The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-21

Our Australian Correspondence.
PoRr PHILIP BAY, Aug. 20, 1883.
Ho5sou,s Bau-THs Road Thence to Melbourne-
The Eseampment at Canrass Tosoa-1hs Toon
of Melbourne Want of Accommodation for Emf
grants The Police Force The Newspapers, &c.
After a most prosperous voyage of ninety eight
days, the Scargo cast her anchor IN the waters of
Port Philip, at III o'clock on Tuesday, the I'D
March, amid the cheers Of the full complement OF the
passengers, with one exception,) who took passage
on board Of her. During the whole passage we had
not one case of sickness among us; and never did
ship with the same complement of passengers bear
greater complement OF bold and hopeful spirits.
Never for . moment, since we left New York, did
shade darken their careless humor but for one short
passing hour, when, for that space, the mortal
remains OF q poor young fellow-passenger lay
on the quarterback, prior to their beng dropped
into . waery grave. He was young Canadian' Oh
the name of Nichols, who came on board In the
last stage of consumption; he struggled with inev
table death until Thursday, the 18th Of March-just
Ave DAYS before the inds.inct and distant outline Of
land sent thrill of delight and joy to all on board
About ii o'clock A. NJ. land was discovered; and
with an excellent breeze we sped along during the
day. occasionally passing those objects, now clear
and distinct to the view, which little before were
barely perceptbe in the distance. As we cut through
the waters, we could see the waves as they were
dashed with impotent fury against the rocky coast
six miles to the leewsrd. As the night of Monday
began ~ fall, took in all sail, the captain being
Searfu Of running too close to the mouth of the bay
before the morning light. During the night we con-
inually showed signals for pilot, as we drifted
along by burning pieces of pitch and tow the cad
Of stick On Tuesday, about O'Clock, we were
ghddened With the sigh. OF making towards US
IN row boat At IL o'clock he again left u.s. having
brought us to anchor At Hobson's Bay, Port Pho
IN company with about one hundred and fifty other
craft M ST Of them emigrant ship:ths being alb out
me number OF ships now lying in the broad waters of
this immense bay.
We remained on board all day on Tuesday, aud on
"wednesday, about O'Clock, reached, (the greater
part OF she passengers,) at our own expense, the
beach, In small boats. Immediately after landing
and another started for Melbourne, two miles dis
tant The road lies through q vast sandy plain, over
which the waters Of the bay must in times past have
ebbed and flowed. Round its crcumscrioed o0riers,
or many and many mile, Is seen most beautiful
circle OF the greenest shrubbery giving pleasing eff
feet to the scene inland from the shipping, and the
only thing which improved the otherwise dreary
look OF land and water from the small, miserable
wooded jetty at which the small boat landed
us, and the only landing place in the shape
Of wharf or pier, which the hands Of man
have erected for the convenience of the ship
ping in the bay. To Melbourne the road runs
through this plain, which for the first mile, is Co
vered with wild fern and stuned trees and deep with
sand, without patch OF vercure On the remaining
portion, the sandy bottom Is hard and pleasant to
walk on, with broad stripes of green sward aud
merUus trees with green foliage. The scene as
passed along, was snsularly strange. For the first
halt mile from the beach there is sort of struggling
village, composed OF ranges OF tents at irregu-
lar distances from each other on either side of
the road, put up within the last four or five
months, at the doors of which are exposed all
sorts Of old ship stores old tents, old hammocks
mining implements, and all the tin and iron
ware necessary for ten, equipment At the diggngs.
Many OF the emgrants when they land if they are
not furnished with tents, rent one upon the spot
here-many being fixed for letting, and pay so much
week. Myself and party, eight 10 number, pay fl
for tent tor week where we at pre- vent living,
prior to our starting for the diggngs at Forest
Greek, on Monday morning, the exorbitsnt rate OF
charge In Melbourne preventing people from going
there to live, even for few days. Toe appearance
Of the plain increased in interest l went along,
from the number Of tents viii h are pitched ia par
tcular localities close together but without form or
plan, and which go by the name Of towns
settlements The first If these tent settle
ments after ! left sand Ridge" (tne name
appropriately given to the range Of tents, in
OF which | am sojourning) that l came 10 sight
Of is called Emerald dill settlement An impo-
sing collection Of tents every description aud size
pitched upon the slope Of low hill, which, from
oasis appearance has derived its name. Further On,
nearer 10 the city is another lister of tents to the
number OF about three hundred, which Is called Can
vass Town-whlle In every direction over tue plain
are other smaller groups of tents, Of them con-
tanning from six to a dozen people, ell engaged,
after their voyage ACROSS the seas preparing for the
mines. These canvass dwellings either put up
by the emigrants Immediately after they land, aud
which again struck at their departure, they
take them Sor week from parties who own numbers
Of tents for hire, paving them pound to thirty
shilliDgs week for the Use Of one Even those who
bring their own tents with them must pay to over
seers from the city five shillings per week for per-
mission to fix their tents upon the arid sandy con-
mon, swarming with lizards, centipedes mosquitoes,
fess, ct hoe genus omne, which attack jewellers in
tents, and render their stay miserable This state of
things Is oiscouraqing to the boldest and those with
out care but l leave it to yourself TO conjecture
what it Is, to those who come here unhAppiy tram
meed with wives and children.
The city when first saw it from the plain, had the
appearance of being built in the form Of aInphi
theatre the shipping seeming to occupy the front of
The picture On the right and leftare hills, on which
the eastern and western portions Of the city but
The centre occupying the fiat belt between. The
was shining brightly as l went aloog, but no cupOla
or lofty cross, neither dome nor spife reflected back
It's bright rays from the city. The unfinished
looking condition of the houses, the shor.
streets, built on the ascent, appearing as broad
d long, through viii Ii clouds of sand were
continually drifting, gave to the appearance
Of the city look as drear as the sandy PLAIN WAS
leaving behind. The approach to the city from the
beach is over the Yarn Yarra river, BY strong
stone bridge, with one arch, of about forty feet
space, under which the waters of Yarra YarIa, in
stead Of flowing over, the name i'm ports lie dark
muddy, and motonless; IFS banks without borders
bne place wide and another narrow. and everything
evincpg on the part Of the inhabitants and the Var
"a Yara itself, utter neglect and disregard OF the
condition of its waters or Of its appearance The
water for the use of the city s drawn on carts from
beside the bridge; it is bad and unhealthy and
strangers should, above all things av lid drinking it
In any large quantity. II Lot sorely tempted by the
heat and dust, such advice would be altogether
unnecessary The bridge has another smaller arsh,
which, except in the rainy season, Is useless, but
which in that season gives escape to the waters Of
the flooded plain
After crossing the bridge, entered the second
principal street. Elizabeth street, very vide ex-
lent street fer the street itself goes Its build
hal etp aya maa Tba priu a1afxaa