The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-21 00:00:00

GOLD CIRCULAR.

Gold has been in demand this week for shipment by
the Lightning, and the price has advanced to 755. 6d.
The non-arrival of the escort with the produce ot four
ot our gold fields, owing to the swollen state of the
river Loddon, makes our weekly return appear rather
small ; but next week, we hope, will show a very dif-
ferent amount.

It is evident, from the number of passengers arriving
by the Sydney steamers, that the attractions of the
Rocky River and other new diggings on the Sydney
side are not, such as to retain those diggers accustomed
to the Victoria gold fiilds. Three steamers from Sydney
have brought back 255 steerage passengers this week,
and the numbers that have left by the same line of
steamers is only 190 during the same period. It may
be fairly concluded from these facts that a reaction
has begun,
Mr. Danburghy, the assayer, has manipulated a mix-
ture which, to all appearance, resembles tin, but con
tains gold equal to 18 carats, yet when broken it does
not show the least trace of it, even with the assistance
of a powerful glass. We do not know whether the
expense of extracting the gold would amount to the
duty, but if it does not we are certain that if it was
to be tried for shipment it would puzzle the most
acute of our Custom-house officers to tell that it con-
tained any of the prscious metals.

Gold shipped ire 185 d
Per steamer to Sydney
Do. do. Adelaide

1,889,970
970
426

1,890,772

Or 78 tons 15 cwt. 2 qrs. 141bs. 40z., at 805...£7,563,088

Exchange on Loudon—Drafts against gold purchased
at par. Freight 44. per ounce. Insurance, 14 per cent.

LABOUR MARKET.

The rates of labour remain as last reported, farm ser-
vants and married couples being in demand.
The following are the ruling prices for the week :-
With ratious- Married couples, without families, from
751. to 851. per annum ; ditto, with families, 551. to 651.
ditto ; gardeners, 501 t 0•551. ditto ; grooms, 401. to 501.
ditto ; stock-keepers, 601. to 701. ditto ; shepherds, 351.
to 401. ditto ; hut-keepers, 25/, to 301. ditto ; general
farm servants, 20?. to 25,. per week ; thrashing and
cleaning, is. per bushel ; hay-cutting, per ton ; bul-
lock drivers on the roads, 30s. per week ; ditto on sta-
tions, 255. ditto ; men nook;, 701. to 901. per annum ;
female ditto, 301. to 451. ditto ; thorough female ser
vantB, 251. to 301 ditto ; houaeinaids, 201. to 251. ditto ;
latindresses, 281. to 301. ditto ; nursemaids. 151. to 201.
ditto. The following are considered the standard weekly
rations :-121b. of beef or mutton, 10,b. of fluur, 21b. of
su2ar, kll. of tea.
Without Rations-Compositors, is. 41. per 1,600 ;
ditto by the week, 4/. 4s ; pressmen, 41 44, to 41. 10s.
ditto ; carpenters, 12s. per day; masons, plasterers,
bricklayers, and blacksmiths, 12s. to 14s, ditto ; quarry-
men, 10s. ditto; woodspitters and fencers, ss. to is.
per ton ; fencing by the rod, material to split only, 6g. ;
labourers on the roads, 9a. to 10s. per day-wood ,
water, and tents found.
Seamed are not so numerous. For home or the East,
51. per month; in coasters, 51. ; cooks and stewards,
51. 10s. to 61. ; mates for coasters, 81. per month.

The latest quotation of gold at Melbourne was
3/. 15s. 3d. The latest advices from England were
to the 10th of June, via America. Owing to the
advices from England, an advanced price had been
obtained in Melbourne for wool, and the demand
was active. The quantity coming forward did not
meet the demand. In tallow, mixed was unal-
tered ; mutton had declined, mad beef had recovered
and was in active demand for shipment. In hides
the demand for shipment was good, but few were
offering. The Melbourne markets were generally
firm and steady.
Messrs. Kerr, Bogle, and Co., of Hobart Town,
in a letter to Messrs. James Baines and Co., of
Liverpool, dated August 21, with reference to the
progress of the Hobart Town gold fields, say :
" One of our chemists has just been in our office,
and says he has taken gold out of specimens sent
him, which yielded at the rate of 40 ounces to the
ton.'

those who have anticipated such changes by lodgin

themselves comfortably. In my next communica-
t on I anticipate giving you interesting intelligence.
The weather is pleasant. Saturday night it rained
heavily. Vegetation is beginning to set in.
I have arranged with the mail proprietor to re-
mit to you, on an early day, specimens of our gold,
and the various strata.