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

ADELAIDE.

The chief topics of interest here for some time
past have been much the same as those which have
occupied general attention in England—viz., gold
and politics. From all appearances, it would seem
that the former of these topics has absorbed a much
larger share of conversation in private and comment
in public, and given rise to much more extensive
action with you than with us. Here the treasures
of the earth are now regarded very coolly ; and a
growing disposition is manifesting itself to return
with greater assiduity than ever to ordinary indus-
trial pursuits. The South Australian diggings at
Echunga have proved, so far, to be just what I
stated in a former letter—rich enough to keep quiet
people in the neighbourhood of their homes, but
not rich enough to attract hither hordes of vaga-
bonds from all corners of the world. The armed
escorts still travel regularly from Bendigo and
Mount Alexander to Adelaide, bringing here to
wives and families the products of the labour of
their absent heads. The Assay-office has nearly
done its work, and will probably die out at the
time which was originally named as the limit of
its existence—the 28th of January next. Gold
tokens of 1/. value (estimating standard gold at
71s. per ounce) are now issued from the Assay-
office, but do not find their way into circulation,
inasmuch as coin of the realm is now sufficiently
plentiful to meet the ordinary demands of busi-
ness. Our merchants and capitalists have begun
to discover that it is wiser policy to send their
gold to Britain, in exchange for specie, than to con-
vert it into South Australian sovereigns. The cry
for a mint is consequently very much on a decline,
the business of the Assay-office materially reduced,
and the shipments of gold-dust largely increased.
The Sydney takes from Adelaide 97,000 ounces of
gold, a quantity larger than her freight from Syd-
ney and Melbourne combined.
There is a great demand for labour here, and
wages are very high. Mechanics are receiving from
16s. to 20s. per day, and unskilled labourers from
10s. to 15s. Domestic servants command 9s. per
week readily, and even the rubbish and refuse that
we get under the name of needlewomen are eagerly
sought after. It is, however, only to supply a tem-
porary emergency, and great permanent mischief is
being entailed upon this colony by directing upon
it a stream from the sewers of your large towns and
workhouses. Depend upon it, it is a popular error,
and a serious one too, that the people who are in-
herently useless at home can be made valuable
here.

Burra shares have experienced a slight decline.
They have been up to 158/. ; they stand now at
150/. Gold-dust sells readily at 725. Flour is
selling at 191. and 201. per ton. The rate of inte-
rest varies from 8 to 20 per cent., according to the
security offered and amount required.

SYDNEY.
We extract the following from the correspon-
dence of the Melbourne Herald:—
" SYDNEY, DEC. 27.
" Christmas has passed away quietly enough. The
weather, which for ten days past has been anything but
warm, has taken up in real earnest, and to-day we are
suffering all the horrors of a north-westerly sirocco, not-
withstanding , which shoals of people are travelling to
Botany for 'pleasure.'
"TUESDAY, 28 (ONE o'OLOCK).—The Legislative Coun-
cil has just been prorogued by the Governor-General in
person. I enclose the speech :
" ' Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative SYDNEY.
Council,—l am glad that the public business has now DEC. 28.—1 t is scarcely necessary to say that the past
arrived at that stage which enables me to bring this week has been a busy one in all branches of retail trade.
long-protracted session to a close, and release you from The consumption of ordinary and extraordinary articles
further attendance from your arduous duties. In compli- has necessarily been great, and the dealers have had con-
ance with the request conveyed in your address of the siderable difficulty in supplying the demand. Prices,
10th of August last, I immediately forwarded to the Secre- however, have not run as high as would havoefbtehen the
n
Lary of State, for his consideration, the reply adopted case, but for the recent importations of flour, which,
by the council to Earl Grey's dispatch of the 23rd Jan. having reduced the price of bread to a reasonable rate
1852, on the subject of the declaration and .remon- have also contributed to damp that spirit of speculati '
strance of the late Legislative Council. In reference to which generally occurs in seasons of scarcity
your address recommending that a branch of the Royal of life. Our harvest is turning out exceedingly well,e staff
er hr material rise
s A
ni no
tc nii
inn-
and
Mint on the larger scale described by the Master of the there is no reason to suppose that any mate-
Mint in his report to the Secretary of State, should prices can take place for some weeks toh come,p
without delay be established in Sydney, I have can flour may still be looked for, thou
the satisfaction to inform you that I had previously, ►reat quantities. At all events, unlessg the influx of po-
under the advice of my executive council, requested pulation should be much greater than has hitherto been
the Secretary of State to adopt the proper measures the case, I do not now foresee any serious deficiency.
quEen7a 4
for this purpose ; and in order to defray the cost of the Recent advicescofnrosme
~, n s eak r
necessary machinery and apparatus, I have remitted to reaction in the emigration feverP, causoeld apcadrmtlyPabrayttihvee England the sum of 10,0001., which has been charged rise of wages
pon the first great rush of
upon the gold revenue. I lost no time, on receipt of operatives to the shores of Australia. Ido not think
your address of the 9th July last, in taking the necessary much of the lull, but it is not to be overlooked, when
steps for raising the sum of 50,0001., on the security of speculation in the necessaries of life is involved.
the territorial revenue, for the purposes of immigration. Teas ma be quoted 84s. to 85s. At the former figure
The tenders received being highly advantageous, and the cargo. oyf the Ararat was freely taken, chiefly the demand for labour still continuing of the most press- exportaton.
Sugars maintain a very steady price. for Tee
character, I did not hesitate to raise an additional
231. 10s. has
sum of 50,0001., making 100,000/, in all. The premium been got for Pampanga, in quantities. For
are
other kinds
on the debentures and the diScount on the remittance of
the amount in bank bills, left a profit on the transaction .
agreat demand exists. The Australasia u
sugars, and they
of upwards of 11,0001., being equal to the interest OD. the only considerable holders of raw i The
years. IA remitting the loan for a period exceeding twoconsiderable.
have been driving a very profitable trade o late.
g transactions of the week have been very