The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-31 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

At a meeting of the General Screw Steam Company,
held yesterday, the report and accounts were, after a
lengthened discussion, adopted. It was announced that
the results of operations for the last half-year will not
permit the declaration of a dividend, but future prospects
are stated to be more favourable. The vessels supplied
to Government have been taken up on advantageous
terms, and their employment will form a source of re-
venue. The high rates of fuel, provisions, and wages
have again interfered with the success of the voyages
performed on the company's routes. The modified Aus-
tralian arrangement, it is believed, will prove profitable,
while the general capacity of the fleet for any service it
may be found desirable to enter upon gives the directors
confidence in the attainment of ultimate prosperity.
The report of the committee appointed to determine the
course to be pursued with regard to the India route has
not yet been completed, but, apart from considerations
mixed up with that question, an opinion has been ex-
pressed that communication with North America presents
an opening for traffic which deserves attention. The
discussion principally related to the publication of the
accounts, the policy of continuing the Indian service,
and the efficiency of the management. The chairman
(Mr. J. U. Ellis) gave, in answer, detailed explanations,
urging that the difficulties presented had arisen from
circumstances which the directors could not control,
and, the majority agreeing with these views, an amend-
ment which had been brought forward was withdrawn.
The following is an abstract of the report :
" On the 6th of March the shareholders resolved, on the
recommendation of the Board, to abandon the Indian con-
tract for the conveyance of her Majesty's mails, and the
outward service closed with the despatch of the steamer
Propontis on the 15th of that month. The abandonmentons of
the contract has not interrupted the company's relati
with the Government. The causes which induced the
failure of this service are, however, quite patent—viz., the
increased and increasing costof fuel, provisions, and wages.
As to the manner in which the service has been performed,
the Board may direct the attention of the shareholders to
the opinion of the public in India, to the number of pas-
sengers conveyed, and to the general regret which has been
manifested at its discontinuance. The necessary arrange-
ments consequent on the cessation of the line have been
made, and measures adopted to close the companf s business
at the several ports as early as possible. For te future
the Australian line must be of the first importance in the
estimation of the shareholders. The departure of the Argo
on her outward passage to Port Philip was announced in
the last report. She arrived at that port in 64 days, and
returned via Cape Horn in 64 days also. This voyage de-
serves to be recorded as the first instance of the circumna-
vigation of the world by a steam-ship. The passage of the
Argo, following that of the Harbinger and of the Helles-
pont, excited the highest satisfaction in the colonies. The
successful issue of the several passages of the company's
ships appeared to present a favourable ground on which
to propose a contract for the conveyance of the m
to Australia. The Government had so distinctly set itself
against the principle of subsidies that it was obviously
useless to make any proposition involving a mileage rate.
It was therefore necessary to devise some plan to which
this objection could not be offered; and, for this reason a
scheme was propounded on the principle of a remuneration
in proportion to the work, but free from those obligations
which are a part of the existing postal contracts, though not
essential to the proper performance of a postal service. This
proposal met with the approbation of the Postmaster-
General, and was made the basis of the arrangement sub-
mitted to the shareholders on the 6th of March. This ser-
vice began on the 4th of April, with the departure of the
Queen of the South for Port Philip and Syd touchede
at
Crcesus took her departure in January, and
Lisbon for her Majesty's mails detained. there. Advices
have been received of her harinc, put into Table Bay,
whence she proceeded on the 10th of March on her voyage.
The Bosphorus sailed under special agreement with the
mails of February, and will remain in the colonies for a
coast service, and to maintain the communication between
Adelaide and Port Philip. The alternate monthly service
will require four ships, with the occasional aid of a fifth
ship. The Hellespont' was sold at Sydney aid
o sum of
20,5001. Taking into account all the expenses of the
passage, with her cost at stock, the result shows a profit of
9371. 7s. Bd. The continental services do not, in the aggregate,
afford so favourable a result as in former periods. The re-
ceipts have slightly diminished,while the expenseshave from
the general causes now operating increased. The accounts
of the South African service show that during the past half-
year the expenses have been but just paid. The insurance
fund amounted, on the 31st of December, to 29,0311., free of
risk ; on the 30th of June it will aggregate about 49,0001.,
subject to any charges which may in the meanwhile happen.
