The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-12 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN.

PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Royal Australian
Mail Steam-ship Company's steam-packet Austra-
lian, Captain. Hoseason, R.N., arrived in the Sound
at 10 o'clock this morning.
Her dates are,—Arrived at Sydney, September
8, at 9 p.m. ; sailed September 20, at 3 p.m. ; ar-
rived at Port Phillip September 24, at 10 a.m. ;
sailed on the 28th, at 1 p.m. ; arrived at Adelaide,
October 1, at 7 p.m. ; sailed October 5, at 6 a.m. ;
arrived at King George's Sound October 12, at
9 a.m. ; sailed October 19, at 6 p.m. ; arrived at
Mauritius November 11, at 7 a.m. ; sailed Novem-
ber 13, at 2 p.m. ; arrived at Table Bay November
27, at 6 a.m. ; sailed November 30, at 3 p.m. ; ar-
rived at St. Vincent's December 23, at 9.30 a.m. ;
sailed December 17, at 2.30 a.m.
The Australian has on board, as a present to her
Majesty the Queen, the valuable nugget of gold
from the Bendigo diggings, weighing over 281 b.
It was purchased at auction by the Government
authorities at Melbourne with money raised by the
sale of licences, &c., at V. 6s. per oz., and is in
charge of Captain Bernard, the mail agent.
The gold freight of the Australian weighs 81s- tons,
or 222,293 oz. 8 dwt. 14 grains ; it is packed in
various quantities in leather bags, which are sealed,
and then screwed into cedar boxes, also sealed.
In addition to the gold dust on the ship's mani-
fest, the passengers have considerable quantities.
The Australian shipped gold dust, wool, and tal-
low at Sydney ; from Melbourne she brings only
gold dust ; at Adelaide she took in gold dust and
copper ore ; and at the Mauritius 100 tons of sugar.
At the gold mines, 28 miles from Adelaide, about
400 people were at work, gathering, it is said, from
%oz. to 3 oz. per day each. The deposit is of a
similar quality, and realises. the same price as at
Melbourne.

Rents at Adelaide have not risen, the run being
still for the established gold fields, especially Ben-
digo ; but trade and commerce are greatly improv-
ing. Flour is 381. to 401. per ton : beef, 4d. per
lb.. ; pork, 6d. ;mutton, 4d._

There were 12 or 14 English and colonial brigs
and barques in the port of Adelaide.
Seamen 'employed in ships solely in the interco-
lonial trade get 5/. per week, and at those rates are
very independent.
Among the passengers by the Australian, is Mr.
Tong, a master mariner, who is come home to pur-
chase two large steam vessels to trade between Ho-
bart Town and Melbourne, none being yet on that
line.
A vessel with coal, belonging to the Royal Aus-
tralian Mail Packet Company, was the only one at
King George's Sound.
The intelligence from the Mauritius is unimpor-
tant.

The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's
mail packet Indiana, arrived there on the 12th of
November, and sailed for Calcutta on the 13th.
The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's
mail packet Calcutta left the Cape on the 27th
of November, for the Mauritius and the East
Indies.

The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's
ship Sir Robert Peel, Captain Boxer' and the steam-
ship Fettercain, Captain Maitland, were in Table
Bay on the 27th of November, bound to Algoa
Bay. _ _

Her Majesty's frigate Herald, 26, Captain Den-
ham, from Rio Janeiro on the 21st of October, ar-
rived in Simon's Bay on the 26th of November ;
she is bound for Sydney.
Her Majesty's steam vessel Styx, Commander
Hall, left Table Bay on the 26th of November for
Saldanha Bay. She is ordered to Rangoon, and
will be replaced by the steam vessel Dee, which
left the Cape for England several months since, and
has been refitted for service there.

In Simon's Bay were—Her ii;jesty's brigantine
Dart, Lieutenant Hoskins ; her Majesty's ship Cas-
tor, Commander Wyvill, for England ; and her
Majesty's steamer Hydra, Captain Gordon.
The Australian mail steam ship Melbourne, left
St. Vincent's on the 18th of December for the Cape
and Australia.

The Severn, for Rio, steamed into St. Vincent's
on the 25th of December.

The Australian was detained at King George's
Sound nearly eight days on account of the weather
and the deficiency of labour.
She was 32 days from King George's Sound to
the . Mauritius, experiencing nothing but calms,
and went fruitlessly out of her course to seek the
south-east trades ; it is said that she put into the
Mauritius in consequence of breaking the eccentric
rod of one of her engines, while others state that
she had coal but for two or three days ; she shipped
650 tons there.

