The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-08 00:00:00

THE GOLD FIELDS.

Since our last summary was compiled the Govern-
ment Escorts have brought to Melbourne 170,560
ounces of gold; the quantity for the month show-
ing a decrease on that of the corresponding periods
o(1858 and 1857, of 17,637 oz. and 38,689 respec-
tively.

The shipments during the month show an in-
crease on the amounts exported daring the same
weeks of the two previous years, viz., of 13,523 oz.
over 1858, and 30,520 oz. over 1857.
The following statement exhibits the quantity of
gold transmitted by escort and shipped during the
several periods referred to :

ESCORTS.

1859. lB5B. 1857.
Week ended Oz. Oz. Oz.
July 23
„ 30
Aug. 6
„ 13

Totals 170,560 .. 138,197 209,249
-----------

SHIPMENTS.

1859. 1858. 1857.
Week onded Oz. Oz. Oz.
July 23
„ 30
Aug. 6
„ 13

Totals 203,948 190,425 173,423
The Back Creek no longer continues to excite
the great interest which for some months past it
has commanded. The population is gradually dis-
persing. At the Balaclava lead, on the Alma dig-
gings, a valuable gutter has been lately struck, but
although the deposits are very rich, the capacity of
the lead to employ remuneratively a number of
miners is limited, and consequently the great body
of seceders from Back Creek have been compelled to
look further a-field. Within the last fortnight an
important rush has taken place to some newly-dis-
covered diggings between Sandy Creek and the
Loddon, which are reported to be extensively auri-
ferous. About 1,000 miners have recently congre-
gated upon some newly opened ground in Clowes
Forest, and other alluvial sinkings, of which
favourable reports are to hand, have taken place at
the Mountain Hut, Elysian Flat, and other locali-
ties. A few nuggets, generally of small size, have
been found during the month.
The quartz reefs continue to employ a large pro-
portion of our mining population, and fresh disco-
veries are almost daily taking place. At Pleasant
Creek this description of mining is now almost the
sole occupation of the people there ; and at Bendigo,
Tarrengower, Campbell's Creek, Avoca, Mary-
borough, and Reedy Creek, the reefs are being
thoroughly worked. A few days ago 70 tons of
quartz from a claim at Reedy Creek, when crusled
yielded gold of the value of £5,700.
We have had reason to congratulate ourselves on
the general improvement which has, under the
auspices of the P. and 0. Company, been, effected
in the management of the postal service. With the
exception of that absurd and mischievous regulation,
which renders it necessary for each steamer to call
en route to and from Hobson's Bay at Kangaroo
Island, the existing system promisee to work well,
and to confer upon this community all the advan-
tages to be derived from a judicious organised ser-
vice.
Capt. Price, of the Donald M'Kay, having been
sued by 47 of the passengers to Melbourne by that
vessel, for serving out bad provisions during the
voyage, was fined £47, at the rate of £1 for each
information. The magistrates considered that the
flour only had been proved to be damaged.
Captain G. D. Pitt has received the appointment
of Deputy Adjutant-General, in the room of the
late Lieut.-Colonel Neill, killed by a fall from hie
horse.
Mr. Gisborne, the agent of some English capi-
talists who wish to extend the submarine telegraph
from Batavia to Moreton Bay, by way of Timor,
Port Essington, and Cape York, arrived here by
the July mail. His projects have been favourably
received, and though public opinion here was
previously in favour of the line of tele-
graphic following that of mail communication, by
King George's Sound and Swan. River, he has suc-
ceeded in advancing such excellent reasons for the
route he advocates, as to have made converts of
most people.
The first sod of the Melbourne and Essendon
Railway was turned by b_is Excellency Sir Henry
Barkly on the 23d ult. The lino will in the first
instance run to Essendon only, but the intention
of the directors is to push it on to Kilmore, and by
degrees to Beech Worth and the Murray.
The Red Jacket, while on her voyage from Liver-
pool to this port, had the misfortune to run down
the Elizabeth Walker. The crew of the latter had
only just time to climb on board the Red Jacket
when their own vessel foundered. The accident
occurred at one a.m. on the 13th of June, the posi-
tion of the Red Jacket at the time being 30 dog-
-40 min. S., and 36 deg. 40 min. W. The damage
to the latter was but trifling, and was easily re-
paired.

