The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-10


disease is directly imported in vessels coming
from infected ports, and that it is not commu-
nicated by contact. While we have, therefore,
in view of the action of the Board of Health,
and in view of the salubrious situation of this
city, good reason to hope confidently for
complete immunity from the scourge of
Southern ports, we should, nevertheless, not
neglect to adopt all the sanitary precautions in
regard to cleanliness and temperance which
the common sense laws of health prescribe.
------
The BrltIsh Colonies In AustrelIa-Thclr Pre-
sent and Their Future.
That portion of the globe which is generally
denomirated the Eastern World is cow the
scene of come of the most important and active
operations of the human family. The British
empire in India is making great efforts to re-
cover from the convulsion it has lately gone
through Japan has determined to throw open
it's gates again to foreign commerce, after having
kept them closed for three centuries; China is
struggling with England and France to main
tain her exclusive policy; the islands of Austria
lasia are the scenes Of many gigantic projects;
but important above all is the young empire
that is springing into existence in Australia
This is vet young continent, and, indeed, is
still emerging from the sea- In South Austria
liza the railway has risen four inches In the last
year; it is estimated that the wharves at Mel
bourne have risen six feet during the last twenty
years; and bays, which at the beginning Of the
present century had ten fsthoms of water, now
have only seven fathoms On this still upheav-
ing continent an empire has been founded by
men having common literature and language
with ourselves. The three colonies of New South
Wales, Victoria and Tasmania contain now
population of about half a million souls. Thisem-
pire, however hardly one generation old and as
natural consequence it presents many of the
peculiar features of the mother country. Men
have not adapted themselves to the new state
of things, and the new communities have many
Of the characteristics Of English towns. Our
exchanges from there come filed with the same
kind Of advertisements, the same subjects Of in
telligence, the same arrangement of matter as
is seen in the journals of EDgland.
One thing, too, is strongly marked. The re-
ports that are occasionally published by explo-
rers sent into the interior show great lack Of
the knowledge of woodcraft, if we might so
term it. They are evidently made by men
brought up in Europe, who have little know
ledge Of the appliances Of a frontier life, and as
natural consequence their explorations are
very limited In extent; and knowledge Of the
interior of tie country will probably not be OBJ
tanned until O native white population have
grown up, with life experience OF the resources
of the country and the habit of adapting their
wants to them. When this occurs great changes
will no doubt be experienced in Australia. As
matters now stand II is o curious sight to the
American, who is familiar with explorations of
thousands Of miles OF interior, to see the ceckasy
efforts made to penetrate into the interior Z.
Australia.
The industrial developemso ibe new en-.
pire Ii ,vloentiy oe,ay 60 - lie high price at
n,cr new isnds orc lie ~ TIE government.
.'seems 10 us ridiculous that where whole
country has yet to be settled, where nothing is
.buodant but land, that they should be held by
The authorities out Of the market at al average
Of about seven and half dollars per acre. Yet
such is the fact as we learn by the reports Of
recent land Gales in Victoria. The industry of
these countries is now turned to the production
of gold, wool, wheat and wine Of the first,
the yield for the first quarter Of the present
year was 554,039 ounces, equal In value to near
ly nine millions Of dollars. The clip of wool
last year was something over fifty millions of
pounds, valued at about twenty millions Of dol
lars. The production Of wheat exceeds the do
mestc consumption. but no market has yet
been found for the surplus. OF wine, about
100000 gallons were last year raised in the CO.
lony of Victoria, which sold at little more
than dollar gallon.
The social condition OF the colonies is a sub
ject Of complaint in the papers before us. Great
evils are experienced from the general indul-
gence In spirituous liquors, and the establish
ment of Maine liquor law is agitated. Some
idea may be formed Of the extent of this
evil by q citation of the three principal
items Of the revenue Of New South Wales
during the first quarter Of 1853. These were !:
spirits, f77,0O0; sugar and molasses, el9,50o;
Chinese was also prominent subject Of COM
plant, and measures were in agitation to stop
their immigration altogether. On this subject
the Sydney Empire says:-
Bu, not only 10 requisite pct SOP their inva.
sIon, with view 70 averpg bloodshsd-evesy hope
pected With the future Of Australia concerned The
existence Of large degraded In my commonly
fatal 10 IL peace and destructive Of y liberties And
5 more, can never i've . harmony: YssS.y y .es
expect tiger and the lion 10 agree sogse~ nsSame
den - The English and Chinese In the same country
This is only the question Of the social equality
Of dissonaut and unequal races, which Is 30
much opposed In many other parts of the
world.
The conclusions which we draw from care
full perusal Of the journals from Australia are,
that there is abundant room there for the de-
velopement of an empire. But the community
II still composed of men impregnated with old