The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-10 00:00:00

ALI MOO.RAD KHAN.

The following letter has been addressed to the
Editor of the Times :

Sir,—Assertion for assertion, I know not why
Colonel Pottinger's should be considered of more
value than that of other persons.
'r The character of Ali Moorad Khan, Colonel
Pottinger says, was well known before Sir Charles
Napier went to Scinde. It was so very favourably
known, as the following communication from Sir
James Outram to Sir Charles Napier, on the ar-
rival of the latter in that country, proves :
" Outram.—' Ali Moorad is by far the best of
the Ameers. I wish you knew him. He is good-
looking, a frank open manner that you cannot help
liking. I wish you could see him, you would be
pleased with him. At first he was quite opposed
to us, and would have made war against us if the
other Ameers had joined him ; however, seeing it
was of no use to oppose us, he joined the alliance
with us, and is the only one who has never given
us cause of complaint. I am sure you will like
him.'

" W. NAPIER, Lieutenant-General.
March 9."

Frnis AT PORTSMOUTII.—On Tuesday morning a fire
broke out on the premises of Mr. Payne, hairdresser,
Queen's-street, Port=mouth. The flames communicated
to the hou-e of Mr. Richard Newland, a stationer and
gilder, and thence made their way to the house of Mr.
Foster, tailor, all of which were gutted. Fortunately
the wind kept down, or more injury would have ensued.
No lives were lost.
"It is rumoured," says the Malta Times, "that a
telegram has been received here from the authorities in
Eoglaud to look to the state of the island defences ; and
that in pursuance of that order a military commission is
now sitting, of which the Lieut.-General commanding
and the Colonels of the Royal Engineers and Royal .Ar•
Wiry Are monabers.",

THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL.

The following additional items of news we select
from the colonial papers received yesterday.
THE HARVEST.
The Melbourne Argus of Jan. 16 reports that
the harvest promised to be one of the most abund-
ant yet gathered in the colony. Reaping-machines
and steam threshing-machines were getting into
general use. Respecting the labour market the
Argus says :
Just now all men of the labouring classes here
are fully engaged. Until reaping commenced there
were more seeking work than the farmers coul•!
provide for, and had not the corn ripened more
suddenly than was expected, the demand, even
now, in the midst of the harvest, would have
scarcely been equal to the supply. It was antici-
pated that the harvest would have been more pro-
tracted than usual, but the heat and dryness of the
weather during the last few weeks have obliged the
farmers to put on all the extra hands they could
get, and make the most of the short time within
which their reaping operations must be concluded.
If not secured immediately when fit for the sickle,
the overripe grain is quickly shed. Much of the
wheat is usually lost for want of sufficient hands
to cut it in time ; but no loss from this cause will
be experienced during the present season. All the J
men available are fully employed, but there is no
deficiency of labour, unless it may be in a few of
the outlying districts, the requirements of which
are but small, and are likely to be quickly
supplied after being publicly made known. Water
is beginning to fail on the gold-fields, and there
is a daily increasing number of men obliged
to leave them, and seek employment elsewhere.
Many of those are accustomed to farm work, and
are but too glad to go to any part of the country
in which their services may be in request. For a
month or six weeks longer the harvest-field will
afford employment to all who are fit for that de-
scription of work, after which period we much fear
that the labour-market will begin to exhibit a ten-
dency to plethora. The quantity of work offering
will be decreasing as the number of men seeking it
will increase. The extra hands paid off by the
farmers will have no other recourse than the public
works to be undertaken, and these are not likely to
be carried on very extensively.• From the gold
fields they will be completely excluded until the
winter rains have replenished the creeks and reser-
voirs.

Respecting the extent of the public works that
are likely to be carried on during the autumn and
winter, it is impossible as yet to form a very defi-
nite opinion. Although at the time we write the
labour market here is in a most satisfactory state,
our readers in England who may think of coming
hither must not calcnlate on finding it so in a few
months hence. The national railroads, so long
looked forward to as a means of providing employ-
ment for all, are likely to disappoint the general
expectation in this respect, and our public men are
so slow in their movements, that the evils of last
winter may be experienced again before they have
decided ou taking measures for their prevention.