The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-16 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

• ____
The following is the summary of the Melbourne
Herald of August 25 :

Another Ministerial crisis, of an unprecedented
kind even in these Scuthern colonies, forms almost
the sum of political events since the date of our
previous summary. The remote cause of this crisis
is, the general disagreement between the two
Houses of Legislature respecting the principles
which ought to govern the adjustment of the land
question.

At this moment the late Nicholson Ministry are
at work again, and a reconstruction of that
Cabinet is to be sought, but with what prospect of
success it is impossible to say. Should they even
be able to assure his Excellency of their ability to
carry on the Government of the country, and thus
be recalled to office, they may find it much more
difficult to carry out that assurance than they
imagine, when they come to face the house with
their new policy. So constantly have they been
shifting their ground, and changing their tactics,
since their first entrance into office, to no practical
purpose, that the house and the country have lost
all confidence in them. This being the case, it 18
hard to say when these complications will endi
Business in both houses has, of course, been at a stand
still, and so it is likely to continue., for a time at
least.

The delay which has taken place in completing
the purchase of the Geelong and Melbourne Rail-
way has caused a considerable amount of ill-feeling
here, and is likely to be productive iof no good to
our credit in England. The hitch arises from a
dispute between the Government and the company
as to whether the purchasers or the vEmdors should
be responsible for any claims which may hereafter
be brought against the company for any acts done
by them up to the present date.

The ticket-of-leae system has been abolished, an
arrangement much desired, and whi ch has given
great satisfaction. There is no other political event
of importance to be noted.

AMUSEMENTS.
Prior to the commencement of the opera season, Mr.
Brooko appeared in a round of his favourite characters. A
great attraction during his stay was the revival of " The
Comedy of Errors"—or, we should rather say, the first pre-
sentation here of this delicious piece—in which he sustained
the character of Antipholus of Syracuse. The play was
splendidly mounted, and promised a lucrative run but it
had to be withdrawn, the theatre having been let to the
Bianchis for opera.

Ono of our local literati has had the courage and the
ability to produce a five•act comedy. We refer to Mr. R.
H. Horne, and his " Spec in China." The representation
cannot be dignified by calling it a success, but it would be
unjust to call it a failure. Another piece, to one-aettragedy.
entitled " The Death of Marlowe," by the same author, had
been produced previously, and met with considerable
favour.

The Prince of Wales and the Princess theatres confirm* ' •
to do a very fair business in their respective lines. Each ,
offers entertainments to suit a particular portion of the "
public, neither being very closely attached to the " legit!+
mate" drama.

Mr. Brooke and the company havo paid a brief visit to
Adelaide. The Hells, and Mr. M'Kean Buchanan are ill
the provinces.

OUR GOLD FIELDS.
The falling off in the yield of gold, to which wo have had
occasion to allude in previous summaries, still continues,
although the diminution is in a smaller ratio than during
previous months. Sinco the departure of the last mail,
103,200 oz. have been brought to town by the Government
escorts, as compared with 209,257 in the corresponding
period of 1859, and 239,458 in 1858. It may be perhaps
urged that a larger amount of gold reached Melbourne by
private hands than during former years, as a large numbor
of diggers are now at work in the ranges at the head of the
Yarra and in Gipps Land, but the produce of these dis
tricts is not nearly enough to account for the deficiency.
The quantity shipped since our last summary amounts to
229,842 oz., compared with 245,693 in 1859, and 232,653 in
1858. The last escort from Biandra took 2,450 oz. of gold
to Sydney, and a nugget weighing 341 oz. has been found
at Surface Hill.

There is nothing new from the Victorian mines. A. small
population is settled at the new gold field, at the head of
the Goulburn, which is apparently only adapted for sluicing.
A large nugget in the claim of the Koh-i-noor Company,
Golden Point Lead, deserves special notice. This lump of
puro gold, called the K oh-i-noor nugget, was found on the
27th July, in the gutter, at a depth of 400 feet from the sur-
face. It measured about 14 inches in length, and nearly 24
Inches in girth, weighing 834 oz., and was bought by the
Bank of Australasia at the fall current rate per oz. ; this
splendid discovery thus turning in about £3,336 to the com-
pany, exclusive of the value of other gold found at the same
time. The nugget was exhibited at Bath's Hotel for the
benefit of the Hospital and Benevolent Asylum, and some
25 realised clear of expenses for those institutions. This
discovery had two specialties about it. In the first place,
the nugget was found in the gutter, and in the next
place it was at a distance of more than a mile from
the starting point of the lead ; whereas all other
nuggets of any consequence had been found on
the reef or sloping ground adjoining the gutter, and
nearer to the source of the lead. From this finding of the
Koh -i-noor nugget, therefore, it may be inferred that for
the future similar discoveries may be expected, no mattor
how far from the original source of the gutter.