The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-31 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS•

SYDNEY Aug. 11.—The official returns of the
acriculturitl produce of the province of New South
Wales for 1852 show a considerable decrease in the
quantity of land in cultivation, compared with the
previous year 1851. The immediate effect of the
discovery of gold was to throw out of tillage 21,414
acres, about a seventh of the whole area cultivated.
The high price of all kinds of produce and the un-
certainty of the profits of gold-seeking will gra-
dually restore things to a healthier state, but not
ao rapidly as could be wished. The population
increases in a much greater ratio than the home-
grown supply of provision, and, with a super-
abundance of land, the colony depends for bread
mainly on the importation of flour from America.
In 'wheat, barley, maize, oats, hay, in every kind
of rural produce, there is a decrease from the
quantities raised in 1851, though, under ordinary
circumstances, the increasing population would
have led to an opposite result. On the other hand,
there has been an increase in live stock during
the same period • but, from the difficulty of
bringing it to the distant markets, the practice of
slaughtering cattle to boil down to tallow still
continues. This waste of human food on one point.
while it commands comparatively a high price at
another, will probably longremain one of the anoma-
lies of this riverless and roadless land. In one direc-
tion only has there been a slight progress; 36 acres
have been added in the past year to the quantity of
land cultivated with the vine; there are now nearly
2,000 acres of vineyard in the province, which
produced last year about 93,000 gallons of wine.
Nothing but the want of labour • prevents the
rapid development of this branch of colonial
industry. Some of the varieties of wine pro-
duced are very good, especially those from the red
grape; but even in the colony they are scarcely
known to commerce. The native wines are only
to be seen at the tables of the growers, or a few
amateurs, and to procure them some inquiry and
private negotiation are necessary. There is no es-
tablishment in Sydney through which samples of
colonial wine could be procured easily by the mass
of the public, who appear, indeed, ignorant of the
very existence of an article that grows almost at its
doors. No attempt has been made to create a taste
for it, though the most inferior qualities are pre-
ferable in every respect to the filthy colonial ale
poison, or to the fiery compound;
which is absolute
sold for brandy and rum, which are very little
better. The establishment of a " colonial wine
store" has sometimes been faintly talked of, but
nothing has been done to open a trade. Our real
vineyards are still on the other side of the world.
Meetings have been held at all the southern gold-
fields, to petition for a reduction of the present
license-fee from 30s. to 10s. a month. The agita-
tion against the tax has arisen exactly in proportion
with the number of competitors for the prizes of
the pursuit. It appears that the gold produced by
the Mount Alexander diggings, in the month of
July, was scarcely one-half the quantity raised
from them in the same month of 1852, though
from all the fields the diminution in the present
year is not greater than might be expected, consi-
dering the interruption of work lately by the
weather. But the population on the fields has so
increased that a much larger yield than that of last
year would not give an equal individual profit.
The diggers are addressing the Government in
forma pauperis, and assert, in the first paragraph
of their petition, that "in the present impoverished
condition of the goldfields, the impost of 30s. a
month is more than they can pay, as the fruit of
their labour scarcely affords them the common
necessaries of life." This is quite possible, and is, no
doubt, the experience of thousands, for the cost of
the necessaries of life in the goldfields of Victoria
would command most of its luxuries anywhere else.
But the assertion that the fields are impoverished
is not quite correct, and may mislead ; it is only
true of particular localities • the gold region has
not yet been explored, much less worked, to a frac-
tion of its extent, and the diggers' real resource is
in the new Bendigos and Ballarats that are yet to
be discovered. The mere reduction of the amount
of the license-fee, or, as it has been well-named,
the price of the ticket for the golden lottery," will
not help them much or for any length of time. A
further increase of the population on the old area will
make it as difficult to pay 10s. a month as it is now
to pay 30s. That so many men should cling to an
occupation they evidently feel is on the whole un-
profitable, while manual labour commands such
high wages in all parts of the colony, is a strong
proof of the peculiar fascination of the pursuit. At
the Castlemaine meeting it was stated by one of
the speakers that the population of the goldfields
is now four times as great as at this time last year,
and that the proportionate yield of gold is less than
at that period by 33 per cent. ; the chance of an
individual digger has therefore sunk in value from
about 1/. to 7s. This, as it is a digger's calculation,
will be worth the consideration of new arrivals.

