The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-19 00:00:00

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-, Ann

[PRicE SD•

AUSTRALIA.

SYDNEY, Sept. 19.—The discussion on the Con-
stitution Ad, which during the past two mouths
has excited so much of the public attention; almost
sharing it with the list of imports and the gold re-
turns, is suspended for a time. According to the
suggestion of Mr. Wentworth, the leader of the
Government party, the second reading of the bill
was not to pledge the Council to an absolute accept-
ance of its provisions, but was only to be taken as
affirming the principle that the future Legislature
shall consist of two Chambers. Whether the
Upper House is to be elected, or nominated by the
Crown, it was proposed should be left an open
question till the opinion of the inhabitants of the
colony at large had been fully ascertained. With
this reservation the bill was read a second time. on
withthe
A l2lsdthlooerf September,totandeiro umratnsue adjournments,'
etssfffro
the
a ,171. debateed3eyssis ,
ob
ytnhaahta
have
emajorityolasted,nly
had
months, 4assumed t o
b 8
Darvall, that it be read a second time that day 6
a local importance. The as the gold fields
a fee of 10s. a-month
:3:lll3ppioeavridaendee
some but
throughout all the demonstratns the . k '
of the miners had expressed the readinsepsso of the
men to pay
einltaesr'a.thheer rejected.amendment
alarming
alterations were made in the mode of collecting it.
But from unconditional resistance of. the demand,
Mr. Latrobe has gone to the other oxtreme on-
ceded more -than was asked, and deprived the pro-
vince of some 700,0001. of annual revenue at a
streke. It was, of course, impossible'to collect such a
tax, among such a peculiar population at the point
of the bayonet ; -but the offer of the diggers them.
selves, by which a third of that large revenue would
have been saved, was at least worth listening to.
How the lois is to be supplied is not yet known.
It is believed here that an export duty on the gold
raised will be attemped to be levied ; but two years
ago, that mode of raising a revenue was discussed
and condemned by the Council of Victoria as im-
practicable. It would be extensively evaded, would
obstruct mercantile transactions, and, above all,
unless adopted in 'this colony also, would merely
make Sydney the shipping port for all the gold now
sent direct from Melbourne. The abolition of the
fee, though announced by Governor Latrobe, will
not be immediate ; till the necessary act can be
passed, a fee of 40s. is to be collected, which will
be considered as payment for the license for three
months ; at the expiration of that period, unless
an equally sudden change of policy occurs, no pay-
ment except a small fee to secure a kind of rough
registration of the population will be required.
Here the Gold Regulations Committee will not, it
is understood, go beyond a recommendation that
the fee be reduced to 10s. a month. And probably
the Council of Victoria, before the next three
months expire, will modify the Governor's pro-
posal, which is marked by haste, if not panic, to
the same extent.
• There have been some brilliant accounts from
the Ballarat gold fields during the past 10 days,
which are thus stated by the Geelong Advertiser :
" Our intelligence from the scene of the last
great discovery is up to Wednesday morning. We
are now enabled to give more precise information
respecting-the'alleged ' table' of gold, of which in-
formation was expressed to his Excellency in Mel-
bourne. The stratum of gold is, in reality, a
' basin,' not a table. Heretofore the gold has been
traced in veins and pockets. Now it is found in
an immense circular patch, or muster pocket, and
already about a dozen holes have been sunk into
it, every one of which has hit. So uniform is this
rich stratum, that its value, wherever tested, has
been found to range from 1,2001. to 2,0001. per
superficial. foot. When the stratum was first
reached, the little mounds of earth containing the
gold had the appearince of a solid rock of the
metal, but when handled it broke into a mass of
dust and nuggets. The 12 holes are known by the
name of the ' jewellers' shops.'
" The accounts from the other parts of Ballarat
are, though not quite so wonderful, quite as gra-
tifying. At the gravel pits, the washing-stuff is of
the unheard-of thickness of 13 feet, and it is an
advantageous peculiarity of that field that the vein
runs in a straight line. There is a new surfacing
field at the back of the Canadian Gully, and at the
Lagoon the surfacing still holds out, though it has
been worked for several months. The Winter's
Flat field has shared in the revival, and is yielding
we'll The courses of the several veins remarkable for
riebneQs are now well ascertained, and as tl:ey nearly
all lead into the extensive flats stretching eight miles in
length from Winter's Flat to Eureka, the eyes of the
i experienced diggers are directed to this quarter, and
numerous c!ainis have been in irked out, although there
is no chance of sinking holes for several weeks, or until
dry weather sets in. Should the expectations respecting
these flats be realised, there will be room here for all the
diggers in Victoria.
" The best proof of the general prosperity of the Bal-
larat diggings is to be found in the fact that the lowest
rate of wages on the ground is 21. per day, and many
i
are engaged in sinking at 3:. per day. The population
rapidly augmenting, not in consequence of the late
discoveries, but because of the steady prosperity which
has been known to prevail for several weeks past. The
latest discoveries have not yet had time to produce this
effect."

