The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

We have received papers from Melbourne to
Dec. 24, Sydney, Dec. 21, and intelligence from
Adelaide to Dec. 26.

The following is the list of the new Ministry at
Melbourne :—Chief Secretary, Mr. Heales ; Presi-
dent of Board of Lands and Survey, Mr. Brooke;
Treasurer, Mr. Verdon ; Commissioner of Public
Works, Mr. J. S. Johnston ; Commissioner of Cus-
toms, Mr. Anderson ; Commissioner of Railways,
Mr. Loader ; Minister of Mining Affairs, Mr.
Humffray ; Attorney-General, Mr.Jxeland ; Post-
master-General, —.
The Melbourne Argus says :

"We are now very near the termination of the
year, and still without that improvement or increase
in the yield of gold which was some time back so
confidently looked fur.
A new gold field has been reported by Mr. Howitt,
the leader of one of the Government prospecting
parties, in North Gipps Land; and a rush on an
unusually large scale has taken place to a locality
in the Maryborough district, known as ' Mackin-
non's Station.' Some 12,000 people have congre-
gated there within two or three weeks, and the
reports at present are favourable. Another gold
field in the direction of the Ovens has been reported
by the leader of the Government party.. His repre-
sentations of the character of the discovery are high,
and are at present under examination. A fourth
new field is announced—in this instance in Kilmore
district—and extended claims are asked for by the
proprietors. Quartz•crushing, however, is rapidly
taking the place of alluvial mining, and is extend-
ing over all the mining districts."
The Melbourne Herald says :

" The commercial features of the past month may
be stated in a few words. In connection with great
quietude, amounting at times to dulness, there has
been a growing firmness on the part of holders,
notwithstanding the lack of eager and large pur-
chasers, sellers have been steadily advancing their
demands, and in several articles rates more pro •
fitable to the importer have already been esta-
blished. The abseil& of activity in the market has
been owing to temporary and local causes, among
which the chief have been numerous holidays and
heavy floods."
From Sydney the news is unimportant. The
.Herald observes respecting the gold fields :

" At no period has our great gold interest been in
a more healthy state than it is just now. Capital is
being invested in machinery to work claims in a
scientific manner, and as our diggers extend them-
selves over the country, we may expect to hear of
new fields and new treasures. Kiandra, perhaps,
has not fulfilled expectation, but the weekly escorts
prove satisfactorily that the average yield is two
ounces per max per week. The last weekly returns
per escort for the Western and Southern goldfields
amounted to 5,000 ozs., and this is considerably
under the yield, for much gold finds its way to
Sydney through private hands, concerning which
we have no account. In our next summary we hope
to be able to place before our readers the quantity
of gold received at the mint during the year now
just passing away."
The same paper has the following in reference to
the New Zealand disturbances :

" Since the battle of Mahoetahi, no aggressive
movements on the part of our troops has been at-
tempted in consequence of the force at the disposal
of Major-General Pratt being divided, after that
event, between Auckland and New Plymouth. All,
therefore, that could be done was to act on the de-
fensive. This has been accomplished so judiciously
that few casualties of a serious nature have taken

place, and the troops, although constantly on the
alert, appear to have been, to a considerable extent
at least, freed from that state of harassing anxiety
that prevailed prior to the engagement of the
6th ult.