The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-08 00:00:00

really remarkable improvement according to
the report of the Works Committee, it is
riot to be dreamt of for a moment—it is
positively monstrous, according to Mr. WRIGHT,
to dream of such extravagance. It would be
such simple prodigality to spend in this way
three thousand two hundred and odd pounds
out of the funds of so very impoverished
a city as London (so the report aforesaid suggests
that it should be dropped at once by the Metropo-
litan Board of Works, as something wholly pre-
posterous. Nevertheless, it must be observed
with some satisfaction that the Board, with a certain
degree of inconsistency; resolved at the very same
meeting at which the Newgate-street improvement
was suggested to be thrown aside that ar-
rangements much more expensive should be
completed as speedily as possible, for the
purchase of old Berkeley-house, Spring-gar-
dens, to the end, of course, that it shall, imme-
diately upon the completion of that purchase, be
razed to the ground, and so open a fitting com-
munication at the south-east corner of Cock-
spur-street by means of a thoroughfare
running between DENT'S, the clockmaker's, and
FARRANCE,the confectioners—connecting Trafalgar-
square and St. James's•park. A very remarkable
improvement this will undoubtedly be; and for the
ready adoption of the idea of it the Metropolitan
Board of Works is highly to be commended.
Let us hope that its completion will be almost
simultaneous with the substitution of noble foun-
tains in the midst of, the finest site in Europe, in
lieu of those two wretched little squirts upon the
dumb-waiters—with the depositing at last of the
four colossal granite lions at the base of the Nelson
Column—above all, with the, commencement of a
new -National Gallery worthy of containing the
art treasures of England, in place of the stone
criet stand so long our architectural disgrace
and laughingstock.

LATEST NEWS

INDIA AND CHINA.

AUSTRALIA.

By the arrival of the European we have received
our private correspondence and files of papers froth
Melbourne to the 15th September, and from Syd-
ney to the 10th of September.
(From the Melbourne Herald, Sept. 15.) _

The dreary parliamentary recess is approaching

its close. Ministers have issued their mandate,
summoning parliament to re-assemble on the 7th
October. It is fully understood that the business
of the coming session—which will be, in'any case,
the last session of the present Assembly—will be
restricted to the passing of the estimates for the en-
suing year in the lower house, and to the passing
of the Reform Bill in the upper. But even if the
Council should reject the Reform Bill a second
time, there will be a speedy dissolution of the As-
sembly, a general election, and the early convoca-
tion of a reformed house. Not till then will the
present government bring forward their grand pro-
gramme of leading measures ; so that, although we
have had a partial revelation of the character of
these measures, it would be premature to subject
them to detailed criticism. There may be a few
minor measures of a pressing nature introduced
during the coming session, but nothing, we believe
to indidate definitely the broad policy of the go-
vernment. At least it is satisfactory to know that
they have such a policy; for it has really seemed for
sometime back as if they had not yet wakened up
to the necessity of anything of the kind. But
they are now speaking out with some frankness,
and, naturally enough, they appear to be pro-
portionately rising in popular estimation. In these
democratic communities the strength of a Govern-
ment lies in its free intercourse with the public.
EVerything in relation to its administrative action
and its prospective policy must lie open to public
view ; or else distrust, suspicion, and thence de-
clared opposition, are certain to result. As regards
their conduct of the administration, it must be
avowed that the present Cabiriet are rising in
popular favour. At first, many even of their own
supporters had strong misgivings touching their
ability to carry on the business of government, and
especially. as to their impartiality in the distribu-
tion of patronage ; and doubtless there were some
grounds shown in the character of a few of their
first appointments, for distrust on the latter point ;
but we think the feeling is now dying out, and
that the Ministry have now before them as fair a
field for the exhibition of whatever statesmanlike
qualities they possess as men could possibly desire.
There is, at bottom, a strong sentiment of justice
pervading the mind of this community, which all
public men may turn to good advantage, if they
choose.

