The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

4USTBALI.A

We extract the following from the Melbourne
rgus of the 10th February :
THE COLONY OF VICTORIA.
In accordance with our custom, we present our readers
ith a review of events in the colony since our previous
tmmary on the 3d January, the date of the sailing of
ie Chusan and Great Britain.
THE GOLD.

A statistical table drawn up by Mr. Westgarth ex-
hibits as accurately as possible the produce of the Vic-
torian mines up to the end of last year. It will be seen
that the total represents the astonishing amount of
4,890,000 ounces. Our own calculations made it some-
thing lower, but they were founded upon less carefully
collected data, and we have no hesitation in expressing
our belief in the superior accuracy of Mr. Westgarth's
estimate. Since the commencement of this year the
quantities brought down by escort have becn as under ?

BY PRIVATE ESCORT.
January 7. From Mount Alexander
„ 14. ditto
„ 21. ditto
„ 28. ditto
February 4. ditto

Ounces.
32,060
20,145
, 16,1 n
20,204
23.747

Total II4,VID
BY GOVERNMENT ESCORT.

January 5. From Ballarat
„ 5. From Mount Alexander 20,007
tf 12. ditto 5,870
„ 12. From Ballarat
„ 15. From Mount Alexander 3,897
„ 17. From the Ovens
f f 19. From Ballarat
„ 19. From Mount Alexander 4,912
~ 22. ditto 4,377
tf 26. ditto 5617
ft 26. From Ballarat
„ 29. From the Ovens
ft 29. From Mount Alexander 3,943
February 2. ,From ditto 10;803
„ 2. From Ballarat
, I 5. From the Ovens
ft 5. From Mount Alexander 6,132

Total 126,617
By private escort
Taken to Adelaide by escort 26th Jan., 1853 33,763

Total 275,308
RECAPITULATION. Ounces.
Estimated produce to 31st December, 1852 4,893,926
Ditto from lst Jan. to sth Feb:lBs3 275,308

Grand total 5,166,234

Which, at 755. per ounce, is equal to £19,373,377

The produce for the present year shows that there is
not yet any reason to apprehend a sudden failure in the
yield of gold ; but even if the amount were less than it
is, there are still abundant evidences of the inexhaustible
character of our mines. Of these the most remarkable
is the fact that within the last few days three unpa-
ralleled masses of gold have been brought to light—such
as perhaps the world has never seen before. They were
found in a spot never much frequented hitherto, and
there are reports of numerous smaller lumps having been
found in the same locality. The largest of these three
great lumps weighs 13411b5., of which upwards of
1201bs. are pure gold. The other two lumps weigh
931bs. 2 oz. 5 dwt., and 831bs. 9 oz. 5 dwt, respectively,
only a very small proportion being quartz. They are
superb specimens of gold and quartz interblended. The
largest weighs many pounds more than the famous
" Kerr hundred-weight of New South Wales, and has
the additional advantage of being in one solid lump.
The fortunate finders are taking it to England in the
Sarah Sands for exhibition.

The locality where these splendid masses have been
found is called the Canadian Gully, and is a branch of
the Ballarat diggings. These diggings were the first
opened up in Victoria, and attracted a large number of
people ; but they were almost wholly deserted when the
superior richness of the Mount Alexander diggings was
discovered. They have lately risen again into favour,
however, and there is no doubt that tens of thousands
will now flock to them, and explore them more
thoroughly. The difference between the two localities
seems to be that at Mount. Alexander the gold is finer
and more equably diffused ; while at Ballarat it is in
larger lumps, and occurs less frequently. A similar
difference has been observed between the Ophir and
Turon diggings, in New South Wales. The difference
would seem to indicate the existence of an orignal
matrix or fountain head of the gold deposits, to which
Balaarat probably lies nearer than Mount Alexander.
Our scientific men can help us but little in the solution
of that problem ; but there is no saying what continuous
exploration may reveal. There' really seems no ante-
cedent improbability of the existence of some such
original gold-beds.