After leaVing the Mauritius she encountered
contrary south-west winds and sprung her main-
topmast, which was unshipped and replaced by a
new one, during a calm; after leaving the Cape.
Fine weather prevailed from the Cape to St.
Vincent's, and thence to the Channel ; three days
before reaching Plymouth she had strong fair winds.

The bottom-. of the Australian is covered with
weeds, grass, and shellfish, but for which she would
have made the voyage in less time. We believe
her copper has not been examined in dock since
she left England. Some of her passengers complain
of the bad condition of the so-called preserved pro-
visions ; but they all speak highly of the ship and
of her commander, Captain Hoseason, R.N., and
the chief officer, Mr. M'Cullom.
The commander, officers, boatswain, and boys,
went out and returned in the Australian, but all
the seamen and all the firemen (14 or 15), except
one, ran from her. At Sydney she received six
men from her Majesty's ship Fantome, but left
short-handed. None joined her at Melbourne or
Adelaide, but at King George's Sound she en-
gaged two Frenchmen, who landed at the Cape ;
at the Mauritius four Englishmen entered ; at the
Cape, five men and a boy ; and, at St. Vincent's,
three men. Wages from Sydney were 101. per
month ; Mauritius, 31. She is eight or ten short
now. All hands behaved exceedingly well on the
passage home.
She has brought as passengers from Sydney.—
First class—Messrs. C. Pritchard, Thomas Kenny,
Robt. Graham, Rev. T. H. Forstee ; second class—
Messrs. Gavin, Mason, J. Z. Bradley, Henry Ivey,
and Thos. Slater ; third class—Messrs. Lewis, Alex-
ander, W. Hutchinson' John Hopkins, Gordon
Stewart, J. O'Neill, T. Henley, R. Lawlor. From
Port Philip. First class,—Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mr.
and Mrs. Harvey and child, Mrs. Le Capelan and
child, Miss Mitchell, Messrs. Talbot, J. Thorn,
H. Williams, George Whittington, and two sons ;
second class—Mr. and Mrs. M'Mahon, Messrs.
Thomas Ward, W. Curgenven, Ralph Carylon, John
Oswald, Joseph Martin, S. Solomon, Mrs. Taylor.
Mr. John Storey, Mr. and Mrs. Symons and child,
Mrs. Thompson, Messrs. Charles Prideaux, Hugh
Lucas, John Campbell, M. W. Horton, Peter
Berry, Richard Fleming, James Daniels, Francis
Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Kenny, Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe
and infant ; third class—Mr. Samuel Johnstone.
From Adelaide.—First class—Messrs. J. C. Lawson
and J.D. Cossins ; second class—MasterAlfred Stock,
Messrs. John Binny, Denis Rock, Mrs. Chapman
and infant, Miss Duncan, Miss Wilson, Mr. and
Mrs. Singlehurst and infant, Mr. Willis Barr; third
class—Mr. John Yates, Thomas Simpson, Mrs.
Smith and infant, Messrs. D. Thomas, John Lang-
don, Joseph Langdon, William Shoyle, Wm. Down-
field, and William Dungan. From the Cape.—
First class—Mr. Jury; second class—Mrs. Inaroy.
The city bullion brokers have had for some days
past an agent in Plymouth, waiting the arrival of
the Australian.
The following interesting account of her depar-
ture from Australia and voyage home, is from the
pen of a gentleman who came home a passenger in
the Australian :
.I.an mail steamer Australian
cc The Royal AUS+.l*-1
arrived at Plymouth on
Tuesday,
Jan.
11. She has
made a long passage from Australia, and has been
)
ygethe want of hands during the
v a e.
much delayede iar
departure from Sydney was retarded
oy g
from this cause from the 15th to the 20th September.
She was started from Sydney by means of a party
of volunteers from the crew of her Majesty's ship
Fantome, who were placed on board of her to ena-
ble her to get away, all her outward crew having
absconded.

" On the 23d Sept. she reached Melbourne, hav-
ing steamed from Sydney against strong head winds
in 55 hours. She was delayed here by the ship-
ment of a large quantity of gold, about 150,000 oz.
having been put on board. A ich larger quan-
tity was ready for shipment, but the rules of the
insurance companies limiting risks in one bottom
prevented the shipment of the further quantities
that were awaiting the vessel. It is understood
that arrangements will be completed with the un-
derwriters in England; which will prevent disap-
pointment from this cause in future. A detachment
of police was stationed at the gangway of the ship
during her stay at Melbourne, and the constables
were relieved so as to keep watch day and night to
prevent deSertion. In this way the ship was pro-
tected from further loss of hands at Melbourne, and
no desertion took place during her stay here. From
Melbourne she sailed on 28th September, reaching
Adelaide on Ist October, having experienced heavy
westerly gales all the way. These winds prevail
along the Australian coast during the greater part
of the year. At Adelaide she received a further
shipment of about seventy thousand ounces of gold
bars and gold dust. A large portion of the gold
shipped here consisted of ingots assayed at the
Adelaide bullion office. These ingots are assayed, their
weight inpure gold is stamped upon them, and their
standard fineness is also stamped upon each ingot, in

