Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-16
A Few Chapters on Australia.
BY REV. JOHN FRASER.

we found ourselves at the Heads, the en-
trance to the harbor of Port Jackson This
entrance is about mile and three-quarters
wide, though the height of the cliffs makes
it look much narrower The harbor stretch
es out in body of water that might shelf
er all the navies in the world. 1t is sur
passed by none, and equalled only by
few, as the Golden Horn, the bay of Ma
Piles, the harbor of Halifax, or of Rio JAN
eiro. This magnificent inlet is fifteen miles
long by two or three wide, and has innum-
cradle coves and bays" stretching inland
to the right and left. Some present sandy
beaches and grassy lawns, others are lined
with barrier of gray rocks, cast in the
most fantastic moulds, and surmounted
with beautiful shrubbery. Many of the
most picturesque localities as you approach
the city, are occupied by beautiful man
sions and the endless diversified beauties
of nature are enhanced from contrast with
the resources of art. Neat cottages have
been erected by the pilots of Sidney on a
sandy beach behind the South Head. A
little nearer the town are the picturesque
cottage of Vaucluse and the splendid Villa
Pount Piper.
WoolloomooIoo, formerly suburb, mile
distant is now part of the city, and pre-
sents an imposing appearance from the
water. We leave Balmain, where are sit
uated the Fitzroy Dry Docks, to the right
and st. Leonards, also separate munich
pality and load at the Circular Quay The
deep water allows vessels every where to
come up to the shore. whilst the harbor is
SO land locked that they may ride every
where safe. From this noble estuary
fresh vista every moment opened to the
view, each appearing more lovely than the
last Around US lay the wool ships of
London, and vessels that sported the Amer
lean flag. Quite near was French man
of-war lately from New Caledonia, and the
marines as they rowed a naval officer in
his boat presented fine appearance in
their white uniform, and keeping regular
time with their oars. The Hong Kong
steamer that we met was crowded with Ce-
lestials starting for home, with their "pig
tails" falling on their shoulders.
Sidney, built mostly of white sand
stone, presents the appearance of an Eng
lish city. those of its suburbs that do not
retain the native names, like Woolabra
(the vale of peace where we afterward;
resided, and WoOlloomooloo are called
from noted London localities as Surrey
Hills" and "Poddington." The principa
streets are named after the King and Tory
ministry of their day. George street, Pit
street, Castlereagh street, &c. 1t is tn,
metropolis of New South Wales, being
founded by its first governor in 1888, ant
is therefore nearly a century old, in fact tn,
oldest city in Australia. 1t still retains
leading position i'll this quarter of tn
world, being surpas sed only by Melbourne
1t has a University with two Affiliated
Colleges, two Dry Docks capable of receiy
ing the largest vessels; an observatory
possessing the best of instruments, muse
um and mint for the coinage of gold
Recently great attention has been paid L
the improvement of its thoroughfares, tn
architectural designs of its public and pri
vate buildings, and the establishment @
: its promenades and recreation grounds. !
is situated in SO degrees 80 minutes sout
latitude and l57 degrees east longitud,
The population OF the city is some 0,0O(
t and of the suburbs. 10000, making a tota
= of about 100000.
Y SOCIAL LIFE.
In the colonies and new states the il
habitants are eminently social. We Ell
= joyed more our picnic excursions in Au:
5 tralia than the "sociables' so common 0
Y the Pacific coast. The magnificent climat
q as in the south of Europe, invites the il
habitants out of doors. Whilst the car
steamers or Omnibuses are plying in ever
/ direction. A holiday soon after our arr
q val gave US an opportunity to visit Botan,
: miles distant. A person once boastin
of the places he had visited was asked /
a friend of mine, if he had ever gone thr
Algebra; he replied, nothing daunted, tn;
= he chad gone through it one morning Q
n the top of the coach" Ididn't go throug
!. Botany, but by the courtesy of friend v
reached it in a "hanson." 1t was disco,
i cred just century ago by Capt. Cook, ar
| al +hn e
J. flowers he found. Later it has convict a
q sociations. We saw the bay where Coo
landed, visited some fine floral ground
and show of Australian animals. Al
u other point of interest is Parramatta ]
r miles distant, at the head of navigation {
e the Parramatta river. In this neighb
u hood the first agricultural settlers were /
Gated. The vice-regal lodge and sever
~ government establishments are here. B
IS the place is intensely hot in summer, al
d through the day has a desolate, dead a
h pearance. We were interested in fndir
that the descendants of some of the fiji
- missionaries of the London Society liv,
ID here.
lie More pleasant is it to spend few weel
e as we did, at Manly Beach, the usual SUI
IN mer resort. 1t was so named by the fiji
governor, who admired the manly bearir
% of the Aborigines at this place. The bea
II, ty of the beach on the north side of t
h. isthmus and the promenades so tasteful
laid out, make it the principal resort
visitors on holiday occasions. Midd
- Harbor is more romantic, but has not t
al advantage of regular ferry boat. The
p are many other resorts for pleasure part
eft in the vicinity, as Bondi, Newtown, t
- Globe, and the North Shore.
: THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.
!. These afford ready and pleasant reso
W They cover space of some one hundr
- and fifty acres, connecting with the pa
st, and "the Domain" Here you may ws
ps der for weeks, examining trees from
- parts of the world These flourish bet
80 than in the Jdrdin de, pLantes of Paris,
al the Botanical gardens of London.
en- were interested in seeing trees and pla
of about which we had read from India, n
,oe way, Italy and Scotland, as if they /
been famous men. We were especia
'e' busy in hunting up sylvan denizens fir
IN our American forests. They are trimn
ne. and tended and the grounds kept in be-
ks tiful order. sighed for leisure to wan
at my own sweet will over this labyril
~ of the vegetable kingdom, complete a
ess cosmos, and drown and doze away VIII
ear days, losing myself in this masterpiece
the art in a solitude of nature herself
Tho domain" is diversified by statues, ft
, and drives. In this part of the groul
"" flower shows are held quarterly, when