The price of gold in Melbourne has gradually risen to
3/. 16s. an ounce, and it is likely to continue rising till
it reaches the Mint price. The abundance of specie, the
competition in the trade, and the raising of the rate of
exchange by the banks, have increased the price, and
almost annihilated the profits derivable from exporting
gold. Yet the number of brokers is very considerable ;
and the dubiousness attaching to the transactions of
many of them is proportionately increased.
The Sydney people have organised a private escort to
the Victorian diggings, with the design of drawing some
of our gold in their direction. The scheme is not at all
feasible, and it appears likely that it will fail. Our
neighbours may well be satisfied with their own diggings
and the large quantities of our gold which, as Mr. West--
,garth's table shows, find their way to the Sydney mar-
ket in the regular way of trade.

MELBOURNE, FEB. 10.—A circumstance has just oc-
curred here which fully warrants the observations made
in my former letter relative to the continued yield of
gold to the labour of the digger, and its effect deranging
the general labour market. I stated in my last that not
the least probability existed, as I considered, of the gold
fields ceasing to yield their present average return for a
very long period, and in my first letter, of the 941 of
November, I remarked that " new rich spots will con-
tinually be found there, new excitement will be created,
and renewed desertion of ordinary occupation follow."
The news which reached this town a few days ago from
the Ballarat diggings, and the immediate results of it are a
verification of this. The discovery of this splendid mass of
gold is thus announced in the Melbourne and Geelong pa-
pers—" 1201 b. nugget ! A most splendid discovery of the
largest nugget of gold ever yet found in the world has
takn place in. Canadian Gully, Ballarat. The mass is
quite pure, and the weight no less than 1201 b. It was
deposited in the office of Mr. Commissioner Green, at
Ballarat, and conveyed from Canadian Gully to the
commissioner's tent slung to a pole carried on men's
shoulders. Since then Mr. Welsh has arrived in town,
and informs us he has handled the specimen. Placing
the mass on the ground between his legs it was a good
lift to raise it from the floor. The fortunate finders were
a party of four. It is their intention to proceed to Eng-
land with the gold. After finding it they offered to sell
the hole for 3001., but there was some hesitation, and
they went' down into the hole again, and got another
nugget, weighing 76 ounces. A purchaser then stepped
forward, and the lucky diggers retired from their toil
with their fortunes made."

I am informed that within a few hours of the appear-
ance of this statement—of the correctness of which there
is no doubt—some hundreds of persons left Melbourne,
and an advance instantly took place in the labour market.
The passage in the Queen's speech alluding to the sub-
ject of transportation to Van Diemen's Land has given
the highest satisfaction here, it being concluded from it
as certain that the wretched and unjust system of Eng-
land's continuing to flood these fine colonies with her
convicts is to cease immediately. I believe the power-
ful articles on this subject in your own influential jour-
nal, have mainly contributed to bring about this most
desirable alteration. - But whether or not they have
'been the means of opening the eyes of her Majesty's
Government on the matter, it is difficult for any lan-
guage of mine to express adequately my sense of the
inestimable benefit such a measure will be to the future
well-being of Australia. No one can have been, as I
am, a daily observer of the amount of crime, for which
the large number of bad characters are mainly respon-
sible, who have contrived, in one way or another, to get
over from the neighbouring convict-cursed colony, but
must bail with the greatest joy the intelligence that
at last the death-blow is to be dealt to the system.
That it will powerfully stimulate the immigration into
these colonies of a better and. higher class of emigrants,
I have no doubt ; for, in spite of all the advantages they
hold out to the intending settler, there was this one
plague-spot which loomed upon his vision, and inter-
fered with the otherwise almost perfect brightness of the
prospect. Thus another impulse has been given to the
rapid colonisation of this great country.
I am glad to say that a committee of the Legislative
Council has presented an elaborate report on the impor-
tant matter I alluded to in my last, namely, the drain-
in, and water supply of this city, without some
effectual proviso for which the inestimable benefit we
enjoy of living in one of the healthiest climates in the
world is in a great measure lost to us. As there is no
difference of opinion as to its urgent necessity, I 'trust,
notwithstanding the high price of labour, the work will
shortly be commenced.
Another thing which for the comfort of the inhabit-
ants is greatly needed, and the absence of which is
greatly felt by all the new corners, is the daily watering
of the streets by water-carts, as in England. If required
there, it is far more here, for the extreme drynesss of
the atmosphere reduces the unpaved streets to a mass of
sandy dust, which the wind raises into a column more
like what you would expect to meet with in the deserts
of Arabia than in an English-built city.
Many fears have been entertained for the fate of the
Melbourne steamer, owing to the unfavourable reports
which the English papers had brought us of her bad con-
dition, and of the disastrous commencement of her
voyage, but these fears were happily allayed on Friday
last by her arrival. A portion of her mail is said to be
seriously injured, some of the letters being in a defaced
and rotten state, from the access of water to the bags
during the voyage. It may be truly said, that, up
to this time, steam has been of no service whatever
to the trade of this place ; but, on the contrary, from
the irregularity and utter disappointment as to the
length of passage, it, has greatly inconvenienced the
.merchants of Melbourne, goods arriving in somed
'instances by sailing vessels before the adviees and
hills of lading forwarded by the steamer. However,
being simply a question of better management (effectual
antici-
arrangement for an abundant and quick supply_of coals
at the coaling stations being the main p
pate this will soon be set right. The
trade here continues good, except that
their "g
ae-
shops there has been some decline in tk
:einn:)rialthsetarteetaeilf
generally One of the
tive business during the last
place is
features in
kinds
wthheinh
theestansettaiemeaobulieitproperty
businessfeawll wkei en
posed of by public auction. Some of the auction rooms
are really such fine spacious buildings as Would do credit