carats and grains ; the value of the gold at the
standard price of 31. 17s. 9d. per oz., can thus be
accurately ascsrtained. A further quantity of gold
would also have been shipped at Adelaide but for
the interposition of the same difficulty in reference
to the insurance which was experienced in Mel-
bourne. The total quantity of gold on board the ship
in freight is 230,000 oz., which, exclusive of large
quantities suspected to be in possession of passen-
gers, gives a total value of about one million ster-
ling. It is expected that the Sydney—the next
boat due from Australia—will bring a much larger
sum. Among the many splendid specimens of gold
on board this ship, the finest is a magnificent mass
of pure ore, weighing 340 oz., christened in tllg
colony the "Royal Victoria Nugget of Australia,
which has been forwarded by gentlemen in Victoria,
under charge of the Admiralty agent, as a present
to her Majesty the Queen.
" This splendid specimen of virgin gold was
found at the Bendigo diggings in the beginning of
September, and was forwarded to Melbourne for
sale by a person who is said to have purchased it
of the lucky finder for 1,1001. It was advertised-
for sale by auction, but, before the day of sale, was
sold privately to a gentleman connected with the
local government for the sum of 1,5001.
"At Adelaide, a detachment of police kept
watch night and day, to prevent desertion, and on
the 4th of October the vessel sailed for AlbanY,
King George's Sound. She arrived here in seven
clays, having had a continuation of westerly gales
all the way, with a heavy head swell. At AlbanY,
a most annoying detention of seven days and a half
took place, and the delay thus caused, and the far-
ther loss of time arising from the insufficient supply
of coals at this port completely destroyed the
prospects of the voyage, and led to the protrac-
tion of the passage to the length which it subse-
quently reached.
" There were upwards of 1,000 tons of coal be.
longing to the company at this port, one-half being
on board a ship in the harbour, and the other In1;11
in a depot on shore ; but notwithstanding this
ample supply was on the spot, it was difficult to
coal the steamer.

" The whole of the crew of the receiving ship,
who should have been engaged in coaling the
steamer, were in prison for insubordination, having
misbehaved in order to get punished, and so escape
from their ship to the diggings. The steamer's
crew were therefore compelled to discharge the coal
from the receiving ship, and stow it • and as the
Australian was short-handed it was but slow work.
Shore labour could not be procured, and the pro-
gress of the coaling was stopped for two days by
gale from the N.W. Under these circumstances
the Australian left King George's Sound with a'
short supply of coal, and after rounding Cape Lee-
win, and experiencing head winds for some days,
she lost the wind altogether, and experienced
long succession of calm weather, which, couple
with the short supply of coal, and the prevalence e'
foul winds after leaving Albany, completely broke
down the voyage. The S.E. trades generally blo
with great regularity and considerable force between
Australia and Africa, within a few degrees of the
tropics, but on this occasion they altogether faile
and a long succession of calms so far exhausted tIIL
stock of coal, that after' proceeding north-vs/0,7e
nearly to the latitude of Mauritius in search of to
trade winds, it was considered advisable to bear
for that island for a supply of fuel. The connecting
rod of one of the engines having broken, this step
was unavoidable.
" The Australian arrived at Mauritius on t 13,1
11th, and sailed on the 13th November ;. arric(l
at the Cape 26th November, sailed Ist December 43
" The sensation created at these ports by tut
arrival of a ship so richly freighted was very grey
~i;
and the displays of samples of gold and specimen
nuggets by the passengers increased the Wu'
meat.
" At Albany the few available labourers Were .503
engrossed in fishing, oystering, and other trivial.
pursuits, productive of lavish remuneration fr°o
the passengers, that no assistance in coaling oles
be procured at any price. Cab hire, boat fa,r
and hotel charges rose wherever the vessel toucltii
and the most extravagant reports as to the We
of those on board led to a rise in price of eve
article that was asked for.
" The Australian is commanded by Cap
Hoseason, R.X. Her mails are in charge of Were
E. Bernard ; they are very numerous, and nat
landed at Plymouth at noon on Tuesday,
half-au-hour after her arrival in the Soini_e
Amongst the large number of passengers who
home in the Australian are many fortunate als
gers."

THE AUSTRALIAN DIGGINGS.
From the Australian papers forwarded to US by
the Australian, we extract the following, wbi
may be interesting to our readers
THE DIGGINGS.

