The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-12 00:00:00

The third session of the provisional council of
Wellington was opened on Thursday, Dec. 27. The
superintendent, 1n his opening address, estimated
the revenue for the year 1856 at 38,0001., which in-
cludes a balance in the treasury of 15,0001. The
cost of the several departments of government he
does not think will exceed 10,000/. ; a balance of
28,0001. will thus be available for public works
and undertakings. The provincial government is re-
presented as being very popular at the present
time. •

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.
MELIiOunNE, Feb. 25.—The tendency in the gold
market has been upward, and the price of gold has been
for the past two days 31. 16s. 6d. per ounce. The rise
(according to Clark's Gold Circular) has caused a large
quantity of gold to be released from deposit in the camps
at the fields. In consequen3e of the number of first-
class vessels on the berth for London the demand is
likely to continue good for some time.
The Journal of Commerce says :—Orders from the in-
terior are coming in, and a proportionate amount of
our stock is finding its way to the diggings. Advanced
rates have been paid for several articles, especially
caadles, which are held firmly for a further advance.
No change to report in ale or beer. A good deal of spe-
culation going forward in butter, but little going into
consumption at is sd. per lb. for first brands. Coffee
without material change, good samples getting scarcer.
Some sales by auction of dry goods have brought good
rates when compared with prices lately current, but by
no means remunerative to shippers. In a short time,
however, we think a better feeling will exist. No
transactions in tallow to note. As there is shipping
offering for dead weight, melters could command
extreme rates. Hides are very firm. Large parcels
.mush wanted,
_.A.t auction a 2E40 lot Auk.* brought
'l/9. ; heifir well curia are worth 13i. to"
13s 6d. A few lots (small) have changed hands at firm
rates. There is no desire to operate in wool at present
prices, and there is no supply. At the weekly produce
sale there was a spirited competition, and prices of wool
ruled id per lb. over the rates of the previous sale.
Breadstuffs declining in value."

MELBOURNE LABOUR MARKET. —The market keeps
tolerably well supplied with labour, both skilled and un-
skilled. There exists a good demand for first-rate plough.
men, employers being very particular as to competency
in that branch of agriculture. The demand for mechani-
cal labour is improving, and the prices now given for
every branch leave the employe no just ground for com-
plaint, considering the reduced state of the markets.
Females are in good demand, and at very high wages ;
but really good thorough servants are extremely scarce,
families having girls of that description will advance
wages sooner than lose them. With rations—Married
couples (without families), 701. to 80/. ; ditto (with fami-
lies), 551. to 651. ; gardeners, 521. to 65/. • grooms, 521. to
601; stock-keeper,, 501 to 551; shepherds, 301 to 351;
hutkeepers, 261 to 281 per annum. Farm labourers, 20s
to 25s per week ; ploughmen, 25s per week ; shdarers,
16s to 20s per hundred ; sheepwashers, 25s per week ;
male cooks, 20s to 45s per week ; waiters 20s to 30s ;
and blacksmiths, 50s to 60s per week. Without rations
—Blacksmiths, 41 to 41 lOs per week ; carpenters, lOs
to 12s ; masons, 12s to 14s ; bricklayers, 12s to 14s ;
plasterers, 12s to 14s ; quarrymen, lOs to 12s ; and la-
bourers 8s per day. Stonebreakers, 5s to 6s per yard ;
composit”rs, is 4d per 1,000 ; pressmen, 41 to Si per
week. Female domestics—Thorough servants, 301 to
351; housemaids, 261 to 301; laundresses, 301 to 35/ ;
cooks, 351 to 401; nursemaids, 151 to 251; and needle-
women, 251 to 301 per annum.
GEELONG LABOUR MARKET, Feb. 23.—The labour
market has been moderately supplied with female domes-
tic servants during the past week, and the demand has
been good. We have a good demand for threshers, bul-
lock drivers, and some other descriptions cf farm ser-
vants, also for married couples, and ploughmen are more
in request, but at the same time wages are rather tend-
ing downwards. The remarks which we have had to
make very frequently of late still apply, viz., that me-
chanics are not much in demand.

BALLABAT, Feb. 21.—Trade has been rather dull, and
complaints are again numerous among our dealers, the
start that we noticed in our last having died away. The
Chalk Hills and that neighbourhood still continue to get
off a quantity of goods. Magpie has only a small con-
sumption. Fiery Creek is now fully supplied direct from
town, and we are unable to clear off any of our surplus
produce in that quarter. A good many of our large
storekeepers are selling off at present, which also tends
to keep down prices. All sorts of farming produce
command a ready market, and the supplies from towns
are greatly stopped, as it is found that they cannot be
landed here from that quarter so cheaply as by our far-
mers in the neighbourhood. Flour is quoted at 391 to
141/ for Chilian, and 421 to 451 for colonial. The price
of gold is quoted at 31 16s 3d to 31 16s 6d, and in some
instances 31 17s has been given.
HOBART TOWN, Feb. 19.—The markets are quite firm.
In wheat and flour there is no alteration to report.
Very little of the former arrived from the interior.
Wheat 12s to 13s per bushel ; flour, first quality, 421 to
451 per ton ; oats 6s 6d per bushel ; butter 2s per lb ;
beef 84 to 9d ; and mutton 6d to 7d per lb.
LAUNCESTON, Feb. 21.—Farmers are beginning to
bring the new wheat into town, but choice samples will
not realise much over 103 per bushel. Flour is on the
decline, and may be bought for 311 per ton cash. The
merchants are again shipping fl.Jur to Melbourne. Flour
must come down in price in Launceston, as it is dearer
here than in any of the neighbouring colonies. Flour
32/, seconds 301 per ton. Wheat, prime samples, 10a
64. per bushel. Oats 5s per bushel. English barley 7s,
and Cape 6s per bushel.