The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

(From the Sydney Morning Herald.)
The English mail has for once arrived before the
final departure of the outward-bound packet. So
soon as it became known that the European had
reached Melbourne, it was promptly determined by
the Colonial Government and the Company's agent
to detaiß the Columbian until time should have
been afforded. to the Sydney merchants to answer
their correspondents' letter. The City of Sydney
was also for this purpose detained until midnight on
Wednesday, the mail itself being closed at nine. But
the European did not arrive until late in the after-
noon, and the " shades of evening" were at hand
ere her mail could be delivered, so that very little
time for reading and answering letters was really
obtained. But we may now begin to hope for
better times, not only for an efficient working of the
mail communication via Suez, by the Peninsular and
Oriental Company, but for a speedy opening up of
the Panama route, so long and earnestly maintained
here to be the best and most economical, as well as
the shortest.

MONEY AND SHARE MARKET.
Since our last summary a moderate amount of business
has been transacted in the share market. Money is pretty
plentiful for good investments, and prices consequently re-
main firm. The fluctuations that have taken place in the
different securities have not, however, been to any great
extent; and, as the half-yearly dividends of the following
companies—Australian Joint-Stock Bank, Newcastle Coal
and Copper Company, and Australian Steam Navigation
Company—are about to be declared at the end of the
month, holders in the mean time are not disposed to sell,
except at full rates. Commercial Bank Shares are very
firm, and have been sold as high as £52105. per share, cum.
div. and right to new shares, which is an advance of £2
10s. per share on the highest price ruling last month. Gene-
ral •Assurance Company's shares have advanced ss. per
share, and Bank of New South Wales 10s. per shares
Union Bank shares have improved 20s. per share. In Aus-
tralian Steam Navigation shares some large sales were ef-
fected in tbe beginning of this month at from £l4 10s. to
£l4 15s. per share, but they have since rallied and aro now
worth £l5 per share. New South Wales Marine Assurance
Company's shares have declined from ss. to 7s. 6d. per share.
Government debentures continue firm, and meet with a
ready sale at full quotations. The Pyrmont Bridge Com-
pany's debentures are also going off pretty steadily at par.
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Com-
mercial Banking Company was held cn the 18th of January.
The resolution passed at the last meeting to increase the
capital from £240,000 to £320,000 was confirmed. A divi-
dend at the rite of 20 per cent; per annum was deelared.
The reserved fund was increased to £50,000, and £4,924 I s . sd.
was carried to the credit of next halLyear's account.
The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of
the Australian General Assurance Company was held on
the 22d of January. A dividend at the rate of 20 per cent.
per annum was declared. The amount to the credit of
profit and, loss account on the 31st of December, 1858, was
£18,378 ls. 11d. Messrs. J. L. Montefiore and A. Camp-
bell were elected directors in the room of Messrs. W. Fan-
ning and T. W. Smith, resigned.