The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-27 00:00:00

VAN DIEMEIV'S LAND.

We have been favoured with the following private
letter, addressed to his partners here in London, by a
gentlemen who left this country in the autumn of last
year. The effect of the gold discoveries in New South
Wales on the prospects of the neighbouring colony is
strikingly brought out :
" On board the Yarra. Yarra steamer, River Tamar,
" Van Diemen's Land.
" I am just returning from a rapid trip to Hobart
Town, and though it has been a flying visits I am de-
lighted with the island. It is really magnificent in its
scenery, luxurious in its gardens, and the climate is
delicious. I left Melbourne early on Friday morn-
ing—had a beautifully calm passage (though sick all
the time), and arrived in Launceston at twelve o'clock

on Saturday noon----about 250 miles. Left by five
o'clock on Sunday morning coach for Hobart Town—

a beautiful ride of 120 miles on roads superior to any-
thing in Engiftnd, and got into Hobarton, as it is now
called, by six in the evening. Hobart Town is a de-

lightful dace, and I am really in love with it, though
I so completely devoted myself to business, that I did
not get beyond a circuit of one street round the inn I

put up at.

Launceston—and I should have told you I saw some-
thing of it in the few hours I have been in it, though
very inferior to Hobart Town, is a nice clean town, sur-
rounded by beautiful scenery. The river (Tamar) re• •
minds me much of the trip down the Dart on our way
to the ship, and both you and your bairns would be
glad to live on its banks. The gangs of convicts at first
shock one's feelings, but you do not see much of them,
and they never speak or molest you. Opinion here is
divided upon the advantages of discontinuing the send-
ing of convicts out ; and certainly, whatever may
have been their moral effects, they have done much
in converting the colony in a comfortable, well-ap-
pointed settlement, with respect to roads, bridges, fences,
and all other such advantages. When Melbourne will
arrive at such a condition, with free labour, I cannot
guess—at least, under its present government ; and I
expect, on returning, to feel moretha,n ever its miserable
dig and rattle-trap want of comfort. Robbery and crime
are certainly much more to be feared in Melbourne than
in ti an Diemen's Land ; and were business prospects as
bright in the latter as in the former place, I should im-
mediately shift my quarters.
"I have had but one day in Hobart Town;--having
left by the 6 o'clock morning coach yesterday, and got
into Launceston again last night, where I stayed till 3
to-day, when the steamer started for Melbourne. I
brought nothing with me but a coat for this trip, and
have had to buy a shirt, borrow a razor, and so on—for
I left Melbourne at half-an-hour's notice, and had not
time to go home for my bag. For family folks, Hobart
Town seems admirably adapted, nor need any man fear
making a good living, and probably a fortune. The change
of things is astonishing, for the effects of the gold
have already greatly affected all the colonies. Eighteen
months ago, Hobarton and Launceston folks were only
making good headway, but now they are coining money
as fast as in Melbourne. All their produce is bought
up at enormous prices for Melbourne, and at this time
hay is dearer than flour, though the latter is 281. per
ton, while hay is 301., and oats 20s. a bushel. Timber
is equally high, and people are actually making from
2001. to 1,0001. a week, by cutting and sawing, and
selling it, on grants of land they had previously secured
at U. per 500 acres.
"As to the people, or rather the diggers, who are
making or finding fortunes, many or most of them
squander their money away like dirt. While lam
writing, a man is telling of a friend who has returned,
married a servant girl, stood 501. for a dinner, gave the
publican (who is telling the story) a new suit of clothes,
and his wife a gold watch ; at the dinner, another digger
insisted on spending 301. in champagne, and the dinner
bill, in the end, amounted to 1001. This kind of thing
is continually going on, and publicans make fortunes in
twelve months. Our friend the surgeon has determined
on returning to England, and will probably come back
by the Barrackpeor-- he might do very well, but cannot
reconcile himself to the state of things.
" You must not expect congruity in this letter, for I
am writing it in the saloon of a beautifully-fitted up
steamer, which is crammed with successful diggers, re-
tired publicans, and other noisy members of our mo-
neyocracy, and as I cannot read or think, must write
gossip. We have just dropped anchor off George
Town (nine o'clock), and must remain till morning
to be cleared, i.e., we roust prove to the officer that
we are not runaway convicts, and as a clergyman and
some other innocents have been arrested in mistake

(having been sworn to be convicts by the constable,
who gets a reward), a similar honour may await me,
It is only two years in chains, and some innocent men

have suffered
you edmt-o I bearcause.reinagaoboodutme
noßtuat
ethoasiamv,e abluatrma
I may tell
magistrate's special certificate, and letters of recognition
from two principal merchants. Touching comforts,
I may tell you that I have not enjoyed a comfortable
bedroom since I left London till Sunday night, at the
Ship, at Hobarton, for even at Launceston I had to
sleep in a long ballroom, with stretchers in rows, with
chums who awoke me several times in the night to offer
brandy and lemonade, of which they had taken a supply
up to bed. Rents and all other matters are getting
nearly as dear in the island as in Melbourne ; and in the
latter place, in " genteel boarding-houses" you sleep
with six or eight beds in a small room ; dine, &c., with
twenty in as small a place, clean your own boots, pay
extra for almost everything, besides your 50s. a week.
I must close for mail. " Yours truly.
"March 30, 1853."

CUSTOMS' FACILITIES IMPORTANT NEW REGULA.
TioNs.--The Customs authorities have—with reference
to the regulations by which certain free goods, and
goods subject to low rates of duty, have been allowed,
upon due entry, to be delivered by the officers of the
Water-guard Department—issued directions that those
officers may be authorised to allow poultry and other
perishable' articles, arriving before or after the legal
hours of business; to be passed by the officers of tho
Water-guard previously to entry, subject to the follow-
ing regulations, viz. :—That application for the delivery
of the goods be, in every instance, made by the im-
porters or their agents to the Inspectors of the River at
the Custom-house within the legal hours, who are to
issue directions for the passing of the articles, either
after the legal hours on that day or before the legal hours
on the succeeding day, provided that they shall be sa-
tisfied that the same are of so perishable a nature as to
render it necessary that they should be discharged be-
forewith appth reo
R eero
oeinvtorry
octa nF
ibnee
sp
atsoseckoi'ver the amount of any
duty which may be payable; andt afurthiehro expense
tswe ofith
the Inspectors of the Fiver, o defray
the extra attendance of the officers when employed after
six o'clock, from or before six o'clock a.m., during the
summer months, and after four o'clock p.m., or before
seven o'clock a.m. during the winter rr onths, at the fol-
lowine rates, viz., for the Tide Surveyor 2s. per hour;
one i• mar! 6d. ; the Tide-waiter actin; as bookeeper,
6d. ; and die proper officers have received directions
accordingly to that effect.
' PREVENTION OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—A plan has
j ist been adopted ou the Belgian Railway which is likely
t) be attended with great advantages. It consists in
fixing on each side of the locomotive a looking glass, in
which the engine-driver can see the whole of the train
reflected, and will be thus enabled to stop the engine if
he should observe anything amiss.
MARRIAGE OF DUKE DE BRABANT.-At the Mint of
Brussels 20,000 pieces of five fi ancs has just been struck
with the effigies of the Duke and Duchess de Brabant.
A certain number of pieces of 10 cent. are also to be
struck with the heads of their Royal Highnesses.