The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-21 00:00:00

MELBOURNE AND ITS SUBURBS.

(From the dlielbourne Age of Aug. 16.)
The corporation of Melbourne, who some time
since had granted to them a sum of £25,000 for
the repair and. formation of streets, have appor-
tioned the amount in a manner more or less judici-
ous. The corporation, notwithstanding, cannot be
stated to be in funds. They have no endowment
of lands from which, a revenue can be derived, and
the citizens are impatient of increased taxation.
As the inhabitants generally have no confidence in
the management of the corporation, a strong dispo-
sition has been manifested by the various wards of
the city proper, to separate themselves into distinct
municipalities. One of the outlying wards—that
of Fitzroy—has already procured the concurrence
of the Governor and Council to assume its own
management, as soon as its proportion of liability
under the Gabrielli loan shall have been deter-
mined; while an adjoining ward is about to join
with a new suburb named Carlton, in order to pro-
cure the same privilege. Not less than £90,000 has
recently ;been paid into the Treasury by the pur-
chasers of building sites in Carlton ; and as these
persons have expended large sums of money in the
erection of business and other premises thereon,
they are naturally anxious to obtain from Govern.
ment a grant of money for the formation of the
streets as soon as the levels shall have been struck
by the proper authorities. So legitimate an appli-
cation cannot be refused by the Government, who,
it is probable, will also grant the prayer for sepa-
rate incorporation with Smith Ward.
The Melbourne Gas Company is in a flourishing
state—a dividend of 6 per cent., and a balance in
favour, of 17,818 ls. 10d. having been declared.
Within six months 40 miles of new mains are in-
tended to be laid. Sixty additional public lamps
have been erected within the city. The price of
gas, however, remains very high, and the suburban
municipalities are taking means for supplying
themselves with gas at a lower rate, by the erec-
tion of works in their own localities. It only re-
mains a question with them whether the proposed
companies shall be conducted by private enterprise
or by the municipal bodies. We may mention that
several of the interior towns are also lighted with
gas, or are taking means for its introduction. In one
instance the gas is procured from the leaves of the
eucalyptus or gum tree.
The great water works at Yan Yean, which for
some months have been supply the requirements of
the city of Melbourne to the satisfaction of the
inhabitants, have been subjected by the Sewage
and Water Commission to analysis by Dr. Mac-
adam (Government chemist), and several other
gentlemen supposed to be competent to pronounce
on the subject. Their reports are understood to be
conflicting and unsatisfactory. The commission
have resolved on despatching samples of the water
to Europe for analysis by the most celebrated
savans. Meanwhile the public are content to make
use of the water, and are not sensible of its pro-
ducing any ill effects upon their health. Water
works on a large scale are being established at
Sandhurst, Ballarat, and Beechworth.
A commission has been formed to report on anew
site for the public lunatic asylum, that at the Yarra
Bend being, pronounced inadequate both in point
of size and situation. As the proposal involves the
purchase of the new site at an enormous expense
from a private hand, it is not very favourably re-
ceived by the public.
The new wing of the Melbourne Hospital has
been opened, and affords accommodation
cotn
aitosabboeudst
140 patients. The entire building n
for over 350 patients. The medical staff, stipen-
diary and honorary, has recently been enlarged, in
order to meet increasing claims on the benefits of
the institution, which is managed in the most ad,

mirable manner, and liberally supported.
The number of writs issued from the office of the
Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, Melbourne,
from the Ist Jan. to the 21st July, 1857, was 2,296 ;
those issued in the corresponding period of the
present year are greater in number by 717.
The coroner has introduced the practice of hold-
ing inquests on fires in eases where there is anv
doubt or suspicion as to their origin.
The Zoological Garden has now passed from the
hands of the private company who formed it to the
Government, who granted the land and the subsidy
of £3,000 for its formation. As the Botanical Gar-
den on the opposite side of the river has all along
been public property, and under certain restric-
tions free to all 'visitors, it was obviously de-
sirable that the Zoological Garden should be
equally. accessible. The gardens have therefore been
consolidated, and Dr. Mueller, the Government
botanist, made director of both ; in fact, as they are
now connected by means of a bridge across the
Yarra Yarra, they are practically* one garden, and
will enable the director to select the most suitable
sites for plants and animals. It is the intention of
the directors to obtain a subsidy from the Govern-
ment for the purpose of introducing the llama, the
camel, and the dromedary ; the former for the sake
of its wool, and the latter two for use in explora-
tions of the interior.