Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-21
AUSTRALIA.
Some Interesting Facts About thc
laland.C Continent.

Some Interesting Facts About tho
Island.C0ntinent.
Letter from Melbourne.]
Victoria, of which Melbourne is the
capital, is about the same size as En-
gland, or State of moderate area in
the Union. Forty-four years ago the
colony or province was uninhabited by
any folk except the aborigines. 1t now
contains nearly 100000 people, and
the population Of Melbourne numbers
$50, 600. This quickly-risen city has
some resemblance to an American town
and many features that are novel. Wis
itors are less struck with it's architecture
than with the width Of the streets. In
the city proper all the main thorough
fares are SO feet wide, and they cross at
right angles. On each side runs an
open drain, and underground sewerage
has not vet been adopted. Melbourne
is visited seven or eight times in the
summer by scorching wind from the
north, which dries up the surface moist
ure and carries off the germs of dis
eases that live on damp. The hot wind
is peculiar to Southern and Central
Australia. The interior of the island
continent is vast expanse of plains, in
tersected by few ranges Of mountains
and traversed by few rivers. These
plains support cattle and sheep in
great abundance, but are subject
to periodical drought. A dry season
kills off the heritage and evaporates the
lakes and chains OF pools which in sum-
mer represent the river of the winter
dc %hok
inland plains collect heat from the sur
face, and their temperature rises high
above the dew-point. On their visit to
the southern regions these warm, dry
winds suck up the moisture and wlther
the heritage. To the native vegetation
the hot wind does little injury. The
leaves Of the eucalyptus and acacia (the
two predominant general are thick and
stored with oil, and the roots are spread
like network through the undersoil.
The agriculturist does not mind the hot
wind, for it comes at harvest time, when
the crops are ripe; and the focks Of the
grazier do not suffer unless the dry sea-
son lasts long, for sheep thrive on shrubs
and herbs when the grass fails. It is
remarkable how long the focks can re-
sist a drought on the inland plains.
Even when the surface looks quite bare
they are able to find food, and can get
on well so long as the holes retain water.
About once in six or eight years a
drought occurs over the vast interior,
and sheep perish in thousands. It is
the uncertainty of the seasons that rem
ders tne ventures of the grazier precari-
GUS, and accounts for the remarkable
success of some men and the misfortune
of others. In spite, however, of periodic
scarcity, the great industry of Australia
is the wool industry, and it annually
brings in millions of pounds sterling to
the community.
We're it not for the occasional hot
winds, and the character Of the change
that follows it, the climate of Melbourne
would be absolutely delightful, for in
winter the thermometer seldom registers
less than 80 deg. Fahrenheit, and the
summer heat (save on hot-wind days.
ranges no higher than 80 deg. in the
shade.
The traveller who has seen Paris, the
suburbs of London and the chief Ameri-
can cities misses the street cars. There
are no street railroads in Melbourne, and
all passenger traffic is carried on in ON
nibuses and wagonettes.
Victoria is well provided with railway
communication. Over 1000 miles of
line are open, and Parliament has just
authorized the construction of an addi-
tional 400 miles, at cost of $40, 600, 900.
Locomotives built in Philadelphia now
run on the main lines, and the American
type of engine is preferred to the English
for passenger traffic.
Each of the five colonies or provinces
into which the continent of Australia is
divided is as Independent of its neigh
bors as if they were all go many Euro
pean republics and kingdoms. Each
makes its own laws and has its own tar
iff. Owing to the comparative thinness
of the population what are 2. 600, 900
people on continent 5000 miles long
and 1000 miles wide?-and to the dis
tances between the capital cities, no
scheme of federation is yet practicable.
It has often been talked about col
onies have even conferred together on
the subject there is no immediate
prospect of the establishment Of an
Australian dominion or union. Geo
graphical difficulties and want of con-
cord on the subject Of tariffs keep the
colonies asunder.
The most creditable thing in Victoria
is the education system, which is free,
secular and compulsory. It is conducted
entirely by the Government, and has
been in operation for eight years. The
cost Of the system is So, 500, 900 per an
num-a good deal for a population of
less than 100000 to pay for the educa-
ton of 100000 individual children,
between the ages of 6 and Is.
Australians are great holiday-takers,
and each year the prosperous bushmen
allow themselves a fortnight or three
weeks enjoyment in Melbourne. No
vember is the middle spring season of
the year, when flowers are gay, the turf
soft and green, and the days bright but
cool. At midsummer the grass becomes
brown. Australian laborers only work
eight hours a day, and there are thirteen
recognized public holidays in the course
of the year. It is the custom beside to
take week or fortnight at Christmas
and another week at Easter.
A LITTLE MLSPRINT,
He walked into the office This rnornino