Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-01
From tAe BdHg0r (lllt4tIeJ wing 'lfslI OOl'ttss7

rrIe region which is nov known by the title Of
Australia, separates in fnea sure the BASIN OF the
Pacific oInthat Of the lndIan Ocean the as
Itance from Rofth to south bssween lta eStreme
points rs about 100 milesi and the extreme dis
lance east and west is about 2, 100 miles tsarea
is estimated at $50 SO square miles The sea.
BAYS and harbors, without being penetrated by OnY
large body ofwater executing the vast Gulf OF Car
pentaria ON the north. The eastern coast is bor-
dered by mountain range. The southern coast
consists OF a low and sandy formation without
single water course for 800 miles, and the northern
coast is composed mostly fSandy beaches. Aus
tralia is mostly surrounded by mountain oelt
from coo to 1000 feet high, at distance OF from
so to 100 miles from the coast. Short rlyers run
on this slope to the sea; and on the interior slope
the rivers flow into basin OF are swallowed up IN
the burning sands ola desert. ..l- -
| The climate is remarkably salubrious excepting
on the marshes on the northwest. The sky Isl gen
orally without cloud, and the brightness of the
moon is even distressing. 1t seldom freezes, and
snow never fails. The rain sometimes pours in
torrents, and there are gentle showers.
Sandstone appears to be the most extensive goe-
LOGICAL formation. There are seams of coal, beds
y The T native animals are few. The reptiles are
numerous. The eagle and crow are white and the
swan black
Gigantic gum trees form the most imposing fea-
ture of the Australian forest. The plants are nu-
nerous, luxuriant and beautiful; hence the name
of one portion oft, Botany Bay
The English Government having explored this
country in 1S47, projected penal Colony, and
tn is planted the germ of a great empire. Within
less than half a century from the planting Of
of the Colony, land was sold in the town OF sgd
at the rate of $4,000 an acre Other classes OF I'M
migrants were soon aIured to the Colony, by free
grants of land, although the proqeSgwas slow
for many years, the increase was sufficient to ava
ken alively interest in the growing State.
In1950, New South Vale contained 266, 6O3in a
habitants and at the commencement of 1852, not
less than 40O, 600. The city of Sydney numbers a
population ofT5000, and the greatest activity pre-
walls in business, and contsinS all the outward
marks of wealth and civilization. Paramatta,
about is miles from Sydney, is connected with that
place by railroad, and has population of 5000.
The chieftOwnS are Windsor, Maitland New
castle, Bathurst, and, Goulburn. 1.-THE settlement
of Western Australia, or Swan River was begun
in 1929. The population is now about 5000.
South Australia was founded, in1836, by COM.
pany ON public grant of land which was to be sold
| at uniform price OF IS per acre; and the funds
derived from sales to be expended IN providing free
passage to laborers. South Australia has an area
of 800, 900 squares miles. The Murray river, about
/, 800 miles in length, traverSes the colony. In
| 1876, the population was $4,000. In 1916, the
discovery of the copper mines of this region was
made, and till the gold was discovered was.the
cause of a rapid advance in the colony. In 1851,
the city Of Adelaide Contained GOO inhabitants
The climate here is very bland and pulmonary
complaints almost unknown.
The colony Of Port Philip or Victoria was settled,
IN 1854 D( q lew SuGep OIGuldu .
Land. II is better watered than any of the other
districts. Melbourne, the capital, contains pre-
sent population of $4,000, and rapidly increas ng.
The differents districts vary gIealy IN their Cha
racters, some are suited for grazing, others yield
well TO the plough and Others are desert. The
productions have large range, from the tropical
climate of the North to the mildly temperate OF the
Southern coast II is the greatest wool exporting
country in the world. Grape vineyards are nu-
merors; live stock is becoming great article Of
export. The number ofSheep is nearly %, ZOO, OOO
The butter and cheese are particularly fine. The
exports of lumber are 10 the amount of some $780,
600 to $4,000. BreadstufIs annually shipped,
100000.
| Manufactures are yet in their infancy. The COM
merce of the country keeps pace with the popula-
ton.
The mineral treasures of Australia are only
paralIeled by those of the United States IN variety
and abundance, and the opening of them has begun
to shape out national destiny for the once convict
colony. g..
In is42, in South Australia, fine specimen OF
green carbonate of copper found by lad ga
| thering flowers on of the plains. Here are now
the famous Burra mines, from which 900 tons Of
ore are annually raised. s7gsT
! The controlling event in the history OF Australia
| was the discovery Of gOld Early in the spring OF
1851, returned Californian. struck with the geo.
logical resemblance of the country to the gold
bearing regions OF California; commenced prospect
ing and found the bed Of creek filled with grains
and scales of gold. The beds of the streams deS-
cending from the Blue Mountain range were found
to be auriferous. The discovery was soon noised
Abroad and i'll months time, thousands OF miners
were digging in the "Ophr' discovered. Pros
pecterS were fortunate in discovering gold in the
| colony OF Victoria. Gold was discovered at the
volcanic hill called Buninyong, about fifty miles
west of Melbourne. In October, 1851, seven
| thousand miners were here assembled. Richer de-
posts were found at the base of Mount Alexander
aud of BendigO creek. Forty thousand miners have
| been collected at these localities
| The license system, adopted by the Government,
has been effective Tor the preservation of order.
| The gold of Australia isvely pure and is found,
occa -ionallyin large masses called nuggets
corrnrtion of ingotS. Soon after the discovery of
| gold, such mass was found by black shepherd
in the bed of creek in the Tnron district. Anoth-
| er weighing over twenty seven pounds, was found
at Forest Creek, Mt Alexander; it contains no
quartz but is a massive lump ofaveIy fine colorj
il is IL inches in length and five in breadth at the
| widest part. ...a s.., t.- ...a-s
The amount OF gold raised since the discovery, Is
estimated at not less than thirty millions of dollars
and the god region contains an area Of about TO-
GOO square miles. HtIe, as in California, the maIlx
| ofthe golu is inquartz, and when suitable mills
shall be put in operation TO crush the quartz, the
i yield will be immense. ..a.-.-5.s -.1-
The emigration from the British Islands to Aus
tralia is at the Tale of one thousand week, and
| from Canada and the United States large numbers
! have gone and the tiurnberis increasing The
| harborS of Melbourne and Sydney, are crowded
4 with shipping, and the foundations of new seats of
| Commerce and empire are thus being lad onth
Il shores of the Pacific.
The British convict prison and colony, is located
on the left bank Of the river Derwent fine stream
The prison is in tue very heart of Hobart TOWN.
1t is The principal convict depot in Australia, and
the largest, probably in the world. Hundreds of
miserable beings are drafted out here daily for 9TH
convict stations in the interior OF the island, 10
work chains their respective terms of punish
ment Whilst on the other hand, as many are dali
lily pouring in from other points Of this ocean jail
whose term of slavery has expired for the time be-
| ing This is what the Government tenn probation
ary punishment. t..- a5ra
A writer in the Alta California, gives the follow
tIE.c