to any city in Europe, and they are crowded daily bl
buyers of all classes, from the dealer to the private On'
sunier. Unlike what it is in England, where a ger
sacrifice in price is usually made when property LI
brought to the hammer, the prices which are realised
are
on the average excellent, paying the owners a hancial
profit. In fact, it is the general and preferred mod
effecting sales, and has the great advantage of a rape
disposal of goods, saving warehouse rent, and rot!
lo
other expenses incident to holding over goods for
chance of higher prices by private contract.
There is nothing particular to notice connected wit
the gold fields, except that the dangerous course vibt;
the Government were about to adopt in licensing pub
houses for the sale of spirits at the digging! has D7A
abandoned. The bill for this measure was introdef
into the Legislative Council by the Attorney-Gene/
but public opinion was very properly opposed to it,
it was thrown out by a small majority. Sad it 7,0
carried the evil consequences, I fear, would have b_s
appalling. The pursuit of the gold digger is of itE;
one of the most intense excitement, and it being follefo
mostly by a class possessing so little self-control, tne,
obvious, as has been justly remarked, that "gold-diggir;
and spirit-drinking cannot, consistent with the gentet is
safety, go together." The " sly-grog selling," 36 cable
called, exists at the mines, no doubt, to a conside
extent, and to put this down was one of the argenLell
of the framers of the bill ; but I am satisfied that is (71fy
tating the sale of spirits would have increased the
mand gnd consumption on the whole very greatly, tnf
There has just been compiled an accurate accooni vlvc,
the,quantity and value of the gold produced by the . ,
toria Mines in the year 1852, which I quote for th..e:r°,
formation of your readers. In the year 1852, it 06
pears that the total number of ounces raised from en
various mines in Victoria was 4,475,247, which' "
at 31. 10s. per ounce, produces the sum of 14,16000
sterling. With such wealth you might well suPP,Ii.
that everything conducive to the comfort of the ir
habitants which internal improvements and aneor
cient police could effect would be speedily 3,c-011
pushed. It is far, otherwise, however. N°",„; bi
are public improvements of every kind retarely—
the very high price of labour, which I have jaoil
former letters adverted to, but there is a
apathy and indifference to all public business 1;e1
vading the community. Neither the merchant, to
the shopkeeper, nor the professional man, ofres„bliG
step out, even for a brief space, into the arena ofPc-elis
usefulness, for the hours and the minutes just,s„,ilof
period are too richly wealth-laden to them to an."
such a diversion of their thoughts. the
Altogether we must be content to take things 85 fo,li
are. The evils alluded to are, perhaps, inseparshlf
such a sudden and extraordinary change as, in Oe
covery of the gold fields, came over this vigorous ID °OO
13
colony, which I verily believe is destined to bec°',4
of the greatest commercial countries which the -
has beheld, either in ancient or modern times. , erg
P.S. —The delay of a couple of days in the oat!,
the Sarah Sands enables me to add a postscript, enlip's
mg the interesting intelligence that two more inas,;so
gold, of large size, have been discovered contign°'the
the spot whence the monster nugget was dug up) 04
two weighing together 163 lb.—Correspoitdcia 0./
Times.

