AUSTRALIA. The time is not far distant when this island, the largest on the globe, will possess a high degree of commercial im portance. All our colonies on its shores— New South Wales, Port Phillip, South Aus tralia, and Western Australia—are gradually advancing in industry and in commerce. The first three are becoming rich in sheep and its produce, while South Australia is also con tributing the riches of its mineral produce.
The mineral riches of Australia are being yearly more and more explored. Iron, coal, copper, tin, and lead, are known to exist— some in large quantities. There were in 1847, in South Australia alone, 27 copper mines, 1 lead mine, 2 copper and lead mines, and 1 copper and gold mine. On the estate of the Australian Agricultural Company, near New castle, coal was found. in 1849; and it was ex pected that mines would be ready for working on that spot by the beginning of 1850. In 1847 Dr. Van Sommer explored, in a geolo gical survey ordered by the governor, a vast bed of coal in Western Australia, which bids fair to realize the hopes of that hitherto un successful colony; and in 1850 ebony, sandal wood, and guano, have begun to occupy a place among the exports from this colony. Limestones, sandstones, clays, gypsum, roofing slate, are among the abundant materials of manufactures.
From the latest returns from Australia, we find that copper is now offered for sale in con siderable quantities. A brig has sailed thence during the present summer to Singapore, with 216 tons of fine tough copper, worth 20,0001. ; this was collected from four of the South Australian copper works. The value of the mineral produce exported from that colony has increased with surprising rapidity—as thus :— 1843 1281.
1844 6,4371.
1845 19,0191.
1846 142,2311.
1847 174,0171.
1818 320,6241.
This Australian copper finds a market in Ger many and in France, as well as in England; its quality is said to be very fine. In August 1850, the shares of no fewer than 21 Austra lian copper mines were in the market, most of them commanding high prices! The wool trade of Australia, also, is be coming of vast importance. The export of wool from the various colonies of the island in 1847 was about 20 millions of pounds ; in 1848 it exceeded 30 million pounds ; and in 1849 it rose to the amount of 35 millions.
Efforts are now being made to establish a mail steam-packet routefrom England to Aus tralia. Four routes are advocated by different interests—lst, across the Isthmus of Panama and the Pacific; 2nd, by the Cape of Good Hope ; 3rd, by Singapore and Western Aus tralia to Sydney; 4th, by Singapore and North Australia to Sydney. The first three routes are each, in round numbers, about 13,000 miles; the fourth is rather over 12,000. One of the Singapore routes, by placing Australia in connection with India and China, as well as with England, will probably be selected as most advantageous ; but an unfortunate dif ference of view between the government and the East India Company at present exists on this point. It has been recently shown, that tho voyage from Australia to England by the system of what is termed Great Circle sailing, effects a saving in distance of nearly 900 miles, over the old sea route.
Australia will contribute to the Exhibition of 1851.