The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA,

We have intelligence from Sydney to the 26th and Mel-
bourne to the 29th May. The citizens of Sydney have
taken an early opportunity, after receiving some definite
intelligence respecting the Russio Turkish war, of de-
claring their cordial approval of the conduct of her Ma-
jesty's ministers, and their devoted loyalty to the Queen.
For this object a very numerous and highly respectable
meeting was held on the 22nd of May, and a memorial to
the Queen adopted.
Although the markets generally are very much over-
stocked with European goods, the word is " hold on,"
which is deemed a matter of prudence, considering that
freights and insurance must rise in consequence of the
war.

The intelligence that Europe was again to be involved
in war occasioned no little alarm, lest the wealth that is
known to be hoarded in the coffers of the various banks,
and the frequent sailing of ♦essels with valuable consign-
ments of gold, should tempt the Russians to come and
levy a grievous impost on the inhabitants, or intercept
sonic of the richly-laden homeward-bound ships. Repre-
sentations on the subject having been made to the Gover-
nor-General of New South Wales, his excellency Sir
Charles Fitzroy has informed the legislative council, in a
message, dated the 16th. that "he has great pleasure in
stating that he is satisfied from the most authentic sources
of information within his reach, that no innuediate occa-
sion for alarm exists."

The departure of several steamers from the ports of
Australia has of late been delayed by the scarcity of coals,
which are difficult of attainment at four and five pounds
per ton. The wages of mechanism are increased beyond
all precedent. Carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers,
plasterers, and others, who considered themselves well
paid five years ago at 4s. 6d. to Gs. per day, now readily
obtain work at five times these rates. Even house ser-
vants, few of whom know how to cook a beefsteak or a
potato, get £2O to £35 a year, and are still scarce, not-
withstanding the large immigration from Great Britain,
Ireland, Scotland, Germany, &c. On all the cultivated
lands whence the towns derive their supplies of fruit and

culinary vegetables, the wan'
injuriously felt.

Many colonists are about to proceed to England, in con-
sequence of which the passenger fares are greatly in-
creased. The cause of the movement homeward is at-
tributed in a great measure to the present exorbitant
price of house rent and provisions, which, within only
twelve months, has been nearly doubled.

The Melbourne .Argus,tllkiayiii,states, that it is
enabled again to report favourably of the condition and
prospects of the colony of Victoria. The present season
hitherto has been a remarkable and pleasing contrast to
that of last year. The country has been blessed with
early and copious rains, which not only have produced a
luxuriant growth of grass, before the winter frosts sets in,
but an unusual period has been afforded for agricultural
labours. There are many indications of great progress
in settlement. Large quantities of agricultural lands
have been purchased, and fencing operations hre in full
vigour on most of the lines of road. Agricultural labour
ers and ag

>ricultural implements, seed wheat, and seed

oats, have been in great demand ;' and it is certain that a
very large additional breadth of land will this year be put
under another crop. Another good symptom has lately
been exhibited, in spirited ploughing-matches, and shows
of stock and produce by the farmers in the neighbourhood
of Melbourne and other principle markets.