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


stone bridge, with one arch, of about forty feet
space, under which the waters of Yarra YaTa in
stead Of flowing over, IS the name ports, lie dark.
muddy, and motionless; lis banks without borders,
ene place VIDE and an":aer narrow, and everything
evinciDg on the part Of the inhabitants and the Var
IA Yara itself, utter neglect and disregard Of the
condition Of its waters or OF its appearance The
water for the use of the city drawn carts from
beside the bridge; it is bad and unhealthy, and
strangers should, above all things av lid drinking
In any large quantity. II lot sorely tempted by the
heat and dust, such advice would be altogether
unnecessary. The bridge has another smaller arab,
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 and ex
ce lent street 30 far the street itself goes. Its build
ings aud stores, with few exceptions, and these but
barely respectable are mean. The principal street,
and the ore where the most OF the hotels and banks
are situated, is Collins street; this add
west, With either termination resting on the hills be-
fore mentioned 1t is, likewise a very wide street;
and here the principal shops 10 be seen, OF
them wooden sbanties The sidewalks are anflsgged,
aud for the part, such as they are are without
cuIbstones. On The east end of this street, but ia
another and quite close to it, is at present building
q town hall and mayors Office. This, when
built, will be the. only public building the
city possesses, IL except Mech mics Iust.
tute, q Protestant Hall or Orange meeting room
There IL no Fifth avenue quarter on small scale in
the city; and IL there be uppertendom arstocracy or
gentry tney husI all reside IN The country for there
are private houses Of respectable pretensions in
nh the quarters that | have travelled. No part of
She city bears the least of that prosperity
which stranger would expect 10 see ia a city where
the greatest quantity OF the gold found 10 the colo
MES IL deposited aud exchanges hands and on the
shores Of whose bay so many thousand people have
Of late arrived, and are still arriving.
The inhabitants seem not to pay the least atten-
tion to this vast tide Of emigration, or the benefits
they must naturally derive from II Thousands may
travel through the streets Of their city seeking food
and shelter, with means to pay for both; but they
know not where to turn. No hospitable CT an
tempted to use the word) boarding house meets the
emgrants longing eye where, after his long voyage,
he can indulge at moderate rate in those decacies
OF beef steaks and mutton chops, in which, in his
imagination, be has been luxuriatng ~ each closing
day Of bis voyage brought him to the desired
and destined port In ttis city they may travel from
morning till night and none seek to make profit Of
them by tempting them with promises of cheap and
comfortable lodgings And 20 the wearied emigrants
are forced to retire to the plain to live in tents, aud
prepare with the greatest haste for the diggings,
@rhiDg their backs upon the inhospitable town
All emigrants would do well in bringing their own
tents and hammocks, for whether they he landed at
NE beach, as most of us were, or brought no the
iarra ARA in steamtug, close 10 the city, they
mediately pitch their tents in the latter case, at
canvas Town, about . mile or less from