The Special Correspondent of the South Austra'
Tian Register writes as follows with reference to
the Echunga diggings :

- _
THURSDAY, SEPT. 30, 1852•
The opinions here are still various as to the pro'
fitable nature of the diggings. Some parties ar°
paying expenses and a little over, while others
are less energetic, perhaps, grumble at their We..
of remuneration. The best indication of the yrii,
vailing sentiment after all is the taking uP x.
cences, the number of which was, yesterday, ,‘,805
tended to 310 ; and there are some 30 to 40 per°'.'ng
more who intend taking licences to-morrow, bet
the first of the month. The opinion is that P-C
1r
are about 400 persons here at present, and that foltit
out of every six are not only paying expenses, b

earning very good wages. - - lkfr'
In going over the diggings yesterday, a 0
Jaques informed me that he obtained threo
ounces of the precious metal a few mornings 3.tfio
before breakfast. I also saw Mr. Gouch, ,0
landlord of the Star Inn, who appeared to Peif
a very fair undertaking, and said he was lik
to be fairly remunerated. told
A party, who declined givin his name, als°,
me that he succeeded with the assistance olto
mate, in getting 31bs. 4oz. in ten days ; and, dis,
he intended coming to Adelaide shortly, an, 1- to
posing of his gold. Feeling a great disposinit-
try my own luck, I asked a German who was to
ting smoking his pipe, if he would allow nif
he
wash a panful of earth from his heap, which
very willingly consented to, and from one spadiejoji
I succeeded in getting about a pennyweight, w
I send you for inspection.
The greater portion of the diggers seem disPc'sea
ii
to tell visitors how they are getting on, and nn trio
allow strangers to watch them as they are wash
out their cradle, and nearly all that I had all o
i to
portunity of conversing with yesterday intenae`freo,
remain, feeling satisfied that when they were 4
abled to dig deep holes, that they would be le°o
paid for their exertions. Messrs. Dunn and
.Pery
have two stores, where provisions are sold at 'siu,
moderate prices, and I also noticed a blacksre_4,t
who appeared to be doing well. One very gl,s're
drawback to the success of the diggings being unt,
fully developed is still the impracticability of
no
ing deep holes. The majority that I saw did l'of
in the flat exceed six feet, although at the edge
the hill deeper holes had been dug.
Mr. Chapman and party appear to be most 1.11.
fatigable in their exertions in sinking one P,
titular hole, which they have done to the depth c"'
70 feet. They have, however,_been compelled_P
stop their proceedings, in consequence of foul :lit
having got in. They are now sinking other holes
near, and I believe with success.
SATURDAY, OCT. 2.
There are now at least 400 persons on the ground,
which is not confined to the original gully and hill
side, but has been extended by prospectors for a
considerable distance in every direction. The
number of tents is about a hundred, some of which
form a complete little suburban village upoi
themOilne from
kaparineghaa,Pmaannd's Hill, in
about A
the Wattledr to,n half
o f a
mile from the latter.
in many
permanent. The tents are, f The appearance of everytbins,
is
Iv
a substantial kind ; there are several sod and bark
them ;
thesome claims
ofthe
are
diggers
have their teams °
;carefully markedman
youatroai pre'
nthdetihmolbeesreadre; daenedp
etrliealladdventurers are,, is,
tmsheirenvemeddoas; t part, satisfied with what th are doing'
One with whom I spoke to-_day said, "There is lig
doubt that this is now established as a gold-fiel't
Another, an old Beudigo man, said, ‘"There are
,11°It
such prizes here as there are on' the other sid.of 710
there are fewer blanks ; no one whok sticks tn d
iws
aoormiryke
tnh
was,
iene
gd
adtuood badly ; he mayWhatmat
'liatycobnyLms the opsi e good wages:or
nr
iuocnks
he
aPvaen :not
quoted,- that there was nothing like excitere„
among the diggers. They were working steadllJ,,
and nearly every man I spoke to said he was d°,l'N
" tolerably," " very well," or " very well indee-a.
I noticed also, that while-none were highly, elaw,o7
none were materially depressed. Imet with t"
who had been absolutely unsuccessful, one hay'.
sunk 11 and the other 15 holes, without fin tarp
mined
to go on, saying they were sure to come un-
it gold worth mentioning, but both were do
it in time, as they saw plenty around them doillg
well.
This afternoon, a man washing with a era it
found several nug„cfets which would pass
the hopper. s
This soon not wind, and there -tool
sudden rush to the place': causing a little (101.01
about the " claims ".and some threats of an app
to the Commissioner ; but the proverbial g°4o
humour of the diggers prevailed, and they Iv'
throng
soon at work again as busily as ever.
Most of the expired licences have been renew

ail many fresh ones taken within these last few
days. I was not able to ascertain the exact num-
ber issued, but I saw one dated yesterday, which
was " 485," and as the Commissioner went to town
this morning, that must have been one of the latest.
There were 25 persons newly arrived, who gave
their names to the police for licenses to-day.
It is impossible to form any idea of the entire
quantity of gold which has been taken ; it must be
judged of from individual results, and of these I
will cite a few that may be relied upon.
An Adelaide tradesman who began work at noon
on Wednesday, showed me, at about the same hour
to-day, between five and six ounces, which he and
three others had raised.

