The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

We take the following from the Sydney Morning
Herald of the 11th November :
" The stream of adventurers has been diverted
from the north. They are pouring back from
Keppel Bay and Port Curtis. Some, however
are still going, and these are the men who will
be most likely to succeed if there are paying gold j
fields in the neighbourhood of the Fitzroy
River. They are mostly practical miners, who
know and appreciate the difficulties which they
will have to encounter, and who have both funds
and stamina to give the country a fair trial. It
still remains to be shown whether or not this region
is sufficiently auriferous to maintain a large digging
population.
We have had, during the week, a celestial visitor
of great celebrity. A comet, supposed to be that of
1556, has shown itself at the 'antipodes, on its return
from its 300 years' travel. It was first seen in
Sydney on Tuesday evening, but had, we under-
stand, been visible to the northward some evenings
earlier. It is very brilliant and beautiful, and seems
to have increased both in brilliancy and beauty
every cycling since its first appearance. Its cha-
racter, size, and position have been fully described
by several scientific correspondents who have ob-
served it.

" The electric telegraph from Sydney to Mel-
bourne and Adelaide was opened on Friday.
" The Chinese Bill has been shelved for the pre-
sent year. It was sent to a special committee of
the Legislative Council, and that committee has
brought up its report, but the second reading was
negatived last night by a majority of 17 to 4.

" The Electoral Reform Bill was sent back to the
Assembly in the early part of the week, and has
since passed through the ordeal of a consideration
in committee by the latter house. The result has
been that the bill stands restored in the most
material points to its original shape. In parti-
cular, the changes whiah the Legislative Council
made in reference to the franchise have been all
negatived. It is entirely as a consequence of this,
that when the bill comes again before the Upper
House it will be cast out, unless a batch of new
members is sent there to carry it. There are already
rumours of such a step being in contemplation.
" There was a heavy thunderstorm in Sydney
last week, and the weather has since been rather
cool for the present season. This storm came from
the southward, and on Saturday evening so affected
the telegraphic wires as to stay for a time the
transmission of messages between Sydney and
Melbourne.

The arrival of the Austrian frigate Novara is an
event of some importance, not only because she is
the first Austrian man-of-war that has entered this
port, but because she is engaged upon a scientific
expedition. Various demonstrations of welcome to
her officers are under discussion.

MONEY AND SHARE MARKET.
(From the Sydney Morning Herald)

Since our last summary the share market has continued
active, and a marked improvement has taken place in the
prices of the shares of some of our banking companies.
Money for investment has been pretty plentiful, and this,
coupled with the news from England of an advance in
Australian securities, had added increased firmness to the
tone of the share market.

The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of
theßank of New South Wales was held on the 27th October.
The report, which was considered very satisfactory, was
adopted. The net profits for the half-year amounted to
£61,374 Os. Ild., and this, together with the undivided ba-
lace of profit of last half •year, £4,953 9s. 2d., was appor-
tioned as follows :—To payment of dividend, at the rate of
20 per cent. per annum, £50,000; increase of reserve fund,
15,000; and balance carried to profit and loss, "new
account," £1,327 16s ld. With this increase the reserve
fund now amounts to £175,000. The Hon. Sir Daniel
Cooper was re-elected a director ; and Mr. R. A. Hunt
was elected an auditor, in the room of Mr. E. C. Weekes,
M.L.A., who retires by rotation.
• At the half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the New
South Wales Marine Assurance Company, the usual divi-
dend, at the rate of 25 per cent. per annum, was declared.
The sixth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of
the Sydney Fire Insurance Company was held on the 29th
of October. The report, which was considered satisfactory,
was adopted. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per
annum was declared. The net profits for the half-year
were £6,515 18s. 10d. The reserve fund was increased
by the sum of £1,303 3s. 9d. to £4,344 3s. 9d., and
£3,692 15s. ld. was added to the contingent fund, which
will now amount to £11,491 6s. 9d. Mr. S. D. Gordon,
M L.A., and Mr. Thomas Holt were re-elected directors;
and Mr. C. B. Ebsworth was elected an auditor.

Government debentures are steady, but transactions have
been few. Terminables,,sdue in 1860, are worth part In
terminables have changed hands at 97 and interest, at
which rate there are still sellers. Australian Steam Navi-
gation Company's debentures have been sold at half per
cent. premium and interest.