ARRIVAL OF THE ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 528, 11 January 1862, Page 7

ARRIVAL OF THE ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN.

(Abridged from the Melbourne Argus, Dec. 2 3.)

The Great Britain, as she lay quietly .." anchor in the bay on Tuesday morning, w,, the central point of attraction to which all c;, es were turned. Car after car bi ought down the sight-seers from Melbourne, all anxious to jiet the first glimpse of the eleven champio i« to whose hands England had committed liie honour of maintaining the prestige of heprowess in our great national game. Not onK interest, but importance, was felt to attach to the fact that H. H. Stephenson and his plucky companions had actually sailed 16,000 miles over the ocean to play a game of cricket ; and there was, too, out of this very circumstance, a cordial desire to have a look nt them, and a longing to grasp them heartily by the hand, a? "friends, countrymen, and lovers." Their welcome was intended to he a good one, and the^cheers that subsequently gave it told of a feeling of intense satisfaction at seeing them Qneenscliff had already had the opportunity all Melbourne was waiting for, and had se j nt the leading members of its cricket club on board the ship as early as three o'clock iv the morning, to present the Eleven with an address, properly engrossed on parchment. The compliment was duly acknowledged l>y Stephenson ; and it is decided that the document is to be framed and glazed, ns a memorial. Meanwhile the Eleven were quite as anxious to get to Melbourne as Melbourne was to have them in its safe keeping, and the attractions of a champagne breakfast on board were secondary to those of the distant city, whose roofs and steeples soon after began to glimmer in the morning haze. Sandridge was all on thej gui vire, and at Garton's Hotel a double arch of flags waved gaily in the wind. The ships in the bay were dressed in holiday trim. and people waited patiently for the arrival ol the committee from Melbourne, Messrs Bevan and Co., and Messrs. Robertson, Britton. and Co, kindly provided an eight-horse coach, all the horses being grey— and Messrs. Iloyt and Co., with the same spirit of liberality, furnished ft coach and four grey hors-es The committee having arranged all preliminaries with that simplicity and despatch so characteristic of committees on great occasions, and having comfortably ensconced itself, with hecoming dignity, in a four-horse coach, into which, by the way, the representatives of the press contrived to effect a prompt but amicable entrance, drove off from the Cafe de Paris a little after ten o'clock, and soon reached Sandridge. From Garton's to the Lioness— Mr. Thockmorton's convenient little steamer — was but a short distance, and from the pier to the ship was a run of a few miles more. Under the side the Eleven were easily discerned on the after-deck, amidst the crowd of passengers who thronged the vessel ; and presently Mr. Rusden, Mr. D. S. Campbell, Captain Devlin, and other gentlemen, followed by all who had received tickets from Messrs. Spiers and Pond, and these gentlemen themselves, mounted the side, and the meeting was accomplished. We fully agree with an opinion already made public, that, judging from appearances, a better team could not have been found to truly represent the mother cou?itry. Prom H. it Stephenson himself, whose whole manner and bearing are an instantaneous passport to the goodwill of all who meet him, to the last of tba Eleven, whoever that may be, a more hearty-looking set of men there could not be. They are genuine English cricketers, and what better or more flattering could be said of them ? A little circle near the mizen mast was speedily formed, and Mr. Uusden, who had been deputed by the committee to represent it, lost bo time in discharging his pleasing duty, and, with an easeand absence of ceremony that put everything at once in its right place, delivered an address of welcome. After the cheering had ceased,

Mr. Stephenson said, — " On behalf of the Eleven about to represent England iv the cricket field, I l>eg,to return you my thanks for your very kind reception this day. It is not expected, being a cricketer, that I should make a long speech ; but I hope we shall fove worthy of your kindness by showing me good cricket, and by giving you a jolly good licking. [Cheers, and laughter.) Yea,