There is no intelligence of any interest from the
northern (or Sydney) fields. Complaints of the
floods, the roads, and the delay of the mails, make
up the bulk of the news. A correspondent of the
Sydney Empire gives an account of the discovery,
working, and loss of a very rich vein called the
" Golden Gulley," on a portion of the M'lvor field.
It disappeared suddenly in a plain, and all efforts
to hit it again were unsuccessful. The social effects
of this caprice of nature were soon apparent. The
party, having "prospected" on all sides of the
golden thread without result, returned to the sta-
tion at M'lvor, and found a considerable change "
From a bustling place of 50,000 inhabitants it had
dwindled to one-half that number, and, with the de-
crease of gold, its glory had departed. Crowds of idle,
listless men were walking about, seeking excitement in
auction-marts, and watching the drilling of cadets.
Storekeepers stood at their doors with arms akimbo,
and looked weary ; doctors were fain to add to their
earnings by keeping little petty stores, and dealing in
onions and puddling tubs. Refreshment shops were
deserted, and the effervescing lemonade lost its fizzing
by mere inanition. Dealers in old tools and cradles
were overwhelmed with stock, and yet, with all these
signs of a general decay, some infatuated people were
putting up fresh stores. As the gold of M'lvor de-
creased, so did its rascality increase. I have never heard
of any diggings where so much petty larceny was car-
ried on as at M'lvor ; for the first time, I believe,
washing dirt was stolen away from the bottom of holes
nine and fourteen feet deep, and from alongside the creek
where it had been carted to be rocked. Tools and even
windlasses were taken away, and nothing, from a frying-
pan to a cradle was safe. Saddles, pistols, cattle, and
tubs were lost every night, and some ingenious scoun-
drels, fertile in rascally expedients, used to prowl about
the tents nightly, get up a sham fight among themselves,
and, when the diggers came out of their tents to view
the row, some of their outside comrades would steal into
the huts and take whatever was most valuable. A little
Lynch law, mildly administered, would doubtless have
had an excellent effect in deterring some of these gen-
tlemen from prosecuting their nocturnal freaks. Police
protection was merely nominal—the force was insuffi-
cient to keep so large a population in order. Bushranging
was very common, and this class of offenders when
caught experienced very rough usage from their captors,
a condemnable practice, and one too common in this
country, where officials of a certain class are apt to con-
found crime with the criminal. Gagging violently, and
striking offenders heavily on the head, are not gentle
appliances to make a reckless man compunctious. Cer-
tainly, Wlvor had a scurrilous population, and kept
the commissioner and his men pretty busy."
The robbery of Castlemaine and Melbourne
gold escort has created a deep sensation through-
out the colony, as no similar deed of violence,
so daringly planned and executed, has occurred
since the worst period of the old days of the " bush-
rangers." It has shaken public confidence in the
security of this mode of conveying such amounts
of treasure. The Sydney Gold Escort Company
has thought it prudent to increase its force on
the road; and, as this involves expense, it has
raised its charge for carriage, and being compelled
to make another call on the shareholders.
The Government of Victoria has offered a re-
ward of 5001. for the apprehension of each .of the
robbers, or 1,0001. per head, if the whole of
them are captured. To any accomplice giving
the required information a free pardon will be
granted, a free passage from the colony, and a
guarantee o• protection while in it. None of
the gang have yet been taken.
From the 23d of July to the 11th of Aug.,
escorts have brought down to Sydney,
from the
New South Wales goldfields, 8,3390 z., value
about 30,0001._

The effect of the winter season in diminishing
the quantity of gold raised by
from the.
Victoria. miners is
very perceptible in the last returns
ffor all the
The produce of the month of
fields is little more than half thaP the
month last year. On a rough calculation,o"'re
population in the goldfields is about 100,000,_
a great increase on the numbers at work last
season. The largest amount of gold obtained
was raised in the month of October, 1852 ; ed
and
since that period the yield has gradually de_
creased notwithstanding the augmented popula-
tion and the greater amount of labour expended
by it.
The price of gold at Melbourne for shipment is
Vs. 6d. an oz., with a short supply. In Sydney,
for very fine samples, 78s. 3d. an oz. has been ob-

tained:
The delegates appointed by the gold diggers to
present their petition have had an interview with
Mr. Latrobe. His Excellency, in reply to their
address, stated that he could not consent to any
alteration in tte amount of the license fee, but
that he was disposed to consider favourably their
representations on the other points referred to in
the memorial. On the northern goldfields the fee
is paid without difficulty, the diggings being in
their infancy.
The first electric telegraph on the Australian con- I


