The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-10 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

By the arrival of the Catharina Adamson we
have received files of papers to the 17th of April.
We take the following from the Sydney Morning
Herald of April 16 :
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Assembly,
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members
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" Our last summary of news was forwarded on the let of
form
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Legislativeen been upwards
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of the contests have now been decided ; they have for the
most part been well contested, and the result is in a great
degree satisfactory, for there can be no doubt, judging from
the character and standing of many of the gentlemen re-
turned, that the wealth and intelligence of the colony will
be ably represented
" Tne members of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce
have been discussing, for some time past, the report of the
select committee of the Chamber, appointed on the 19th of
July last, 'to take into consideration the pre: ent Insolvent
Laws of the colony, and to report such alteration,. as they
may deem it advisable for the Chamber to petition the
Legislature to make in the existing laws.' Considerable
progress has been made, but these are yet several clauses
in the report to be brought under consideration. •
" The share market has been unusually quiet during
the past month, and few transactions of importance
have taken place. A considerable rise, however, has
taken place in Bank of New South Wales shares, and
a still further decline in the price of the shares of the
Australasian Steam Navigation Company. Bank of New
South Wales shares have been sold as high as 31/. 103.
per share. This rise is partly attributable to the scarcity of
stock in the market and the anticipation of a very favour-
able report. The last dividend was at the rate of 20 per
cent. per annum, and the reserve fund had increased to
100,0001. It is believed that the dividend due 31st of
March, which will be declared this month, will be equal 10,
if it does not exceed, the last. Commercial Bank shares
have been very firm at 401. per share. There is not so much
speculation in the shares of the company as there is in the
Bank of New South Wales, and its stock is therefore more
sought after for a permanent investment; their last
dividend was also at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum.
Australian Joint-Stock Bank shares are firmer than they
were laatisonth, and have been sold at 101. 10s. per share.
The Australian Gas Company Shares are inquired for. They li
have fluctuated between 81. 10s. and Si. 15s. per share. The
usual dividend is at the rate of 10 per cent. ; last half-year
they gave also a bonus of 10 per cent. Australasian Steam
Navigation Shares have been much depressed, and have
fallen from 131. to 121. per share. They paid no dividend
for the last half-year, and there is very little prospect of an
improvement at present, on account of competition. The
General Assurance Company and the New South Wales
Assurance Company have both suffered severe losses during
the last quarter, but their profits are large, and shares are
firm and in demand. The price of the General Assurance
is 71. 55., and the New South Wales Assutance 21. 2s.
Shares in the Gobi and Copper Mines are very dull, and,
with the exception of the Wentworth Gold Field and New-
castle Ce-al and Copper Companies, almost unsaleable. Go-
vernment Debentures have increased in value; they have
beets sold as high as 96 and the accrued interest. The
value of these debentures, which are issued for a term
of only five years, must increase as the time of paying them
off approaches, unless those confided uy the- Government
to the agency of the Bank of New South Wales—to be
sold at not less than 92j in England—should be returned.
It has been stated that small parcels have been sold on
the London Stock Exchange at satisfactory prices ; but as
regards the bulk of them no information has yet b.:en re-
ceived. The rise in debentures and bank stock is likely
to continue whilst the amount of securities paying a regu-
lar rate of interest is so limited compared with the capital
brought forward for investment.
"It is, we are informed, the intention of the Governor-
General to summon the new Parliament to assemble on
the 20th of the ensuing month.
"The extension of the line of railway from the Paira-
matte terminus to Liverpool is going on rapidly, and
will, without doubt, be completed by August next. A
large portion of the line is already formed, and the
principal works, such as the viaducts and bridges, are
in :a very forward state. The railway commissioners
within the last day or two went over the entire dis-
tance for the purpose of inspecting the progress and cha-
racter of the works. The result of their inspection, we
believe, was extremely flattering to all parties concerned.
The commissioners next went over the proposed extension
line to Campbell-town, which is now being surveyed, and
which will, no doubt, be commenced soon after the meet-
ing of the new Parliament. The construction of these
branches in connection with the grand trunk line between
Sydney and Parrametta will be the means of concentrating
into one focus nearly the whole of the traffic of the
southern interior, which may be said to comprise about
one-half of the iedustrial and productive wealth of the
country. The Hunter River Railway is nearly completed,
and will most prob .bly be opened about the same time as
the Liverpool line.
"The sewerage works are progresssing slowly but
steadily. Want of funds on the part of the authorities is
the chief impediment to their immediate completion. A.
few weeks, however, even under the present dilatory ar-
rangements will suffice for their execution.
'! The next branch of public improvements demanding
'particular notice is that with reference to our fortifica-
tions. In this respect our progress has been considerable.
The stone and earthwork battery at Dawes' Point may
be regarded as completed, while that at Pinchgut
commanding the entrance both to the Cove and to Darling
Harbour, is rapidly tending that way. The tower,
which will be the most difficult and complicated part of
tke work, and which it is intended to raise to an elevation
of 50 feet, has been constructed to the height of 10 feet.
The remainder of the fsrtification is in a corresponding
state of forwardness. A. new battery, similar in character
to the one at Dawes' Point, and capable of mounting seven
guns, besides accommodating one officer and 30 men. is
about to be commenced at ICioribilli Point. This, with
the proposed battery at Garden Island, and those we have
already mentioned, will present a formidable barrier to any
aggression, by way of the sea.
' As regards private buildings, we have nothing par-
ticular to report. Of course structures of more or less
pretensions are being erected in all parts of the city, but
the y a
ceroenpasintoiies.arly so numerous or so important as on
former
"The corner stone of the new Mariner's Church, in con-
nection with the Sydney Bethel Union, was laid on the
19th March last, by his Excellency Sir William Denison.
" On Saturday, April 5, there was a partial eclipse of the
sun. It commenced at Sydney at L5O, and ended at
6.21. At Moreton Bay 15-16ths of the sail's disc was
eclipsed, the line of total obscuration running through the
unsettled parts of the colony. The day was so cloudy and
wet that the eclipse was invisible."

