The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-07 00:00:00

OUR GOLD FIELDS.

Since the date of our last summary, the Govern-
ment Escorts have brought 177,876 oz. to Mel-
bourne, showing a decrease on the corresponding
periods of 1858 and 1857 of 19,219 oz., and 30,529
oz. respectively.
The shipments for the month were 171,601 oz.,
showing an increase of 37,971 oz. over 1858, and a
decrease of 7,903 oz. under 1857.

The following statements show the quantities of
gold transmitted by escort and shipped during the
periods referred to :

Escort Returns for the four weeks since last sum-
mary, compared with corresponding weeks of years
1858, 1857 :

1859. 1858. 1857.
Week ended. Oz. Oz. Oz.
August 20
1, 27
Sept. 3
10
17

Totals
Shipments for same periods :

Week ended. Oz. Oz. Oz.
August 20
1 9 27
Sept. 3
)1 10

Totals 171,601 133,630 179,504
he total amount shipped during the year is
1,710,927 ounces.
The reports from the various gold-fields during
the past month exhibit some satisfactory results to
those who are steadily watching our progress.
New quartz reefs of undoubted richness are ever
and anon rewarding the enterprise of the miner ;
and the conviction is daily gathering strength in
the public mind that, in the numerous new and
old public puddling and quartz companies, there
lies a solid basis for the profitable and permanent
investment of almost unlimited capital. An immense
number of mining companies have been brought
before the notice of the public during the month.
Some of them had their capital promptly sub-
scribed, while the shares of others could not be dis-
posed of. By far the greater portion of the new
undertakings have been launched with perfect good
faith ; and there is little doubt that they will prove
amply remunerative to the shareholders. By the
old mode of working small patches of ground,
and sinking a shaft on each claim, a vast amount
of labour and expense was incurred, which will
be obviated when large areas are worked in a
systematic way by public companies, and when
science and machinery are brought to the aid of
labour. We anticipate a bright future for this
colony, now that capitalists are beginning to be
alive to the advantages of investing 'their money
in gold mining. All that is required is that
capital should be protected by legislative enact-
ments, and that no unnecessary impediments should
be thrown in the way of public companies leasing
large tracts of ground. The days of the tin dish
and puddling tub have passed away, and it is as
absurd to try and prevent machinery from being
employed on the gold-fields, as it would be to insist
that instead of powerful machinery and the division
of labour being introduced into nail-making, every
one of these useful articles should be wrought by
the blacksmith out of the bar of iron.

The largest cake of amalgamated gold ever pro-
duced, has just been turned out at Sandy Creek.

It is the result of a portion of 60 tons of the first
quartz crushed from the Corfu Reef. It weighs
1,040 ounces. The crushing was done at Mr. King's
machine, and the gold retorted off on Friday even-
ing. All the following night the lucky owners of
the claim kept watch and ward over it, armed to the
teeth. It was amusing to listen to the various re-
marks of the speakers as they inspected the dazzling

yield from a claim, a sixth share of which a few
months ago could have been purchased for a score
of pounds. Even after gold was struck, £lO,OOO,
we believe, would have bought the clam, —a splen-
did purchase, considering that the first 60 tons will
yield fully half the amount.
Most of the companies formed for working our
gold-fields, especially those at Bendigo, arc pro-
gressing satisfactorily. Engines from ten to sixty
horse power may be seen on the roads, and many
are in course of erection. In the Forest Creek dis-
trict, the workers on the reefs are showing a dispo-
sition to proceed with greatly increased energy.

There are now at least 30 steam crushing mills
within a radius of five or six miles from Castle-
maine, with an aggregate horse power of about 420.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Yesterday some members of the Chamber of
Commerce had an interview with the Chief Secre-
tary on the defences of the colony, and he commu-
nicated in detail the steps that had been taken.
Six vessels of war, varying from six to 26 guns—
the whole armament comprising 82 guns and 1,000
men--are to be stationed in Australian ports. The
Military Volunteers and Police will furnish an
affective force of 3,000 men, irrespective of militia,
to organise which a bill will be introduced. Three
batteries will be erected in Hobson's Bay, mount-
ing 30 guns. Three martello towers and two forts
are to be erected at the heads, mounting Armstrong
guns, and an ample supply of arms has been or-
dered from England. Tho first outlay will be
£140,000, and it is proposed to continue further
defences annually, to be accelerated in case of war.
A person named William Gardiner, a commis-
sion agent, residing in Melbourne, made an unos-
tentatious exit from the colony by the Royal
Charter, taking with him property worth £4,000.
He shipped in the name of Garden. He has since
been declared insolvent.

The wool shipments have commenced. The Or-
well has on board 535 bales; the Royal Charter,
461 bales ; the Red Jacket, 16 bales ; and the Swift-
sure, 493 bales—in all, 1,535 bales.