The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-14

SOCIAL cosbrrIos OF rnz covsI.Y.

SOCIAL CONDITION or TINE c0UNrnT.
From the Mslbourne Argus, Jan. 8.
We havs nst suoient data for determining exaeyths
permanent increase In tbs population during the past
year may Be- fairly assumed that more than 20 600
souls from quarters Of the world have landed
shOres great number from the adjAcen colonies have
for the purpose of trying their fortunes st the dig
Su the great majority Of those who arrive actual In
migrants. The entire population Of the colony at tbs
present moment may be stated at more than 2oo,o
souls
This immense IL ux while has given impulse 70
our progress unprecedented in colonial history has been
attended with much yenence to the entire
nifty and especially to persons newly arrived The ap
piances of social life have not kept with the rapidly
liner easing population Nor was It possible In young
colony and circumstances of suoh uuexampled emar
genes there must Of necessity be serious deficiency OF
the most ordinary social coDvenisnces.
The general rule having but few exceptions is that
male immigrants proceed to the diggings at This
outlet has avered the shock that would be occasoned
dsproportionate pressure upon the ordinary employ
ments and kept the labor market comparatively bare
The vast majority OF those q. the gold fields have settled
there for the present spprecabe proportion OF them
falling back upon ordinary oecu Hence is evil
dent that the gold field of indefinite extent and that
the labor is generally remuneratiye. The deficiency in
the labor market only partially filled up by the few
fewer who orsake them The want Of social conveniencss
must have entaied much suffering upon individuals but,
looking at all the OF the case there cnue
serious and general There has been, and there
still is great personal discomfort but there might have
been famine and pestilence.
The prr cpal inconvenience felt by new Is the
want of house accommodation The abundance OF money,
and the deficiency in effective labor have raised the
penses of building far alb the point at which 1t would
be profitable investment for capital The number OF
buildings erected in the city within the year, bears no
proportion to the increase in the population But al
ready do discover symptoms OF action in this
spect and think that the ensuing year will witness
Improvement Of the city Meantime the want is par
TALLY supplied by tents and small wooden buildings in
the outskirts. On the southern bank Of the Yarra
Yarra there population OF four or five thousand v
ing tents all around the boundaries Of the city
wooden cottages daily springing up.
arrived immigrants has been carried forward with spirit
The private subscriptions amount to nearly to
which the government is to add IS O0O Much privaon
is by this benevolent PLAN but it is possible
for any plsn however comprehensive to meet ell the
exigencies of the The Wesleyan Methodist with
praeworthy ZEAL have erected building for the tempo
rary accommodation Of immigrants Of their own and
other denominations, in want OF shelter Despite all
such Efforts however, there must be great amount Of
privation. have said but will rarely sink to
tua desttu,ou ond at worst only temporary. The i'm
migrant landed if he has any sef helpfulness at
all, speedily finds means to ward OF absolute want and
later gains footing from which it is his
fault he does not stride rapidly forward into compe
tence and comfort.
The overcrowding Of the city, and the neglect Of san
tary regulations, two evils most unavoidable in
present circumstances That the consequences of them
have not been sgnaly disastrous mainly owing to the
healthiness of the climate As it is much sickness has
resulted but have at least escaped epidemic
serious than the influenza and that very security has
ever for speedy partial alienation of them as labor
available and the requisite materials abundant
The value Of city property is still e1ravaganty high
exorbtant At the eliminating point appears to
have been reached in this particular. Already slight
dency is downward The value of property in the bust
parts of the city will think, continue at rate
certainly not below the present in other parts the
value will the just proportion which
ally bears to other descriptions OF property The fuctu
alton in the value Of city property, will not be again
affected strongly it has been by the gold fields, what
ma he their WELD.
not only tends to deyelope the OF the country
but to give stability to commercial and industrial
suits. and to preserve their correct balance
the immigrant can manage to bear up against the
bant rents crowding, and general social dis
very much else TO complain about The absolute
saries OF life not very dear. The fears which
pressed months since respec ing scarcity Of four
have subsidized for the present in consequence OF pOra
tons from various quarters and the prospects of oler
Bile haryests in this and the neghb0ring colonies From
these causes the price of -four recently fell from fi5 to
ESQ per ton further declined f3-its price
at the present moment Beef and mutton tea and
the staple Of colonial consumption-are reasonably
cheap and abundant Vegetables fruit, eggs butter,
etc. must be cassed amongst luxuries they are scarce
and dear Men find far money making to dig for
content with his simple fare Of mutton and damper
three times day.
Thoe anticipafions Of general and sudden shock in
social affairs, which give Sydney friends much
concern, altogether unfounded. The prosperity Of
the colony it is true, has been Of unprecedented
character but it has been perfectly natural and healthy
There has been supera bunlanoe Of wealth but there
has not been any foolhh speculation or commercial
gambling.
of worthless paper money but by hundred of solid
gold. Whence then, can the crash come? The only
really serious event that could happen setting aside dis
penatons Of Proyidebce-is the instantaneous exhaus
ton of the gold fields In that there would be much
difficulty in dispensing the multitude of dgyers the
colonies 10 follow other ployments. But even then
there would be enough in Australia aud employ
ment enough for all the dggers in Victoria, their
lumber ten times great it is 1t is folly to specu
late upon the possibility Of instantaneous cessation
OF gold digging. There may be less gold produced the
vast treasures Of Mount Alexander may again
drae in the yield will be gradual and the :sful
ciggers will by degrees beake themselves to other indus
trial occupations The experience Of California shows
that for years to come the diggings will afford employ
men to gold seekers and experience up TO the
present time confirms the opinion that large amount Of
gold will be annually gathered in Victoria for long pc
ri, So that the progressive and permanent
prosperity Of this splendid colony is placed upon the
surest basis.