COMMERCIAL.
(From the Sydney Morning Herald of April 11.)

The amount of gold coin issued from the Sydney branch
of the Royal Mint during the week ending to.day has been
10,000 half sovereigns. The amount of gold dust imported
into the same establishment during the week, for the pur-
poses of coinage, has been 2,656 ounces.
The western escort arrived this morning at the Colonial
Treasury, and delivered the following quantities of gold
dust :—[From Bathurst, 74 ounces S dwts. ; Safala, 399
ounces 17 dwt. 23 grains; Tambaroora' 277 ounces 16
dwts ; Avisford, ?Al ounces 7 dwts. 12 grains ; Louisa
Creek, 14 ounces. Total from the western districts, 2,000
ounces 9 dwts. 11 grains. The advices both from the
western and southern districts, continue to be satisfactory
as regards the progress of the gold diggers.

DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES
BILL.

Few persons, however disinclined to the study of
statute law, will be indifferent to the fate of the Divorce
and Matrimonial Causes Bill, just brought down from
the House of Lords for the sanction of the Commons.
The act will come into operation next New-year's day.
Tue jurisdiction now vested in the ecclesiastical courts,
in respect of divorces a mensa et thoro, suits of nullity
of marriage, of jactitation of marriage, for restitutien
of oorkjlgal rights, and all jurisdiction in matters matri-
monial, is to cease and determine, and a new ‘f C inn of
Divorce" into be established. The Lord Chancellor, -the
Lord Chief justices of the Court of Queen's &melt and
Common Picas, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and
the Dean of the Arches will be the judges of the sai I court
and any three of theni will form a quorum. The Dean of
the Arches (who must always attend tine court as one of
the judges) will be called-the "Judge Ord,nary " of the
Court of Dtvorce,and have lull authority, without the
concurrence of. any other judge, to hear and determine
all matters arising therein, except petitions for dissolving
any marriage. The Master of the Rolls, or any superior
judge, may act in the absence of the Judge ordinary..
The Court of Divorce is to proceed and give relief on the
priociples and rules of the ecclesiastical courts. The
Court may order payment of alimony to wives, and pro-
nounce divorcee a mensa et thoro, in which latter case the
wife will be considered, with respect to property, as a
femme sole, so long as the separation continues. The
Court may dissolve marriage on the ground of a wife's
adultery, or a husband's commission of incest, bigamy,
or adultery with cruelty, on the petition of the parties.
In this case, also, alimony may be secured to the divorced
wife. After a decent interval the divorced parties may
re-marry, but with the express provision that it will not
be lawful for the adulterer to intermarry with the woman
by him seduced, or vice versa. To the children of guilty
parents is secured the privilege of the protection of the
High Court of Chancery, if the Court of Divorce see fit
to apply for it. Questions of fact may be referred to a
common jury,' if the Court see fit. All advocates or
proctors, as well as all barristers and solicitors, will be
entitled to practise in the new court. An appeal from
the decrees of the Court of Divorce will lie to the
House of Lords.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following mem-
bers of the College, having undergone the necessary ex-
aminations, were admitted licentiates in midwifery at
the meeting of the Board on the 18th instant - Messrs.
Oliver Lemon, Pembroke-terrace, Caledonian-road,
Islington ; Thomas Henry Turney, Ovenden, near
Halifax ; Herbert Gillen Wootton, Canterbury ; John
Lister Pool Pugb, Halifax, Yorkshire ; Samuel Henry
Green, New Garrett, Manchester ; Charles Henry
Slaughter, Farningham, Kent ; William Powne, Fowey,
Cornwall ; Alfred Meadows, Ipswich ; William Wil-
liams Festiniog, North Wales ; William Groom, Wis-
beach, Cambridgeshire ; James Greenwood, Queen's-
road, Dalston ; Rustomjee Byramjee, Hon. East India
Company's Service ; Charles Evans Muriel, Norwich ;
Charles Jeken Elwin, Broad-street-buildings, . City t;
Phineas John Kendrick, Birmingham ; John Craske
Webb, Shaftesbury-crescent, Pimlico ; and Thomas
Carthow Gillet, Truro, Coruvr&U.