The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-04 00:00:00

AUSTRAL lA.

The Melbourne Argus, which has arrived with
files 'of the other Australian papers, in anticipation
of the mail, has news down to the 17th December.
The Reform Bill, the passage of which through the
House of Assembly, With some important amend-
ments, was announced last mail had not yet become
the law of the land, though it awaited only the
royal assent. The reduction in the proposed number
of members, and the consequent alterat►on in the
proportion of representatives allotted.to the digging
and urban constituencies, had the effect of neu-
tralising much of the opposition felt to the measure
in the Legislative Council. By this act the colony
will be divided into 49 electoral districts, and the
number of members constituting the Legislative
Assembly will consist of 78. The maximum number
of representatives allotted to any single district will
be three, and the average proportion of representa-
tion to population will be one member to about
every 5,700 persons. The object effected by this
reform bill is simply an increase in the number of
members and a re-distribution of the representation.
Another measure has just passed the Council, and
also awaits the royal assent, which limits the dura-
tion of Parliament to three years instead of five,
according to the present law. There is also a third,
disqualifying all persons receiving salaries or fees
for services from the Crown from holding scats in
Parliament except the responsible ministers.
The mining intelligence by this arrival has few
if any features of special interest. The Arqus
says :

No discovery of importance in alluvial ground has been
made since the finding of the deep lead at Indigo, hat from
all parts of the country we have accounts of the discovery
of new quartz veins, some of them giving promise of great
richness. In the Ovens district, where, Inconsequence of
the distance from town, but little crushing machinery has
been yet erected, several reefs with most promising, indica-
tions have been lately found, and are new being worked in
anticipation of machinery being soon on the ground. On
all the gold fields there is a growing tendency towards more
settled habits, and an increasing disposition on the part of
the miners to render this a more steady and regular pursuit,
so that when leases can be obtained we may expect to see
this class avail themselves largely of the advantages to bo
derived from a fixity of tenure, and the right to take up an
extent of ground that will afford occupation for years to
each company or co-operative 1-.ssociatien.

With regard to the labour market, the same
journal says :

During the last week or two the general labour market
has been in a better condition. The demand for men
suitable for most kinds of comVry work has much in-
creased ; still there arc more men unemployed than should
be idle at harvest time. Many cannot obtain work,
nor is there• a probability of any sudden demand
for skilled workmen arising. The construction of
the national lines of railway is being proceeded with,
but not with that celerity which the • present com-
paratively low rate of wages would admit of under more
spirited management. However, the government is satis-
fied that the number of men employed is sufficient to com-
plete the formation of the lines within the given time, so
the public has no right to complain.
Melbourne commercial intelligence comprises
the following summary of transactions in the gold
market throughout the month :
There has been an active demand, and a less than average
supply, but no change has taken place in rates. These are
now quoted by the Melbourne bullion brokers at :—For
Omeo, 675. 9d. to 71s. 6d. ; PleaSant Creek and Goalburn,
745. 6d. to 755.; Castlemain, Sandhurst, and Jim Crow,
755. to 765. ; Ararat, Maryborough, Dodolly, Fiery Creek,
Avoca, and Amherst, 765. to 775. ; - Ovens and Yackandan-
deli, 775. to 78s. 61; Ballaratt, 775. 6d. to 78s. 6d. per
ounce.

' The shipments have not been heavy lately, but entries
have been passed for large parcels for England by the ves -
sels on the berth. The clearances of last week amounted to
93 tons 6 cwt. 2qr. 231 b. 190 z., the value of which, at £4
per ounce, amounts to £9,248,380. The quantity shipped
i, to the same period of last year was 2,582,793 ounces, or
107 tons 12 cwt. 1 Ir. 71b. 90z., of the value of £10,301,172.
I"roui New South Wales we are furnished with
accounts to the 10th Due., by the Sydney Morning
Herald, which says:—
The Electoral Bill sent down from the council to the
assembly, with amendments, wits returned to that body, the
only amendment on principle which was retained being tho
addition of a member to the assembly to represent the uni-
versity. The principles, therefore, of manhood suffrage, the
ballot, and of residence without regard to property, have
been assented to. The Assessment Bill has also received
- the royal assent. It is thought by most professional men
to be illegal and unconstitutional, on the grounds that it
- interferes with regulations contained in leases granted
under imperial enactment.
On the 11th Nov., Mr. A. J. P. Lutwychc announced in.
the Legislative Council that he had been appointed attor-
ney-general of the colony, Mr. James Martin having retired.
A similar announcement was made in the Assembly by Mr.
Cowper, and the explanation given was that the resignation
arose out of no legal or political differences with his col-
leagues. Eventually, however, an explanation from Mr.
Martin and Mr. Cowper, it appeared that the resignation
was to a certain extent compulsory on Mr. Martin, on the
ground that he had not in his capacity of Minister efficiently
or zealously supported the measures brought forward by
his colleagues in Parliament.