The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-15 00:00:00

tion, however,, there is a vast quantity of stone
wllich may be raised and crushed with profit. In
most of the quartz districts the reefing interest
generally is in a prosperous condition, and about
hl
aarvgee had
cakesbeuffo ruem na
iogwa
tut oa
tcehdr ognuilcdl,e
butth
the last product of the sort is by far the greatest e
the usual proportion of large yields has been ob-
tained.production
W oef
of all. This weighs no less than 2,247 oz., or
heavier by about 700 oz. than the largest cake of
gold ever turFed out before from any of our crush-
ing mills. It was the yield of 22 tons of stone
raised from a claim on the Columbian Reef, at In-
glewood, and this and one or two claims on the
same reef are said to contain stone equally rich.
None, however, giving such a yield—upwards of
102 oz. to the ton—has yet been crushed, unless in
very small quantities. The reefs on this district
are generally rich, and as they are followed down-
ward the bulk of stone is found to increase ; the
great drawback at lest having been the smallness
of the veins near the surface. More than average
yields have been obtained in other districts, but
none appears worthy of special mention after the
monster cake described. Some large parcels of
amalgamated gold are now coming into market
from the works of the different companies which
have commenced operations.

" LABOUR.

"As far as Melbourne is concerned, the demand
for labour of all sorts has continued bad up to the
present time; nor has the weather during the past
month been fine enough to cause the services of
shearers and their assistants to be in urgent request
up the country. Most of the extra men required
in the interior are to be had on the spot, and in
many places the number of the unemployed is pro-
portionally as great as in town. Some are men
with means, who are disinclined just now to en-
gage for a period on terms to suit the conve-
nience of masters, with the harvest time near at
hand; but too many are trusting to chance for the food
they eat, and are obliged to take any employment
that offers. In this class are seldom or never to be
found men of known efficiency ; but the fact of so
many being willing to take anything they can get
renders it difficult to quote any fixed rate of wages.
Farming men, mechanics, and ordinary labourers
are all alike in this respect, and although excep-
tions have to be made in special cases, the general
tendency is downward, to an extent perhaps of
about £5 a year on the annual wages of house ser-
vants, and of ss. a week in the rate at which farm-
ing men can be hired. Mechanics do not wish it
to be generally known at what rates they under-
take work, but many of those not under permanent
engagement are obliged to be content with a mode-
rate remuneration for their services when they can
obtain employment. With regard to domestic ser-
vants there hss been little change otherwise than
has been mentioned. Useful married couples with-
out children most readily find situations, as such are
always in demand for the country. Well recom-
mended single women can obtain good places, but
they have sometimes to wait longer than they may
wish for these. We have the same large number
of rough country girls unprovided for ; and as their
ranks seem to increase, and the demand for their
services to diminish, many of those who are with-
out money or homes to go to have but a dreary
prospect before them. For men-servants the
demand is about the same as it has been for some
time past, and this is not equal to the supply.
" AGRICULTURE.

" As to the prospects of the farmer, we have only
to repeat what was said last month. Never before
did the crops promise better at this season ; and so
favourable was the dry winter to the use of the
plough, that a great additional breadth of land
must have been brought under cultivation.
"The Great Britain took her departure from
Hobson's Bay yesterday forenoon on her voyage for
Cork and Liverpool—a full ship. She carries 415
passengers and 119,000 oz. of gold—nearly half-a
million sterling.

" The Argus Office, Oct. 24.

" Export entries were passed at the Customs to-
day for 12,2890 z. 16dwt. of gold, of which quantity
11,6090 z. 16dwt. were for shipment in the Behar,
mail steamer, for Galle ; and 680 oz. in the Fides,
for Hongkong.
" The Customs returns for the week ending the
20th inst. give the imports at the port of Melbourne
at the declared value of £460,899, and the exports
at £326,133, the balance being in favour of imports
to the sum of £134,766.

" Preparation of advices for the mail appears to
have chiefly engrossed the attention of importers
to-day, and but little general business has been
transacted. A fair amount of up-country trade has
been doing."