STEAM ON CANALS.
Notwithstanding many attempts have bee° -,r{of
during the present century to introduce steam-p°w'itoll
canal haulage and navigation, to supersede the inile'ctii!
slow process of horse traction, nothing really elaeoir
has hitherto been accomplished, the principal iIO,V
ment having been the injury done to the canal rel. ti
by the liability of the banks to be washed doWe
the swell, occasioned by the action of the paddle.,.s:cer
trial, however, was made on the Leeds and vitioa
pool Canal on Saturday last, under the direcA
of Mr. William Laird, general manager, ain4l, 00'
J. Darlington, mining engineer of the Ince II"" tort'
and Cannel Company, which was highly satisfac,io
and bids fair to establish this great desideratunl,kier
canal is unusually well adapted and highly fa,voury
the change ; the distance from Wigan to l'iv.ceird
lgO
being 36 miles, with only one lock, and from u
to pley five miles, it is proposed to continue
haulage, and the remainder of the distanckrp
miles of level water, to use steam power. Mr. li3;141
first suggestions for the use of steam were "ptii
more with the view of certainty of delivery'
,Ittr
prevention fram pilfering, to which the cargoes aretV.
ject by the men, who dispose of small portions on or
route, and stop at beer-houses instead of sleePle.pli
board their barges ; while the company, having teem,
their own boats and waggons, it becomes of iinpostoci;
to get as much as possible out of their carrying 5 froll,
as they pay in tolls alone to railways and canals dt,
30,0001. to 40,0001. per annum, their yearly Ye
coal being nearly 400,000 tons. Cot'
The steamer employed on this occasion was the
queror, belonging to Mr. Inshaw, engineer, Biriniriga for
—the first steam canal vessel that ever answere sfol
passenger traffic, and she has now made a succesde
trial in connection with canal coal traffic. She proceseeol
from Liverpool to Appley Lock on Friday with sect rr
empty barges, at a speed of four miles an hour, e',_rgef
turned on Saturday with four loaded coal ual,,io
40 tons each, 160 tons in all, towing them of
the greatest case at the rate of twn Miles fel,
a half per hour. The engine is but 6-horse PO t 0
cylinders 6 in. diameter, 10-in. stroke ; she liasef,
screws, one on each side the rudder, 23 in. dinl3l;;ti
They worked most satisfactorily, there being 3
. absence of swell ; in fact, not more than is product:4oJ
horse traction. The re-action of a right--and lett
screw prevents all disturbance of the water at the 01,1,
of the vessel, and she is gently propelled witll
the least vibration. This rate of 21
hour is as rapid a speed as the company
the principal object being the prevention of °, it
and regular conveyance. The trial was inn top,
satisfy the directors of the canal that the P vro;
adaptation of steam-power would not injure theirtiov
perty ; and Mr. Birkbeek (a director), Mr. Te
(secretary), and Mr. Stanley (engineer), were id
pleased with the results, that they then arrangeoibef
?Ir. Inshaw for further experiments, to allow
e5OlO
directors to witness them. The practical d
show a large saving by steam-power ; t hostJo,
sent cost of haulage is 101 id. per ton ; by torge'
power the tug would carry 35 tons, and foue„K
following, 40 tons each, making a total of
which would make two trips per week., ;wool,
of two trips in three weeks, as at present, a°l-`4,a,
deliver in Liverpool 390 tons, at a charge of 1c05";
ton, effecting a clear saving of 6d. per ton on cane' toth,i
and as it is proposed to connect a drum and era°,
engine, ca--... 11 boat will discharge their own cargl3;sicir
thus effect a further saving in terminal expenses• t DI,
the gentlemen already named, there were preen
Barton, firm of Barton and Windus, coal pro Prod;
Liverpool ; Mr. Kegg, of Kirklees Hall Coal C° of
Mr. Braithwaite Poole, general goods manngeri,,
London and North-Western Railway ; Messrs.,
and Son ; Mr. Smith, firm of Alex. Smith n°"
Mr. Murray ; and other gentlemen interested.
vireref
On the following Thursday the experiments
newed, at the express cost of the Leeds Canalec•lroeccci
in the presence of Mr. Aldam, of Leeds ; Alr• 13ittend,o
of Settle ; and Mr. Myers, alarge proprietor, a. „.1)t,
by the secretary and engineer to that comPelltlie ha
the results were still more favourable than on
jot
trial. We cannot, therefore, doubt for a i°01; trae,h
entire success of the plan, since the economy 'OOO4,
and certainty of delivery thus attained is quite_ oitrj
to extend the operation of this very praiseworthe Kit
prise on the part of Mr. W. Laird througlaout.,„ot
systems of this country at least ; but improven-bilitls,
gradually, if not rapidly, demonstrate the fettiriciete;
attaining greater speed, and therewith a largevorip3tiof
ing ratio of saving, to the mutual profit of coal e otg,re
and canal proprietors, and the general advi'