In the matter of theatrical novelty there is not
much to report this month. The chief event has
undoubtedly been the production, at the Theatre
Royal, of " Coriolanus, Mr. Brooke, for the first
time in his life, impersonating the principal cha-
racter. Mr. Brooke's Coriolanus is considered. here
to be one of his best parts, and for once public
opinion is unanimous on the subject. Mrs. Vickery
was moderately commendable as Volumnia, and
Mr. R. Heir made a respectabie Tullus Aufidius.
The management of the Olympic have revived,
with tolerable success, the extravaganza " The
Seven Castles of the Passions." Wizard entertain-
ments are at present the staple amusement, Pro'
fessor Ericksen, a Scandinavian conjuror, having
appeared, and Professor Anderson being announced
to perform for six nights, opening to-morrow night
in the character of Rob Roy.
At the Princess's Theatre, since the withdrawal
of Miss Mary "Provost, Mr. Fawcett and Miss
Fanny Wernham have been carrying on the cam-
paign with melodrama. The "Black Doctor" has
recently been produced with moderate success.
Mr. Farquharson is at present in Melbourne,
and contemplates giving a series of entertainment
shortly.
Mr. L. Lavenu, known in England as the cons-
poser of the opera of " Loretta," died at Sydney on
the 31st ult., after a few days' illness. The cause
of death was inflammation of the bowels.

SYDNEY.
The elections have been completed, and the neW
parliament was summoned for the 30th August.
Tho Sydney Herald thinks that the Government
will succeed in the:r support of the late occupant of
the chair of the Assembly, Sir Daniel Cooper, and
that he will also receive the support of many of the
most influential members of the Opposition. " The
opening speech of the Governor General will," sale
the same journal, "no doubt provoke debate. It
will necessarily involve suggestive measures for the
internal defence of the colony against foreign air
gressions. The interest felt in the colony on We
subject is strong, and it is not unlikely that the go-
vernment will be able to command a temporary
majority."
M

_R. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN.—Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean commenced their tour in the provinces at the
Exeter Theatre, on Wednesday night. The audience lase
large and fashionable, and the performance of the distin-
guished actor and actress in " The Gamester" were most
warmly applauded.
MR. ROBERT STEPHENSON, M.P.—We are happy
to state that Mr. Robert Stephenson was somewhat better
yesterday. His physician thinks rather more favourably of
the case, without, however, considering him out of danger*
PORT OF GRIMSBY.—In consequence of the large
and steady increase of trade at the port of Grimsby, We understand the Customs' establishment has been recently
revised—the salaries of the officers having been raised, and
a considerable addition made to the staff.—Civil Servia
Gazette.
STATE OF TRADE.—MANCHESTER, Oct. 7.—The
reaction which set in last week continues, and we have a
limited business to report, though the tone of the market
is equal to what it was six or eight days ago. Domestics
are in less demand, and some concession has been made IS
price, but small in amount and not very general. Long-
cloths and T are also quiet. Printing cloths are firm and
the engagements considerable, but buyers are running loot
in stock rather than renew engagements. For 36. inch
shirting makers are well under orders, and prices are steady
though there is net much new business. For 40-inch
shirtings the business is small, and the bias of prices is in
favour of buyers. Calcutta telegrams to September 4 sal
prices were again lower, but there were no further failures.
Bombay advices are contradictory, some saying that prices are unchanged, and others that they were lower. The yarn
market continues dull, and sellers are more anxious to make
sales. For counts under 90's prices are id. to id. per lb.
lower than last week.
EXTRAORDINARY ASSAULT BY A POST-OFFICE
INSPECTOR.—At the Salford Borough Police Court, yester-
day, Edward ,C. Windsor, described as a Post-office In-
spector, was charged with violently assaulting a cabman
named Francis Jones. It was stated that on the Ist of
September last, the complainant was driving Mr. Withing-
ton, a surgeon, of Pendleton, and his wife towards Pendle-
ton, in his cab. He met defendant and another gentleman
driving a pony-carriage in the opposite direction. The de-
fendant's pony was going at a fast gallop. and complainant
believed the vehicles would have come into collision had
he not struck the pony with his whip so as to make it turn
aside. When Mr. and Mrs. Withingten were alighting at
their house in Pendleton, defendant came up, seized the
cabman by the throat, and foreed him against some railing~
till blood issued from his mouth, Windsor's friend sepa-
rated them, but as the cabman was being led into Mr.
Withington's house the defendant again rushed upon him
struck him several limos in the face, and kicked him in the
ribs, so that the complainant became for a time insensible.
It was stated that complainant lost a pint and a half of
blood, and was nearly choked. Defendant had been absent
in Scotland shooting ever since. He was committed for
trial at the sessions.

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