tinent will be laid down by the Government of Vic-
toria, which has just called for tenders for con-
structing a line from Melbourne to William's town,
on the shore of the bay.
The lost box containing 10,000/, in sovereigns
has been recovered from the bed of the Yarra, by
means of a diving-bell, and safely conveyed to the
Union Bank.
An American vessel having arrived from one of
the South Sea Islands with the smallpox among the
passengers,
.some of whom managed to land, war-
rants were issued for their apprehension, and they
were again placed in quarantine. The disease is
yet unknown to the colony, but from the large
number of immigrants and foreign: ships arriving,
it is feared it may at some time be introduced with
fatal results, as comparatively few of the whole
population have been vaccinated. A bill is about
to be introduced making vaccination compulsory.
Mr. Thurlow's bill, remodelling the corporation
of Sydney, has been rejected by a large majority of
the Council. The municipal body has fallen into
such contempt by its jobbery, squabbling, and
neglect of all its duties, that the public would see it
superseded by a Government commission with per-
fect indifference.--Times Sydney Correspondent.

NEWS BY THE OVERLAND MAIL.

THE INDIAN ARMY—THE RELIEFS.
(Prom the Calcutta Englishman.)

HEAD-QUARTERS, SIMLA, Aug. 26.—With the sanc-
tion of the-Most Noble the Governor-General of India
in Council, the following movements of corps and de-.
tachments for 1853-54 are directed to take place on the
dates and in the order specified :
HORSE ARTILLERY.--Ist troop Ist brigade, from
Peshawur to Meerut, when relieved by the Ist troop 2d
brigade, and Ist troop 3d brigade ; 2d troop Ist brigade,
from Peshawur to Jullundur, ditto, ditto ; 3d troop Ist
brigade, from Meerut to Sealkote, on the 15th of No-
vember, 1853; head-quarters 2d brigade, from Umballah
to Lahore, when relieved. by the head-quarters of 3d
brigade ; Ist troop 2d brigade, from Umballah to
Peshawur, on the 15th of October, 1853 ; 2d troop 2d
brigade, from Sealkote to Lahore, on the Ist of Novem-
ber, 1853 ; 3d troop 2d brigade, from Umbailah to La-
hore, with head-quarters, when relieved by 2d troop 3d
brigade ; head-quarters 3d brigade, from Lahare to Um-
ballah, on arrival of the 2d troop 2d brigade ; Ist troop
3d brigade, from Lahore to Peshawur, to join the Ist
troop 2d brigade on its reaching Lahore, and to proceed
in company ; 2d troop 3d brigade, from Lahore to Urn-
ballah, with the head-quarters, on arrival of 2d troop 2d
brigade ; 3d troop 3d brigade, from Jullundur to Um-
ballah, on arrival of the 4th company, Ist battalion, fodt
artillery.
FOOT ARTILLERY.-Ist company lstbattalion, and No.
10 horse field battery, from Sealkote to Peshawur, on the
15th of October, 1853 ; 2d company Ist battalion, from
Jullundur to ovindgurh, ditto ;3d company Ist bat-
talion, and No. 17 horse field battery, from Peshawur to
Sealkote, when relieved by the lot company let batta-
lion, and No. 10 horse field battery ; 4th company Ist
battalion, from Govindgurgh to Jullundur, when re-
lieved by 2d company Ist battalion ; head-quarters
2d battalion, from Lahore to Peshawur, on the Ist
of November, 1853 ; Ist company 2d battalion, and
No. 7 horse field battery, from Lahore to Peshawur,
ditto ; 2d company 2d battalion, from Lahore to
Peshawur, ditto ; 3d company 2d battalion, from Lahore
to Peshawur, on the arrival of the head-quarters, and Ist
and 3d companies 4th battalion, with No. 19 battery ;
4th company 2d battalion, from Lahore to Peshawur,
ditto, ditto ; 4th company 3d battalion, from Feroze-
pore to Mooltan, on the Ist November, 1853 ; head-
quarters, 4th battalion, from Peshawur to Lahore, on
the arrival of the head-quarters, and Ist and 2d compa-
nies, 2d battalion, with No. 7 battery, making over the
mountain train battery to 2d company, 2d battalion ; Ist
company 4th battalion, from Peshawur to Lahore, ditto,
ditto ; 2d company, 4th battalion, frsm Peshawur to
Lahore, on the arrival of 3d and 4th companies 2d bat-
talion ; 3d company 4th battalion, and No. 19 horse
field battery, from Peshawur to Lahore, with the head-
quarters, on the arrival of the detachment, 2d battalion ;
4th company, 4th battalion, from Peshawur to Lahore,
on the arrival of the 3d and 4th companies 2d battalion ;
head-quarters sth battalion, from Pegu to Dum-Duin,
as soon as Government may please to sanction the mea-
sure. Ist company 6th battalion, from Agra to Cawn-
pore, when relieved by the 2d company, to which No. 8
light field battery will be transferred ; 2d company 6th
battalion, from Cawnpore to Agra, date to be fixed
hereafter ; 4th company 6th battalion, from Mooltan to
Ferozepore, on being relieved by the 4th company 3d
battalion.

