The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.
By the overland mail advices have been received
from Melbourne to the Bth of August.
These advices were brought by the iron clipper
ship Ellen Bates (belonging to Mr. Edmund Bates,
of this port), which left Melbourne at 7.15 a.m. on
the Bth, in company with the royal mail ship James
Baines, Capt. M'Donnell, for this port. She ar-
rived at Bombay on the 2d October, after a capi-
tal run, and upon her arrival her commander,
Capt. Ellwood, forwarded a filo of Melbourne
papers up to the time of her leaving, per overland
mail, to Thos. Court, Esq., secretary to the Liver-
pool Underwriters' Association.

- The fames Baines had on board 173,539 ounces
of gold, equal to 694,15 W.
The Ballarat, True Briton, Annie Wilson, and
Royal Sovereign, from London, and the Redan,
from Liverpool, had arrived at Melbourne.
The William Money was to sail on the 12th
August, and the Lightning on the 2Gth, with the
English mails, both for this port ; and the True
Briton, for London, Sept. 7.
The latest English advices were to 6th May, the
royal mail-ship Red Jacket, with the mails of the
20th, not having arrived when the Ellen Bates
sailed.

The dates by the present arrival are :—Mel-
bourne, Aug. 8 ; Sydney, July 30 ; Adelaide,
Aug. 1 ; Hobart Town, July 28 ; Launceston,
July 29 ; and New Zealand, July 5.
From the summary prepared by the Melbourne
Age, of the sth of August, for the James Baines,
we make the following extracts :
We are now on the eve of the general election—the
first under the new constitution. The day is fixed for
the issuing of the writs for the Upper House, the elec-
tions for which are to take place during the present
month. The elections for the Lower House follow, and
will probably occupy the whole of September. The new
Parliament is expected to meet in October.
Mr. G. V. Brooke and Mr. and Mrs. Heir are starring
it at Sydney, where an opera company, with Miss Har-
land and Messrs. Sherwin and Farquharson for prin-
cipals, are meeting with only moderate success. Mr.
Brooke returns to Melbourne after the conclusion of his
engagement.
THE YIELD OF GOLD.

The yield of gold for this last month has been rather
under, than over, the usual monthly average. The re.
ceipts by escort for the last four weeks have been as fol-
lows :

Oz.
For the week ending July sth
), ),
12th

19th
„ 26th

Total 165,118
The following shows the returns for the four weeks of
he previous month :

Oz.
For the week ending June let
2 9 „ 14th

~ 21st
91 28th

Total 173,385
While in the corresponding month for the year 1855
the returns were 891,600 oz.
This deficiency, however, is to be primarily accounted
for by the unusually wet weather for the last few weeks,
which has impeded mining operations to a very great
extent. This has been especially the case where mining
is pursued by individual diggers under the old system.
The diggers in many instances are quite unable to
overcome the water, unless by associated parties and an
improved system of operation. As it is, the individual
diggers have had to abandon their old ground and go in
search of newt so long as the wet weather holds out.
, Puddling and quartz crushing operations have, however,
been progressing as usual, and greatly helped to keep up
the escort returns.
Exaggerated reports of the discovery of rich diggings
in the neighbouring colony of New South Wales have
also been the means of affecting the gold returns and
drawing off a great number of our diggers. The late
accounts from that district, however, have been rather
unfavourable, and a great many are returning, quite dis-
appointed. Our emigration outwards has been more
than counterbalanced by the immigration of Chinese, who
are arriving in great numbers overland from Adelaide, in
order to escape the tax of 101. per head which is levied
on all Chinese arriving at our ports.
Under the head of mineral resources, we have now to
mention the discovery of a coalfield at a short distance
from Melbonrne. Nothing very definite, however, is
yet ascertained about it.
Under the same head we have to report the discovery
within the last few days of an extensive field of stream
tin at Tarradale, i❑ the neighbourhood of Castlemaine.
It is found to be similar to that discovered at the
Ovens, and is associated with granite, as at the latter
place. This is an article of considerable value, and
already figures largely in our exports, and is likely to
prove of the greatest importance to the colony.
The demand for gold has been in excess of the supply
for some days, and the price has advanced in conse-
quence. For Ballarat gold, 31. 17s. 9d. to 31. 183. ;
for the Ovens, 31. 17s. ; and for Castlemaine and
Bendigo parcels, from 31. 16s. to 31. 16s. 6d.