The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-13 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have received papers from Melbourne to
Sept. 27. Everything was quiet in the political
world. The ministerial crisis, the dead-lock be-
tween the two Houses of Legislature, and the im-
practicable land question, had all been surmounted.
The parliamentary session had been brought to a
close.

On the 18th September the prorogation took
place in the usual form. The Governor's speech
was one of the ordinary common-place kind. The
royal assent was given to the Land Bill and to a
few minor bills of local interest merely. A bill to
abolish pensions to retiring ministers of the crown,
and the Divorce Bill, have been reserved for her
Majesty's decision.
Respecting the gold fields, the Melbourne Herald
says:—
" We have again this month to reiterate the
stereotyped assertion that our yield of gold shows
a considerable falling off as compared with the pre-
vious year. Since our August summary the escorts
have brought to town 155,104 oz. of gold; while
during the corresponding period Of 1859 they con-
tributed 185,711 oz., and in 1858, 198,084 oz. Our
shipments for the past month were 130,420 oz. In
the corresponding period of 1859 only 122,980 oz.
were exported, while in 1858 the quantity of the
precious metal passes through the custom house
was 187,061 oz. The quantity of gold brought by
the escorts during the present year shows a falling
off of about 180,000 oz. as compared with the corre-
sponding period of 1859, the exact figures being
1,470,386 oz. 10 dwt. and 1,651,361 oz. 10 dwt.
The shipments show an oven greater diminution,
the quantities being 1,476,188 oz. and 1,318,354 oz.
respectively.
The following from a correspondent of the
Sydney Morning Herald is the latest intelligence of
the war in New Zealand :

" On Monday last a strong force of military,
blue jackets, and militia, commanded by the Gene-
ral in person, proceeded to attack W. King in his
stronghold, inland of Waitara, The force consisted
of 40th, 65th, and naval brigade, and numbered up-
wards of 1,400 men. The expedition left town on
the afternoon of Monday, and camped at a pah
named Mahoetahi, about four miles from the rebels'
strongholds. On Friday morning they were joined
by Major Nelson's division at Waitara, and at 6
a.m. attacked two strong pahs named Ngataipari-
rua and Kairau, which were found untenanted, and
which were forthwith destroyed. The troops then
proceeded to attack a pah called Hiurangi, situated
on the edge of the forest. This was also found
evacuated, but while in the act of destroying it a
small party of skirmishers of the light company of
the 40th, who were adavnefng towards the bush,
were fired upon by a party of natives in ambush,
killing one man, named RI imsay (a private), and
slightly wounding three others. The rebels allowed
the skirmishers to advance within a few yards of
them, when they delivert'd i
their fire from, t is
supposed, one hundred mu Asets, and it is a surprise
to every one that our ca sualties w ere so few. A
skirmish now took :place between the troops and
the rebels, wbo kept up a smart fire from the bush,
without effect, the balls , whizzing harmlessly over
the heads of the men, bu t unpleasantly near, seve-
ral shots falling near th .e general, who remained
within range. The gen( oral would not allow the
men to follow the enemy • into the bush, and after
pouring in shell, grape, canister, rockets, &c., the
order for retiring was s( minded, and the forces, after
destroying Hiurangi a nd another pah near to it,
marched to camp at W. aitara, and next day to town.
I am sorry to say that ita,msay's body was not re-
covered, but was taker.). by the rebels with his rifle
and ammunition; also an officer's sword, which
was dropped when the volley was fired.
" A great many opinions have been expressed