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

[PRICE SD.

the amount to her Majesty's Land and Emigration Com-
missioners, I requested that emigrant ships at the rate
of five each month should be sent to the colony until
that sum and the previous remittance of 100,000/., now
in course of disbursement, should be expended. I have
also, in compliance with the request contained in your
address 'of the 2d of October last, transmitted to the
Right Hon. the Secretary of State a copy of the second
progresslreport of the select committee on immigration,
In order that the necessary directions may be given for
adopting the self-supporting principle therein recom-
mended, if it should be found practicable to carry it
into effect. I trust that these combined measures, with
the spontaneous immigration which is now taking place,
may have the effect of speedily relieving the employerg
of labour required in the ordinary inclUstrial pur-
suits of the colony, from the pressure to which
they have lately been subjected. In the meantime,
from the accounts which have reached me from
different parts of the colony, I have learnt with satis-
facti.n that, notwithstanding the scarcity and dearness
of labour, the harvest and tlie wool clip are proceeding
without serious interruption. I will take an early op-
portunity of transmitting to the most noble the Governor-
General of India, for his lordship's favourable considera-
tion, a copy of your address, requesting that the law
which prohibits the emigration to this colony of all Indian '
labourers who do not come under the designation of '

menial servants, may be abrogated. I have received with
much satisfaction your address expressive of your con-
currence in the measure proposed by the Government for
rendering further pecuniary assistance to the Sydney
Railway Company. I trust that this may now prove the
certain means of completing and opening for public
traffic a sufficient portion of railway to make obvious the
manifold advantages to be obtained from this mode of
internal communication, and thus eventually to lead to
its progressive' adoption throughout the wide extent of
this colony. I communicated without delay to the
Secretary of State a copy of your address, recommending
that the sum of -G,ootdrt)er -annum, for three years, be
paid to the first steam company which shall establish a
monthly line of steamers, whereby the course of post
between London and Sydney may be brought within 120
days. The necessary provision has been made for this
service for the ensuing year. I have had much pleasure
in giving my assent to the act which allows the trans-
mission of books by post at a reduced charge. I trust
that it may be the means of fostering a taste for litera-
ture, and of disseminating useful information throughout
the colony. I have received your address, expressive
of your opinion that it would tend to the con-
venience of the members, if the council were con-
vened as early as possible in the month of May in
each year, for the dispatch of public business. You
may rely on my desire to meet your wishes on the sub-
ject, as far as circumstances will permit. Your other
addresses, to which no specific allusion has been made,
will receive due attention. I am happy to state that
the anticipations entertained of the productiveness of
the customs revenue under the Tariff Act passed during
the present session have been fully realised ; and I doubt
not that, in other respects, from its liberal and indiscri-
minating character, it will be found to work beneficially
for the public interests. Offering equal facilities to the
introduction of the produce and manufactures of all na-
tions, it will, I confidently anticipate, have the effect of
largely and most advantageously extending the com-
mercial intercourse of the country. I have much plea-
sure in observing that the good order and willing obe-
dience to the laws and regulations of the Government
which have so creditably characterised the population
at the gold fields since their first occupation, are still
maintained. If the produce has been less than was an-
ticipated, that may be readily shown to have arisen
from temporary causes, and not from any failure in their
productiveness or extent. The unusual fall of rain has
prevented the bed claims of the river from being worked
during the greater part of the season ; and many per-
sons, attracted by the richness of the gold fields of Vic-
toria, have temporarily proceeded thither. The tide of
immigration is now, however, steadily setting back to
this colony, and as the population engaged in gold dig-
ging increases, there can be no doubt that the produce
will show a corresponding augmentation. I thank you
for the liberality with which you have provided for the
public service. You may rely on my desire to use the
supplies which you have placed at the disposal of the
Government with every regard to economy. I now de-
clare this council to stand prorogued to Tuesday, the
Bth day of February next.
" 28th of December, 1852."

" C. A. FITzRor.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
MELBOURNE.

