The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-05 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The political intelliaence from this colony is of
inferior interest. The Minis, ry was exe edingly
weak, and it was thought, whin the Buropean left,
that a few days might seal its fate.
The Assembly had voted 300,0001. to be ex-
pended on making rail:, ays. Mr. Donaldson, the
colonial treasurer, had int.r9duced a bill authorising
the government t borrow the looney.
On the 23d of February a public meeting was
held in Sydney for the formation of an Election
Reform League. At present the representative
system, by which the Legislative Assembly is
elected, gives great dissatisfaction to a large num-
ber of the inhabitants, as throwing a preponderan.7e
Of power into the hands of the pastoral occupants
and a limited number of persons win are connected
with them in interest. The chief objects of the
League are to obtain a larger number of members
for Sydney and the populous coustitueicies, aud to
limit the right of suffrage in each elector to one
electoral district. The attendance was very huge,
and the feeling of the meeting decided.
"Colonisation," says the Sijdney Empire, "is
steadily advancing. Land is falling more generally
into the hands of working capitalists ; new pursuits
of industry are daily opening ; our power of pro-
duition is gaining strength, and the elements of
prosperity at ound us are constantly becoming more
healthy and s:cure."
Ou conmercial affairs the same author:ty reports,
under date March 14 :

For some time past business in Sydney has been in
a state of inactivity without b?ing positively de-
pressed. Many articles are comman d g, at first, hand,
good paying prices, but scarcelyany commodity hay
been susta ned at a really high figuie. Extravag .nt
profits may be considered at an end. The subsid-
ing process seems to have reached the stage of com-
mercial healthfulness, and transactions are be-
ginning to adjust themselves to the laws
of supply and demand, something after the condi-
tion of older countries. Our external commerce is
connecting us with ports and conntries with which,
unt,l a recent date, we bad little intercourse. The
ship Maria Magdalena, a fine Dutch barque, clearel
out this ray for Antwerp with a full cargo of colo-
nial produce, valued at nearly 40,0n0/., and shipped
by Messrs. lullendorff and Co. This is the first
vessel that took a cargo of Australian produce to
Belgium, and we are glad to see our trade with
that industrious country thus opening.
"The following are the quoted prices of gold at
Sydney :—Meroo, Si. 15s. 6d. per oz. ; Adelong,
31. 14s. per oz. ; Stoney Creek, 31. 14s. 6d. per oz. ;
Sofala and Turon, 3/. 13s. per oz. ; Braidwood,
3/. 12s. 6d. per oz ; Hanging Rock, 3/. 12s. -6d.
per oz. ; Rocky River, 3/. is. 6d. per oz. ;
Rocky Rver (clean), Si.' 128. 6d. per oz. ; Omeo,
3/. ss. 6d. per oz. English sovereigns per
cent. premium. American coins at a premium.
Chili= coins at a discount. French gold and
silver coin at a discount.

In the Sydney Morning Herald, March 10, we
read :
" The amount of gold dust imported into the
Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, for the purpose
of coinage, during the mouths of January and
February, 1857, has bem about 23,442 ounce.
The amount of gold coin issued has been 84,000
sovereigns and 60,000 half- sovereigris : total value,
114,0001. The revenue, exclusive of the gold "duly,
which is now in force, and which is deducted on all
gold sent to the Mint for coinage, would therefore
he something like 1,1001. to 1,200/. During th.l
first week of lurch 20,000 half-sovereigns have
been issued, and 1,648.0=00 of gold dust rmiv.,