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

653 556

Totals...
Net increase

2,216 2,119

" The balance in favour of the colony of arrivals over
departures was only 97 souls. Daring the mouth of
July the balance was against the colony to the number
of 90. The balance in favour of Sydney was 556. Of
the departures for foreign ports about 350 were Chinese.
The totals are thus divided : Arrived 2,216, of whom
1,559 were adult males, 416 adult females, 111 male and
100 female children. Departed 2,119, of whom 1,796
were adult males, 228 adult females, 48 male and 47 fe•
male children. Of the arrivals 2,179 landed at Mel-
bourne, 12 at Geelong, and 29 at all other ports. Of the
departures 2,091 sailed from Melbourne, 24 from Gee-
long, and 4 from all other ports. During the current
mouth the stream has set in ward with considerable force,
as the weekly returns of the arrivals and departures at
the port of Melbourne demonstrate :

Weeks Ended. Arrived. Departed. Increase.
September 6
September 13
September 20
" The net increase by excess of arrivals over depar-
tures at the port of Melbourne alone in the first three
weeks of September has therefore been 2,656 souls. In
consequence of the acknowledged deficiencies of the
census in 1854, the estimates of population are not at all
reliable. Preparations are being made for a new census
to be taken early in December next.

Tn A D u
perioda p 'COMMERCE. mEn ct i.
"After a protracted dullness, preparations
are being made for an active summer trade. The roads,
which for the last four months have been in a condition
that has greatly enhanced the price of carriage, will,
after a few da)s of settled weather, be in good order for
the transport of merchandise; and there is every pros-
spect of a brisk and extensive traffic. The stores,
especially on the northern gold fields, have become bare
of goods, and the demands of a thriving and increasing
population have to be met. Notwithstanding these
encouraging prospects, there is a feeling of uneasiness
abroad, caused in a great measure by the excessive
arrivals of general merchandise. From the official
published returns we find that we have already
imported g rods to the value of 8 752,602/. in the fir. t
nine months of 1856, against 6,951,228/. for the same
period of 1855, while our population has] not increased
in anything like the same ratio. During the week
ended the 20th inst. out imports amounted to the enor-
mous sum of 665,0721. It is true that the exports have
steadily increased with the imports, but this merely goes
to prove our power of production.
"From statistics of exports derived from Customs' re-
turns the shipments of wool during the past season show
a very considerable falling off in quantity compared with
the seasons 1854 and 1855, the shipments from this port
for the respective periods being :—October 10, 1854, to
August 31, 1855, 1g,878,2811b. ; October 10, 1855, to
August, 1856, 11,717,6171 b., being a reduction of
3,160,61541 b., or about 10,500 bales.

"Puma() WORES.
" Contracts have been accepted for providing looomo
tives, rolling stock, b.., from England for the Melbourne
and Williamstown Railway, the successful tenderers
being Messrs. De Pass, Brothers, and Co., at per
cent. upon the English prices. The same firm have also
contracted for the supply of 18,000 tons of rails. Ten-
ders have also been invited for the supply of 110,000
sleepers of the Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and Mur-
ray Riverßailway, and the branch line to Williamstown,
and for a three-rail fence on both sides of the maiti line
for 20 miles from Melbourne. Tenders have been re-
ceived for the supply of a large quantity of rolling stock
of colonial manufacture, but have not yet been decided
upon. The railway from this city to St. Kilda is being
rapidly proceeded with
and the line from Melbourne to
Geelong will be opened for traffic throughout, it is con-
fidently asserted, in February next.
"The new Houses of Parliament are being pushed on
with great vigour, as they will be required for occupa-
tion early in November.
"The construction of the telegraphic line connecting
Melbourne, Kyneton, Castlernaine, and Sandhurst is
rapidly progressing towards completion.
" The Geelong and Ballarat line is also in a forward
state, and communication between these places will be
established, it is expected, on or before the Ist of
December.
,
" The survey of the North Eastern line, to connect
Melbourne, Kilmore, Seymour, Benalla, Beechworth
and Belvoir, is in progress.
"The construction of the Western line, embracing
Geelong, Ballarat, Raglan, Warranambool, Belfast,
Portland, and Mount Gambier (about 250 miles), will be
proceeded with during the ensuing summer.

" THE ELEGTIONS.
"Taking the results of the Upper House elections
into consideration altogether, we cannot congratulate
the country upon them. Perhaps in each province the
Fe!ection of rv.,rcb;irs nut of the list of candidates to
choo-c irum v.as as g )c,d as could be expected, but the
candidates were so unequally distributed that, while in
some provinces there were not seats for all the eligible
men presenting themselves, in other places the entire