The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-12 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have received advises from Melbourne to
April 24th, six weeks later, owing to an accident
which befel the Emeu and her detention for repairs,
than those brought by the last mail. Dates from
Sydney (by telegraph), April 23 ; Adelaide, April
25. The legislature had resumed business after the
Easter holidays, but beyond the completion of the
discussion on the Land Bill and the passing of the
estimates, little had been done during the session.
The Land Bill had only to pass the third reading
and then to be remitted to the Upper House.
Great doubts of its fate were entertained out of

doors.
The Melbourne _Herald says :—" A temporary
dulness in commerce has set everybody upon pro-
phesying the downfall of our national fortunes.
We of this joUriial have all along protested against
the reality of these alleged evils either in the pre-
sent or in the future, We have pointed out, again
and again, that the resources of the country are
as prolific and as permanent as ever ; and we have
counselled confidence in the colony's destiny. The
temporary decline from the highest flood-tide
of prosperity is but one of the inevitable fluctua-
tions in human affairs at every period of the
world's history. We have also endeavoured to
show in what respects the general prosperity
at any given time is dependent upon the
efficient administration of public affairs. And
these views we have every reason to believe,
are now rapidly gaining ground in the community.
At least, the intensely gloomy view of things which
was very popular a while ago are gradually becom-
ing much brighter. One great practical remedy
for a fall in the fortunes of the country is, we have
shown, a continuous and ample stream of immigra-
tion. A while ago the Government, the majority in
the assembly, and almost the entire public out of
doors, were dead against any further grants for en-
couraging immigration; but now the whole wbight
of public opinion leans decidedly in the opposite
direction."
Much excitement was felt about, the outbreak of
natives in New Zealand, dignified in the papers by
the title of " The New Zealand War." The Herald
states the "difficulty" as follows :—" One of the
greatest of the alleged grievances of the natives re-
lates to the land, and to the mode in which it is
disposed of to the British Government by the native
chiefs. Under the native law, all the land, it
seems, is held by tribes in common. Hence, if the
chief sells the land, they compromise the interests
of the people, and the unexpected value Which it
has acquired has excited disputes which are inca-
pable of being determined by the Government. The
natives have no clear or well-defined boundaries—
no written records. And hence, while the British
authorities intend acting fairly, and pay a consi-
derable price for the land purchased, there is great
danger of their becoming the dupes of Maori impos-
tors. Partly from this cause, but still more from
others, some of the native tribes in the Tarankai
district have bound themselves by oath to sell no
more of their land, and the attempt to adjust this
point with them has been one of great perplexity
to the Government."
There had been one or two skirmishes, the prin-
cipal of which took place at the mouth of the
Waireka, and is thus described :—"The natives
were aware of the approach of the enemy, and
gathered to oppose their passage, and then began a
battle the most obstinate and the most successful on
the side of the English that has taken place since
the British occupation of these islands. It would
be idle to attempt details of a long skirmish in land
unknown to your readers. Suffice it to say, that
the whole took place among the flax gullies at the
mouth of the little stream tefore named and on the
flat above; that the natives and the militia and rifle-
men showed on both sides great daring and able
shooting, and that but for the want of ammunition
the superior weapons of our riflemen, and their ex-
cellent use of them, would, even against these odds
of at least three to one, have ensured a victory. The
navel brigade gave excellent assistance, dashing
into the bush, and driving a party of the natives
before them and back on their path. The soldiers
for the most part remained at long range somewhat
in advance of the position arranged for them, a
small party being detached to join the civilians for
a time. So fully, however, did the swarms of
natives fill the Waireka gully, that after the naval
men had passed across, the former were able to en-
close the militia and volunteers on the right and
rear; and the detached party of the 65th
having been recalled, they were also cut off in
front from the support ; the flank towards the
beach alone was open, and, without am-
munition, their position was critical. A diver-
sion, however, was effected by Capt. Cracroft and
fifty men from her Majesty's steamship Niger, who,
arrivink late, rushed and took the pah with cutlass,
bayonet, and revolver, cartied off the flags, and re-
turned on the troops by the road, and with them
came into town, where they arrived at about half-
past 6 p.m. The volunteers, not perfectly aware of
what was happening, except that the support had
been drawn off, prepared for the worst, fortifying
their position by a low breastwork of straw and
logs from the stacks and firewood of Jury's house
close by."
The following telegram contains the latest inter
ligence