One of the earliest adventurers has a pound and
a half, the result of a month's work, besides a few
little nuggets, weighing about an ounce more.
Yesterday afternoon, a nugget was found on the
hill-side, weighing an ounce and a half. The Com-
missioner took it into Adelaide with him this

morning.
On the same day a nugget was found by two
Germans, weighing somewhat more than an ounce.
I heard of another, said to have been found by a
German, weighing an ounce and a quarter; but I
have some doubt whether it was not the same I
have just referred to.
This morning, three boys tool:: four ounces and a
half from a hole five feet deep.
A farmer living at Echunga, who is working at
a hole with two boys, states, as I understand, that
he has made two, three, and even four ounces in a
day. I heard, upon good authority, that on one
occasion he got an ounce from a single dish.
I do not think any of these tales are exaggerated,
as there is not generally a disposition among the
diggers here to overrate their profits ; on the con-
trary, they are rather inclined to conceal their ad-
vantages. As an instance of this, I may mention
three Germans who said, in answer to an inquiry,
that their entire taking was half an ounce, and who
were seen the same afternoon selling three ounces
to a dealer.

I heard of one man who had been working on the
hill side for a fortnight, and got scarcely anything.
He then dropped upon a pocket, and before dinner
time picked out with his knife as many nuggets as
weighed six ounces. This caused an instant rush
to the place, and several are still working round
his hole ; but, though he has been pretty successful
since, the others have not done much.
I heard of a tub containing 12 dishes of washing
stuff, the proceeds of which the owner refused to
sell as four ounces. He afterwards washed another
tub, which yielded between two and three ounces.
This was a fortnight ago. The whole had been
dug by four men in two hours. The party did
exceedingly well for a week, then left the gully to
try deep digging. They are now engaged upon
two holes--one on the hill side, and another in a
lonely place about a quarter
,of a mile off.
Several farmers from Echunga, Balhannah, and
the, Meadows, are carting washing stuff to their
own premises. Their profits are known only to
themselves, but as they return every second or
third day for more earth, they are no doubt satis-
factory.
There is a strong impression among those who
have been at the Victoria Diggings that the lead-
ing Echunga gully is yet to be found. A number
of them intend prospecting in various directions,
and feel confident before long of making some
important discovery.
Large pieces of gold, weighing from a quarter to
half an ounce and upwards, are far more common
than they used to be. Nuggets of that kind do not
now attract any particular attention.
Some of the holes which have been abandoned
by inexperienced hands having been taken posses-
sion of by old diggers from the other colony, who
in some instances have found that the real washing
stuff has been left behind, and the holes deserted
because the red clay yielded no gold. This is a hint
worth the attention of those who are making a first
attempt. The washing stuff, in which alone the
gold is usually found, is a stiff concrete, composed
of burnt quartz, ironstone and sand. It lies like a
cement upon the top of the pipe-clay, and is not
generally more than four or five inches thick.
This, and about an inch or an inch and a-half of
the pipe-clay is generally all that is worth washing.
At present the weather is fine at the diggings,
but the heavy rain on Monday filled all the holes,
and so flooded the gully that work was at a stand-
still till Wednesday. The Onkaparinga rose higher
than it had been this winter, and Warland's Creek
ran for two feet over the bridge. At Dr. Rankine's
Creek, some miles further on the same road, the
post-boy coming from Wellington had his horse
washed from under him, and narrowly escaped with
his life.

The diggings are well supplied with food of every
kind, and even with what he called luxuries, from
the numerous well cultivated farms and gardens
around them. It will add in no small degree to
the comfort of the adventurers during the summer
months to have fruit and vegetables in abundance
and at reasonable prices.