Later accounts slightly abated the sensation
caused by the discovery of the " Basin." It is
reached only after digging a shaft or hole 150 feet
in depth, and appears to be limited to a compara-
tively small area, since parties working close tothe
lucky finders of the deposit have been disappointed.
This is constantly the case, and though there is no
doubt the real wealth of the gold districts is un- ,
diminished, it is distributed so capriciously that the
pursuit is a mere lottery. To dig down 150 feet
and find nothing must be a severe trial. The Bal-
larat news has thrown the other diggings into the ,
shade ; the above find occurring just as the spring
migration to the gold fields was commencing, has
directed the movement southward. The coasting
steamers to Melbourne aro crowded with passen-
gers, and overloaded with baggage. The summer
promises to be a very busy one ; a large increase in
the gold returns during the next four months may
be expected.
The price of gold, however, has slightly fallen in
Melbourne, in consequence of the uncertainty felt
as to the imposition of an export duty. The decline
is about 2s. per oz. It has caused a similar, but
slighter, decline in Sydney. The following- is from
the last Sydney Gold Circular:—
" Parties are not inclined to purchase at present high
rates, anticipating still a greater reduction at Port Phi-
lip ; the cause of so sudden a fall was occasioned by the
belief that Government would enforce at once the
export
duty. This matter now being set at rest, and a large
amount being purchased for the Victoria, the price will
no doubt reach former rates. It is also fully anticipated
that now the Oriental Company have reduced the freight,
and also insurance, a large quantity will no doubt be
shipped by that route, as also China and India, exchange
now being very high there. The news from Victoria
still speaks highly of the large yields at Ballarat. The
uncertain state of the Government as regards fee, and vacillating conduct of the Governor and Coun-
cil, keep the miners dissatisfied, and will yet be the caurt
the license
of an outbreak, if something definite is not settledwell
asi
is a great pity for the welfare of this country,
Victoria, that this great interest is not
more
for the
and such a registration fee exacted as. re as well
&Ist forg what is re-
protection of life and property, agnacted with the gold
quired for other expenses p
fields. The news from the
e spreading over the
purely connected
mentions of large
numbers daily accruing-
country, and it is fully Manticipatedn that at Mitta Mitts
richness. The Cali-
fornians large field will be found of
at the northern diggings are showing the
anticipatedbene-
fits at the Rocky River a
fits of sluicing. It is
be tken out. The escorts brought
large amount will
the Turon, 425 ounces 5 dwts.
down this week, fromt 241 ounces 1 dwt. 8 grains ;
from Bathurs ,
Meroo, 306
6 grains ;
389 ounces 11
dwt. from
from Tambaroora,
1R sins • from Mudge:, 32 ounces 17
15 dwt grains ounces 10 dwt. 12 grains ;
ounces
idwood, 387
dwt. ; from. Bra
ounces. Total, 1,998 ounces 11 dwt.
Mines 216
this
the
many samples of gold have been offered
A groat
from new
week
not state.
the energies of
~ With a continuation of fine weather,
the Turon miners are again calledfrq intoen play, and un-
dauntedodirectly
a cods,
by the disappointment and
eutfl
1 'lnge shows itself, they fall to with a determination
that deserves success. From the source of the river to
Macquarie, detached parties are
its junction with the
trying the ground, work
but the numbers at are not
sufficient fairly to prove it. This last week there has
been a rush towards the Eagar Bark and Keenan's, and
some rather numerous parties are tunnelling in the face
of almost perpendicular ranges near the Big Oakey, pro-
ducing sor 6 ounces per day. At the back of the town-
ship of Sofala, where at the close of the autumn some
rich claims were being worked, the owners are again
cutting a race ; surely these men ought to know how
they stand in respect of the licence fee, which by state-
ments in the public press has been variously reported as
reduced first to 205., and' next to 103. per month. It
would not be too much to expect to let the public really
know their intention, for no legislation on the subject
woultk do more injury than this delay, and the sufferers
from it will think they are little cared for by those en-
trusted with the management of their affairs. It is not
to be wondered that the Port Philip miners demand to
be represented, noting how little one great interest
Icares for the welfare of the rest. The dry season is now

/_/

another should be lost,
3nt monthly fee is main-
,res remain hidden, which,
' anything the world has

