The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-01
Australia.

The Courier furnishes the following editorial
notes of its contents:
There are four direct settlements in Austria
liza, or New Holland, each claiming more or
less attention from the American and English,
viz: |. New South Wales, on the eastern side
$50 called from slight resemblance to South
Wales in Great Britain This colony was
founded in l7S7, as a penal settlement. II.
Western Australia, or Swan River, founded in
the year lS29-'30. III. South Australia, or
Port Adelaide, founded in 1885 '36. ". Port
Philip, or Victoria, lying to the Southeastern
point of the Island, founded in 1886.
The gold regions lie in the first and fourth set
Elements above named, viz: New South Wales
and Port Philip. These are adjoining each
other, and are in the southeast portions of the
Island, between the latitude 80 deg. and %
deg. 45 min. South, and the meridian l l3 deg.
10 min. and l53 deg. East Of Greenwich. The
area Of the whole Island is estimated at $780,
$40 square miles, and the coast line at nearly
5000 nautical equivalent to more than
thrce-fourths the extent of Europe.
The climate of the whole territory is remark
ably salubrious, as is shown by the general
health of the many Europeans employed with
the exploring expeditions with the tropics, who
are exposed to the scorching sun, and provided
with scanty shelter at night, and miserable
food. Numerous facts indicate the excessive
dryness of the central portions Of the Island,
where the fleece of the sheep taken by the ex-
plorers ceased to grow.
In New South Wales, January is the middle
of summer, and July is in the midst of winter.
The summer extends from December till March,
when the thermometer ranges from Is to 7S
deg. The average temperature of spring is
IS deg, summer u deg, autumn G6 deg, win
ter So deg. The winter is of bracing cold
ness, with occasional frosts at Sydney and
snow in the interior. AS instances of the re-
markable healthness of that region, it is stated
that not more than five or six sick persons
will be generally found in community of
twelve hundred, and at some military stations
seven years have elapsed without the loss of a
man.
Rain at times falls in heavy and continuous
torrents At one period of twenty four hours
in Port Jackson, the fall was twenty-five inch
es; and ten or fifteen feet obovc the ordinary
level of a river is not an unusual height during
the rainy season.
In New South Wales, the whole line of coast
presents in general an aspect Of bold and per.
pendicuiar cliffs of sand stone, lying in horizon
tai strata. In addition to the vast treasures of
gold existing in both settlements of New South
Wales and Port Philip, copper and iron have
been found, with extensive mines of coal The
seams of coal are distinctly visible i'll the alb.
rubt face of the cliffs near the harbor Of New
Castle, and can be distinctly traced for a dis
lance of nine miles. According to Mr.. Patti
son, who has published some notices of the
country, mine has been opened where steel
"s dug from the earth with little boring and OF
endless extent"
The first discovery of gold in the new re-
gons of Australia has been attributed to a shcp-
herd boy, WHO after selling his gold at the city,
returned co seek for more, butwas followed by
others, and is supposed to have been murdered.
Dr.. Clutterbuck saw as early as 1910, native
gold in the workshop of watch maker at
Melbourne. Sir Roderck j. Murchison had
given his opinion that gold existed extensively
in Australia; but it was not fully developed or
made known until February, 1851, when it
was found in abundance in Brisbane county,
lying about 100 miles northwest of Sydney
the chief town of New South Wales. At this
period, three blocks of quartz were discovered.
weighing about pa lbs, the product of which
in pure gold was LOG pounds, and was sold in
Bathurst for f4,240 sterling. In September
following, goll was extensively found also in
the colony of Victoria or Port Philip. In this
district was found the largest lump yet discov.
cred, and called the King of the Nuggets from
Forest Creek, Mount Alexander, and weighed
n lbs. 6 OF. Is dwts. This was massive
lump of pure gold, of II fine color, and measur,
ed eleven inches in length and five i'll BREADTH
| THE CHARLOTTE ROAD AHD UNITED STATES
MAIL.-We are sorry to SEQ that the Govern.
mcnt has refused to accedc to the reduced rates
at which the Charlotte Railroad Company pro.
posed to transport the mail. We cannot con-
ceivc why this Company should not be as well
rcmuncrated as any other, their transportation
is safer and surcr than on far the majority OF
railroads in the United States; and yet even
when the Company consent in spirit ofacc om-
mediation to lower terms, they are required to
change the time of departure so rs not only to
njure themselves, but to scrious ) incommode
the very people for whose benefit the road was
constructed. The cars leaving Columbia at
5 o'clock in the afternoon would arrive in Char.
otte about Il o'clock at MI yht Persons wish
ing to 90 short distance OH the road would be
compelled to lose nights repose or forego
the pleasure of steam locou,oton for the old
fashioned method of horse power, through mud
or clouds of dust, us the weather may be wet
or dry. Even at 5000 per mile the Company
would lose by leaving at that hour of the day.
We agree with the Carolnian that this rigid
economy is out of place. Millions can be ex.
pended for Collins steamers and Northern rail.
roads, and other moneyed associations, who
have immense wealh with which thny can W.