The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-13 00:00:00

other waste lands are to be classed as special and L T
country lands. Special lands include all lands
within given distances of towns, cities, villages,
railways, rivers, and sea-margin. Country lands
include all other waste lands, and may be sold by
selection at the uniform price of one pound
per acre. Country lands are to be divided into
allotments of from 80 to 640 acres, and each allot-
ments is to be subdivided into two equal portions.
These subdivisions may be taken up by free selec-
tion at the uniform price. Three millions of acres
are to be surveyed as soon as possible, so that the
whole extent may be proclaimed as open for selec-
tion within twelve months from this date. Appli-
cations for subdivisions are to be lodged at places
appointed, and the full amount of the purchase
money is to be deposited at once. Thus, for forty
acres forty pounds must be paid down. Re-
ceipts must be given and secrecy preserved by
the officer who receives the payment. On
the day appointed the applications are all
to be opened publicly. If there be only one
applicant for an allotment, of course he
gets possession without further trouble. If there
be more than one applicant for an allotment, a
limited auction is to be held, at which the appli-
cants, but no other persons, may bid against each
other. Unsuccessful applicants receive back their
deposit moneys. The selector of an allotment may
elect to purchase it at the waif= price, or to rent
it at one shilling an acre per annum, with right of
purchase within the time specified in the lease.
Unsold lands within the area proclaimed may be
taken up in allotments to the extent of 640 acres
at any time, upon payment of the uniform price.
Certain conditions of improvement and occupation
must be complied with by all lessees of public lands
on pain of forfeiture of lease. At the expiration of
a lease the lands may be sold as special lands. No
compensation is to be given for improvements made
on rented lands, but buildings, etc., may be re-
moved. 4 When one-fourth of a proplaimed area
has been taken up, the remainder may, until
selected, be used as commotage by the settlers.
Stringent penalties are instituted against all
attempts at land jobbing. Every transaction
under the act must be genuine and tirect. Sold
lands must be improved up to a certain amount
under a penalty of taxation. Special lands are
to be sold by auction as at present, at an upset
price of one pound per acre. These ere the main
provisions, or " popular" clauses )f the new
act. They afford, as will be seen, facilities for
agriculturists without much capital to enter on the
occupation of small farms on almost nominal terms
of rental. The rest of the Act is Decupied with
details of a more technical or strictly legal kind.'
The incubus which pressed so heavily on this rich
country is at length removed, and the inhabitants
of Victoria may now look upon the falling off of the
gold returns with comparative indifference. The
wealth and prosperity of the, colony must not hence-
forward be dependent on its mineral produc-
tions, although there is no danger of that
failing, but upon the vast agricultural capa-
bilities of a fertile soil and genial climate.
Gold is, after all, but the representation of value ;
ern is the staple of life. The impulse which the
passing of this measure will give to trade will be
immense. Employment will now be found for
thousands who are at present out of work, and
although wages will no doubt come down the
working man will be the gainer, for constant work
at reasonable wages is far more advantageous than
high remuneration vrith uncertain employment.

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY, 11 A.M.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Gorgon, which left
Portsmouth on the Bth, and P'ymouth at noon on
the 9th, returned to the Sound this morning.

She has been above 120 miles from'south-west of
Scilly, but could see nothing of the Hero.
Has experienced very severe weather from the
eastward.

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS,
SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Ellora, Capt.. Joy, with the heavy portion of
the above mails, b as arrived here.
She brings 87 : passengers, £1,420 in specie, 124
packages of sundries, and 2,609 bales of raw silk
of the value of X` ;50,000„
On the Bth in sit. the Ellora spoke the French
barque Pensha, which requested to be repurted at
Lloyd's.
Gibraltar Exchanges on London-90 days,
50 5-16.

THE UNITED STATES.

QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY.

The Liverpooli, New York, and Philadelphia
Company's screm r steamer City of Manchester,
Capt. Mirehouse, from New York on the 27th ult.,
has arrived with 150,000 dols. in specie.

She experience dt heavy easterly gales on the pas
sage. She passed 1 the Arago on the 31st ult.
Her news has I )een anticipated.