The Stratford, to which the June mails were en-
trusted under the new arrangement of a special
contract for the voyage, arrived here yesterday,
after a passage of 106 days from London, instead
of 82. The public despair of ever seeing the Post-
office authorities succeed in what they undertake,
even by accident. By the overland route we have
news to the middle of July, and after it come lum-
bering the letters for May. The Australian Royal
Mail steamer Victoria, the first vessel of that
,un-
lucky company that came out after the contract
rwas withdrawn, made the quickest voyage by the
Cape routa that has yet been accomplished. But
the mischief has been done by the previous failures,
and Confidence cannot easily be created. The mer-
chants now depend principally on the overland
route, though the communication is only once in
two months ; what may arrive or depart in the in-
terval is all a chance. Two steamers sometimes
leave for: FAneland within 24 hours of each other,
as is the case to-day ; the Victoria sailed yesterday,
and the Shanghai leaves this afternoon : one of
them is comparatively useless, as they must carry
the same dates ; if sailing at an interval of 10 days
or a fortnight, the accommodation would be in-
valuable. By another felicitous arrangement, the
Shanghai sails before the mail by the Stratford has
been delivered, and all the letters for May must
remain unanswered for a month.
January, Febtuary, and Marth„.in former years,
were our business months. During these months,
the wool teams bore back into the interior a twelve-
month's supply of rations, and with the exception
of August and September, when extra stores were
generally required for shearing, the intervening
months were more or less without animation, ex-
cept when enli-rened, as they were occasionally,
either by speculation, or by scarcity in the neigh-
bouring colonies. But on the whole the demand
was comparatively limited, and by comparison with
previous years might be calculated with tolerable
accuracy.
The improved condition of the colonists, and the
amazing increase of population, have now vastly
altered the demand and supply ; and upon taking
a retrospect of the last six or nine months, it is
surprising to observe the vast increase in the indi-
vidual consumption as far as it can be ascertained,
as well as in the general improvement of the colony.
g
Cargoes of the most hater°us merchandize from
all parts have reachedageonod market,
and
sold
readily at remunerating prices,
in-
stant consumption. A slightandlull gone into
market
the marke
has been perceptible during the win
oc-
casioned by the impossibility of
executing months,
uting orders
fine from the interior. But with the weather
trade is becoming more animated, and nearly all
articles of merchandise are exchanging hands
at
remunerative rates. Our stocks on the whole
are
light, and unless importations vastly exceed any-
thing we have seen in former years, prices will
still rule high. At no former period in the history
of the colony have mercantile operations been con-
ducted with so much satisfaction as they are at the
present moment.

The del credere commission, charged by our
merchants and agents, is so much net profit. Bond
fide business transactions and punctuality in meet-
ing engagements have become so much the rule
that speculation can scarcely be said to exist.

Owing to the causes we have mentioned above,
and large arrivals, the prices of brandy, draught
ale, and bottled beer, and oilman's stores, have
slightly declined. Brandy may now be bought,
in large parcels, at from 10s. to 12s. 6d. per gallon ;
draught ale, at 6/. to 8/. ; bottled ale, at 10s. to
12s. 6d. per dozen ; and oilmen's stores, at an ad-
vance of 50 per cent. upon invoice cost ; Port wino,
fair quality, from 6s. to Bs. per gallon ; Marsala
and Sherry, at kom ss. to Bs. per gallon. Eastern
produce in demand, and stocks very low. Ship-
ments of flour, lumber, deals, furniture, d.7c., from
America, have paid most handsomely of late. The
stock of soft goods is now moderate, and by no
means exceeds the immense and increasing demand.
As a general rule, shippers of goods to this colony
should be careful to select medium quality goods,
as, although sometimes saleable, the demand for
rare and expensive articles is comparatively limited.
but inferior and cheap goods will scarcely pay the
expense of transit. With new and remunerative
gold fields opening in every direction, with thou-
sands of acres of unoccupied virgin land, with
minerals cropping out of the most valuable descrip-
tion, with a climate the most salubrious in the
world, and with the fact on record that thousands
are daily enriching themselves and the colony by
the most legitimate means of enterprise and indus-
try, we need scarcely say that we feel no appre-
hension of any change for the worse. In truth,
our resources of wealth are yet all undeveloped,
and our commerce can hardly be said to have made
a commencement.

It cannot be denied that gold mining in this
(
colony has declined in its importance, as a branch
of industry, partly owing to the superior attractions
of Victoria, but chiefly in consequence of the ill-
concerted and tyrannical measures of the Legisla-
ture. At the same time, when the mining popula-
tion are not only allowed to leave the gold fields
without any efforts of legislation to encourage their
industrial pursuits, but are being driven away by
harsh and temporizing treatment, new facts are
every day disclosing themselves, to prove that our
auriferous treasures are very widely diffused and
richly deposited ; and the few parties', who steadily
persevere, in the face of obstacles, are rewarded by
very handsome gains.
The total exports of gold from Sydney to the close
of last week amounted to 1,435,815 ounces.
The annexed are the present rates quoted, but
dull :—Port Philip, guarranteed, 31. 17s. 3d. to 31.
17s. 6d. ; Ovens, ditto, 3/. 16s. 9d. to 3/. 17s. ;
New South Wales, 3/. 15s. 6d. to 3/. 16s.—Times
Correspondent.