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NEW SOUTH WALES. Gold March 1855
Sydney prices of Gold - the following are the present rates
Ovens £3.17.6
Ballarat £3.18.0
Port Philip £3.16.6
Adelong £3.15.6
Buckland River £3.15.6
[indecipherable] £3.14.9
Turon £3.14.6
Braidwood £3.13.9
Tamberoora £3.13.9
Northern gold fields £3.12.0
THE OPENING OF THE SYDNEY MINT 15TH MAY 1855
The quantity of gold received at the Mint yesterday (the opening day) was unexpectedly large, being between ten thousand & eleven thousand ounces, or from forty thousand to fifty thousand pounds worth. All the necessary arrangements for Coining have been early completed, & it is not at all improbable that we shall see our own sovereigns in circulation in the course of a few days. The erecting of the machinery, & the construction of the necessary buildings, are already finished, so that there is nothing to be done now but the perfecting of those minor and interior appliances which are identical to the successful operation of every great undertaking.
The Mint, May 26th
The amount of gold received at the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint up to the 19th inst. [the first five days of its establishment] was upwards of 11,298 ounces for the week ending today the receipt has been above 1389 ounces. The depositors have been chiefly the Banks and the Bullion Brokers. The smallness of the amounts yet received is assigned to the determination of the part of the authorities to restrict the deposits of bullion to 1,000 ounces until the Mint was brought into full working condition.
Numerous applications have been made during this week for allowing smaller parcels to be received, & it is understood that the arrangements of the Mint being now perfected, gold will henceforth be received in importation, as low as ten ounces. The termination of this restriction will no doubt be regarded as an advantage by diggers and small speculators, & availed of accordingly.