JAN. I.—Notwithstanding the immense number of
vessels arriving from all quarters of the globe, our sup-
plies are by no means adequate to the increasing con-
sumption caused by the daily influx of population. The
business of the week has been brisk, especially in every
description 'of provisions.
GENERAL MARKET.—Twenty-nine carts entered our
market this morning. We quote the prices as follows:
Cabbages, 245. per doz. ; cauliflowers, 245. dit_±_ito • tur-
nips, 6s. ditto; carrots; 6s. ditto; parsnips,-61.- ,aspa-
ragus, ls. per bundle ; spinage, ls. ditto ; sea kale, ls.
ditto ; new potatoes, 6d. per lb. ; old* ditto, 20s. per
cwt. ; lettuces, Gs. per doz. ; gooseberries, 2s. per quart;
cherries, 4s. 6d. per lb. ; green peas, ls. per quart ;
butter, 3s. per lb. ; eggs,geese, Gs. per doz. ; 2os. each;
turkeys, 20s. each; ducks, 16s. per pair ; and fowls, 16s.
ditto.

LABOUR MARKET.- The labour market continues well
supplied, and there is also a brisk demand for all classes
of servants. Wages range as follows :- -Married couples.
without family, per annum, with rations, 601. to 701. ;
ditto, with family, 45/. to 50/. ; shepherds with rations,
per annum, 35/. to 40/. ; hutkeepers, per annum, with
rations, 30/. ; general farm servants, with rations, 401.
to 50/. ; shearers, 30s. per 100 sheep; mowers; 6s. to 9s.
per acre with rations ; reapers, 20s. per acre • haymakers,
20s. to 30s. per week with rations ; bullock drivers,
with rations, per annum, 50/. to 601. ; ditto for the
roads, 60s. per week, with rations ; labourers for the
roads, 10s. per day, without rations ; carpenters,
daily, 12s. to 15s. per day, with rations ; ditto, 18s. to
20s. per day, no rations ; bush carpenters, with rations,
50/. to 60/. ; stockkeepers, with rations, per annum,
401. to 50/ ; cooks, male, 30s. to 40s. per week ; grooms,
with rations, per annum, 401. to 501.: gardeners, with
rations, per annum, 501. to 60/. ; blacksmiths, 3/. 10s.
to 41. per week ; ditto, country, with rations, per
annum, 751. to 80/. ; compositors, ls. 6d. per thousand;
ditto, 41. 18s. per week • pressmen, 4/. 18s. per week.
Female Servants.-Thorough servants, per annum,
20/. to 35/. ; housemaids, 25/. to 35/. ; laundresses, 30/.
to 35/.; nursemaids, 20/. to 251.; cooks, 30/. to 50/.
Seamen.-To London, by the run, 45/. ; American
coast, 40/., or 8/. per month; East or West Indies, 40/.;
China, 40/.; Colonial ports, 61.; Colonial ports, monthly,
51. to 10/.

( From the Melbourne Gold Circular of Jan 3.)
Gold has maintained an upward tendency this week
owing to the demand for shipment by the Great Britain
and the Ballarat, which was materially increased by the
agents of the Great Britain reducing the freight to 41d.
per ounce (the same as ships), and their erasing from the
bills of lading the clauses that were considered ob-
jectionable. Although not cleared out at the Customs
there is already on Board of the Great Britain and the
Ballarat over 150,0000 z. The price of gold left off at
70s. 3d., being an advance of last week of 3d. per oz.
The news from Fryer's Creek is encouraging, several
parties having succeeded in realising large quantities
from spots that have been overlooked in the general rush
to reported new fields. The Ovens is also increasing in
productiveness, as the amount that has arrived this
evening by escort shows. At Bendigo reports of dull-
ness are rife, and at Ballarat the running about of the
diggers from place to place is the cause of a falling off in
quantity.

Number of persons who have arrived in
the colony this week 4,278
Number of persons who have left Bl5

Addition to our population this week... 3,463
MELBOURNE SHIPPING.

Arrived.—Jan. 2—The Countess of Elgin, ship 893
tons, Patterson, commander, from London, Sept. 14-
200 passengers ; Wellington, barque, from London.
Cleared Out.---Jan. I—The Cleopatra, steamer, 893
tons, Cumming, commander, for Sydney, with part of
original cargo from London, and 184 passengers.
Projected Departures.—For London—The Ballarat
and Statesman, about 3d inst.; Admiral, 20th inst.;
Hero, early ; Northumberland, about 12th inst.; Black-
wall, Rienzi, Atrevida, Bombay, in February. For Li-
verpool—The Great Britain, this day ; Sarah Sands,
steamer, Feb. 1. For Singapore—The Chusan, steamer,
this day. For Calcutta—The Magnolia and Rip Van
Winkle, early. For Bombay—The Arundel, about
14th instant.