LIGHT CAVALRY.-3d Regiment, from Nowgong to
Meerut, when relieved by the 6th Regiment ; sth Regi-
ment, From Nakodah to Ferozepore, on the 15th of No-
vember ; 6th Regiment, from Meerut to Newgong, on
the Ist of November • Bth Regiment, from Ferozepore
to Nakodah, when relieved by the sth regiment.
IRREGULAR CAVALRY.-3d Regiment, from Bareilly
to Jhansi, when relieved by the 13th Regiment ; 4th Re-
giment from Jhansi to Jullundur, when relieved by the
3,1 Regiment ; sth Regiment, from Mooltan to Sealkote,
when relieved by the 6th Regiment ; 6th Regiment,
from Sealkote to Mooltan, on the Ist of November ; 9th
Regiment, from Jhelum to Horsheyarpore, when re-
lieved by the 18th Regiment ; 10th Regiment, from Se-
gowlee to Goordaspore, when relieved by the 12th Regi-
ment ; 12th Regiment, from Jullundur to Segowlee, on
the 15th October 1853 ; 13th Regiment, from Goor-
daspore to Bareilly, when relieved by a wing of the
14th Regiment ' • 14th Regiment, from Hosheyarpore to
Lahore, on the 15th October, 1853—detaching a wing
to Goordaspore on the Ist October for duty at that sta-
tion till the arrival of the 10th Regiment ; 18th Regi-
ment, from Lahore to Jhelum, when relieved by the
head-quarters and wing of the 14th Regiment.
EUROPEAN INFANTRY.—Her Maj esty's 10th'Regimen t,
from Wuzeerabad to Umballah, when relieved by her
Majesty's 61st Regiment ; her Majesty's 18th Royal
Irish, from Pegu to England, when relieved by the 2d
European Eengal Fusiliers. Her Majesty's 22d Regi-
ment) from Rawul Pindee to Peshawur, when relieved
by her Majesty's 87th Regiment. Her Majesty's 32d
Regiment, from Peshawur to Kussowlie and Subathoo,
when relieved by her Majesty's 22d Regiment ; her
Majesty's 52d Regiment, from England to Meerut, on
arrival in India, to proceed by water as far as Allaha-
bad, and thence to march by land to its destination ;
her Majesty's 53d Regiment, from Peshawur to Dug-
shaie, when relieved by her Majesty's 75th Regiment ;
her Majesty's 61st Regiment, from Kussowlie and
Subathoo to Wuzeerabad, on the Ist of November,
1853 ; her Majesty's 70th Regiment, from Cawnpore to
Ferozepore, when relieved by her Majesty's 81st Regi-
ment ; Her Majesty's 85th Regiment, from Umballah
to Peshawur on arrival of the left wing from Agra,
which is to move on the Ist of November, 1853 ; her
Majesty's 80th Regiment, from Pegu to England, when
ordered by Government ; her Majesty's 81st Regiment,
from England to Cawnpore, on arrival in India, to pro-
ceed by water as far as Allahabad, and thence to march
by land to its destination ; her Majesty's 87th Regiment,
from Ferozepore to Rawul Pindee, on the 25th Novem-
ber, 1853 • her Majesty's 98th Regiment, from Dugshaie
to Fort William, on the 20th October, 1853—t0 march
to Gurmucktesir Ghaut, and thence proceed by country
boats to Allahabad, and then by steamers ; Hon. Com-
pany's 2d European Bengal Fusiliers, from Fort William
to Pegu, when relieved by her Majesty's 98th Regiment
—by sea.
NATIVE INFANTRY.-4th Regiment, from Rawul Pin-
dee td Peshawbr, on the Ist November, 1653 ; 6th Re-
giment, from Benares to Jawulpoor, by water, on the
Ist October, 1853 ; 12th Regiment, from Mooltan to
Newgong and Jhansi, when relieved by the 55th Regi-
ment ; 14th Regiment, from Dinapore to Mooltan, on
the 15th October, 1853 ; 18th Regiment, from Feroze-
pore to Bareilly, orders to be sent direct • 24th Regi-
ment, from Gorruckpore to Wuzeerabad, when relieved
by the 32nd Regiment ; 30th Regiment, from Jumaul-
pore to Agra, when relieved by the 6th Regiment ; 32d
Regiment, from Wuzeerabad to Gorruckpore, on the
Ist ctob er, 1853 ; 34th Regiment, from Wuzeerabad
to Lucknow, when relieved by the 62d Regiment ; 35th
Reginient, from Lucknow to Sealkote, when relieved by
the 34th Regiment.

