The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-30 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EV FIN IN G. DECEMBER 30, 1856.

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 29.
The White Star clipper ship Red Jacket, Capt.
O'Halloran, belonging to Messrs. Pilkington. and
Wilson, of Liverpool, arrived in the Mersey this
afternoon from Melbourne, with advices from Mel-
bourne to the 2d of October, making the passage
in eighty-eight days. She has brought 200 pas-
sengers, and 133,000 ounces of gold, valued at
532,0001. The latest advices from England were
to the Gth of July, brought out by the Royal Mail
ship Morning Light, Captain Gillies, of the Black
Ball line, which made the passage in, 73 days.
It is reported that the Red Jacket, in conse-
quence of the prevalence Of strong easterly winds,
has been within five days' sail for the last three
weeks.

The following vessels had arrived out :—Sept. 5,
Guiding Star ; 7th, Victory and Rienzi ; 10th,
Temperly and Brilliant ; 12th, ITltonia ; 14th, Vic-
toria ; 15th, Czar, Admiral, and Athlete ; 17th,
Moses Davenport ; 22d, Derwent ; 24th, Corrie
Mulzie and Mountain Maid—all from London.
Sep.. 4th, Ellen ; sth, British Trident ; 9th, Sen.
De Salaterry and Golden Era; 10th, Tornado ;
12th, Almira and Beemah ; 17th, Saldanha (R.M S.)
and Morning Light, from Liverpool. Sept. Gth,
Queen of the Seas, from New York.
The dates per the Red Jacket are—Melbourne,
Oct. 2' • Sidney, Sept. 24 ; Adelaide and Hobart
Town, 22 ; Launceston, 23, and Now Zealand,
Sept. 3.

The news by the Red Jacket is a fortnight later
than by the True Briton.
We abridge from the Melbourne Argus a sum-
mary of the events which had occurred subsequently
to the departure of the previous advices

" GOLD.

"Although the winter which is now passing away has
been a very unf,,rtunate one to the miners, the heavy
rains having frequently flooded their works, the produce
of the gold fields for the first nine months of the year
has already reached the enormous quantity of 190 tons,
or 180,000 lbs. troy. The subjoined statement will show
at a glance the yield of the first three-quarters of the
present compared with those of the three preceding
years :
Received by 1853. 1854. 1855. 1856.

escort - 1,519,545 1,296,557 1,526,702 1,900,969
Shipment.... 1,831,468 1,653,999 1,815,284 2,142,361
"The effect of the incessant rains has, however, told
on the escort returns of the past three months, which
show a slight decline when compared with the corre-
sponding period of the past year.
"So soon as the summer has fairly set in it is quite
certain that the accounts sent down weekly will increase
rapidly. Many of the wet sinkings in the older fields and
some on the later discoveries are now being 'shepherded,'
until the state of the weather permits of their being
worked. The quartz reefs show no symptoms of exhaus-
tion, imt on the contrary are yielding more plentifully
than ever, and everything bids lair to stamp the current
year as the most prolific since the discovery of the
precious metal. The two events of greatest interest since
the date of our last summary have been the discovery of
a new goldfie'd—Duuolly, to the north-west of Bendigo,
and the ‘rush' thitl,er, within the month, of nearly
50,000 miners from Bendigo, Maryborough, and other
places. The siuteings is this field vary from 25 to 40
feet, many of them being very wet. Several parties have
been very fortunate, but we have not heard of any authen-
ticated instances of extraordinary luck. The large num-
bers remaining steadily at work, however, demonstrate
that Dunolly is above the average of recent discoveries,
and that it will become a valuable addition to the re-
sources of the colony._

-4‘ POPULATION.

" The returns of the Rejat,ar-General's-office are now
complete up to the 30th of June for the entire colony.
The population on the 31st Dec., 1855, amounted to
319,379 ; the increase for the half-year, by the balance
of arrivals over departures, was 8,714 ; and the increase
by the balance of births over deaths was 3,345 ; giving
a total of 331,438 souls at the end of the first half of the
current year.

" In our last summary we gave a digest of the immi-
gration returns for the month of July. We now subjoin
ono for the month of August. This month and the pre-
ceding having been the dullest of the year as regards
arrivals, and have been chiefly remarkable for the tem-
porary 'rush' towards the Sydney goldfields which has
occurred. This movement is now at an end, and many
miners have already returned in the steamers to Mel-
bourne, while many more have made their way overland
to the Ovens goldfields.

"The arrivals and departures from the colony were—
Arrived Departed Increase. Decrease.
from. for.
Now South Wales 698 1,254 556
South Australia -9 , 109 lio
Van --
Van Dierutin'sLand 424 - 19*- 223
New Zealand

Total neighbouring
colonies 1,459 1,610 405 556
United Kingdom 6lB 402 216
Foreign ports

list from which electors bad to chooso scarcely contained
one really good name. We expect that the L ,wer
House will prove far superior in character to the Upper,
while the constitution of the latter and the length of
time for which members retain their seats make it most
unpleasant to reflect that the new Council is little, if at
all, better than the one that has passed away. Fortu-
nately, a considerable 'umber of the members have given
specific pledges to resign if called upon by the majority
of their constituents to do so, and we believe, if the
Upper House is to enjoy the repu'ation it ought to pos-
sess, it will become desirable in a great many cases to
insist upon the performance of these promises.

