The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-16 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(From the Times.)
The Australian advices by the overland mail
were regarded in the city with great interest. They
.ie.telid to the 28th of December from Sydney, and
o the 3d of January from Port Philip, and com-
a%eteaY dissipate the' surmises raised by the vague
WI counts lately received with regard to the proba-
ble exhaustion of the Victoria mines. The state-
rtlents of a sudden falling off in the yield, and a
'consequent panic, appears to have originated at
8
departure
*here every rumour likely to check the
of the population to Victoria is eagerly
theStized and magnified. It appears, however, that
December
diminution of the rate of production during
eeeiaber is explained by the fact of the more
experienced miners having been attracted to the
evenst diggings, near the New South Wales fron-
tier, so that the great majority of those that re-
illained were new-comers. The approach of Christ-
as had likewise caused an abandonment of labour.
Even under these circumstances, the total amounts
brought to Melbourne were very large, and
merely appear otherwise from being contrasted
With those brought during November, which
reached
349,185 ounces, and were in excess of the
total of any former month. From the Ist of De-
cember to the .25th, the quantity, including some
amounts
from the Ovens, was 185,526 ounces,
Worth 750,000/. and it was known that very heavy
parcels were still waiting at the Ovens to be for-
_ arded, a considerable portion of which would be
ea rried to Sydney, the situation of these deposits
causing them to be equally resorted to by the
people
of both colonies. The population of Mel-
bourne during the past three months had received
an addition of 32,306 persons, and the extent of
• exploration which had been carried on in conse-
quence had strengthened the impression as to the
ace through which the gold deposits are spread.
,s 7. far from a heavy decline having occurred in the
res of imported articles, business up to the latest
42e8 was extremely active, notwithstanding the
Qs that had taken place ; and there was a
continuedaai demand for all descriptions of drinks
Thcl luxuries, which were realising large returns.
of -Ne Sydney had sailed from Melbourne on the 9th
December with 77,835 ounces of gold and 123
as.,seligers, and was to call at Adelaide, where she
w Q?" 1-11- be likely to receive an addition. The
t:eat Britain was to leave on the evening of
e3d of January. Subjoined is an exact state-
mentef the quantities of gold brought to Mel-
th.surne during the preceding ten months, and also
Principal part of December :

. Ounces.
February 56,408
March 51,865
April 64,472
May 99,006
June 149,372
July 296,941
August 268,576
September 211,814
October 348,511
November
December (from the let to the 25th)

