The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-01 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

Amongst other papers just arrived from Australia
we have a number of the .31e/bourne Argus for
March the 25th, which gives us some excellent ma-
terials for the formation of a judgment as to the

present state of the colony. In the first place, the
very look of the Argus itself is suggestive. The
columns after columns of advertisements show that

the paper is published in the midst of a population
which is straining every nerve to make known all
its capabilities to the world, in order to create a
market. The people are all wanting to be known
by each other, and they do not seem to care for
much else. The mere literary portion of the paper
is small. The business part is overwhelming.
Passing over the shipping advertisements, we come
to that portion which relates to individuals.
Strange to say, we find but few advertisements put
forward by servants in search of masters. The
masters are, on the contrary, in a state of intense
anxiety for servants. "Female Servants," "Com-
petent Waiters," "Dra er's Assistants," "Three or
four BEctrariers;'"Millwrights," "Single meirki
cook," "Sharp active Boys," are at a fearful premium.
Plasterers are respectfully desired to work at the
rate of 2/. per dieni, something like 6001. a year.
One gentleman wishes to secure the assistance of two
men to make bricks. He humbly represents to them
that "Everything is ready to begin," that "tools,
grass, and wood shall be found, and that the terms
are—Half the bricks made." "A single man,"

as a carter, is advertised for to cut and cart one
load of wood per day. Poor fellow ! A smart
active young lady is required to do duty in a bar.
The possessor of a four-post bedstead lets the
world know that he is in possession of such a piece
of furniture by advertising it for sale " with or
without" bed or mattress. An errand boy is ad-
vertised for, and tempted with a salary of 301. a
year, with board, lodging, and washing. What an
opening for a multitude of poor curates. Copying
clerks ask for four pounds a week. Hear it,
Chancery•lane, Carey-street, and Bell-yard. In
the storm of business that is going on fine arts are
obliged to shift for themselves, and fare rather
badly. Under the head " Theatrical" we find
"Wanted, a Theatrical Wardrobe, or any portion
of a wardrobe." This seems to point to a terrible
state of destitution amongst the Hamlets and
Othellos. One of the painful features of the adver-
tisements is the number of notifications of the dis-
tress that is suffered by persons who are desirous
of meeting with relations or friends, but who ap-
pear to seek in vain. A complete crush of queries
is directed to persons, few of whom are likely to
see the paper, begging them to make public their
addresses. There is a separate column, headed
" Missing Friends," which is suggestive of an epos
of woe.

While the realities of life are so heavy, and en-
gage so much of the attention, .it can scarcely be
expected that the mere amusements, the luxuries,
should be equally prosperous. While everything
else seems at a fabulous price, theatrical entertain-
ments are at the level which they would attain in
the old country. The "Salle de Valentino" charges
only is. for the promenade, and 2s. 6d. for the dress
circle. This would almost induce a belief that the
" gent" becomes a man of business in the colony,
and only patronises the class of amusements which
engaged his attention in England in a moderate

way.
These are the lighter features which strike the
readers of the Australian paper. There are others
which discourse more eloquently and seriously. Tho
imports into the colony of Victoria—a creation of
yesterday—amounted to the astounding sum of
15,842,6371. in the year 1853. Of this sum more
than 13,000,0001. came from Great Britain and her
colonies. The exports from Victoria in the same
year were valued at 11,061,5431., of which more
than 10,000,0001. were sent to Great Britain and
her colonies. It must be remembered that this
trade is carried on by a population in the colony
averaging about 200,000 individuals. The imports,
therefore, were at the rate of nearly 801. a-head.
The Argus may well say that such a proportion
has no h
ar pallel in history. Te condition of the
labour market may be conjectured from the follow-
ing extract from the _Argus :
üblish the
" In another column of our paper we p
prices of the labour market at the present time ; and it
is a rather remarkable instance of its healthy state that
there is scarcely one single variation, one single fluctua-
tion, in the quotations from those we published more
than two months ago. Such a fact will speak volumes
for the steady condition of our social life. Labourers
on the roads still receive from 12s. to 15s. a day, with
the accommodation of tent, wood, and water. Carters
and bullock drivers earn with rations, on an average,
. from 21. to 31. 10s. a week. Carpenters are paid from
225. to 255. a day; and bricklayers, masons, and plas-
terers from 30s. to 355. a day. The greatest demand is
for mechanics of all descriptions engaged in house-build-
ing and for female servants ; the latter class is most
scarce ; they are eagerly sought for, and, let even the
highest price be given, it is difficult to find one who is
not untrained in her duties and ignorant of all the
wages,
domestic services required from her.
good English servant can almost name her Aown thoroughly
and enjoy at the same time a most comfortable home."
How great the channels of commerce opened to
us by our great colonies How paltry is the com-
merce with the fifty millions of the inhabitants of
Russia compared withthe quarter of a million of
Victoria ! Our colonies are supplying U 3 with
bone and muscle. It must be our duty to cherish
them, not by hampering restrictions, but by leav-
ing, them to the full enjoyment of their powers.

FARRINGDON-STREET EXTENSION. -- Yesterday the
demolition of a considerable number of houses was ill
progress in Silver-street, Turnmill-street, Charles-street,
Castle-strret, and Peter-street, Great gaffron-hill, to clear
the ground for the formation of this important thorough-
fare ; in addition to the above, the commissioners ap-
pointed by the City to carry out this improvement have
obtained possession of the houses required to be pulled
down in Coppice-row, Falcon-place, Ray-street, netts-
place, Mutton-hill, Vine-street, Onslow-street, and
Round-court, and in a few days their demolition will
oommcnce.