( From the Geelong Advertiser of 11th Sept. 1852.)
The South Australian papers are glowing with
auriferous excitement, at " the discovery of an ex-
tensive gold field in South Australia." The locality
is on the banks of the Onkaparinga, about eighteen
miles from Adelaide. The Government reward has
been claimed by discoverers, licences have been
issued, and considerable success has attended the
efforts of the first diggers. The Government has
published regulations for the issue of gold licences,
and the control of the operations of the diggers.
Mr. King, the Victoria delegate, has not for-
gotten his Melbourne friends ; his successor in
office, as Town Clerk, announced to the Melbourne
Corporation the arrival, by the Australia, of a
Corporation Seal, Press; and Law Books, shipped
by Mr. King from England, for the use of the
Melbourne civic legislators.

The importance of Sir John Pakington's dispatch
is not confined to the mere fact that a large amount
of revenue is handed over unreservedly to the ma-
nagement of our representatives. A far more
important privilege is conferred, that of regulating
by acts of council the gold-digging branch of indus-
try, and developing the mineral wealth of the co-
lony generally. It is not merely the control over
the expenditure that is conferred, but full powers
to regulate the levying of the gold taxes, even to
the imposition of a royalty, or export duty. Our
contemporary the Herald, in its summary of the
legislative proceedings is wrong, however, in stating
that the land fund is also placed at the disposal of
the local legislature. Such a transfer could only
be made by act of Parliament.
The Mount Alexander escort brought into Mel-
bourne on Tuesday 37,956 ounces, which was con-
veyed in three six-horse drays.
Gold in Melbourne has been fluctuating from
3/. 6s. to 3/. 7s. In the markets for general pro-
duce there has been no material change, though
business is represented as brisker.
Gold in Sydney had risen to 3/. Bs. 6d., attri-
buted to advices from England and abundance of
money. There was no material change in the prices
of general produce, but expectation still prevailed,
that improved advices from Victoria would lead to,
a rise in the value of commodities—an expectation
which is not likely to be realised.
Police as well as military are e
E
forthwith to be de-
spatched to these colonies by the British Govern-
ment, and large drafts from the Irishconstabulary
are also to be sent out. We certainly need a large
amount of additional protection from the ruffians
who infest our streets and roads.
Street robberies,
accompanied with violence, con-
tinue common in Melbourne. One man,
night, was in Little
Lonsdale-street, on Tuesday
robbed of
170/., besides being dreadfully beaten, for having
1041 the presumption to attempt resistance to the
ruffians.
The British Government, through the Colonial
Office, are overpowered by apphcavtiocntosrifoar.
passage There
to Australia, and especially to
will be no lack of labour in a very short time.
From the Eureka diggings a correspondent of the
News of the Week (Geelong) writes thus :
"Eureka, 6th September, 1852.—Although the Escort
Returns prove that the average yield at Eureka is greater
than at either Mount Alexander or Bendigo, yet it is an
acknowledged fact that the largest share of the gold is
obtained by a few, and that success is far from being
equally divided. A party would have the same chance
of a fair average here as at Bendigo if the holes were of
the same depth, but the deep sinking prevents a party
from embracing the same opportunity as shallow sinking,
for the same number of holes cannot be sunk. _ .

,c The stuff when found always turns out very rich, but
the gold appears to lie in a single vein which runs ale
the sides of the hills not more than 30 or 40 feet in
breadth. Many parties, however, who have hitherto
been unsuccessful are in great hopes that with better
weather better diggings will be discovered in the gullets
and beds of the creeks, the gold in which will be more
equally distributed in the ground. Gold has a
W
l'ery exciting effect upon almost every individual.
hen a man finds a large quantity of it, it often
Carries him into the highest regions of human
bliss, and when unsuccessful to the lowest regions
despondency. Instances of the kind are daily
occurring. No later than yesterday I asked one man
how he was getting on, to which he replied, 'first rate.'
Bendigo and Forest Creek, in his opinion, were not to
be compared to Eureka, for one pound weight found at
the former twenty pound weight could be found at the lat-
ter place. The next acquaintance I met with did not think
the diggings were any good ; he had sunk sixteen holes
averaging twenty-five feet deep, and had obtained no-
thing. Every man generally, leas an opinion of his own
according to his luck. The
Party I am connected 'n ith
being desirous of giving Eureka a fair trial, commenced
their operations by building sod walls as an addition to
their tent, and afterwrrds• a complete sod house with
a chimney to it. They have therefore not a tent but a
house of two apartments, as large and comfortable as
many a house in the suburbs of Geelong, The whole

