The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-23 00:00:00

coth.id Er, ution.

"I u,on not distnifts you to your coestitoents without
advcr;i o g to the lamented cause of,my presence among
von tin .day. • The scent and sulien demiie of the go-
vernor, who addreed you on the operirg of thesessiim,
oas-der !rived the colony of an indefatigable
.anii earnest
friend. lie barely lived.to see the commencement cf tha'
system rf govermuet -to whirr) both b'e nn 7 yon
been to 4 forwari, raid' which no diffeience of opi
.nine wo titd have pr,vented him from carryirw. nut with
out fear •)) favour. • I trnst.thr,t, under Provi •

~erCc,

the antic ipatieris wineh have been formed Of the success
of the ne constitution will: not be disappoleted, and
that the c. unplete powerg.of .selfgoverameilt now C,-.)11-
ceded to !.6.'te people of Victoria will be exercised with
benefit 1 'Alt to, themselves and the nation of !which they
form a part.
"I n,)w ddclare this Council prorogue& until the Gth
day of I,ay
. . . .
The, Legislative Council closed its session and
career with a tolerably close adjustment of the in-
come and eitentlittre of the ooloiiy. A recent
comtaiskion of inquiry into the customs department
repor is
" Tire bt tard having Obtained reports frOm New S 2uth
Wales %lad Van Dierneen Land, by which they can ar-
rive at tn ,opiniOn, find that'Uttotal cost of the custom:
departm cot\ in these colonies, no.ng a large templ-
rary inn .ease, is as follow South Wales, 26,4731.
; -Van Dienniti'sLithdi 41-i454:14044,411,,'• 1141 8-7
-ou•the reduced scale fureished,„ by the' collector in
June last:, it amounted to 63,1911. To estimate propirly
the reiative cost- of the diffeient.-establialornente„ some
allowaluco must be made fur the additional staff resuired
at aistOwn; arising out of the peculiar prisition of I
the port, an&harbour. Assuming that the.totat expenses
incurred.. at Wiiiiauntown (11,3321), two-thirds arise
from this cause, and therefore deducting 7,535/. trete
the total expenditure of 63, 891/., there will still be left
the large charge of 56,336/. as the present cost of the
customs .establishment.".

The rE lurns from the gold fie!ds continue to in-
crease. The shipments of gold to England have
been noar ly doable when compared with the returns
for 1855.

The Melbourn9 Chamber of Commerce has re-
commend.?d a tax, imposing 101. on all Chinese
immigrants.
The Melbourne Morning Herald says the inscl-
vencies for February, although much heavier than
those for the month previous, are still on a reced-
Lig scale, and do not include any houses of good
atanding or extensive busines.-4.

_rho to, al customs revenue frnu the Ist of" Jan.
to the 11th of March were 316,0001..145. 11d., of
which -the gold duty amounted to 87,3391. ss.
The Melbourne Morning Herald says :

"I't was our pleasing task in Febroary to record the
steady- character of trade here, and the increasing excess
of our exports over our imports. That progress is still
visible 24.nongst us, and, in a few weeks under review, ex
hibits a balance in our favour of more than half a mil-
lion sterlin The official return runs thus :

Imports. Exports.
Week ende. i Feb. 16 £293,552 £340.334
23 291.915
If
1, f Ii rCh 1 325,807
If 8 280,056
If 16 208,697

Total for five weeks £1,400,027

£1,917,333

" From the rapid progress of agriculture and other
local sources of production we may confidently expect
to Bee this balance in our favour steadily increasing ; and
that such further improvement is quite practicable the
following return of the large amount that we are still
paying for such articles of food and cattle provender as
could be readily produced in the colony will show :
. Food. Provender.
Week ended Feb.l6 £76,309
62,248
79
/V March 1 67,637
If 8 82,339.
15 49,663

