MELBOURNE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1406, 17 February 1860, Page 5

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 4th reported the suspension of telegraphic communication with Tasmania — but With hopes of a speedy resumption. An inquiry into the circumstances of the wreck of the steamer Thistle had been commenced by the Victoria Steam Navigation Boat I. From some of the evidence at first taken it appears that although the steamer had her usual supply of fuel put on board when she left Mel* bourne, before arriving 1 at Port Albert tbe en» jjineers were obliged to cut up spars and lumbar to keep the fires lighted. The Argus of the sth . reports that—" The gathering in of the harvest is. bein? astively proceeded with throughout the interior, and the crops generally are allowed to be^good. ;- Labor being more scatce than was anticipated, reap i tig was not commenced in time, so that, as it Used to be two or three years ago, much of the wheat will overripe before it is secured." The Herald of the 9th says — " Farmers in the neighbourhood of Kyneton are complaining of the difficulty of procuring labor for the harvest. -Theve are but few seeking employment, and ready engagements are obtained at from forty to forty five shillings a week, with rations. At last harvest time, tbe rate was from twenty five to thirty shillings, and the district was visited by numbers of the unemployed. The railway works have absorbed a considerable amount of labor that would otherwise have been available for the harvest." The revenue tables for tbe year aud quarter ending. December 31, 1859, as compared with those for the year and quarter ending with December 3,1, 1858, had been published In the Government Gazette. The total revpnue for the quarter amounted to £819,320 against £906,859, the revenue of the last quarter thus showing a decrease of £88,539 ; but the revenue for- the year, amounted to £3,257,724, or £217,932 in excess of that for 1858.' The customs had shown a decrease both' on the quarter and the year; so >also had the receipts on gold, and ports and harbours. The proceeds of land sales for the quarter had decreased { but the year's amount was £816,521, against £699,846 in 1858. The revenue from licenses had increased as to both periods ; as had the postal revenue, which for the^year was£lol,sl2against£B9,B3B in 1858. Fees and fines and. forfeitures had increased, and the revenue under the head miscellaneous had amounted to £209,343, against 104,314 in the previous year. Under this last head was included the railway income, £66,193, which was not represented by any amount in 1838. The Argus of the 9th in its commercial article, gives tbe following more favourable report of the condition of monetary affairs in Melbourne: — " In the money market there have not been any movements of importance. The 4th of the month passed off well, notwithstanding the many rumours in circulation of fail, ures to be brought to light on that day. In direct-opposition to these rumours, the money market was found to be more buoyant than it has been for some months past. Many of the closing accounts for the year between mercan-tile-houses have been paid during the week, and although these represent, even in the aggregate but a small amount, yet their promptsettlement has done something towards the restoration of . confidence. If the rumours which have almost died out of late be not disturbed by the occurrence of anything calculated to give them renewed life, a brisk opening business may be looked ibr in all branches of the import market.

Mubh, however, will depend upon the advices brought by the Salsette, which will be delivered early on Monday morning,'' ' ' Tne geodetic survey of the colony — so long the subject of anticipation— ihas at last been initiated ; the Governor General, the Surveyor General, and other members of the Government, having formally fixed a datwti or starting point for the survey at Wyndham. The Herald gives the following as an approximate return of the quantity of Crown land alienated during 1859— some of the returns for December only being omitted: — Town, 1146 a. 3r. 6p.— £165,504 Bs. 9d ; suburban. 5896 a. Or. 5p.—27;942 Bs. lOd. ; c0untry, 338,297a. 0r.33p —494,920 13s. fed. ; selections, 86,203 a. lr. 37p. — 90,533 9s. Bd. ; under pre-emptive right, 26,800a.— £26,800. Total, 453,433 a. 2r. lp.— £805,751 Os. lid. A public meeting was held at Collingwood on the 6th at which Mr. Don spoke at some length, supporting the late resolution of the Assembly in favour of the payment of. members. A resolution in approved of that policy was passed ; an amendment condemning the system having been met with much uproar, and negatived. At a meeting of members of the Law Insti. tute of Victoria, held on the . th. it was.resolved to petition the Legislature against Mr. Reefer's bill for the amalgamation of the two branches of the^legal profession. \ A conflagration, broke out in Madeline Street, North Melbourne, on the 4th, at the premises of Air. Sinclair, an ironmonger, resulting in the destruction of four houses and two store rooms, and a great loss to several persons. - '