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 0 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-
nished 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 seen 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
been 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 population of Ararat and
akst. is estimated at about 26,000 souls,
Panieda Yntsilleeta formerCrsrepe is still highly popular. The recent
discoveries at Commissioners' Hill have proved ex-
valuable, but the latest accounts state
place was showing symptoms of exhaus-
tteileoleandt.itnielY
he 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. Gd. 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 17, on the spot.
It is stated that importers are determined to sup-
port the market, and their recent cautious proceed-
ing arc calculated to justify the impression. Candles
have also been in better request since the arrival of
the mail, and we may quote Belmont at ls.
per lb., at which price some holders decline to
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 ls. 21d. 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 made 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 today 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 queted at 4s. 9d. to ss. per bushel ; Californian,
4s. 9d. ; Scotch and Irish, 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. ; Cal-
cutta, 4s. 4(1., and Danish 4s. Maize is worth 4s.
6d. per bushel, and grain is generally held for £lO.
Wheat is purchased at 9s. Gd. to 10s. per bushel,
and bran at ls. 10d. to Is. 11d. The market for
wines and spirits is devoid of animation, without
any immediate prospect of a favourable change.
Since the arrival of the mail steamer transactions
in the local market have been limited. Capital is
freely available on the security of first-class pro-
perty, at from Bto 10 per cent. The want of ani-
mation in the share market has not caused any re-
duction in quotations. Bank of Victoria have
changed hands at £37 10s., and colonial ditto at £6
Is. to £6 ss. ; National Bank shares are quoted at
2 L.,- per cent. dis. to par, and are generally held for
the latter figure. For shares in the insurance com-
panies there has been an increased demand; Aus-
tralasian have been disposed of at 255., and Mel-
-I,ourne command a readier sale ; Melbourne Gas
Company are at 50 per cent. premium, with few
sellers, and Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway
are quoted at £Bl cum. di%. Shares in the Ballarat
Gas Company have been made at £7 (16 paid).

The following is from the Mammary-of the Sydney
.211-orniny herald of June 13 ;=.::
We are in the midst of a general election, and
there is no doubt the political, personal, and social.