A valuation of the company's property has been made by
the Superintendent of Shipping, Captain Ford, and it ap-
pears to be well justified by the enhanced cost of labour,
and of every material used in the construction of ships.
The result is—increased value, 92,208/. ; amount of de-
preciation, 62,5421. ; leaving adifference of 29,6661. For
the present this sum of 29,6661. is carried to the credit of
the reserve fund, and to the debit of stock. In the current
year it will be transferred to an. account to be called Sus-
pense valuation account.' This will then be a stock-ad-
justing account, and assist in carrying out the spirit of
the valuation clause, and maintain by its action the stock
at its proximate value. Inclusive of this sum of 29,6661.,
the reserve fund amounts to 54,0521. 2s. ld. The sub-
scribed capital stands at 945,4401., of which the sum
of 752,916/. is paid up. The steamers added. to the fleet
since the last report are the Prince, of 2,706 tons and
300-horse power (intended to complete an alternate
monthly line to Australia), the Harlingen of 552 tons and
70-horse power, already mentioned; and the Cape of
Good Hope of 700 tons and 100-horse power. The last
ship has made a successful trial voyage to Constantinople,
having, in the course of it, taken a detachment of troops
to Malta. The following steamers have been chartered by
her Majesty's Government for a general service, the Go-
vernment finding fuel and bearing the war risk:—The
Golden Fleece, 2,500 tons ; the Jason, 2,500 tons ; the
Hydaspes, 1,850 tons ; and the Harbinger, 921 tons ;
making a total of 7,771 tons. The first three are char-
tered for four and the last for three months ; all to be dis-
charged in England. The Golden Fleece was, in the first
instance, hired to convey a regiment to Malta. This ship's
performance of her service in the Mediterranean has
hitherto secured the approbation of the Government. From
an examination of the accounts it will be seen that the
Board cannot recommend the payment of any dividend or
bonus for the half-year ending Docsmbor

SYDNEY, March 20.—1 n the political as in the
commercial world dulness has, says a Sydney letter
of March 20, for the past month reigned supreme.
At the gold fields only has there been anything
like activity. The progress of the Victoria Con-
stitution Bill through its Legislature has been
watched with some slight curiosity, but hardly any
stronger feeling. The act, after a very protracted
discussion, has passed. In some points the Vic-
toria scheme is better than that of the older co-
lony ; there is a hirer distribution of the created
seats over the electoral districts ; giving the fran-
chise to the miners of the gold fields, though pos-
sibly the number who will qualify by taking out a
license for a year in advance will be few, as at
least au acknowledgment that they deserve to have
a political existence. Most of the minor provi-
sions of the bill have passed unchallenged by any
portion of the community ; but the qualification
fixed for the elective members of the Upper House
has excited some discussion. To be eligible as a
member of the Upper Chamber of Victoria, the
act requires the possession of the property to the
amount of 10,0001. This is objected to, less on
general than special grounds. In the present state
of the colony the possession of almost any amount
of wealth has ceased to afford the imperfect se-
curity it does elsewhere, Plat its possessor has
some amount of education and some degree of
moral character. The sudden acquired wealth
of the colony has fully qualified many a man
for a place in the Upper House, who would
make a strange pillar of the State indeed. It has
been calculated that most of the publicans of Mel-
bourne possess the legal qualification for entering
the provincial Senate, while the amount is just_
enough to exclude very many highly educated men.
engaged in mercantile business or following pro-
fessions. However, the act has passed, and any
amendment in it must be made at home. In Vic-
toria, as in New South Wales, the people have
shown the least possible interest in the whole ques-
tion. The Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and
River Murray Railroad Company has not found
much or very cordial support from the capitalists
of Sydney. Several objections are made to the
project; first, that the route proposed is not direct
enough for the great trunk line between the two
cities, and that it is really a line to the Victoria
goldfields and the Murray, in planning which the
communication with Sydney has been only a se-
condary purpose. The advantage offered in the
guarantee of 5 per cent. by the Government of
Victoria, is, it is alleged, lessened by the fact
that its revenue is already unequal to the or-
dinary expenditure, and that the province
is actually in debt 1,000,0001. sterling on a year.
