The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-09 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

We have received papers from Adelaide to the 12th
of April inclusive. Under the head " Our Staple Ex-
ports " the Adelaide Observer, of the 29th of March, has
the following :-
- " We have repeatedly urged the importance of look-
ing at the export trade of the colony as the only, sure
ground. of pernianent prosperity. -. The influx of money
into the colony -may for h time create 'an appearance of
prosperity whicla-is delusive, and which on paesing- aivay
creates a reaction proportioned to the excitement it
caused. The wealth poured into South Australia by the
Escort was of this kind. It was an increase to the
spending power of the colonists, and, so far an it was
invested in fixed property, added to the permanent
sources of wealth. The gold was largely the produce of
the colonists, without being the produce of the colony.
It was raised by South Australian diggers, and remitted
to Adelaide for expenditure. It increased for a time
the income of the colony, and to that extent had the
good effect of reviving trade and restoring confidence ;
but it added nothing to the permanent exportable capa-
bilities of the colony, except so far as it was invested
as fixed capital in productive businesses. The import
of gold has now ceased, and the temporary prosperity it
created has ceased with it, and -we are compelled to look
for our colonial income exclusively to the money received
for articles exported ; and it augurs well for the stability
and future prosperity of the colony that its exporting
capabilities have increased and are increasing. There is
not only no retrograde movement visible, but there is
r a clear and decisive advance to be noted. Last year
was an unfavourable one as regards the harvest, and had
a tendency to create a gloomy feeling with respect to
the future prospects of the colony, which is not war-
ranted by the facts of the case. If we endeavour
to calculate the value of the colonial export for this
year, it will be seen that, so far from its being discour-
aging, it is in the highest degree encouraging.
"The harvest is known to have been a good one, and
the largest ever reaped in the colony. Retaining as much
as is wanted for food and seed, there will still be 1,000,000
bushels of wheat exportable, for which there is a pretty
sure market. The price may probably fluctuate during
the year, as it has already fluctuated since the harvest,
but taking all the year round, and remembering that a
large quantity has been already exported at a good price,
it will not be overrating probabilities to fix the average
price of wheat for the year at 7s. 6d. a bushel. This,
for 1,000,000/, bushels, will give a grain exprt of the
value of 375.0001. This is exclusive of any minor export
for agricultural produce which there may be in the shape
of barley, oats, hay, fruit, wine, &a.

, -
"At the dinner of the Agricultural Society, recently
held, Mr. Kingston stated that copper to the value of
500,0001. would be exported this year from the colony.
Other authoritative etateinent3 to the same effect hrtve
been made by those who are well acquainted with the
reviving activities of the mining interest, and we know
no reason to distrust their correctness.

"The export of wool last year was valued at 262,000/
There, is no reason for supposing that it can be less this
year; on the contrary, there is good ground for antici-
pating a decided increase. Several new runs have been
taken up, more than compensating for the land taken from
the sheep farmer by the agriculturist. The freer sup-
ply of labour, too, has enabled the squatter to extend
his operat;ons with less fear of being deserted by his
servants than he has had for two or three years past.
There will be no exaggeration in putting down 40,0001.
as the increase in the value of the year's wool, which
will raise the value of the pastoral export to 300,0001.
This is exclusive of the value of any hoofs, hides, &c.,
exported.

"Toe probable value of the three several staple arti•
of export, therefore, will stand thus :
Mineral export
Agricultural export
Pastoral export 300,000

dee

Total £1,175,000
"This is an anticipated result which will not suffer
by comparison with any previous year. The annual
export has been previously raised by gold, but the gold
had been imported before it was exported. The export,
the produce of the colony, has never yet reached a
million sterling in value, hat there is good reason for
believing, as the preceding calculations show, that that
amuunt will be attained this year. So far from despair-
ing, therefore, of the future of the colony, there is every
ground for encouragement.
"It may be said that, admitting the truth of these
calculations for the current year, there is not equal
ground of confidence for future years. We cannot ad-
mit the correctness of any such disparaging sup-
positions. Of three staple articles of export two of
them will always find a remunerative market, and the
limit of their production in the colony has not yet
been nearly reached. In a few years the export of wool
will be largely in excess of what it is now. The
stock farmers, far-spreading as their runs are, have not
yet taken up a quarter of the colony. In the north and
north-west are yet large tracts of country-unoccupied
and unexplored, which will yield sustenance to tens of
thousands of sheep and cattle. Into these districts, the
squatters, as they are pressed for room, will gradually
push with their flocks and herds, till the, country now
desolate and worthless will yield the means of subsisten:te
to thousands.