Total for five weeks £338,196

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
The Royal mail ship Marco Polo, Captain James
Clarke, belonging to the " Black Ball" line of Aus-
tralian packets, arrived in the river at noon to-day,
from Melbourne, with 166 passengers and 70,000
ounces of gold, and 46,0004 sterling (in sovereigns)
in all about 320,0001.
The Marco Polo sailed from Port Philip Heads
20th March, and a few days afterwards passed the
British ship Geraldine, bound west, in lat 57 30 S,
long 72 W; May 13 passed Dutch ship Van Galen,
bound east, lat 45 30 5, long. 28W; May 20 the Ame-
rican ship Coeur de Lion, bound S., lat 10 11 5, long
32 30 W ; June 10, the Sir Allan M‘N ab, from
Manilla for Loudon, lat. 40 46 N., long. 36 30 W ;
June 16, the George Walter, from Hong Kong to
London, Late 48 N, long. 24; and the Evangeline,
Liverpool to Calcutta, off Bardsey. •
The new Great Britain was to sail for London
April 2, and the Frances Henty on April 15.
Neither the Earl of Sefton, Captain Noble, which
sailed with the English mails on the 20th Dec.
(out 99 days) nor the Oliver Lang (out 82 days)
had arrived at Melbourne when the garco Polo
sailed.
The colonies., at the time of the departure of the
Marco Polo, were 108 days without any intelligence
from England. Great dissatisfaciion prevailed at
the treatment, as the colonists expressed it. One
of the leading journals in Melbourne, the Melbourne
Herald, says, in relation to the subject, that their
readers would not be surprised by reading what
their speculations were as to the causes of the delay
of the approach of English vessels to our shores.
Foul weather at the period of the autumnal gales
in these latitudes is the natural explanation ; but
some fear that political movements may have hed
something to do with it, and as Lord Palmerston
thought it necessary to despatch a fleet to the West
Indies, it is conjectured by the colonists, that, as a
matter of safety, he may have ordered a convoy to
protect vessels proceeding southwards. This feel-
ing may be quite natural on the part of the colo-
nists, as the last ieein of intelligence received by
them from Cape Town reported that the captain
of the brig Dido had been chased by a Russian fri-
gate between the Cape and St. Helena. This state-
ment is certainly received with suspicion.
The same journal says that—
" Our domestic politics are at present wholly devoid
of interest, except in the uneasy and unsettled aspect of
the gold fie ds, arising out of the very troublesome ques-
tion of mining on private lands, as well as on lands re-
served by the Government for public purposes. On the
one hand it is contended that the diggers, who, with the
supernumeraries and camp followers that assist them
and depend immediately on their labour, are abuut
100,000 men, are the greater producing interest of the
colony. They have raised 35,000,000 of gold out of the
bowels of the earth ; and it is said that it is the
policy of the state to let the diggers have full course
into whatever property they may lead—the Govern.
ment making ample c)mpereation to tee owner?. Al-
though, on all hands, it is aitnitted on the part of the
Crown that the gold, wherever found, is its property, it
is urged, on the part of the diggers, that their ' miners'
rights,' fir which they pay, operate as a licence to dig
gold on whatever land they may find it."
On the subject of central and constitutional po-
litics there is little calling for comment. The Le-
gislative Council has been prorogued to the 6th of
May, and it is believed that little probability exists
of its being again called together for the despatch
of business prior to its dissolution, which is de-
ferred until the assembling of the new house is se-
cured by the return of the writs. ADELAIDE COMMERCIAL REPORT.
The herald remarks : (From the Adelaide Times of March 18.)
"It is due to the executive to say that they seem at Flour is now quoted at the mills at 22/. to 221. 103.
length to be taking energetic measures to promote the per ton ; wheat is 7s to 7s fid per bushel ; but there has
formation of the electoral lines, and to accelerate the been very litt'e doing at these rates. The farmers are
establishment of the new constitution." more inclined to store than to sell at this figure, and the
The following is the speech delivered by his Ex- holders of flour are looking for further ad vices. Bran is
cellency the Acting Governor, General Macarthur, A'„ perbushel
in mood demand, at 10d to is
gar is still held at former rates. The Sylvie arrived
parcel—say 40
on occasion of the prorogation of the council : from Batavia on Saturday with a small
" Mr, Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative tons, which was at once placed at a handsome profit. A.
Council, few tons of the darkest quality Mauritius were sold dur-
, "It gives me much pleasure to be able to relieve you ing the week at 411. per ton. Letters to hand by the
from your legislative duties. Sylvie's mail state the Eastern markets to be bare of
" You were called together to complete the measures Muscovado sugar, and the intelligence by the November
necessary for electing the members of the legislative mail of the extraordinary rise in the English market of
houses, under the Constitutional Act. 161. per ten had materially influenced prices. Fine
" The hills which you have presented to me, and to Java white is held here for 551. per ton.
which I have given her Majesty's assent, will, I hope, The following is an extract from Hunter, Houghton,
meet with as great success as the care and attention and Co.'s circular of Jan. 9:—
which they have received at your hands merit. On my "Batavia, Jan. 9, 1856.
part no diligence shall be wanting to give them full and "COFFEE.—Java has been sold at 31 dole. per picul,
complete success. and is now becoming scarce, but little being left of the
" I thank you for the liberal provision which you have old crop. 15,000 piculs have beet. contracted for of the
voted for carrying on the public service. The sanction ensuing crop, deliverable between August and Novem-
which you have given to the construction of great national ber, at 30 dole, per picul.
works, and especially railways, deserves my warmest "SUGAR.—The arrival of the November mail, bring.
acknowledgments ; and I trust that the permanent pro- ing the intelligence of extraordinary speculation in this
sperity and settlement of the country will be greatly staple, by which prices had been run up 14s. to 16s. per
promoted by the execution of these undertakings. cwt. since the departure of the previous mail, led to n u3ll
" You have placed at my disposal the means which I excitement here, and 17 dole. per picul for No. 16 has
asked for continuing and increasing the military protec- been paid, but holders are now asking 18 dole, to 20
tion of the colony. Should a hostile attack—which may do's. per picul for the same quality. Contracts have
God avert!—menace our territory, I fervently pray that been made to the eastward to some eel e,t for delivery
with the nil of all loyal true subjects this force may sext crop at 15 Sole per picul fir N,‘. 16, and planters
suffieibot to repel the enemy, and maintain the integ- are now asking 16 dole. Muscovado sugars are not
rity of this portion of the empire. now procurable, nor will there be any to be had before
I congratulate you upon the prosperous condition of July next, and, unless specially ordered some time
the gold fields, and the j,wprovenients wltieb are being a beforehand, it is very do O inful whether buy Abe ob.