Besides these and minor objections of detail, the

jealousy existing between the two provinces
is in itself an obstacle to the execution of
any scheme requiring a hearty common action ;
and there is, also, throughout the colony a degree
of incredulity as to the advantage and possibility of
making railways the means of communication. Had
it not been for a few energetic men who disregarded
" colonial experience" on this subject, the few miles
now being laid down between Sydney and Para-
matta would hardly have been yet commenced. As
to a line to Melbourne, it is not long since it -was
ridiculed in the Council by the leaders of the
greatest colonial interest as an insane project. Most
of them have since been converted ; but the spirit
in which they spoke still exists in the mass of the
people. Till some short lines begin to work, and
the advantages of the system even on a small scale,
are made evident, this feeling will not be materially
weakened. There are active and intelligent men
enough for directors and committees, but they can
do nothing without shareholders, who are at present
more likely to be found out of the colony than in
it. Even in Victoria itself the support obtained
by the proposed line is small, considering the
amount of capital in the banks of Melbourne that
cannot find investments. At the half-yearly meet-
ing of the company, held a few days since, only 15
shareholders attended, representing 600 shares, and
as the act requires 20 subscribers, representing
2,000 shares, to form a voru,m, no business could be
transacted. The secretary, however read the report
for the satisfaction of those present. It states that the
shares actually subscribed for in the colony repre-
sent a capital of 100,0001. ; with this sum in hand,
" and the certain prospect of ample means follow-
ing from English capital," the directors have de-
termined to commence and complete the works be-
tween Melbourne and Williamsto wn forthwith.
This short line, with a pier and wharf on the bay
at the last named place, will probably pay very
well, as ships will be able to discharge their cargoes
there instead of ascending the Yarra to the crowded
wharves at Melbourne. If part of the line can be
put. iu operation and be made to produce divi-
dends, colonial capital will flow more freely into
the undertaking; but there is a vast amount of
indifference and prejudice to be overcome. Nor
are these the only difficulties. The bulk of the
wealth amassed in the colony does not remain in
it ; it seems considered a good mine, but not a
desirable home, and the wish to quit it as soon as
possible is, perhaps, stronger among those who
have made a rapid fortune by the late extraor-
dinary change in the whole state of the country,
than in those who had settled years before the
discovery of gold and have gained an indepen-
dence more slowly. A member of the Council
of Victoria lately stated in his place, that one-
half of that body were preparing to return to
England. From this province many large capi-
talists are gone or going ; some will, no doubt,
retain an interest in the colony, but still its wealth
does not yet give much visible impulse to great
public improvements. In many respects, the state
of the roads, for instance, the country is absolutely
going back and deteriorating ; there is not public
spirit enough to make a vigorous effort in any di-
rection. " Let what is broken so remain," is the
motto. The wealthy leave constitutions and com-
mittees in the hands of Fate, and, for the general
mass of the people, they are, in all matters of
public concern, as apathetic as Orientals, without
their sobriety.
It is understood that the English Treasury has
advanced 2,5001. towards the expenses of an ex-
ploring expedition from the north coast of Australia
towards the interior. The intelligence has been
received here with satisfaction, though no very san-
guine expectations are entertained of the result,
for the simple reason that the sum is ridiculously in-
adequate to the work to be accomplished. Whether
it is attempted to penetrate the interior from the
north, south, or east, such a paltry amount must be
wasted. But any land expedition to explore this
continent should be fitted out on the same scale
of liberality and efficiency as those to the Arctic
seas. It should be an imperial service, in which
those honours could beacquired which are so highly
valued, and which no private society can give ; all
the officers and men should be secured the same
advantages of pay and pensions as they could claim
from service in the field. Men of good character
would readily volunteer for such an expedition.
