The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-05 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The following is from the summary of the Mel-
bourne herald of June 17 :
" Once more our monthly political budget is un-
usually barren of positive events. We are still in
the middle of the dead time of the Parliamentary
year.
" Some symptoms of insubordination have been
evinced by the Chinese, arising out of their having
been called upon ti pay up the first quarterly in-
stalment of the commuted poll-tax imposed on them
by a recent act of the legislature. At first there
appeared to be some show of reason on the side of
the remonstrant Asiatics ; but it was quickly dissi-
pated by their cunning and insolent conduct. Ob-
serving that public sympathy was with them to
some extent, they dared the experiment of address-
ing the Government in defiant language. In that
issue the Government, of course, had no alternative
but to enforce payment of the tax at all hazards.
Artful John Chinaman, seeing this, quietly aban-
doned his ground, and submissively craved pardon.
The tax is now being levied with little or no diffi-
culty. But it is certain that the popular feeling of
hostility to the Chinese has been much increased by
these circumstances ; and it has been also exaspe-
rated by an unfortunate occurrence at one of the
gold-fields. A murderous attack has been made on
a European storekeeper and his wife by a party of
Chinese, which has resulted in the death of the for-
mer. The murderers have not yet been captured.
" The Ministry are still decidedly falling in popu-
lar esteem. A most serious administrative blunder
was made by them, in granting a mining lease to
one company of miners of a piece of land already in
the legal possession of another party. This blunder
might have led to a serious collision between the
miners in possession and the police, But the local
warden acted with extreme caution ; and the judge
of mines subsequently set aside the validity of the
lease ; so that the threatening difficulty has been
brought to an amicable termination. But the case
illustrates two things : first, the utter worthless-
ness of the Government's mining lease legislation ;
and, secondly, their negligent administration.
" It is pretty certain that the ministry will but
barely manage to get over the pending general
election, if even that. It will be much if they can
contrive to meet the new Parliament with undimi-
nishe4 numbers."
The news from the gold fields still continues
somewhat discouraging.
" The Back Creek continues to employ a very
numerous population, and now ranks with the lead-
ing gold fields of the colony. By reference to the
last table it will be s'en that the escort return of
quantity sent down during the month from Amherst
and adjacent townships exceeds that of any other
district, The diggings are very extensive, and seve-
ral rushes, with more or less profitable results, have
taken place to surrounding localities. Amongst
them those to Kangaroo and Mount Glasgow have
beep attended with the greatest success. Several
large nuggets have been recently found on this gold
field ; one Which, from a fancied resemblance to the
human form, has been named the " Baby Nugget,"
weighed 113 ounces.
" At Ballarat and Bendigo mining affairs have
of late been much depressed, but at Castlemaine the
depression has perhaps been most significantly ma-
nifested in the fact that the last escort brought
down a smaller quantity of gold than has been
transmitted from that field in such a manner for
many years past. The population of Ararat and
Pleasant Creek is estimated at about 26,000 souls,
and the former is still highly popular. The recent
discoveries at Commissioners' Hill have proved ex-
ceedingly valuable, but the latest accounts state
that the place was showing symptoms of exhaus-
tion. The once celebrated Pleasant Creek has little,
if any reputation left as good alluvial diggings ;
the quartz reefs are, however, developing a new
source of wealth.„

MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL NEWS.
The departure of the royal mail steamer Colum-
bian with the May mails enabled us to forward our
usual monthly summary of the monetary and com-
mercial transactions which had taken place in our
local markets. The Columbian, however, returned
to Adelaide disabled, and this untoward accident
only served to verify our anticipations, whilst it af-
forded a conclusive proof of the want of judgment
exhibited by the Peninsular and Oriental Company
in making so undesirable an addition to their fleet.
The steamer in question, having been repaired at
Adelaide, finally sailed for her destination on the
Ist inst. Since the publication of the summary to
which we allude the amount of actual business done
has been limited, notwithstanding the very oppor-
tune arrival of the Northam, with advices from the
United Kingdom to 18th April. Although the in-
telligence received with regard to some few articles
of import was satisfactory, and this circumstance
rendered holders more confident, it failed to induce
anything like an extensive speculation. The dimi-
nution was not sufficiently marked to affect the
course of prices very materially, or to dispel the ex-
treme dulness which has prevailed in our markets
of late. For ale in bulk the demand has slightly
fallen off, and sellers have been willing to place the
best brands at £3 17s. 6d. Ales and porter in bottle
have been selling more freely, and a slight improve-
ment in prices has taken place. The advices with
regard to shipments of butter were not particularly
cheering, but gave holders an opportunity of ad-
vancing their rates, and they accordingly succeeded
in disposing of several parcels at 171 on the spot.
It is stated that importers are determined to -sup-
port the market, and their recent cautious proceed-
ing are calculated to justify the impression. Candles
have also been in better request since the arrival of
per
he mail,l
aatn d
which e may
price quotesome Belmont
holders adt
elesl
nse-1
td.
o
realise. Hams, bacon, and cheese have arrived in
extensive parcels, and the market for these imports
is consequently not so firm—the best brands of the
two first named articles having been sold at ls. 2d.
to is. 21-d. per lb. In the market for Eastern
produce business has been very dull, and few specu-
lative transactions have taken place. Sales of
sugar have been in ide at reduced quotations, and
the demand for refined sorts of the:Victoria Sugar
Company's manufacture is supposed to have inter-
fered with the regular business of the importers.
For teas the inquiry has been barely sufficient to
support the market, and rice is so extensively held
that buyers are reluctant to increase their stocks. An
advance was suddenly established to. day in the price
of flour, and Adelaide brands were generally held
for £26 in an apparently rising market. The
publication of the agricultural statistics, which
show an enormous increase in the stocks of Victoria-
grown oats available for consumption, has still fur-
ther depressed the value of our supplies. Colonial
are qu,ted at 4s. 9d. to ss. per bushel ; Californian,
4s. 9d.; Scotch and Irish, 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. ; Cal-
cutta, 4s. 4d., and Danish 4s. Maize is worth 4s.
6d. per bushel, and grain is generally held for £lO.
Wheat is purchased at 9s. 6d. to 10s. per bushel,
and bran at ls. 10d. to ls. 11d. to
ut
wines market
out'
wines and spirits is devoid of animation,
any immediate prospect of a favourable chan
in •
Since
localtll e itilirariilvae tl.
freely available on the security of hrst-cltasusf
pert, at from Sto 10 per cent. The
ohfatvhee
been mail steamerlimited.. r acn
as
iag).cie.tt ol.noi
ss-
changed hands at £37 10s., and colonial d
dmatronucon ini then
(l
usohtaaii
oomarkets.
nk o f l:causedri‘eNtotrti anyof
ht have
changed
per et nt. dis. to par, and are. geneia
com-
the latter figure. -For shares in the insuranceAus-
ls. to £6 ss. ; National Bank shares a. riel
eoltde d
for at t
panics there has been an increased demand;
1-ourne commaud a readier sale ;
Company are at 50 per cent.
,premium,Nvith few
Aus-
tralasian have been disposed of at 205.,
uatrinde.,l
Gas
eal
sellers, and Melbourne and Hobson s. Bayi Ballßailwayarat
Gas Company have been made at £ I (16 pai ).

Sy&

The following is from the summary of the
1110)1111w _Herald of .Tune 13:—
We are in the midst of a general election, and
there is no doubt the political, personal, and social

interests conflict very strongly the public mind.
This must always be the case in new countries,
and it is the more explicitly developed in New South
Wales, where the desire for municipal improvement
is growing daily more intense and impetuous from
untoward circumstances, which can hardly be con-
trolled by theoretical politics.
The city candidates, who have secured their seats,
hardly realise any representation of the principles
of the constituency. The election of the Premier
to the head of the poll was looked on as a
matter of course. The return of his most avowed
and determined opponent, Mr. James Martin, even
at the foot of the poll, has excited some surprise ;
and the singular lack of profession of trust and
confidence in Mr. Cowper 's policy by those who
were his former friends has excited suspicion.

The first suburban election has also created con-
siderable excitement. Sir Daniel Cooper, Speaker
of the late Assembly, was the almost assured can-
didate ; but a few weeks ago he met an opponent in
the person of young Mr. Windeyer, who, although
not previously in political life, has practised here
with some success at the bar. Perhaps the best
claims he had to present himself to the constituency
were the antecedents left to him by his grandfather
and father, both of them leaving names very dear
to the colonists. By a comparatively small majo-
rity Sir Daniel Cooper was returned, although we
have no doubt that a more extended disposition in
his favour prevails throughout the colony.
Of the rest of the Ministry it is almost certain
that the Colonial Treasurer (Mr. Weeks) and the
Secretary of Lands and Public Works (Mr. Robert-
son), will be returned by their late constituencies.
Few other of the well-known Parliamentary names
are before the country, but there are many whose
opinions are likely to invest the proceedings of the
coming Parliament with more than ordinary in-
terest.