fabric occupied two men three days in building it. Al-
though they should be no more than a month on the
ground, they were determined to make themselves com-
fortable during that period. They have now been here a
fortnight, during which time they have been sinking holes
of the usual depth, but have not yet succeeded in finding
any gold. They have not yet much reason to complain,
however, for before another fortnight they may hit upon
a hole which will abundantly pay them. With the pros-
pect of obtaining a moderate share of the gold to be
found, I will venture to assert that the party are happier
and more contented in their humble abode than the
proudest and richest man in the colony.
The following is from Mount Alexander and
Ben.digo :
Most of the old diggers are now off home for a few
weeks from the effects of the late heavy rains that have
fully swamped the gullets and flats, which previously
were turning out very rich both at Forest Creek and
Beudigo. Little Bendigo and Wattle Flat are favourite
spots at the former, but they cannot be worked effectu-
ally for some weeks from underdrifts of gravel and sand.
The roads are in a desperate state, especially the Black
Forest and its neighbourhood. Bush-ranging is still
prevalent. Four men on horseback, on Saturday week,
" bailed up" the proprietor of a coffee shop on the Keilor
Plains, robbed him of 101., and used him in a most
brutal manner, finishing by smashing a bottle of milk on
his head. On Sunday they robbed another poor old
man on the edge of the Black Forest of a quarter pound
of tobacco and a few shillings, all on his person. On the
other side of Kyneton they robbed a traveller of 235.,
land,s wnotribset off,
being satisfied with that, they shot the poor fel-
owwhich, with other wounds, ended in his
death on the following day. We are glad, however, to
learn that the police are in hot pursuit, and likely to
succeed in the capture of the ruffians. The diggers
greatly complain of the exorbitant extortion of the road
innkeepers, especially the Coliban and Deep Creek, but
the particulars of these numerous complaints are at pre-
sent too voluminous for our purpose."—News of the
Week (Geelong.)

The same paper also contains the following letter
addressed to the Director of the Anaki exploring
party with reference to the Anaki Gold Field :
" Anaki Ranges, 9th Sept., 1852.
" Sir,—Enclosed I beg to hand you a sample of gold
obtained by the party under my charge, on Sharpe's
Run, near a Creek that empties itself into the Marra-
bool River, about four milies from where we got the
gold. There is at present too much water in the Creek
to sink so near its bed ; but in all the holes we have
sunk in this locality we have found gold, though, as
will be seen by the sample, it is rather light. I have
no doubL, that had we not been troubled with too
much of what is rather dear at preipent in Geelong,
namely, water, we should have come to something
heavier. But as we were sent out to explore this
part of the country in search •of a gold field,
and having found one that will pay, rather than waste
our time in baling out holes to little purpose, I think it
more the duty of this party to ascertain the actual ex-
tent of the gold field, which we know at present to ex-
tend a number of miles. It only wants a large " mob "
of good and determined diggers to establish, in my hum-
ble opinion, as Ballart, the Mount, or the far-famed
Bendigo. We have not only found gold by sinking, but
on the surface, and when the weather takes up, so that
sinking in the beds of the creeks and gulleys, will become
available, the yield will be equal to the expectations of
the most sanguine. This day I have been out, and found
another place more in the vicinity of the Marrabool,
which I think a likely place, and I intend to quit this,
and camp there, which I intend to be our last remove,
till we start for town. _ _

" As regards the gold field we have found, being sup-
plied with water for a summer digging, I have only to
say that there will be no scarcity of that article, if those
who may think proper to come out will not think it too
much trouble to cart the stuff three miles, when the
water in the creeks fails.

" Hoping that we stand some chance of not only ob-
taining the promised reward, but the good opinion of
the inhabitants of Geelong, I conclude with saying that
you may look on this as my last letter on the subject,
for it is my intention, after exploring a circuit of four or
five miles round our intended camp, to return to town.
" The men composing the party under my charge,
have acted strictly up to orders, and as men determined
to carry out the grand object they were sent out for, to
the satisfaction of those who sent them.
Hoping that the Gold Field which we have found,
which is only twenty-four miles from town, may prove
a benefit to Geelong.—l am, &c.,
THOMAS OLDMAN."

THE SYDNEY GOLD FIELDS.-Mr. Cohen, a Sydney
gold broker, expresses a confident opinion that, on the
return of the fine weather, there will be a very great and
productive reaction in the yield of the gold fields of
New South Wales. He states that this opinion is based
on positive information, and so confident are the Sydney
miners that many who have temporarily ceased opera-
tions, continue to pay for their licenses until spring fairly
sets in.— Geelong News of the Week.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.
THE WOOL MARKET.
The second series of sales in 1852, comprising the first
arrival of the colonial clip of 1851, with the exception
of the 400 bales received by the Phenician, and soid in
February, commenced the 20th of May, and terminated
this day.
The quantities sold, were-
-6,146 Bales Australian wool
8,994 " Port Philip
4,963 " South Australian
4,420 " Van Diemen's Land
9 " New Zealand
6,600 " Cape, including 18 Port Natal
65 " Swan River

