steamer from Havre, the growth of
k ranee. Another steamer from Antwerp bas brought up-
wards of 3,000 baskets of fruits of all kinhads ; and
ht the
the
steamer Ravensbourne, from the same place, s broug
large quantity of 4,129 baskets a fruits, the produce of Bel-
gium- These importaticrns from France and Belgium include
filberts and also walnuts, in considerable quantities.
SUSPECTED SUICIDE IN TOE TIIAMES.—OR Mon-
forwarded to Mr. Carttar, coroner for
day information was
West Kent, of the diso)very of the body of a man in the 1
about 30
River Thames, off Greenwich. The deceased is .
years of age, 5 feet 7% inches high, and rather stout. He
was attired in a pair of aid cord trousers, sleeve vest, white
shirt, and lace-up boots, and has the appearance of a brick-
layer's labourer. The body now lies at the dead }louse,
Greenwich, to await the 'C'"°lll363 iliquiry.

1852,

NORVVICII MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23.—The selection which the
committee had made for last evening's enicrtainment,
from the works of classical and popular composers,
was so well appreciated, that the body cf the hall
and the patrons' gallery were well filled, and the side
galleries did not present so cold and cheerless an
aspect as had been feared.

Beethoven's Sinfonia Pastorale, with which the
concert opened, was received with rapturous delight,
the conclusion of every movement being seized by
the audience as an opportunity for applauding the
magnificent band, whose execution was charaterised
by remarkable precision. From the interest evinced
it was clearly evident that there were very few per-
sons in the ball who were unable to recognise the
numerous beauties of the composition.

Spohr's duet from Faust, "Fo dem Fre-
unde," was sung by Madame Viardot Garcia;
on& Cimarosa's bountiful scena from Ii Sacri-
licio &Abram° by Madame
Fioreniini, who ap-
peared here for the first time, amid a burst of
applause. Signor Gardoni sung the aria from
Mozart's 11 Flauto " Oh ! cara immagine ;"
and Mr. Sims Reeves the air " Soft airs around me
play," from Weber's Euryanthe. A concertaute (by
.Maurer) for four violins, with orchestral accompe.ni-
inents, by Messrs. Swinton, Blagrove, Day, and
Cooper, was loudly applauded. Tne vocaliztion of
Rossini's aria, " Nacqui affanno eal pianto," by
Madame Viardot Garcia, was a triumph. Mozarts's
" Possenti Numi," by Herr. Formes, concluded the
first part of the evening's entertainment.
Waswassecond
March." brought to a close with Illeyerbeer's " Coronation

This morning
hall to hear .
great majority of those
Pierson's new oratorio,. Jerusalem,
performed. So . a large audience assembled in the
full a hall, for a morning's perform..
ante, has not been '
witnessedpresent
wfoerresoemicge
ladies.
The Oratorio is divided into four portions—an in-
troduction or prologue elegantly dressed
reTsseide
three parts according to
the usual division of im'cialnd
compositions. The words
were selected from the
Scriptures by the late Mr. W.
Sdncroft Holmes. In Parti
the
pre-
dicted ; in Part 2, it is lamented, and the restoration
destruction is
promised. In Part 3, prophecies are g.
given concerning
the restoration of the Jews, and texts
to the New Jerusalem, the last judgment,follow referring
and the
salvation of the righteous, the whole concluding
a Doxology. The work includes forty. seveuding with
_ II separate
pieces of music, the larger proportion of Which
are
chorusses. Throughout the work there is no evolu-
tion of any dramatic story, no portraitures of
cha-
racter, but there are frequent expressions of profoun
national grief and of triumphant joy.
The oratorio had the advantage of performance by
vocalists of a higher class than commonly appear at
concerts, and a chorus renowned for its exact execu-
tion of difficult music ; and, although a first represen-
tation is no sure test of success, it must be said to
have been well received. At its close there was ge-
neral and prolonged cheering—very unusual after the
performance of an oratorio,