" No shaft that has yet been sunk has laid open all
the hidden riches of the Burra, nor are all the mineral
riches of the colony contained within the limits of one
special survey. The half has not been told yet of the
wealth that lies hidden underground. When the cost of
living falls to a point that will admit of a reduction of
wages without any corresponding reduction in the com-
forts of the working man, mining operations will receive
a great extension. The field for them is practically

" The agricultural industry of the colony cannot, per-
haps, be expected to continue advancing at the same
rate as it has during the past two years. Victoria to
some extent will supply its own wants, and the in-
creasing cultivation in New South Wales and Tasmania
will tend to keep the corn markets well supplied. There
is, however, little ground for fear that the present area
of cultivation will be restricted. There will always he
a market for surplus stocks of grain, and if the price
falls it will at least have the good effect of discouraging
importations of flour from America."

HURRICANE IN THE MERSEY.-LOSS OF

LIFE,

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

It blew a heavy gale last night, with violent squalls
from W.N.W. to N.N.W , accompanied with very
heavy rain. The casualties reported in the channel are
numerous, but only in one instance is any loss of life
reported. The following were reported at the under-
writers' rooms.

The Naval Brigade, which arrived from Quebec last
night. and the City of Brooklyn, at anchor in the river
for New York, drove on shore this morning on the
Pinckington Bank opposite the Brunswick Dock. Both
were floated off at high tide, the former by the aid of
six steam-tugs, and the latter with slight assistance,
both apparently uninjured.
The American packet ship Isaac Webb, Capt. Bryce
(one of Messrs. Baring Brothers' liners), which sailed
yesterday for New York, is on shore at the entrance of
the port of Aml web, on the Welsh coast. From the
rugged nature of the coast, it is believed, should the
gale not abate, the vessel will become a wreck, as she
lies in a very dangerous position. The crew and pas-
sengers are saved.
The ship Africa, Captain O'Neill, which arrived off
the port yesterday afternoon, from Bombay, was caught
by the gale and drove on the west end of the West
Hoyle Bank. Her sails were all blown to pieces. Her
passengers have been landed by the Fury steam-tug, but
she lies in a dangerous position.

A ship, supposed to be the Tribune, Captain Irvine,
which sailed hence yesterday afternoon for Callao, is on
shore on East Hoyle, with loss of foremast. A steam-
tug, with the Liverpool life-boat in tow, endeavoured to
reach her, but was compelled to put back, owing to the
heavy sea. She reports the vessel to be a black ship,
coppered, and of about 1,000 tons. Another report states
a much larger-sized vessel with a round stern.
The schooner Actaeon, of Workington, is on shore in
Church Bay, near Holyhead. Captain drowned.
The schooner Enterprise, of Kinsale, and a flat, are
ashore on Mockbeggar Wharf.
A ship with signals of distress flying was at anchor
this morning outside the North-West Light-ship, but
was inward bound, towed by two steamers at 2.45 p.m.
A brig, with loss of sails and signals of distress flying,
is off West Hoyle Bank.
A. small vessel is on shore on the North Bank, with
signals of distress.
The steamer Brunswick, hence to Aberystwith, had
to put into Beaumaris at 6 a.m., through stress of wea-
ther.
The Cunard Royal Mail steamier Persia had her steam
up all night, in case she should drift from her moorings
and injure some of the shipping in the river, or damage
herself. The precaution, however, proved unnecessary.
The hurricane seems to have swept along the entire
coast, as the following telegraphic despatches show :-
1
" Belfast, July B.—Last night it blew a hurricane.
This morning a steady gale, all from N.W. A large
barque is ashore near Port Stewart, outward bound
from Liverpool.; crew saved."
"Dublin, July 8. —Wind last night N.N.W. to N.,
a perfect gale. At present blowing strong."
"Queenstown, July B.—Heavy and sudden squalls
last night from N.N.W. Moderate now, with occasional
squalls. No casualties,"

" Carnarvon, July 8. —A. large vessel is seen in the
bay, riding with only mizenmast standing. No steamer
here to go out. Position 10 miles S.W. by W. of Land-
dwyn."

Memorials are about to be sent in to the Customs by
same of the leading firms in the tea trade for an (men-
sion of bonding privileges, the warehouses at presi-nt
available in that department of business being inade-
quate. Since the throwing open of the East Indian
commerce the tea trade has nearly doubled, while the
warehouse' accommodation remains without material

c crease.

RE-ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPERTY AND INCOME-
TAx.—In consequence of the defalcation of the late col-
lector of these taxes for. Greenwich, a new assessment
has been made on the inhabitants to make good his de-
ficiencies, and in one iAstance, Mr. Ward, of the Lord
Nelson, having refused to pay, a distress has been levied
on his goods and the amount paid under protest. This
has occasioned great discontent throughout the place,
as it is alleged that the defaulter's sureties, who are
liable and able to pay, have not been called on. Accord-
ingly a preliminary meeting was held on Thursday even-
ing last, of those of whom the taxes have been a second
time demanded, when it was resolved to call a public
meeting, at which Mr. M. Montagne, M.P. for the
borough, is invited to take the chair, for the purpose of
memorialising the Government on the injustice which had
been inflicted.—SouthZastern Gazette.