2,081,676

tin
The above is equal to 8,300,000/. sterling, and
-es not include either the amounts retained in the
t'seession of individuals or the large sums carried
Yr,tbe overland escort to South Australia.
Sydney it appears that all the gold fields
th::evir South Wales are yielding favourably, and
4,7 the production is increasing. The weekly total
4.,711gbt by escort is, however, comparatively small,
tie,laging only about 4,000 ounces. The distance
ether
mines and the abundance of employment in
Ter branches of labour prevent their active de-
'l):L'TPlnent. Out of a population of 200,000 it is
believed that not more than 10,050 are at the dig-
ge. Although the yield at the Hanging Rock con-
,il:llled abundant, most of the people had left that
,I)ot, owing to the temporary demand for shearers
.',4 reapers, the latter of whom obtained from 30s. to
Znri nperaere, with rations. There were, therefore,
t opportunities for any number of immi-
grants. At the Louisa Creek, in the neighbour-
hood of the Great Nugget Vein, nearly all the
Miners were doing well, and many had returned
who
had been tempted away to the Ovens. The
Colonial Gold Company of London, under the su-
-I,:rintendenee of Mr. Spence, had made an arrange-
i.kent with the Great Nugget Company to work
'their claims on a royalty of 20 per cent. on the
gross yield of gold, when the amount per ton of
crushed quartz shall not exceed 2 ounces, 30 per
tent. when over 2 ounces and under four, and 50
ter Cent when over 4 ounces ; Mr. Spence having
en previously allowed every opportunity of test-
lhg company's claims. With regard to the
Teel River deposits, it appears that the Rev. Mr.
Clarke, the geologist, was at Tamworth, one of the
settlements of the Australian Agricultural C0m-
,,44.q , and that he was engaged in a general exa-
Vnlation of the northern districts. Thus far he
had stated, that although he was not yet sufficiently
Itequainted with the sold field of the Peel to report
ally upon it, he was satisfied the quartz veins are nu-
y7erous though of no great magnitude. " They are
—biat, all auriferous," he says, " but those which are
It') appear toalternate with such as are." Therock
Intl
between Cann's Plains and the Peel, " and it is on
uth side that the gold is sprinkled most abun-
C,I,Y. It seems as if it were electrotyped in little
The
upon the surface." Mr. Clarke adds,
4-ne more I see of the great backbone of this con-
vent the more I am impressed with the high pro-
bdity of the extension of the goldfields far be-
-4,11d the present limits of search." Among the
~,_tonists generally a favourable impression with re-
ta.r,d to the value of the various quartz claims seems
i'_n_iave increased. In the Colonial Assembly at
LaTleY a bill for the management of the goldfields
0,441u5t been passed. It is to come into operation
Ist of February, and, according to its clauses,
ti 7 Government may grant leases by tender or am-
/burn. for quartz or other mining to British subjects
any periods not exceeding 21 years ; they may
t Suspend any pastoral leases that may be found
tatiextend over goldfields upon giving compen-
-4.t 30n to the owners. The license fee is fixed
z.„_, 8. per month, and is to be paid by traders
or other parties as well as miners. In the case
foreigners the charge is to be double. No license
."'oeto be given to those who shall not be able to
tjtify that they have been duly discharged from
without
last place of service, and persons working
default
one are to be fined Si., and to be liable in
j'„%lault to two months' imprisonment with hard
Zli°ollr on the roads. The bill contains seve-zal
her provisions equally stringent, and it is said
.i.,
be regarded by the most intelligent classes with
tiltr°'lg feeling of aversion, the narrow
.policy of
ga 6 Clause against foreigners being especially con-
y,!„Plaled. The prospects of the construction of the
,71way from Sydney to Paramatta had greatly im-
k2ved, the Government having consented to allow
Z"u railroad labourers to be brought out at the
riel),_enee of the emigration fund, and also to sub-
-1,;`',..,°,e 150,000/. to the undertaking, if private ca-
kZuste would. subscribe 100,0001. upon a minimum,
iVantee of 5 per cent. The estimated cost of the
"is 220,0001. This bill incorporating the Great
tilrlagget Vein Company had been read a third
hal and passed. The Bank of New South Wales
badvertised a meeting for the 20th of January,
y Consider the propriety of increasing their capital
atranch
issue of new shares, and also of establishing
atnch in London. The Sarah Sands had arrived
Sydney on the 24th of December, after a pas-
alFige of 93 days from Cork, and the Cleopatra had
142 reached Melbourne. The Ticonderago, from
de'aYterpool to Melbourne, is alleged to have 170
lateillB on board. Among the vessels which had
y sailed from Sydney for London, where the
INroexFriar, with 35,243 ounces of gold, and the
Orleans, with 25,562 ounces.
%tat_ el?:1 Adelaide, South Australia, the accounts
4bl at a large number of persons were profit-
oF .1,
e engaged at the Echunga diggings. The price
Ic4ll shares of the Burra Burra mine was about
be Hold, it is also stated, has at length positively
4boellu, discovered in New Zealand. The locality is
C
so„,birty miles from Auckland, in the Gulf of
401, where ten men obtained in one day about
vitt,
_elbe Golreemneat has issued proclamations
gard to it.
• The oh
news usan, by which the present Australian
was brought to 'Singapore, belongs to the
sh.r„"2l.llar and Oriental Company, and is a sister
and
,the Formosa. She has been employed in
arid v' two experimental trips between Singapore
kouceue Australian ports, preparatory to the corn-
Altholl4ent of the regular mail service in April.
hews lei it is nearly two months since the previous
furhia,"Y_ this route was received, the details then
had lied ehraenudp. to this 'morning the latest that
°3llle tow

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