The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-10 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, July 7.—Castille is tranquil. Provin-
cial deputies and municipalities continue to send
to the Government the strongest protestations of
devOtedness and fidelity. There is no ministerial
crisis.

King Otho (says a letter from Vienna of the sth)
has postponed his departure. He is still awaiting
the return of the Minister who has been sent round
to the diferent German Courts, to confer with
them respecting the arrangement of the Greek suc-
cession.

PROFESSOR OWE; F.R.S.—This distinguished natu-
ralist; who or nearly 30 years has been connected with
:he Royal College of Surgeons, as conservator of the
fiunterian lifuseam and Professor of Comparative Ana-
omy,.has jut resigned his appointments, and entered
)n a more extensive scene of usefulness at the British
Sluseum, as, superintendent of the natural history de-
partment. •

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENINCh

The Royal mail ship Oliver Lang, one of the
Black Ball line of packets, is off the Point. She:
was expected to leave Melbourne on the 27th of
April, and will bring three weeks' later advices
from Australia. She is also expected to bring a
large amount of gold on freight.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

By the arrival of the Catharina Adamson we

Dave received files of papers to the 17th of April.
We take the following from the Sydney Morning
Herald of April 16 :--

" Our last summary of news was forwarded on the Ist of
March. From that date to the present time electioneering
matters have almost entirely absorbed the attention of the
public. There are 31 constituencies, possessing the power
of returning the 54 members who are to form our future
Legislative Assembly, in accordance with the provisions
_ .

of the New Constit4ion 'Bill. For these 51 seats there
have been upwards of 100 candidates. A large majority
of the contests hays now beau decided ; they have for the
most part been well contested, and the result is in a great
degree satisfactory, for there can be no doubt, judging from
the character and standing of many of the gentlemen re-
turned, that the wealth and intelligence of the colony will
be ably represented
. _

"Tne members of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce
have been discussing, for some time past, the report of the
select committee of lia-Chamber, appointed on the 19th of
July last, 'to take into consideration the present Insolvent
Laws of the colony, and to report such alterations as they
may deem' it advisable for the Chamber to petition the
Legislature to make in the existing laws.' Considerable
progress has been made, but thete are yet several clauses
in the report to be brought under consideration.
"The share market has been unusually quiet during
the past month, and few transactions of imporbance
have taken place. A considerable rise, however, has
taken place in Bank of New South Wales shares, and

a still further decline in the price of the shares of the
Australasian Steam Navigation Company. Bank of New
South Wales shares have been sold as high as 341. 10s.
per share. This rise is partly attributable to the scarcity of
stock in the market and the an.ticipatiou of a very favour-
able report. The last dividend was at the rate of 20 par
cent. per annum, and the reserve fund had increased to
100,0001. It is believed that the dividend due 31st of
March, which will be declared this month, will be equal l o,
if it does not exceed, the last. Commercial Bank shares
have been very firm at 401. par share. There is not. so much
speculation in the shares of the company as there is in the
Bank. of New South Wales, and its stock is therefore more
sought after for a permanent investment ; their last
dividend was also at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum.
Australian Joint-Stock Bank shares are firmer than they
were last month, and have been sold at 101. 10s. per share.
The Australian Gas Company Shares. are inquired tor. They
have fluctuated between 81. 10a. and 81.15 e. per share. The
usual dividend is at the rate of 10 per cont. ; last half-year
they gave also a bonus of 10 per cent. Australasian Steam
Navigation Shares have been much depressed, and have
fallen from 131. to 121. per share. They paid no dividend
for the last half-year, and there is very little prospect of an
improvement at present, on acepont of competition. The
General Assurance Company and the New South Wales
Assurance Company have both suffered severe losses during
the last quarter, but their profits are large, and shares are
firm and in demand. The price of the General Assurance
is 71. 55.,' and the New South Wales Assurance 21. 2s.
Shares in the Gold and Copper Mines are very dull, and,
with the exception of the Wentworth Gold Field and New-
castle Coal and Copper Companies, almost unsaleable. Go-
vernment Debentures have increased in value ; they have
been sold as high as 96 and the accrued interest. The
value of these debentures, which are issued for a term
of only five years, must increase as the time of paying them
off approaches, unless those confided by the Government
to the agency of the Bank of New South Wales—to be
sold at not less than 92 in England—should be returned.
I It has been stated that small parcels have been sold on
' the London Stock. Exchange at satisfactory prices ; but as
regards the bulk of them no information has yet b.en re-
ceived. The rise in debentures and bank stock is likely
to continue whilst the amount of securities paying a regu-
lar rateeof interest is so limited compared with the capital
brought-forward for investment.
"It is, we aro informed, the intention of the Governor-
General to summon the new Parliament to assemble on
the 20th of the ensuing mouth.
"The extension of the line of railway from the Parra-
matta terminus to Liverpool is going on rapidly, and
will, without doubt, be completed by August next. A
large portion -of the line is already formed, and the
principal wOrks, such as the viaducts and bridges, are
in a very forward state. The railway commissioners
within the last day or two went over the entire dis-
tance for the purpose of inspecting the progress and cha-
racter of the works. The result of their inspection, we
believe, was extremely flattering to all parties concerned.
The commissioners next went over the proposed extension
line to Campbell-town, which is now being surveyed, and
which will, no doubt, be commenced soon after the meet-
ing of the new. Parliament. The construction of these
branches in connection with the grand trunk line between
Sydney and Parramatta will be the means of concentrating
into one focus nearly the whole of the traffic of the
southern interior, which may be said to comprise about
one-half of the industrial and productive wealth of the
country. The Hunter River Railway is nearly completed,
and will most probably be opened about the same time as
the Liverpool line.
" Tho sewerage works are progresssing slowly but
steadily. Want of funds on the part of the authorities is
the chief impediment to their. immediate completion. A.
few weeks, however, even under the present dilatory ar-
rangements will suffice for their execution.