by licking you. I will not detain yon, but again return you my thanks for your kind reception of myself and companions." (Cheers.) All then went ashore in high glee, and the Eleven, after partaking of the hospitalities provided for them, went to tne Piazza Hotel, where they will remain a3the guests of Messrs Spiers and Pond. During the afternoon they strolled to the Melbourne Ground, where the match was being continued between the United Eleven and the County of Hourkc. They expressed great satisfaction at the appearance of the turf, and sundry remarks were made which proved that not oniy the preparations, bu f the piny of their antagonists wove pleasing to the Eleven. After the stumps were drawn, the visitors went in for hilf-an-hou'rs ll skylarking," the attractions of English grass appearing irresistible to them. They seemed perfectly at home, and perhaps the most amusing part of the afternuon's programme on the Melbourne ground was watching them " play" for the first time on colonial ground. After returning to the Piazza, and whilst dining, the Eleven were visited by the Hon. Mr. Fawkner who — the oldest colonist and resident in Port Phillip — was the first to make a special call for the purpose of welcoming them. A greater mark of respect could not have been paid to them; aud upon ascertaining who their visitor was, the Eleven expressed their souse of the compliment in a thorough cricketing manner. Mr. Fawkner expressed his pleasure at meeting them in Victoria, and said, that, although he hoped they would win, he would like to see a closely-contested match. '1 he Melbourne and Suburban Kail way Company have set an example, which it is to be hoped, other companies will follow ; they have presented free passes to the Eleven, Yesterday evening the Eleven celebrated their Christmas Day by dining at the Cafe. There were about twenty visitors, and as usual, the dinner was rechei-chL The proceedings were of a festive Christmas character, with the exception of the formal toasts of the health of Mr. Burrup of England, Mr. Henry Marshall of Surrey, and Mr. Mallam, the agent of Messrs. Spiers and Pond. We may mention that Mr. N. Eraser was- the bearer of a congratulatory address to the Eleven from the cricketers in the western districts. The Richmond ground has been placed at their disposal, for the purpose of practising, and there is little doubt but that they will visit it to-day, after witnessing the Caledonian sports.

The Geelong Advertiser says : — "It ha 1 ! been rumoured for some days that a large squatter has cleared his run in the neighbourhood of Colac of the ' occupation licensees :' and that he called in the aid of the mounted police the more effectually to do so. This morning, however, one of the aggrieved occupiers leaves for Melbourne' to institute an action for the recovery of damages laid at £2000."

The Ballarat Tribune has the following :—: — "There U every probability of the match arranged between Messrs. Mount and Harrison being off, as it appears, Mr. Robertson, the Superintendent of the Bank, of whose staff Mr, Mount ia a member, has written to him^intimating that he will have to make his election between resigning his appointment or his pedestrian predeljctions. Mr. Mount's family are anxious that prudential considerations shall outweigh his love of sport, and no doubt they will do so."

Advices from the Lnchlan state that many large finds have been made in the old groun.i. In sinking a new hole on the South Lead, eighteen pounds weight of gold fell in a kind of shower from the side. A banquet was held ar Carey's and all the champagne on the diggings lrunk. Shallow sinking has been found some distance from the old lead, causing intense excitement

A telegram from Sydney mentions that a prisoner at Cockatoo was suffocated, by allowing him to sleep in a ward after fumigation with brimstone.

Three armed bushranger? attacked the Denison Hotel, Talhragar, and were compelled to retieat after a desperate conflict, in which two inmates of the house were wounded.

An inquest is to be held to discover the ausj of the fire on boaid the Kinpress of the Seas.

COMMERCIAL.