The following telegram, dated Malta, from Mr.
Acting Agent and Consul-General Green, was re-
ceived at the Foreign-office on Sunday, November
7, at 5.45 p.m. :

" ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 4.
" The steamer Ima arrived at Suez from Ca'
cotta on the 2d inst.

" Dates—Calcutta, 9th October ; Madras, 15th
October ; Shanghai, 20th September ; Hong Kong,
38thISeptember ; Singapore, 7th October.

" There is no news of the slightest importance

The Chief Secretary has seized the opportunity
afforded by the long recess to visit the interior, for
the purpose of personally noting the requirements,
both material and political, of the people, and
particularly of the mining population. At
Bendigo, the feeling in his favour was raised almost
to enthusiasm by a speech which he made at a
large public meeting, held in the open air, in the
course of which he indicated the main points of his
future policy.
We are glad to be able to state that Mr. Gavan
Duffy has quite recovered from his recent severe
and protracted illness, sufficiently at least to resume
his official duties.
Meantime the elections for the upper house, con-
sequent upon the termination of the first period of
two years—when, according t® the Constitution
Act, one-fifth of the members retire by rotation,---
are proceeding. In addition to the six vacancies
so created, two others have fallen in by resigna-
tions ; so that there are no less than eight new
members wanted for the council.
Perhaps the most significant political incident of
the month has been the defeat of Mr. W. Nicholson,
who has recently returned from Great Britain, at
the election for the district. of South Melbourne.
Mr. Nicholson will be remembered in England as
the feted hero of the ballot, and although the result
of the tlection was certainly not in the least affected
by any change in public feeling with respect to the
new mode of voting, it was, no doubt, to a con-
siderable extent by the " hero worship" alluded to.
The electors of a Victorian constituency are very
sensitive in their independence, and have a particular
objection to be patronised even by the friend
and associate of the magnates with whom Mr. W.
Nicholson hob-nobbed. The successful candidate,
Mr. Anderson, is the Chairman of the Municipal
Council of Emerald -Hill, and a gentleman of very
respectable mental qualifications into the bargain.
The ballot showed the following result :--For Mr.
Anderson, 924 ; and for Mr. Nicholson, 891, giving
the former amajority of 33. Mr. Nicholson's inde-
cisive views on the land settlement question ope-
rated . greatly to his prejudice ; his opponent
swallowed the whole programme of the Convention,
and was-rewarded by the support of the adherents
of that bogy. _

from India.

" Lord Elgin awaited at Shanghai the Commis-
sioners for arranging the tariff, &c., who were ex-
pected from Pgkin at the beginning of October.
" All quiet at Canton, and trade recommencing.
The Chinese are returning to Hong Kong.
" The Dutch expedition against Jarnbe has been
successful. The landing took place on the 6th of
September, and Jambe is in the possession of the
Dutch. The loss of the natives was considerable;
on the side of the Dutch 4 killed and 34 wounded.

" The French and Spanish forces have landed at
Touran, a port of Cochin China. The place was
taken without the loss of a man. The bay and
river of Touran are held in a state of effective
blockade by the forces under Admiral de Genouilly
from the Ist of September.
" Mr. Loch is proceeding home by this mail
with the Japan Treaty.
" This telegram arrived. at Alexandria by the
contract steampaeket Ceylon at 11.30 a.m. on the
7th of November.

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 8, 1858.

the men to. " knack off" as they came up to them:
Mr. :obertson, the superintendent of the works'
was insulted, and his horse severely kicked, and
affairs at one time looked so threatening, that it
was found advisable to despatch a strong police
force from Melbourne to protect the officials, and
those of the men who were willing to work. The
demands of the men on this occasion were to be
paid at the rate of 10s. a yard for ballast, or 12s. a
day, and a proviso that there should be no sub-con-
tracting. We believe that the disturbances have
since entirely ceased, and that work has been gene-
rally resumed.
The Hobson's Bay Company continue their course
of success, and the Melbourne and Suburban Com-
pany are pushing on the works of the line with re-
markable vigour.