New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-12


have entailed so much distress on the older
districts, still it appears that in many parts OF
the country the inhabitants are compelled to
depend upon their wells for certain supply,
though an unlimited quantity of water may be
obtained anywhere at a depth OF from ~ to
100 feet. The principal river, the Murray, is
about 800 miles in length, but how TAR IL
may be useful commercially is still matter
Of doubt. Along its course are quantities
of lsgoons, or small lakes, and as it rises,
which it docs periodically from July till
December when it attains hight OF about
II feet above its.winter level it fills all these,
and ultimately lays the fats under water.
The climate is one Of the most genial that is to
befound, being continued succession of spring
and summer, for the so-called winter is without
frost or snow, and the country is then clothed
with yerdlre ard the trees with foliage. There
are no endemic diseases, fevers, or agues, and
the dry. warm, elastic atmosphere is peculiarly
favorable to asthmatic and pulmonary COM
plants. According TO observations made in
thermometer was as low as 47do, and the warm
est in January, when it was 1862. Wheat, bar
ley, tobacco, the mulberry and the vine, all
thrive greatly; apples, pears, the citrOn, figs,
plums, peaches, almonds, oranges, medlars, pine
apples, bananas and guavas and the water
melon are also produced. Farming appears to
be very rcInunerative employment, but not
equal to "squattng" which, however, requires
large capital to embark in with any chance Of
success. But the mineral wealth of South
Australia is its most remarkable feature, and
il is from this source that emigration on large
scale was first attracted to it. There are a
great variety of ornamental stOnes-though
these are, of course, viewed as a question of
future commercial greatness, of comparative
ly small mportance-jasper, agate, opal, DC
Lead mines have been discovered and worked
profitably, as has also iron. But the copper
mines have proved hitherto by far the most pro-
life in their Weld, and have been worked with
most astonishing results, though the original dis
eoyery of this valuable mineral was the effect
Of accident-the falling Of piece of rock dis
closing the ore 10 two gentlemen who were out
surveying, and who, maintaining secrecy, pur-
chased section of 50 acres at the lowest
Government price, 81 per acre, aud very
shortly afterward refused the tempting offer of
E27, 600 fortheir bargain. They afterward found
it necessary to purchase 100 acres of adjoining
land, for which, however, in consequence of
competition Of other bidders, owing to their
secret leaking out, they had to pay G2,2l0. But
the excitement attendant on this discovery had
scarcely had time to subside, when another
monster mine was discOvered-the celebrated
Burra-Burra Here the richest ore was found
in large masses before there was any necessity
for sinking shafts indeed, the operation has
been described as more like quarryng in cop
per than mining In 1913, when there were
eco operatives in employment on it, this mine
produced upward of $1,000 tuns Of ore. IL
was in the hands of joint stock company,
with capital divided into 2,A64 shares of f5
each, and which began by declaring dividend
Of so per cent, bQt it has since yearly paid 200
per cent
Adelaide the capital was only founded in
1896, and had, in 1850, population of 10000,
aud 5000 houses. 1t is six miles from the
port, to which railway is now making if the
gold mania has not taken the labOrers TO the
"diggings" 1t is handsome town, and con-
tans already many fine public buildings, and a
beautiful park, with river running through it.
Gawler Town, busting place, is about % miles
distant. Round Adelaide are scattered various
villages, with from 100 to 800 inhabitants, one
of which, Kleuzing, German settlement Is
described as being so purely national that the
inhabitants might have been supposed to have
brought it over from Prussia
The exports of this colony i'll 1851 exceeded
f550,OOO, consisting chiefly of copper, WOOL
aud tallow-the tunnage inward and outward
in the same year was l70,497. Wool was ex-
ported TO the amount of 2,200 lbs, and copper
10000 tuns, while the population was then not
more than 81 GOO.
OF the remaining colony, Western Australia,
we need Say but little, as sad experience has
proved that it at present affords no induce
ment for settlers though, when large popu-
lston shall have grown within its boundary, the
natural advantages which it appears TO possess
may make it an object of greater attention ;
but it is at present completely isolated from
the more thickly inhabited part of Australia.
With population of less than 5000 it covers
an area of 100000 square miles 1t is said
that immense seams of coal have been recent
ly discovered, and that iron, zine, copper, lead
and quicksilver are abundant, and that it is adj
mirably adapted for cattle and sheep farming