The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-22
Our Melbourne Correspondence.
MELBOURNE Nov 90, 1858.


MELBOURNE, Nov. 90 1858
The Weather, Trade and Immigration to Mer-
cAoms-God Field Legislation in The Cosncil-Sprt q
TIE Di9gers-Aoral Aspect Of The Peop'e-Y'e'd ~
Gold.
forward you this letter and papers, per the Chusan
steamer which leaves here for Singapore, and which
hope will reach you in seventy days.
During the past six weeks have had fine spring
weather. which has much enlvened business, and AS
the summer advances doubt things viii materially
improve.
There has, however, been vast decrease in immigra
ton, and it is feared by many merchants that the
markets will continue glutted for time in conse
quence Of the want of consumption. General cargoes
the safest specuatons The great losses which have
been sustained by the home merchants by rushing into
the market with large quantities of goods, especially
-four boots and shoes and fire arms, will doubt in
much caution in their future operations The best
is for merchant to send out articles that few
think are wanted TO give you an % PAR hers
for fifteen shllngs tor as every one burns wood they
Indispensable yet imports Of them quite rare
ject Of much speculation and think moderate exports
from America the time this letter reaches you will be
safe Notwithstanding have the prospect OF good
harvest fine flour may be quoted at 32 and seconds at
Bricks have fallen considerably and makers have lost
largely We have plenty of room for more building ma
terials and think that during the next winter-whch
begins in June-when houses in greater request and
labor cheaper, they will fetch good rates.
The prices current list sent herewith will give the
rious prices.
There has been important legislation In the
Legislative Council to the gold fields and the dggers
The government inventing and trying to impose
every conceivable tax the dggers they about to
license fee of 81 per month, put export duty
gold the of Is per ounce, and charge license
fee of f100 per annum all storekeepers however
small of all these taxes out OF the dggers
and the government ayowedy confessed in brinng for
ward these that they could not extract by
force large license fee from the dggers they would get
1t out of them in another shape and thus put forward
n heavy tax, provided they robbed indirectly.
There will be some d0ngs in the dggngsyet. The
dggers the majority Of the population in this colony
for the sake Of ultimate humanity and liberty 1t is
only TO be hoped the government will continue to act
basey and tyranncaly The evidence taken before tho
been treated the degngs by the large bodies Of armed
police who stationed there would not be believed in
America England their treatment throws Austrian
and Italian despotism far into the shade. have the
printed Of evidence before me, and observe n
large number of and women, who without justifa
BILE provocaton have been deliberately shot dead
BY the police There courts Of law for redress no
jury, counsel only contemplate " Justice OF the
Peace" here and there in the neghborhood Of the dig
gings and he squatter," who believes nothing but
what q policeman swears to.
Thousands of persons meet with grievous disappoint-
ment in the diggngs and men of education and ability
find the of the spade far more valuable than their
requirements, except they happen to be fortunate.
Vice, drunkenness, crme and vllany OF all sorts pre-
vail here to fearful cxten but the greatest vice OF all
is intemrerance, for it begets every other crime.
| Of very great and decisive events before long
No gold fields have been discovered, and the last
weeks yield is about the average A. w. II.