The Nevada journal., 1853-06-03
WHOLE NO., 1e2.
FROM Australia.

A friend has kindly furnished ds with
the following extracts from the letter Of
an English e Gentleman, for number OF
years a resid ent in Australia, which,
being the res ults of long observation,
unobscured by any prejudice whatever
against that country, may be taken as
GOOD evidence as to the relative value
OF mining in this State and Australia
BArHuRsr, N. S. W., Feb. ii, '53. .
This is a difficult time to give an opin-
ion with regard to the future, as the dis
covery of gold has caused, and is likely
to cause, such extraordinary changes l
cannot see how any one can come to
any certain conclusions on the subject.
With reference to the production OF
gold think this country Is net equal
to California. Some have made for
tunes here, many more have not made
ordinary wages, and many have lost
great deal of money in searching for it.
Mount Alexander and Bendigo have
been more productive than any part OF
this colony. I suppose you are aware
that these places are in the colony of
Victoria, which Wes at first called Port
Phillip District. 1t is about 500 miles
overland to the south west of Bathurst.
| have been thinking of taking fat cattle
and sheep there, as they have been
selling high there since the gold diggings
we're discovered.
In regard TO agriculture, this country
is not to be compared to America. We
are subject to droughts which injuri-
ously effects our crops: yet, on the
whole, it is fine country. Our climate
is both pleasant and healthy, especially
to the west and south of Sydney, AS
we proceed northward, the climate be-
comes hotter. Some of this country is
only about eleven degrees from the
equator. Though there is an uncer-
taintY about the crops, in consequence
of droughts, we can generally grow al
most any thing that The earth will pro-
duce, either in the temperate or torid
zones.
Bathurst District is one of the best
parts for the production of wheat. We
can grow good barley, but not so many
bushels to the acre as wheat; and oats
are less productive crop. We can,
grow maize Cor Indian corn also, but
it is very uncertain crop in this dis
trict and not very productive-seldom
yielding as much as twenty bushels to
the acre. Great quantities of it are
grown in the warmer parts of the eoun-
try, and very abundant crsps-often
from 60 to 80 bushels to the acre.
Fruits of almost every description are
grown in different parts of the country.
Bathurst and Argyle Districts will pro-
duce all kinds of English fruits, with
many others that will not flourish in
England.
Within the last year or two, this
country has produced some first rate
samples OF cotton. But our great arti-
Gle Of export has been and will be weol.
Notwithstanding our gold, this will be
the pride of our country. Wool is worth
about one shilling per pound in Sydney.
This is good grazing country for cattle
sheep and horses.
Wages have been on the advance
since the discovery of gold Mechanics
get from &2 to 95 per week, with beard
and lodging e.
Wheat and -four have been much
higher since the discovery of gold than
thf y were before. Fine flour is selling
in Sydney at about EGO per ton, in
Bathurst a bout 930 per ton, and at the
mines much higher.