Two or three knighthoods and half a million ster-
ling would be a moderate price to pay for an exact
knowledge of the nature of the interior of our
southern empire, the borders of which contain such
enormous mineral wealth. The committee of a
scientific society in London, assisted by a paltry
subscription from the Government, can do nothing
effectual ; the sum now advanced will only start
another party on the road to failure ; like those
which have preceded it on the same parsimonious
principle, it will be starved back to the coast, or,
few in numbers, will be always impeded by the
danger of being speared, like so many kangaroos,
by some wild tribe of natives. The most success-
ful Australian explorer, Sir Thomas Mitchell, was
more than once crippled in his movements by both
these perils, and the party now fitting out are not
likely to be better appointed. A bolder plan should
now be tried on a larger scale, and continued over
a longer space of time.
Mr. Wentworth, the leader of the dominant
party in the Council of New South Wales, leaves
Sydney for England by the Chusan ; preparations
were being made by his friends for giving him a
public dinner at the theatre before his departure,
but the purpose was abandoned from want of time.
They intend, however, to accompany him in a body
to the place of embarkation. Mr. Wentworth has
played the most prominent part in colonial politics
for many years ; he may be considered the author
of the Constitution Bill, as well as the leader of the
Council throughout the debates on it.
A bill to amend the law of evidence has been
passed by the Council of Victoria.o
receive
ee yeiovneethoef
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cient force. One of the members, Mr. Parker, stated
some cases in which crimes had escaped unpunished
by the rejection of native testimony.
The Sydney Gold Escort Company is about to

The general intelligence from all the goldfields is
satisfactory ; certainly much brighter than it was
two months ago. There has been some shifting of
the population from one locality to another, but
these changes do not appear to affect injuriously the
returns of the whole quantity of metal raised. For
some weeks that has been steadily increasing, and
Ballarat, Bendigo, and Mount Alexander maintain
their old reputation. The discovery of largo nug-
gets and deposits is frequently reported, so fre-
quently that it is difficult to keep a clear account of
them. The escort from Ballarat of the Ist of March
brought down 16,000 ounces ; that from Castle-
maine, of the sth, 16,966 ounces ; from the Ovens,
on the same date, 7,870 ounces arrived. The whole
amount of gold exported from Victoria, from the
Ist of January to the 4th of March, was 421,363
ounces. It is stated that on the old fields " splen-
did fortunes are being made within a few weeks by
some of the more lucky parties." But it should be
borne in mind that the population on these fields
is! very large ; that even the lucky are relatively
few, and " some of the more lucky" brings down
success to a very small fraction indeed. The cha-
racter of the goldfields of the two provinces remains
unaltered. To be successful in Victoria, it is ne-
cessary to have some capital, to be able to employ
labour and sustain the loss of failure after sinking
two or more holes, the depth of which in some cases
causes a considerable outlay. The fields of New
South Wales are less developed, and, if capable of
paying for the more expensive methods of working
employed in the South, have not yet been fully
tested in that manner. The population on them
not as many hundreds as the fields of Vic-
toria can count thousands. In point of health,
the balance is in favour of the former, for all
accounts, public and private, from the South,
speak of' the prevalence of disease at the
"diggings," aggravated by the want of medical
skill. The principal "rush" during the past month
has been to Tarrengower, a new field opened at
Bryant's Ranges, about 25 miles from Bendigo.
Several of the gullies and flats of the latter field
have been deserted for Tarrengower. Some stores
have been removed and others closed ; but the
proprietors are not yet quite satisfied that the
new field will be a permanent one. In Van Die-
men's Land parties have been out " prospecting,"
stimulated by the reward offered for the discovery of
a field that will pay for working, but hitherto with-
oUt success. In South Australia, Western Australia
(Swan River), and New Zealand also, gold fields
are " wanted", and are, in a manner, advertised
fair, as if their existence were a matter of course.
