The Express. — 1853-12-13 (London, England)

LETTERS FROM EMIGRANTS.  MELBOURNE, SIPT. 20, 1853.  I am still at work for the same mater (a builder). Our wages have increased lately. Some masters are giving 30s. per day—ours is giving 25.. Our trade is rather unsettled at the present time, many of the men have struck for 30e., but I don't think wages will average more then 235.  I have now to inform you of the capture of some of the escort robbers, who have been taken at last. One who earned Q ..,en's evidence has committed suicide. His be ;titer has l'so now turned approver, and yesterday the trii lof three hers was concluded, and all three sentenced to dc:h. The tiggings are now wearing a more favourable a; i earance, mid what with the few arrivals from Englauu lately, ant. the large numbers that have lately left town !zr the diggings, Melbourne is not quite so full as it has been.  The foundation stone of a terminus for the Melbourne and Geelong Railsr-iy was laid at Umlaut; to-day, and it is espected the line will be opened in about a twelvemonth.  I have j ust beard that the Stratford, with the mail of the 4th of June, is arrived to-day. The Suesez, from London, reachid here on Sunday last. It is a treat to soli an English paper here. The Shanghai reached this port on the 11th, being one day overdue. The Post-office here is greatly Unproved lately, they have now plenty of room, and we hope that now we shall stand • chance of getting what our good folks at home are kind enough to send se. —, who came out with me, is now in the Pat-office here at • salary of 3001. a•year. I might have obtained &berth there if I had chose, but I find my trade—that of a carpenter—better.  The weather is now very fine, we shall soon have the summer with its hot wig& and clouds of dust again.  GEELONG, VICTORIA, Sort., 1853. Siaoe I last wrote to you we have gone through a period of groat musty and apprehension, ascribable, I believe, to the went of • proper person to govern the colony with discretion, decision, and prudence. About two months since a meeting was held on the Bendigo diggings, to discuss the justice of the license fee of 30s. per month, which was very numerously attended, and resulted in • deputation being appointed to deliver • petition to the Lieutenant-Governor, praying that the fee might be reduced to the sum of 10s. An interview was granted by Latrobe to the delegates, but, instead of his throwing oil on the troubled waters, he discussed the question as one in which only the dishonest and turbulent diggers were interested, and then proceeded to use remarks towards the German portion of the diggers, most ill.judged, Billion], and foreign from the truth, and giving no hope that any reduction of the license would take place. So dissatisfied were the persons composing the deputation at the ofthand manner of the Lieut.• Governor, that they called a meeting of the people of Melbourne, which was presided over by the mayor, Mr. Smith, M.L.C., at which they gave an aegount of their interview and the irrelevant remarks made by Latrobe, which caused so mach disgust that not only the towns became interested in the question, but the other diggings, especially at the " Ovens," and Giulburn, became scenes of largo meetings, at which triovances were detailed that struck many with surprise, and one unanimous resolve was come to not to pay more than I 10e. per month for the future. Those who tendered more were t►reatened with summary expulsion from the gold I I fields, and red ribbons were to be worn by all to indicate I the resolve that had been come to. Many were prepared to go to "durance vile," rather than pay the larger sum. The posts from the mines were anxiously looked for about the lit of the month, when, judge of the further surprise created when the intelligence came from Bendigo, Mclver, Castleemine, and the Ovens, that no license fee would be demanded during the month of September, about the same time a paper was extensively issued by the Lieut. Governor, half justifying the remarks made to the delegates and half denying the statements put forward by them, still, however, saying he could oat think of retom• mending any diminution of the licensed fee, yet on meeting the Legislative Council WWI weeks after, he, in his speech, gays, on reconsidering the question of license fee, he inclines to the opinion that it ought to be reduced in amount, ' if not entirely abolished, and as • substitute a revision of the tariff and an export duty ou gold could be levied. Can I you fancy conduct so opposite taking place in • colony where the greatest love for monarchy does not exist? Since I the meeting of council a bill has been introduced by the Colonial Secretary making the charge for digging for gold the next three months 401., the government promising to settle the future amount before the expiration of the three months. At Ballarat the license fee has been generally paid, but a deputation has come down, eompoeed of some of the members of the party I eame out with, they are sow in Melbourne, end will urge upon the government the claim of the digger to a share in the representation of the country, • 10s. license fee, and a generally more extensive sale of government lends contiguous to the diggings, that men may have an opportunity of cultivating the soil as well as digging in the immediate district of the gold fields. Matters appear quiet, jest now, but I very much fear that towards the end of the mouth another scene of disorder will ensue, which most likely will end in a con11.et between the miners and the police and troopers ; nod, should such take place, I cannot fancy the small force at the command of the government would be able to effect much. Latrobe is and has been a most unfit men for Victoria, especially with her recent heavy importations of intelligence and commonsense. Ballarat has been during , the last fortnight a lively place, from the hundreds of new