raged and strengthened smaller and feebler holders, who
would otherwise have ruined the market by forced auc-
tion sales, which, taking into account the large arrivals,
have been comparatively few, if we except the articles
of butter and boots and shoes. Sach being the case,
and late shipments not having gone into actual consump-
tion, it may easily be inferred that stocks in town ara
unusually and extraordinarily large—heavier, perhaps,
than at any former period of the existence of the
colony ; and, as arrivals will continue large, it will
be matter enough for congratulation if, without any
proportionate increase of immigration, prices are
maintained at the present point. The impert trade
is now undergoing a very great change, the effects of
which have not yet been percsivad, and are not fully de-
veloped. Our imports from the neighbouring colonies
are declining every week in value, and our exports are
increasing, and Melbourne is fast becoming the central
emporium for the supply of the neighbouring colonies,
instead of being, as heretofore, the general terminus
towards which.a very great portion of the imports of
New Seuth Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia was
eventually attracted. The diminution of exports from
Great Britain to those colonies will account for the in,
crease to Victoria ; ar.d looking at it in this light we do
not feel so much alarmed at the greatly increased oper-
ations to this colony, and think rather that they will
conduce to the greater stability and prosperity of Vic-
toria by rendering her the chief emporium of commerce
in the Australian, and to which she is fairly entitle,: by
her central situation, greater wealth, and larger consum-
ing powers. Bottled ale continues in very good demand,
and stocks of all good brands are running low'. The
market for butt-r remains in a very unsatisfactory state.
Candles aro in good demand. Cheese has mostly arrived
in good order, and is selling pretty quickly. C Hee is
working off fast, and prices in the absence of arrivals
are firmer. The demand for dry goods has been
better, but arrivals being large sales, in most in-
stances, jaseteeb.een at a ,reeliadion on advances lately
ruling, and present sales can scarcely leave any
profit to English shippers. Good white-ground
prints, small patterns, are much asked for, and worth a
eood advance. The market for boots and shoes is mach
duller, the dealers being frightened by the large quantity
of goods offering at auction ; ladies and children', Tends
sell remuneratively, but men's goods generally are over-
stocked and dull of sale, except best class of Wellingtons.
There is no change to notice in the tea market. The
scarcity of flour and wheat on the west coast, and the
high prices ruling there far breadstuffs have exercised no
influence on our market, as stocks are heavy and the
demand for the diggings not large, owing to the in-
creased rates of cartace Oats remained in fair demand.
There has been a good demand for low sherries, which
are far scarier than any other class of wine. Port in
balk is saleable, but stocks here are heavy, and there is
consequently no rise in value in proportion to the in-
creased cost in England. Case port sells only at
miserable prices, which leave a loss on importations.
Good sparkling hock and Moselle are very saleable, at
31 s. to 455., according to quality. The demand for case
claret is good, but buyers will not pay more than 245.,
duty paid, which, on anything except most ordinary
wines, leaves a loss. In tobacco there is no iinprost
ment, and arrivals continue heavy. Bar and rod iron
is firm. Timber generaly is steady at our quotations,
hut flooring boards are largely in over supply. Slates
are lower, and more difficult to move. For blasting
powder there is some demand, and the price has im-
proved a shade. Oilmen's stores have not improved, and
are if anything rather lower. Pearl barley is improving,
and is worth 3,1. There is a fair demand for African
ginger, both brown and bleached. Dried fruits conti-
nue at former paying rates, say, currants 1471., Elernst
raisins Bd., Jordan almonds 2s. to 2s. 3d. Soft-shell
almonds, muscatels, figs, and Barcelona nuts are, how-
ever, bad stock, and do not pay to ship. Salt, in con-
sequence of heavy arrivals, is again lower, and difficult
to place. Manilla rope, small sizes, is wanted, and sells
readily at 751. Invoices of good cutlery are asked for,
and are saleable at 40 per cent. advance. Ewhasilt's
nails were worth 10 per cent. on list, but are
now more plentiful, and worth only 21 to 5 per cent.
on list. Wrapping paper is saleable at 441. Chicory
is lower, and worth but 51d., duty paid. With tobacco
pipes the market is glutted, and prices are much lower.
Blacking in tins is wanted. Spirits, with the excep
tion of good brands of pale brandy, are lower."

INfoisrs. Clough and Co. report as follows of the
wool trade :

" What may be the shipments of the coming season it
is difficult to predict, but we may positively depend upon
the supply being still smaller. Many large gr3wers
have directed their attention to cattle, and have given
up breedidg sheep, and from the assessment of stock
returns we are led to believe the reduction in quantity
will he very consid, rable.
" In consequence of the copious rains which ha`Ve
fallen during the winter we are informed that on many
stations where washing cannot usually be effected fir
want of water, there will be a good supply, and that we
may expect the wool this seasop to be well got up
throughout the colony. The news per Montmorency,
confirmed by the Golrls.e. Bra, oft a:decline at the close
of *lac 34. y of about 23 bag had the effect
of causing buyers to operate very crititeeuoy In tins
market, the supply however being small, and consisting
(until the arrival of the new clip, which we may expect
comm,..ncing to come down from the interior in October
and November), entirely of fellmongers' scoured and
hann washed wools, has prevented holders accepting the
full reduction as pit. We may, however, quote prices
about id. per lb. lower."
From Adelaide we learn that Capt. Kirby, of
Port Adelaide, was fitting out at his own expense
an expedition to try for three months what could !,;e
done at the rumoured gold field in Kangaroo
Island. The party was to consist of himself and
four practical diggers.