30,897

The attendance of buyers was very numerous, and the
biddings more than ordinary inspirited by those for
foreign account.
The stock at the close of the sales in February, was
nearly exhausted in the ports, and that in the hands of
dealers and manufacturers has been since gradually taken
into consumption ; of the small remainder, a considerable
portion was purchased just prior to the present sales on
foreign account, at a slight advance on rates, which
the dragging trade of our manufacturers had afforded.
Considerable anxiety has spread in Yorkshire as to
_ .

the result of the probable desertion of their ordinary
pursuit by the colonists for that of gold getting, and the
consequent insecurity of the clip of 1852.
Active, and we hope effective measures were taken, in
concert with pai ties in London interested in Australian
affairs, to supply suitable labour for the flockmasters, at
least or the next shearing—this movement had some
slight tendency to favour the expectation of an advance
in prices.
Money had been somewhat abundant, owing to the
continued expansion of the basis of the circulation and
a slight disposition to speculation has manifested itself
in different directions.

The arrivals, partly from a prevalence of easterly
winds, were less than had been expected, and at the
opening were 17,000 bales below the quantity sold at
this period in 1851.
These circumstances, together with a continued active
inquiry from abroad, combined to produce a competition
of real demand, which has stimulated prices to a range
hardly anticipated, and (without an advance in the price
of goods) higher than our consumers can afford.
All descriptions have participated in the improvement
in price, which may be taken in the average at 10 to 15
per cent., part was taken on speculation, whilst the
quantity for export to the continent is probably not less
than 6,000 bales.
Some few flocks which formerly have been received in
good condition, have come in grease, and realised fully
equivalent prices. Burrs and prickly seeds have also
been observed in clips of esteemed quality, though more
than usually overlooked by the buyers ; but generally
the care and energy of the colonial flock-masters, under
existing circumstances, is much to be commended,, iu
having sent home many favourite clips in undiminished
splendour, and although a large proportion of wools
from Adelaide are still loaded with yolk and dirt,
several brands in better condition have been received,
and realised satisfactory prices.
Scoured wools still find favour with the buyers ; and
it is hoped that the increased cost in the expense of
washing and loss of weight is sufficiently compensated.
East India wool in large supply, but was readily
taken at an advance of about Ad. per lb. on previous
rates.

There are now here nearly 9,000 bales for the next
public sales, nearly all of which, though some arrived off
the coast within a day of the opening, have been very
seasonably withheld according to the wholesome and
established regulation of the trade, which last year pre-
vented an undue pressure and decline, and on this occa-
sion has assisted in securing the increased value, which
is only perhaps equivalent to the altered circumstances
and prospects of the supply.
It is breaking faith with the buyers and destroying the
market to exceed the limits agreed on, and to hurry on
wools not out of the ships, just at the close of the sales.
A cargo, via Ilamburgh, from Port Philip, has been
received here, as the most concentric market for sale
and distribution, even to the continent itself.
The continental wool fairs now taking place will
probably contribute to establish a firm market at the
next series.

CATTLE
In the cattle market,-NOTHER n
"----e0 MARKETS.
Bear
177 head of fat bullo
c(isn Melbourne, on Monday,
realised 918elnOs.
and d heifers were sold at
ao uf cftoi t
ebeyn Messrs.bullocks
iT)
ehr e
hbeeasdt
tpenthe
others went off at proportionate rices. Four pure
at 9t/h.
the
butchers
opposed heifers, in prime condition, sold
and although purchased by a breeder,
opposed him up to that price. We believe that
we are correct in stating that these are the highest
prices obtained for fat cattle since 1840, and al-
though we are informed that they must be looked
upon to a certain extent as temporary, being the
result of impassable roads, and a heavy demand,
still it would seem that the melting pot, that great
safety valve of our colony in the hour of need, has
seen its best days.
Messrs. C. J. Dennys & Co. have sold at their yards,
in Eyrie-street, inferior draught horses from 451. to 50/.;
hacks from 251. to 351.; inferior ditto from 151. to 201.
Good draught horses are very much in demand, and as
the summer is about to commence the demand will con-
tinue to increase. Horses and carts are fetching from
851. to 1201.
In the Sydney markets- there has been a slight im-
provement, but the expectation of large importations of
all kinds of goods from England prevents a rapid advance,
which would otherwise have taken place as the season

advanced. In Adelaide the quotations were, on 3d Sep-
tember, wheat 7s. 6d., flour 251. to 271., but no sales
taking place ; barley ss. 6d. per bushel of 501bs, oats
7s. Gd. per bushel, bran 2s. ditto, pollard 2s. ditto, hay
31. to 31. 10s. per ton. There has been no material
change in the markets of Hobart Town and Launceston.