NATIVE INFANTRY.-38th Regiment from Sylhet to
Cawnpore, date of move will be hereafter communicated;
40th Regiment from Rangoon to Dinapore, when relieved
by the 65th Regiment, by sea to Calcutta, and to march
thence ; 41st Regiment from Mooltan to Etawah and
Mynpoorie, when relieved by the 14th Regiment ; 45th
Regiment from Bareilly to Ferozepore, when relieved
by the 18th Regiment ; 47th Regiment from Jhelum to
Rangoon, on the 15th September, 1853 ; to march to
Gurniucktesir Ghaat, and thence proceed by country
boats to Calcutta, and then by sea to Rangoon ; 51st
Regiment from Jullundur to Umritsir, on the Ist of No-
vember, 1853'; 55th Regiment, from Jhansi and Now-
gong to Mooltan, when relieved by a wing of the 60th
Regiment from Banciab and detachments from Gwalior;
59th Regiment from Hosheyaypbre to Jhelum, on arri-
val of. the 69th Regiment ; 59th Regiment from
Cawnpore to Jullundur, on arrival of the 63d Regi-
ment ; 62d Regiment, Etawah and Mynpoorie to Wu-
zeerabad, when relieved by detachments from Futteh-
gurb and Alleygurh ; 63d Regiment, from Sealkote to
Cawnpore, on the Ist of November, 1853 ; 65th Regi-
ment, from Umritsir to Rangoon, on the 15th of Sept.,
1853, to march to Gurmucktesir Ghaut. awl thence pro-
ceed to country boats to Calcutta, and then by sea to
Rangoon. 66th Regiment, from Peshawur to Rawul
Pindee, when relieved by the 4th Regiment, or at dis-
cretion of the officer commanding the Peshawur
; 67th Regiment, from Rangoon to Benares, when
relieved by the 47th Regiment, by sea to Calcutta, and
to march thence ; 69th Regiment, from Agra to Hos-
heyarpore, on the Ist of November, 1853.
SAPPERS AND MINERS.-3d company, from regiment
head-quarters to Simla, Ist of March, 1854, or after the
practice ; 4th company, from Lahore to regimental
head-quarters, on the 10th of October, 1853 ; sth com-
pany, from Simla to regimental head-quarters, on the
10th of October, '1853 ; 6th company, from Dugshaie to
regimental head-quarters, on the 10th of October, 1853 ;
1q Ou tahr t cr
so
,mopna ntly from
1 e,
10 til
fSealkoteOctober,
1t80537
nt regimentalh h
company,ead
regimental head-quarters to Dugshaie, on the Ist of
1853, or afterth edipvriaalcotlilcaea.
March,Offic lera commanding
effect to the foregoing orders withinre requested
their
respective to give
divisions.
Strict is to be paid to the standing regula-
sistvi7
t regula-
tions of the service, relative to the information required
to be given by commanding officers to the civil autho-
rities in the districts through which the routes of their
corps or detachments may lie ; to the transmission of
progress and other reports to head-quarters ; and, dur-
ing the absence of his Excellency, the Commander-in- I
Chief, from the Presidency, of duplicates of all such re-