VICTORIA. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, Jan. 4.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 782, 29 January 1853, Page 3

VICTORIA. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, Jan. 4.]

The Cleopatra brings Melbourne papers to Saturday. The Legislative Council was occupied in the consideration of the estimates which were being passed with great rapidity. The Government Escort from Mount Alexander arrived at Melbourne on Friday, with 6191 ozs. of gold. The Escort from Ballarat brought 1937 ozs. to Melbourne, and 2520 ozs. to Geelong. The Private Escort came in the same afternoon from the Mount, with 20, 347 ounces. There has been a destructive fire at Mount Alexander, which is thus described by the correspondent of the Melbourne Argns : — " Between twelve and one o'clock this morning a dreadful fire broke out at the old Postoffice square, and consumed three stores and out-buildings, with property to the value of £15,000. It originated in the kitchen at the back of the stores belonging to the Port Phillip Gold Company, and is supposed to have been from a few sparks escaping from the chimney and alighting on the canvas roof. The flame was not discovered until it broke out with such force that little prospect of stopping its progress could be seen, and consequently in a remarkably short time the Company's store, the store of Mr. M'Taggart, and a store and bakehouse belonging to Mr. Guthrie, together with several out-buildings and yards, were in one complete blaze. The stores of Mr. Srnedley and Mr. Dunderdale were pulled down in time to stop its further progress on the western side, and the stores of Mr. Boursequot were, after a good deal of exertion, saved, owing to their being further apart than the others. On the south side, the company's premises and an outbuilding used as a store were saved by the store being pulled down and the property removed in a remarkably short time, through the most active and praiseworthy exertions of Mr. Walter Smith, Mr. William Dunn, and several others whose names I have not ascertained. The night was beautiful moonlight, and not a breath of wind stirring, otherwise the loss would have been far greater, as on the

north side a whole row of wooden and canvas buildings, with only the street running between, would have inevitably caueht fire. The sufferers are the Port Phillip Gold Mining Company, property and buildings valued at £10,000, Mr. Guthrie's properly and buildings valued at £2,000 ; Mr. Taggart's property, money, and buildings, valued at; £5000. According to Mr. M'Taggart's own account he had bank notes to the amount of £3000 in a box in his store, and which, in his humane anxiety to save two horses which were in his stable, he could not find time to save.

The " Great Britain." — Notwithstanding the extreme heat of the weather, the Great Britain was visited yesterday by many hundreds of people. The river steamers were crowded to excess, and at the charge of five shillings per head each way, must have been doing a profitable business ; the Thames' halfpenny boats were never more uncomfortably or dangerously crammed, and we have heard the visit spoken of as the severest pressure ever undergone. Yet most of those who trod the decks of the giant steam-ship experienced both delight and astonishment, and by them the presence of the Great Britain in our bay will not soon be forgotten. We are informed that the Great Britain will most probably make at hast another voyage to the Australian colonies, and that she may be expected again in June or July. From enquiry at the agent's we learn that 3000 tickets were issued for viewing this vessel. Many persons who had not procured tickets were admitted upon paying at the gang way, and the sailors of the ships in port upon the payment of one shilling each. Altogether 4000 persons are computed to have visited the ship. Her mail will close at 12 o'clock on Monday, and she will sail about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. — Argus.