The anxiety is very natural ; Victoria is draining
all the neighbouring provinces and settlements of
their supply of labour, and it is thought that a
piLying field within their own frontiers would keep
them at home. During the last week a fine nugget
was brought down to Sydney from Ophir, weighinc,
281 b. It was dug up by a party of four, who ob°-
4ined 1001 b. of gold in 11 days. Masses of gold,
Weighing 624 oz. or (521 b.), and 110 oz. have also
been found at Ballarat ; another, 571 b. in weight,
from the same place, is now announced. The sum-
mer campaign on the gold fields is closing brilliantly.
A concert has been given at the theatre for the
benefit of the mother of Dr. Leichardt, who led
the last exploring party into the interior of Aus-
tralia. Though the general belief that they have
all perished is probably too well founded, yet some
faint hope is entertained that they may be still
living in captivity among some of the unknown
tribes of aborigines. One attempt was made by
the Colonial Government to trace them, but it was
not prosecuted with much energy. In this state of
doubt, the following letter, published in the Sydney
_Herald, is interesting ; it is from Mr. G. W. Earl,
a gentleman well known in the colony, who recently
arrived in the Golden Age. He states that—
" About an hour and a-half before the Golden Age
left King George's Sound, Mr. Hester, the Superinten-
dent of Police, came on board in search of some ticket-
.:>-leave men who had escaped, and informed me that a
messenger had just arrived from Swan River, with infor-
mation that traces of Dr. Leichardt's party had been
found about 200 miles to the eastward of the most
remote inland station of the Swan River district,
the remains consisting of broken watches, utensils, &c.
Mr. Hester was so busy, while on board, hunting up
one of the runaways, who gave a great deal of trouble,
that he was unable to furnish me with minute par-
ticulars, but he informed, me that the colonists were
perfectly satisfied that the remains must be those
be
Leichardt's party. Full particulars will, of course,
brought by the first vessel for this port that leaves Swan
River. Mr. Hester is one of the most
experienced
bushmen in Western Australia, and as heewfaLs
convinced that the remains wFrile
ttbh, cihdaerndttl7s
that the report will
party, I have a strong impressio
prove well founded.

SYDNEY LABOUR MARKET.
The following is the present rat of wages :-
Town Wages-Painters, about 10s.to 15s.per diem; car-
penters, about 155.t0 20s.per diem; joiners, about 155.t0 20s
per diem ; plasterers, about 18s. to 255. per diem ;
bricklayers, about 225. to 275. 6d. per diem ; ditto la-
bourers, about 15s. to 17s. 6d. per diem • masons, about
245. to 28s. per diem ; ditto labourers, about' 9s. to 12s.
per diem ; quarrymen, about 20s. per diem ; carters,
about 7s. to 10s. per diem ; shipwrights, about 16s. to
igs. per diem ; ship joiners, about 14s. to lOs. per
; male
diem ; boat builders, about 14s. to 16s. per diem
-
servants, about 16s. to 20s. per week ; female ditto,
about Bs. to 12s. per week.
Country Wages-Farm labourers, from 401. to 50/. a
year ; man and wife, together, from 501. to 701. a year ;
hut keepers, from 301. to 351. a year ; shepherds, from
351. to 401. With rations to each weekly-mutton or
beef, 10 to 12 lb ; flour, 10 to 12 lb ; sugar, 2 lb ; tea, ill).

COMMERCIAL NEWS.
The demand for gold for shipment in return for the
excessive importations from Europe had caused the
price to advance from 755. 6d. since January to
e Bs. 3d., which was the latest quotation. The ag-
gregate shipments of gold from the commencement
of the present year to the 25th of March had been
535,545 ounces. - This is 122,914 ounces above the
quantity brought in by escort, but is probably not
in excess of the sum actually obtained, estimating
the proportion brought by private hands as well
as the amounts carried to Adelaide and Sydney over-
land. Supposing the same rate of shipment to be con-
tinued, its value in the year, at 4/. per ounce, would be
about 9,000,0001. Among the vessels lately cleared
were the Samuel Boddington, with 24,266 ounces ;
Ite
Marquis, with 766 ounces ; the Stebonheath, with I__2,ohooB
ounces ; the Windermere (from Geelong), with '. u
ounces; the }3i7ininghana, with 18,533 ounces the