society.—Mining Journal.
2r a
TEMPERANCE REFORM.—On Friday afteronectioo
instant, a private conference of ladies interest:l,e ,coc'o
erieusiddeednc numerous,l
ras2n.od,
StoweF highlyinsbubryu respectable,
Finsbury-circus.
froc
Temperance Reformation was held at pr. I.o'
thatof
health. Several members of the committeethe
National Temperance Society, with the secretstV
rusthe TashtneadteaWtotOefUnalielb VI: a 'ill':
iaa
also present, one of whom, S. Bo 1 Ego
w.y, _ circa cc:
chair. An address, intended for general
(11.0'
among Englishwomen, was read, approve, 3sr t 1
irr
for publication to a committee, consisting e'
S. Balfour and Mrs. Dunlop, of London ; I\lll' eci'fl
r 7
son, of TottenhamEllis, of Hoddesdon ; so bll;
Bowly, of Gloucester. The conference lasted t i,a
and elicited much pleasing conversation, whidl fora
lieved, will issue in the adoption of rnes'ti•eeats
more extensive diffusion of temperance seotn,rder
practice among females of every rank rinc'
soc
THE iety.
-V iectiotitbe
VACANT ALDERMANIC GOWN. Thee
c3sttic.
Sir John Key to the chamberlainship render' root 6 ro
ward of Bridge Without, to which the hon.
ceeded on the death of the late Sir Claudia 7e--0 torof
1851. The alderman of this ward has no rlseivaer
form ; and, as it is generally looked upon S,snor A, feel
retirement for some aged incumbent, the 5' eboeliisol,
man has always the option of taking it, if bent in '„411
disposed to do so. When it became vaea—iijing
Alderman Thompson, M.P., preferred rem:, tbe_,„,
his constituents in Cheap ward, and declin yowl J;ei,t
cure, and then it fell to the choice of biribe flier fete
who accepted it, resigning Cornhill. On be eoil
occasion, it must again, as a matter of cout%eilig
to Alderman Thompson, and upon his de.cll.,,,ter rtrLa-
is understood he will do, it will fall to Sir the oan
ro
(elected 1826), and, in case of ii refusal
oqots,tiofl,ooo
knight, it will go to the next alderman
oif ;he Alcierciii4
so on. The following are the names s;rec;
who thave passed the chair of Lord 1110—their ree`piP
below Sir Peter Laurie, with the dates tmr.
tive elections. Mr. Farebrother (1826)/ Sir
(1829), Mr. Kelly (1830), Mr. Wilson (18°810, Sir or,
man Marshall (1832), Mr. HumphrY (, ,18.10)too'
liam Magnay (1838), Sir George Carroll() k'gr443).
Hooper (1840), Sir Jas. Duke, M.P. (18.,,,,-4 ~)nter ('‘,ol`./,
combe (1841), Mr. Musgrove (1842), Mr. -"-'-'oosege'irerf.`
One or other of the wards of the City Will c nod oe ot+
become vacant, and rumour has ahead), ns 1i0°414
gentlemen as desirous of securing alderionej cest,eoP,
Amongst those most prominently mentiooe',Vnce
evening are Mr. Swift, M.P , Mr. Cottereio off
Donald Nicoll, all of whom. have filled t 4./
sheriff. This enTtHleommalsn,
wilhAol:LioroFneTartrEly 01411,10.11/
important position in the secretar:l:BsTd; ee3f::"-r'te ""1,1 'cvssn'st' stefretvti:l::
Eastern Counties Railway leaves the color' oftly teo
ec .8
in July next, much to the 'regret of a large, 010
the shareholders, and almost every individoTtoes. sior
with the company, who held him in high ebrieV
believe Mr. Hall intends proceeding to Acne
ein AM%