SHARE MARKET.—Since our last summary, dated
May 13, the share market has been very buoyant ;
and, as money has been pretty plentiful for invest-
ment, an advance has taken place in the prices of
most securities. The fluctuations that have taken
place have been as follow : Bank of New South

`Wales have improved £1 to £1 10s. per share ; Com-
mercial Bank shares continue in great request, and
have advanced £2 10s. per share, and holders are
asking for a further advance. The new shares have
likewise improved 50s. per share. There has been
a great demand for Australian Joint-Stock shares,
in consequence of a proposal to increase their capi-
tal, and their shares have been readily bought up
at an advance of £1 to £1 lOs per share. Union
Bank shares are about lOs per share higher. Aus-
tralasian Steam Navigation Company's shares are
more sought after, sales have lately been made at
par. For Newcastle Coal and Copper Company's
shares there is a better, feeling evinced, and they
have improved sto 7 4,- - per cent. Gas-light Com-
pany's shares are firm at quotations. Sydney In-
surance shares are a shade higher.
Government debentures are very firm, and ter-
minables, due in 1860, have been sold at 2 per cent.
premium and interest, and those due in 1876 at 4-
per cent, premium and interest. Interminables
are steady at 98 to 99 and interest.
THE GOLD ESCORTS.—The quantity of gold
dust received from our several gold fields during
the month of May has been 21,220 ozs. During the
corresponding month of 1858 the amount received
was 17,915 ozs. The increase on the receipts of the
month is, therefore, 3,305 ozs., or :18 per cent.
There has been a slight falling off in the yield from
the Western, gold fields, but there is a considerable
increase in the amount received from the Southern
and Northern gold fields. During the first five
months of the year 1858 the quantity of gold dust
delivered was 87,319 cis. For the same period of
the present year the receipts have amounted to
115,092 ozs. There is, therefore, an increase of
27,773 ozs., or about 31 per cent. in favour of the
present year.
Business during the past month has been pretty
active, and most of our markets wear an improved
aspect, in consequence of the decline that has lately
taken place in shipments to this colony. The ad-
vices received, per Northam, have also tended to
strengthen the prices of most articles of consump-
tion,andit is evident from the few ships that sailed
from London for Sydney during the month of
March, that our markets will not, for some time
to come, be overstocked. There is, however, a
tolerable supply of all descriptions of goods, both
here and at Melbourne, and this will therefore
prevent any considerable rise from taking place.
Freights to London are without alteration, viz.:
—Wool, unpressed, id. per lb. ; in full hides, 14s.
to 15s. per ton ; tallow, 20s. to 255. per ton ; cocoa-
nut oil, 20s. to 255. per tun ; sperm oil, 30s. to 355.
per tun ; Kauri gum, 17s. to 20s. per ton ; and tim-
ber, 18s. to 20s. per load.

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.

(BY ELECTRIC TLEGRAPII.)

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING.
The Teviot steamer, Captain Woodward, has ar-
rived, with the West India, Mexico, and Pacific

mails.

Her dates are—From Jamaica and Grenada, July
11th ; Vera Cruz. sth ; Havannah 10th ; Greytown,
2d ; Demerara, Carthagena, and Trinidad, 10th ;
Barbadoes, 12th ; Panama, 9th ; Antigua, 14th ;
St. Thomas's, 18th.
She brings 138 passengers, 2,738,080 dols. in
specie, jewellery, value 6,617 dols., and general
cargo.
Business at Jamaica was very dull, and ground
provisions were scarce. In3reased activity in meal
and rice ; for small lots of rice 16s. 6d. to 17s.
readily_obtained ; ordinary coffee, 38s. ; sugar, 17s.
to 20s.
Exchange on London, 90 days, par ; 60 days,
half per cent. prem.; 30 days, one ditto.
The brig Eliza Bain, of Glasgow, Capt. Fulton,
was destroyed by fire in Kingston harbour on the
10th ult. ; vessel insured, cause of fire unknown ;
two men who were assisting were injured.
Reports of the weather from the different islands
favourable to agricultural pursuits.
Trade dull at Demerara. Supply of American
provisions ample; codfish scarce; rice in good de-
mand; very little doing in exports.
A new French vessel, called the Mozambique, was
lost on the Araucanian coast on the 15th of May, 40
leagues south of the river Leba. Captain, eight of
the crew, and a passenger drowned, ten of the crew
saved, and one murdered by the Indians. The
entire cargo, which was very valuable, was plun-
dered by the savages.
South Pacific news unimportant.
Castilla had determined to declare war against
Ecuador, and to lead his troops in person. It was
supposed that Peruvian forces had, by the time the
mail left, landed at Guayaquil to commence hosti-
lities.