Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-04-20
AUSTRALIA.

AUSTRALIA.
Australia, which has been graphically called
the fifth quarter of the globe, is the largest ISL
and in the world, and forms the centre of a
group lying between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific. 1t contains an area of 100000
square mies-in extent nearly equal to all Eu-
rope-and is about 10000 nautical miles from
Great Britain. 1t has q coast line of 5000 miles
The general geological character of the country
is that of an immense level plain, low ridges of
hills, open forests, and in some places, rich val
leys, scantily timbered, and spare in its verdure
The land bordering the adopted districts favor
able for cultivation is more than twelve times
as large as that of the United Kingdom, and suf
ficient to give employment to "mllions yet un-
born" 1t is scarcely more than 60 years since
Australia was first colonized, and yet its popu-
lation cannot be less than four hundred thou
sand. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales,
is situated on the east coast, has splendid har-
Dor, and all the most desirable qualities of a
large shipping port-surrounded on three sides
by water in the estuary of Port Jackson where
hundreds of vessels of the largest tonnage lie in
safety.
Victoria, or Australia Felix, which is unques-
tionably the most uxuriant district in the island
and Hurne, Mount Kosciusco and Cape Horn
and on the east and South by the Pacific. 1t is
divided into three counties. lst Bourke, en-
bracing Melbourne, the capital, which is on the
banks of the Yara. Yara, eight miles from which
is The navigable port of Williams Town. I'd.
Grant, in which is the rising town of Geelong
forty-fve miles from Melbourne or Port Philip
Bay. Sd. Normandy, which includes the harbor
of Portland. Beyond the settled portions are
Port Murray and Gippsland districts.
The rapidity with which Port Philip has ris-
en-, and the almost magical manner in which the
stocks have been multiplied, at once tells its Pc
cuIiar adaptation TO the wants of emigrants. In
1885, number of grazers from Van Dieman's
Land, removed their stocks to this locality, and
so marvelously did it progress, that in 1850, it
was recognized by the government and formed
into distinct colony, having then population
Of 77,349 souls
."Thc country, (says Chambers, in 1S50)
which fifteen years ago had only few wander
ing savages and wild animals, is now occupied
by 10000 inhabitants of British origin, and feeds
100000 horned cattle, and upwards Of 100000
sheep, producing upwards of 100000 pounds
Of wool for expectation. In lS49, the imports
amounted to E479, 1881 and the exports to E755
326. The exports are, therefore, about tl2
per head, and the imports are fS per head on
the settled population" In fact, though they
are buying much, they are selling more. Labor
is rewarded, and the wealth of the colony is dai
ly increasing.
The success of Victoria was not unparalleled
Adelaide and other towns also rose rapidly in
wealth and in population, and in the midst OF
the prosperity Of 1851, a new impetus was given
to the energies Of the colonists by the discovery
of gold. 1t was on the 22d of May, in that year
that the first official communication of the dis
covery was made know by the Governor to the
British Ministers. Though it was then made
public, it is clear that the existence of the pre-
cious metal had long been known to many resi-
dents. In lS48, one of the government survey
ors gave it as his opinion, that "the whole d
viding range of hills contained gold" A shep
herd i'll Sydney had periodically offered gold fol
sale, and none could account for his possession
of it, A Mr. Smith also sold large quantities
and offered to disclose the locality in which il
was discovered, for compensation but this the
government refused; indeed laughed at! Or
the Sd of April, 1851, Mr.. Hagan, Californian
offered to disclose a gold field for the sum o.
f500; and about the same time two Jumps o.
two or three ounces each was offered for sale By
a working man.
A unity of such circumstances as might nat
uraly be supposed, created an indescribable cx
ctement. Bathurst, which had become know
as the source from which the wealth was deriv
ed, was studded over with dggers of every class
and before many weeks had elapsed, nearly
1000 people had assembled at Somerville Creek
The gold obtained was particularly fine, and be
ing full % carat, generally realized E3 lSs. 4d
per oz., less the value Of silver it contained
which would be about Cd. The diggers increas
ed and the surface was secured for miles around
with equal success. Abcrcrombie river yielded
well--as also did Turon--and day after day new
pits were announced. On the 18th of June, th,
Governor communicated to Earl Grey the dis
covery of one lump of gold of l06 lbs. weight
at the mouth or juncture Of the rivers Merindi
and Marco. Its estimated value is E4000. IL
August, (scarce three months after the discov
ery,) large shipments Of the metal were made t.
England, and thus an impetus was given 10 EN-