The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-07 00:00:00

PORT PHILLIP, Aua. 12.

COMBINATION 05' MECHANICS.—We have heard
with considerabL: pain that, during the last week sytnp-
torns have manifested themselves of a combination
amongst the journeymen carpenters and joiners of Mel-
bourne, for the purpose of obtaining from their em-
ployers a higher rate of wages. We have ever avowed
ourselves the warm friends of the mechanical portion of
our fellow colonists, and we are strongly of an opinion
that it is to them we are principally indebted for the
rapid advancement of colonial prosperity—it is for that
very reason that we are anxious to advocate their cause.
We are informed that on a previous occasion there
was a similar strike, and that the masters had to yield
and give them two shillings per day additional, and that
the same rate of advance.is at present demanded. With-
out entering upon the question whether twelve shillings,
the rate at present given, be a suffic.ent remuneration,
if thq persist in refusing to work unless upon the ra-
ceipt of fourteen thiltiugs per day, will not many of the
employers be forced to give up their business altogether,
or to execute their engagements at a ruinous loss ? As
a public journalist, having had such ample meats of
knowing the evils of combination, we consider it our
duty to raise our t °ice in condemnation of the present
attempt. .

PORT PHILLIP BANK.—At a general half-yearly
meeting of the Proprietors of the Port Phillip Bank,
held yesterday, it was resolved th.t there should be r:o
limitation to the number of shares held by any one in-
dividual. Other radical changes we arc informed are
in contemplation.
MERCANTILE ADVANCEMENT.-lt is astonishing to
those who, recollecting Melbourne in June, 1837, the
date of its foundation, a collection of mud huts, forming
a rickety hamlet, visited once a month by some coast-
ing schooner, now see a large and daily extending town-
ship, consisting of 5,000 inhabitants, and possessing a
trade equal to' many sea-port towns of a much older
growth. An example of this amazing increase, bringing
into view a comparative statement of our commerce in
1838, and that of the present year, strikes us at this
moment as aptly illustrative of our observations. One
ine,cantile house atone during the six months which
elapsed since 1840, has .received eleven ships, whose
agr, gate burden amounted to 60,200 tons, and im-
ported 2,000 emigrants, besides freight, at a value of
30,000/.
WHALES.—On Sunday last four fine whales made
chid: appearance in our bay. Captain Bowden irnme-
,'.i.::eiy fitted out two boats, and made chase, but with-
out success. Here there is another source of wealth
,All.l.out trouble or expense.

OUTLAWRY.--00 Tuesday Mr. Hemp, officer
to the Sheriffs of Middlesex. made proclamation at Hicks's-
ii,.:ll, by order of the said Sheriffs, in reference to the seve-
ral persons hereafter named, whom he called upon to sur-
rerrder into custody, by the return of the processes issued
in the cases herein named, in default of which they would
be severally outlawed—viz,, William Lodryer Freeston,
late of Air.street, Regent-street, to answer George Broad-
hurst. Mr. James Kettelby, late of Jones's Hotel, Covent-
garden, to answer George Green and others. Alexander
Prince, late of Chapel-place, Kentish-towl,, gentleman, to
answer Joseph Bebb. Robert Webber and Thomas Blani,
late of 43, Bedford.row, gentlemen, to answer Joseph
Bebb. John Levy, late of 2, Southampton-street, Morn-
ington.creseent to answer James Leslie. Gerald de
Conway, to answer John Meyer, sen , and others. Sir
Andrew Leith Hay, Bart., late of Fulham, to answer T.
Brookell and another. The Hon. Charles Manners Sut-
'on, to answer Thomas Brookell. William Henry Robin-
son and Hugh Mills Bunbury, of West Drayton, to answer
George Henty, Thomas Fulgar, and another.