The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-30 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN LAND AND MINING
COMPANIES.

The following communications have been re-
ceived from the Australian Land and Mining Com-
panies :
NORTH BRITISH AIISTRALASIAN.—The North Bri-
tish Australasian Company have received advices by the
Overland Mail trom Mr. Mackay, at Sydney, to the
20th September, and from Mr. Beeger, at Kawau, to
the 2d of August last. Mr. Mackay's letters, relating
chiefly to the general business of the company in Aus-
tralia, and advising further consignments of wool and
tallow, continue to be satisfactory. Mr. Beeger states
that the engine had been at work for a fortnight ; that
it is well got up and performs the work admirably ; and
that the saving of fuel in comparison with the former
engines, is immense. The water would have been
pumped out of the mine some time before had they not
had the trouble about the inlined shaft from the 14 fathom
to the 24 fathom in Sea Shaft, where a great deal of ground
bad to be broken away, and probably more would have
to be removed before dropping the pumps. Mr. Beeger
adds, that he hopes in his next letters to be able to ad-
vise that the mine is all dry, and that they have begun
mining in earnest.

" PORT PHILIP AND COLONIAL. The Port-Philip
and Colonial Gold Mining Company have received ad-
vices from their resident director up to the 22d of
September. The Legislative Council of Victoria had
met on the 21st of September, and the Governor, who
had recently returned from a tour of inspection to
the gold fields, had stated his intention of granting
leases of land for mining purposes, and it was hoped
the regulations necessary to carry out this measure
would be shortly promulgated. The resident director
had caused several surveys tobe made by the company's
mining engineer of tracts of mineral ground, in order to
take advantage of any favourable opportunity for car-
rying on mining for the company. The purchase of gold
and smelting were being carried on, though on a limited
scale, owing to the high price of gold.
"ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN COPPER. —The English
and Australian Copper Company have received advices
from their recently-appointed manager, Mr. Hamilton,
announcing his arrival at Adelaide on the 3d of Sep-
tember. He had made a cursory inspection of the com-
pany's works aid property, and states that the smelting
department was at a stand, owing to the absence of
labour and cartage power. There was a prospect of
labour becoming more abundant, and the rate of wages
had fallen considerably. It was expected that a detailed
report could be sent in about a month.

" COLONIAL GOLD.—The Colonial Gold Company
have advices to the Gth of September. At Louisa Creek
the lode of gold quartz during the last few days had
greatly improved, but the washings had been rather less
productive. At Ophir little further had been effected,
and the appearances were more for silver lead than gold.
At Tambaroora great progress had been made in getting
up the machinery and works, and it was hoped to corn-
menc?. with 12 head of stamps by January. The vein at
this spot continues to look well. There were 120 tons
of ore at the surface, which it was estimated would pro-
duce four ounces to the ton."