" SYDNEY, APRIL 23,

" The City of Sydney returned on Monday from
Tarankai. No more fighting yet, but an engage-
ment is hourly expected. Wiremu Kingi tells the
troops he is ready to fight_ them when they please,
and that he will confine himself to legitimate war-
fare. There were strong rumours of a probable
rising in the Auckland district. The governor had
sent to the native camp to ascertain the intensions
of the Maories, but in the meantime expresses con-
fidence that peace will be preserved in Auckland.
The native loss at the battle of Waireka was ascer-
tained to be very great."
Since the last mail on the 17th March six escorts
had been received in Melbourne. They brought
altogether 221,687 ounces of gold, while those of
1859 brought 250,395 ounces. During the same
period 192,689 ounces were shipped, while during
the corresponding period of 1859, 246,515 ounces
were exported. During the last few days heavy
showers had fallen, and it was believed the escorts
would speedily assume larger proportions.

MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
MELBOURNB, APRIL 24.
Export entries were passed at the Customs this day on
15,119 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, for shipment as follows:-1`2,585
oz. per Kent for London; 1,901 oz. 3 dwt. per Emeu, for
Suez ; and 633 oz. per George Warren for Hong Kong.
IMPORT MARKETS.—The business of the weok opened
to-day without any appearance of increased activity, and,
as is usually the case before the departure of a mail steamer,
few transactions of any importance were completed.
EXCHANGE.—The banks now issue drafts on England at
60 days' sight at par. Drafts against gold, &c., purchased
at 1 per cent. discount. Freight on gold, per sailing vessels,
2 ;(I. per ounce ; per overland mail steamers, 1 per cent. de—
liverable at the Bullion-office, Bank of England. To Mau-
ritius, Ceylon or Indian ports, per cent. ; to Hong Kong,
per cent. Insurance, 11 per cent. ; and overland, 14 per
cent. The Banks of Australasia, New South Wales, Vic-
toria, the London Chartered, and Union, have announced
that they will allow interest on the monthly minimum
balance of current accounts of not less than £2OO at the
rate of 3 per cent. per annum. The English, Scottish, and
Australian Chartered Bank, the Oriental, and the Colonial
Bank, allow 3 per cent. interest on the daily balancelof cur-
rent accounts. The Oriental also allows 31 per cent. in-
terest on sums repayable on 15 days' notice. The English,
Scottish, and Australian allows 4 per cent. on deposits at
three days' call, and the Colonial allows 3 per bent. on de-
posits at call. Discounts at all tile banks, under 95 days,
8 per cent.

It appears that John Plimlev Edwards,who lately
absconded from Birmingham with now,estimated
to exceed £lOO,OOO, was captured at Stockholm ten days
ago ; but that, owing to the absence of an extradition treaty
with Sweden, there is some doubt as to his being brought
back. The case is in Bankruptcy, and as accommodation
bills must have figured largely in Mr. Edwards's transac-
tions it is to be hoped the commissioners and assignees
will
investigate and expose every fact in connexion with it.' It
is only by bringing public opinion to bear on those banks,
discount houses, or other establishments who are found
ready to facilitate the proceedings of persons of t
evhis stamp
that the lax system of credit which is the great il of the
day will be likely to be in any degree checked. Under
private inspection these are the very points which it is tee
es
object of all parties to hush up, since in many instance
the revelations to be made inight prove even moren discredi-
table to the creditors than to the insolvent. Toes.
MEXICAN BONDHOLP committee :—" The
munication is from the Mexican
ERS.—The following com-
munication
com-
mittee of Mexican bondholders
Whave receive
dated Me xid advices (via
United States) from Mr. G. S. hitehea co,
the 9th nit stating that the conducta to Vera Cruz, which
was to have been sent on the day prece
to the ding,
e has come t-4
nothing on account of the oppositionexaction of 8
per cent., and a doubt whether a sufficient escort could be
afforded to ensure the safety of the money. To the appli-
cation of her Majesty's charge d'Affaires in Mexico to re
lieve the money of the bondholders from payment of this
illegal impost of 8 per cent., the Government had returned
a positive and abrupt refusal. The American intelligence
that 'Zuloaga had resumed the Presidency is not confirmed;
but some apprehension of such a contingency seems to have
induced General Miramon not to leave Mexico at present.
There was also a vague rumour about the late Constitu-
tional President Comonfort having arrived in this countrt.
Mr. Whitehead, who left Liverpool en the 12th ult arrived
in New York on the 23d, and would stay at ' Washington
till the middle of this month, and arrive in Vera Cruz by
the end of it."