"The next branch of public improvements demanding
particular notice is that with reference to our fortifica
Mons. In this respect our progress has beta considerable.
The stone and earthwork battery at DaWile- Point may
be regardea ao oompleted, while that at Pinchgut
commanding the entrance both to the Cove and to Darling
Harbour, is rapidly tending that way. The tower,
which will be the most difficult and complicated part of
tke work, and which it is intended to raise to an elevation
of 50 feet, has been constructed to the height of 10 feet.
Ths) remainder of the fortification is in a corresponding
state of forwardness. A. new battery, similar in character
to the one at Dawes' Point, and capable of mounting seven
guns, besides eocemmodating one officer and 30 men, is:
about 0 'lie. commenced at Kioribilli Point: This, with.
the proposed battery at Garden Island, and those we have
already mentioned, will present a formidable barrier to any
aggression by way of the sea.
"As regarde private' buildings, we have nothing par-
ticular to report. Of course structures of more or Jess •
pretensions are being erected in all parts of the city, but
they,. are not nearly so numerous or so important as on
former occasions:

" The corner stone of, the new Mariner's Church, in con-
nection with the Sydney Bethel Union, was laid on the
19th March last, by his Excellency Sir William Denison.
" On Saturday, April 5, there was a partial eclipse of the
sun. It commenced at Sydney at 1.50, and ended at
6.21. At Moreton Bay 15-10ths of the sun's case was
eclipsed, the line of total onseuration running through the
unsettled parts of the colony. The day was so cloudy and
wet that the eclipse was invisible."

COAMERCIAL.
(From, the Sydney Morning Herald of April 11.)

The amount of gold coin issued from the Sydney branch
of the Royal Mint during the week ending to-day has been
10,000 half sovereigns. The amount of gold dust imported
into the same establishment during the week, for the pur-
poses of coinage; has been 2,656 ounces.
The western escort arrived this morning at the Colonial
Treasury, and delivered the following quantities of gold
dust :—From Bathurst, 74 ounces 8 dwts. ; Sof,da, 399
ounces 17 dwt. 23 grains; Tatnbaroora, 277 ounces 16
dwts ; Avisford, 641 ounces 7 dwts. 12 grains ; Louisa
Creek, 14 ounces. Total from the western districts, 2,000
ounces 9 dwts. •11 grains. The advices both from the
western and southern districts, continue to be satisfactory
as regards the progress of the goad diggers.