COMMERCIAL.

MELBOURNE, March 26.

The gold market remainp very firm, at 3/. 17s. 9d. to
FellerF, with the usual commission. The demand for ship-
ment has caused the merchants lb giie 3/. 13s. 6d. to the
trade in some cases.

Holiday influences still pervade most branches of trade,
and few transactions were reported.
Accommodation bills have been negotiated at short
dates at the rate of 10 per cent.
The Melbourne Journal of Commerce states that busi-
ness at Melbourne continued healthy, and holders of
produce exhibited no desire to abate their demands until
the arrival of further ad vices from England. Stocks at
diggings are light, and storekeepers, both small and
great, will shortly be compelled to lay in their winter
supplies. The great spec nation going on a few weeks
since in butter and candles has partly cea.ed,las stocks of
both these articles prove to be larger than was believed.
On the whole, we may safely report that a steady trade
is doing in all sorts of saleable goods. For ale and beer,
ocing to small stocks, very stiff rates ara demanded.
Water-tight boots and shoes are scarce, and in good de-
mand. Holders of clffee do not appear inclined to accept
lower offers, and several sales have, in consequence, been
effected at lower quotations. In dry goods trade had
been quieter, owing to the fineness of the weather inter-
fering with laying in winter stocks.

MELBOURNE LABOUR MARKET.
MELBOURNE, March 24

The market is but indiff..,rently .up.plied with really
useful farming men, for whom there is a heavy demand ;
but labour of other descriptions is tolerably plentiful.
The roads and other contract works are fast clearing the
market of every description who are willing to work.
Frequently both men and wom,n will hire for situations
without the least intention of fill;rig their agreements.
Skilled labour is much tho same ; but few mechanics
are seeking employment, o wing to the number of build
ings now in progress, both public and private. Female.,
are in good demand ; and really useful thorough servant:4
are very scarce, especially cooks, for roost families prefer
females in their establishments. The overdue vessels are
anxiously looked for, The prices of agricultural produce
are falling, and labour rising. According to that standard,
the gold, a= hitherto, will have to pay fur all," for what
farmer will cultivate at a loss, e4pecially if wea'thy
WITH RtTloxs.-1I rriert coonbss, without f imilies,
701. to 80/. ; do., with farnilie4, 551. to 651. ; gardeners,
521. to 651. ; grooms, 521 to 60/. ; stockke-perP, 501.
to 60/. ; shepherds, 301. to 35/. ; Jautkeepers, 261. to 381.
per annum.
WITHOUT RATioNs.-Blacksmiths, 41. to 41. 10s. per
week ; carpenters, 10s. to 12s. per day ; masons, 12s. to
14s. per day ' • bricklayers, 121. to 14s. per day ; plaster-
er', 12s. to 14e. per day ; quarrymen, 103. to 12s. per
day ; labourers, 84. to 103. per day ; stonebreakers, ss.
a yard ; compositors, is. 4d. per 1,000 ems; pressmen,
4/. to Si.per week.
FEB/ &LE DOMESTIC SERVANTS PERANNUM.-Thorough
servants. 301. to 351. ;, housemaids, 261. to 30/. ; laun-
dresses, 301. to 351. ; cooks, 401. to 451. ; nursemaids,
151. to 251. ; needlewomen, 251. to 301.
Gash:T.-We have had a brisk trade, chiefly in flour,
which has again improved a little in value, but so slightly
as not to warrant any alteration in quotations.
Maize and barley are in great request, this being the
consumption season, into which they enter more largely.
Pries were firm, but not higher.
A speculative 'demand has sprung up for hops, and an
improvement of 23. to 3d. per lb. is the result. The
stocks, however, in the hands of brewers are known to
be heavy, and it will be some time before we experience
a healthy or legitimate demand for consumption. •
English malt is very scarce.
Other articles much as before.