The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-01 00:00:00

1,082
100,618

A.

SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 29.—8 y the Royal Mail
steam-ship Atrato we have received, via Panama,
accounts from Melbourne to the 3d of February,
being a few days later than were received by the
last overland mail.

In the Legislative Council of Victoria on the Ist
of February a bill for the extension of the fran-
chise to the diggers was introduced by the Colonial
Secretary. The New Constitution Bill had also
been considered, and a report on the Ovens
Mining Company Incorporation Bill presented to
the House.

The attention of the colonists was principally
directed to the means of defending Melbourne and
Port Philip from an attack by Russian cruisers in
the event of war, and the Melbourne papers were
chiefly occupied with discussions upon the subject.
It was proposed to raise a militia, to fit out gun-
boats, and to arm small steamers with Congreve
rocket batteries, for the destruction of any hostile
naval force that might approach the Australian
shores.

With regard to the wreck of the Marco Polo, the
following letter appears in the Argus from the com-
mander of that ship :
"The Marco Polo has been lightened of all her pas-
sengers and luggage, and a lighter is to-day taking off
the small portion of cargo she has on board. The greater
portion of her water (say 90 tons) has been started and
pumped out. Her top hamper has been sent down,
and it is confidently expected by Captain Ferguson (who
has been giving valuable assistance to me) that she will
be towed off to-morrow. The crew have worked most
cheerfully, only four having left the ship, which they did
the first night the vessel went on shore. The injury to
the windlass is so slight that it was in use yesterday.
The vessel has made no water since being on shore,
and does not show the slightest appearance of being in-
jured by straining or otherwise. Her false keel has not
suffered at all."

A subsequent announcement in the same paper
says :

"It is gratifying to be enabled to announce that this
celebrated vessel has been rescued from what appeared
inevitable destruction. A despatch was received from
her by Messrs. J. B. Were, Kent, and Co., Lloyd's
agents, on Monday, and Mr. Were immediately pro-
ceeded down with additional assistance, and, under the
able and judicious directions of Captain Ferguson, the
harbour-master, at 4 o'clock yesterday morning the ves-
sel was hove off and brought up into Hobson's Bay
about mid-day."

There was nothing new from the mines. The
correspondent of the Argus, writing from Bendigo,
says of the rich discoveries at Bryant's Ledge :
" These diggings are now pretty well understood here,
and, if some of the exaggerated statements have been
shorn of their brilliancy by the discovery of the truth, on
the other hand, it is pretty certain that on these ranges
a gold field has been discovered which, in respect to ex-
tent and richness, will take rank among the recognised
gold fields of Victoria, and that is saying a good deal.
From authentic information I believe that there are
about 6,000 or 7,000 people at work there, and 20 gul-
lies have been opened, in all of which gold has been
found. There are numerous other gullies untried, re-
sembling those which are in work, and there is every
likelihood that the gold deposits will be found to extend
over a considerable tract of country. The gullies are
deeper, and the adjacent hills steeper and higher than
those on the Bendigo. I have not heard of any main
creek or stream of water, but the gullies tend towards
the Loddon. The holes are about 16 or 20 feet deep in
general, but in some places not more than 4 or 5 feet.
The washing-stuff is pretty thick, being frequently
18 inches, and in some claims the diggers wash
the whole height of the drive. One hole has been sunk
to a depth of 60 or 70 feet, by a party of Germans, but
want of funds compelled them to abandon it. They
went through the first bottom, and finding, as it is
said, a deposit of gravel beneath it, they were induced
to persevere so long as they were able. In some
of the gullies the gold deposit is found in a narrow
gutter a few feet wide. Those who hit upon this
channel get washing-stuff which pays very well—as
much as three ounces t• the load in many cases. It
is expected that some very good hill-sinking will be
found, as many of the hills there have similar deposits
of pebbles and cemented clays and gravel to those
which are found on some of the hills at Forest
Creek and on the White Hills here. The richest
part yet struck is the flat which was first opened. Num-
bers continue to pour into the diggings, but many have
left, not seeing any probability of working the ground
with much profit in the present dry weather. It is their
intention, however, to return when the rainy season has
set in. Water is very scarce. There is hardly any for
washing, and the nearest extensive supply is at the
Loddon some eight miles off."

Gold was quoted 31. 16s. 9d., with a fair business
doing. Cash price for flour—firsts, 351. per
2,0001 b. ; seconds, 321. At M'lvor flour was 501.
a-ton. The import markets were generally un-
changed.
From New South Wales and Adelaide we have
no later accounts.