MELBOURNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 402, 13 August 1859, Page 6

MELBOURNE.

The following is from Melbourne papers to the 23rd ult. :—

The Rev. Dr. Cairns preached on Sabbath forenoon, 37th ult., from Isaiah, xxvi, 20. In the course of his remarks, the preacher challenged the prop)' of ihe recollection of anything like the existence of a Supreme Being in the late movement with regaid to our Colonial Defences, and avowed his deep sympathy for Sardinia as opposed to Aus« tria,in the piesent war. He described Sardinia as the woman flying into the wilderness from the Apocalyptic dragon, and contended that the advance, or decline, of true religion, was involved in the contest. If Sardinia succeeded, it would lead to the spread of the Gospel in its purity, of which the vallies of Piedmont had so long been the cradle ; and this would be a matter of rejoicing to the whole of the Piotestant church. But if Austria succeeded, it would be impossible to say what disastrous eventualities might not arise to the consternation and dismay of the church. These points weie much elaborated, and urged on the attention of the rev. gentleman's hearers with great earnestness and much evident acceptance.

A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, of Melbourne, was held on the 12th July, for the purpose of hearing from Mr. Gisborne a statement of the progress already made for the promotion of telegraphic communication from England to British India, and also the proposals now matte by the Australian and China Telegraphic Company for its extension to these colonies. Mr. Gisborne stated that the line between Great Biitain and India, via the Red Sen, was in course of completion ; that he was in possession of dispatches from Lord Stanley and the Council of India, to the effect that their attention would at once be directed to the bre.ik between Pegu and Singapore, a distance of about 1300 miles. A line traversing the whole length of the Island of Java had been in operation for two years, and it only remained to connect the east end of this line with Port Essington, across the Isiand of Timor, passing from thence to Cape Yoik, Cleveland Bay, to Moveton Bay, a distance of about 3000 miles. The requisite capital would not exceed £800,000, which it was proposed to raise either by pro rata contributions from the respective governments of the colonies, or by a private company, as might hereafter be determined. Mr. Gisboiue exhibited charts of the proposed line to be traversed, and spoke confidently of the favourable nrttuie of the ocean bed for laying the cable in safety j there was a large attendance of the committee, and Mr. Gisborne' s statements were listened to with great interest.

Melbourne Labour Market.— The market is reported as excessively dull, but at this particular season it is generally so, until the pastoral men commence their busy time, we can expect no improvement, and that will not be before October. The large influx of new arrivals tends to make matters wouse, and a good deal of dissatisfaction exists <uuong that class. They appear under the delusion that their services are not remunerated even at higher iigiues than the old hands are getting. The rail loads are nearly full-handed, consequently there is but little choice of employment. Mechanics are nothing like fully employed ; their wages are nominally the same, but when their idle time is taken into consideration, they have nothing to boast of. Females very plentiful, and a vast number out of work, but they have themselves principally to blame. They demand such high wages that in these depressed times p. ople cannot pay, and numbers of families do their otvn domestic work. Likewise, but little credit is due to the agents who fill up the ships. They seem to select girls principally iioni one class, and they go under the idea that anything will do for a colony. Their motto seems to be quantity not quality. Married couples with young families are much to be commiserated, for employ, ers do not like to burthen themselves with helpless children, particularly in the face of rising markets, for all the necessaries of life. — With rations : Marlicd couples, without incumbrances, from £60 to £70 per annum ; .do., with families, £45 to £55 ; tiist-class ploughmen, 20s. per week ; ordinary do, 18s. to 205.; farm labourers, 15s. to 18s.; bullockdrivers for roads, 20s. to 225. 6d. ; farm do., 18s. to •21)5. ; ahepheids, £30 to £35 per annum ; carters, 20s. to 255. per week; thieshers, (Jd. to Bd. per bushel ; carpenters, 30s. to 355. per week ; blacksmiths, 30a. to 355. ; bush carpenters, 255. ; gardeneis, £60 per annum.

The following is the latest quotations of Timber in Hobart Town : —

Timber.- Palings, s' feet, 6s. tofls. 3d. ; Do., 6 feet, Bs. to Bs. 6'd. ; Shingles, Bs. to 9s. , Do. good, 13s. to 145. ; Posts and rails, 255. to 305. ; Battens, 6s. CcL to Bs. ; Market cut, 4s. Gd. ; Full cut, Ss. to Bs. fid. ; Boards, 1 inch, 7s. 6d. to Bs. Gd. ; Do., § inch, 6s. Gd. per 100 i'eet.

The anxiety which the spread of the exceedingly fatal disease dipthrria is now causing is evinced by a communication which has been addressed from the Trivy Council Office to the boards of guardians of the several unions and parishes of the metropolis requesting them to ascertain from the medioaji offl. cers of their unions, and inform their lordships whether diptheria is now prevalent in any part of their unions, and if t.o, in what parts and to -what extent. If the disease be not now present, but shall hereafter appear, their lordships request to beinformed of the fact.— Standard.