From the Argus Summary for Europe we cxract the following items :—: —

In the money market there have not been any hanges calling for notice. The local issue of dietician Railway Debentures of small acrount ias been taken up during the month to the sum of .■•2 2,GGO, a sign that these securities are as f.ivor- » y looked upon by small capitalists as they are iy tli k-c of larger menus. The demand for dis•otints has been larger during the month than hiring its predecessor, in about the same proporion as trade has inciva-ij.l. The banks have not nade any changes in their rates, which remain it— For two months, 8 per cent. ; for thice nonths, 9 per cent. ; for four months, 10 per cent. Interest is allowed on time deposits at the following rates :— For deposits at thirty days' notice, from 1} to 2 per cent, per annum ■ at three nontjis' notice, from 2 to 2} per cent. ; at six nonths' notice, from 4to 4^ per cent. Exchange m England remains at par for sixty days' sight. I per cent, for thiity days, and lj per" cent, for sums at sight, The rate charged by the Vnii-ular aad 0.-iental Company for the trausnissio'.i of nnd bullion from Melbourne to the iUnk of England is 1 \ per cent., Including in•luding insurance. The ()r> it.il Bank Corporation charges for thii\,v .1 i/s' exchange— On Bombay, Calcutta, MHr.u, 2s. id. per rupee; •Jhina, ss. Id. per dollar; Ceylon, 3£ per cent. >remium ; Mauritius, 4s. 2 1. per dollar ; Sing.iore, 4.5. lid. per dollar.

The returns from the gold mines during the nonth have been above the average of those of he previous three months, but the total pro lu'j- • ion for the year, according to the escorts, his )een considerably below that of last year, The najority of the gold fields are-, however, now iruight within a day's easy approach to Moilourne, and large parcels continue to find their •vay to Melbourne and Geelong, the ports of shipment, by private h aids. The escorts for last •veek brought down 40,478^ ozs., against 44,514 >zs. for the corresponding period of last year. The wool season Ims been a very favourable me, and the clips which have been brought to market have been in excellent condition. It is ■)elieved th.it the increase of thi3 year's clip over ihat of last year will not be so considerable as was at first predicted. Since the arrival of the Jfortham two public sales have been held in this narket. That held at Messrs. R. Goldsbrough md Co.'s, on the 18th, was well attended, but buyers were indisposed, in the face of late advices from the home markets, to pay the full rates realised at the last sale. Growers were unwilling to submit to lower prices, and a considerible portion of the quantity offered (3758 bales) was subsequently withdrawn. About lUOO bales .vere placed at from 12d. to 20d. for fleece ; lOd. CO 20^(1. for lambs ; Bjd. to 14d. for greasy ; and lO^d. to 13 Jd. per Ib for greasy lambs. On the following day a sale was held at Messrs. J. H. Clough and Co.'s, at which a better feeling appeared to prevail. Of 2500 bales offered, about 1 500 bales were placed. Greasy wools brought from 7d, to 13|d. ; fleece, from 17id to 24d. ; and a parcel of superior scoured realised the high price of 2s. G^d. per lb, There has been an active trade doing in gold this month. The supplies of New Zealand gold which have arrived from Otago luvve not been offered in this market, but have been brought •lown by the banks for transhipment. The banks are buyers of our gold-fields at the rate of ,£3 133. 6d. per ounce for standard. This, with the export duty of 2s. Gd. per ounce, brings the cost on board ship to £'i 16s. per ounce, exclusive of charges.

There has throughout the month been a good shipping demand, more particularly for the settlement of Dunedin, the nearest port to the Otago (.New Zealand) gold-fields, and the market has not only been relieved of a large surplus of stocks, but of a considerable quantity of second-class and inferior goods, the low prices of which have attracted shipping buyers. The country trade has also shown a steady demand, and although checked during the last week by a second movement of diggers to Otago, is generally considered in a

healthy state, and numbers of small traders, without means, having been weeded out, a more legitimate business is doing, and confidence much increased. The more moderate supplies reported as having been made during October in most articles of general use, has also tended to give a better feeling to hoklun, although the excessive supplies so long recklessly forwarded to this market still lea vj st<vl«, in many instances, -to be farther worked down, before any permanent improvement in prices o:in he looked for. For the future, results are in shippers' hands ; excessive stocks are much reduce!, and, with reasonable supplies, the present ruling rates miy fairly be considered as established. Business generally i a in a tMr healthy condition, .speculation is no: rife, but a steady wholesome trade is doing, with every prospect of its uninterrupted continuance. The i rude of the year 13G1 may now he looked on as ended, and \vh<it with the Christmas holidays, stock-taking, balancing accounts, and other matters attendant on the close of the year, but little is likely to be doing in mercantile ti\ui.->:ictions for the next fortnight.