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found it speedily exhausted, and themselves left without the means of removal, and thus swelled the list of applicants for assistance. The colonial government consequently exhausted its funds, and was compelled to borrow from the sister colony; and, with a government in debt and embarrassed, the upper and middle classes nearly all bankrupt, and the labouring classes in a state of absolute starvation, the colony sunk into a gulf of apparently hopeless ruin.

Out of this building mania, however, a branch movement of a similar character had arisen, which, although adding, for the time, to the evil, contained within itself the germ of a future revival and prosperity. When the best lots of town land in Adelaide were all purchased, and the prices became such that few would venture to speculate further, many turned their attention to the most eligible among the country sections, and cutting them up into acre, and half and quarter-acre lots, laid them out as villages, realizing large prices as compared with the original cost, although small as regards the comparison with the land in Adelaide. A multitude of little suburban hamlets thus sprang into existence, many of which were named after the well-remembered suburbs of Hampstead, Islington, Kensington, &c., or bore the names of their founders, as Walkerville, or Smith's-town.

This phase of the mania, however, had the effect of drawing many people from the city into the country, who, living in their "villas," began to enclose and cultivate their acres. These soon found that, from the natural excellence of the land, all kinds of corn and vegetable produce grew luxuriantly; and still more, that the price of all these products was such as to yield them a handsome return; and thus that which was originally done for mere ornament to the cottages, was pursued for profit. The land in the interior was then bought, fenced in, and cultivated; and people began to flock into the "bush." And although the discovery of the proper course of proceeding was made too late to save the colony from the disastrous effects which we have spoken of, it was still in time to prevent it from being entirely and irretrievably lost. The real value and fertility of the land being demonstrated, and the want of employment for the myriads of labourers who had been drawn to the colony having reduced the rate of wages to the lowest possible sum, a more enduring prosperity dawned upon the colonists while in the very depths of despair. Those who had any capital remaining went at once into the country; the quantity of land put under crop rapidly increased; the anxiety of labourers of

every class to obtain some better means of living than the pittance derived from making roads at the government expense, led them to flock into the bush in greater numbers than could be employed. The crops grew with such richness that the people were delighted, and wondered how they could so long have overlooked so abundant a source of wealth. Fences sprang up along the roads; houses and cottages appeared in every direction; sheep and cattle, fallen to their legitimate price, grazed in the rich meadows, and the flail of the thresher began to be heard. By the end of 1841, provisions were again becoming abundant; a plenteous harvest ensued; and it appeared by the government returns for 1843, that corn and flour to the value of nearly 10,000l. was exported, besides leaving sufficient at home to supply the whole of the people with cheap food. Thus, in a period of less than seven years, a colony had been established under the most favourable circumstances; had been brought to the very verge of ruin by an absurd mania, and then had arisen again, like a phoenix from its ashes, from distress and misery unparalleled in colonial history, to become once more a successful and prosperous community.

Let us now direct our attention to the present state of the colony. But a few years ago

and the site of the present port was a mere swamp, covered with mangrove trees and ponds of stagnant salt water. It is now a businesslike place, and for the short time it has been in existence has made wonderful progress. The Government has erected substantial wharves and other buildings, and made it a convenient landing-place for goods and passengers. The ships lie as close to the shore as in an English dock, and are safe from injury in even the roughest weather. From the great increase of shipping consequent upon the discovery of the mineral riches of the colony, the present port is far too small, and arrangements have been made to remove the site nearer to the sea, and to construct a railroad from the port to the city. There are some fine hotels at the port, and some good houses, although the greater part of them are wooden buildings of three or four rooms. But numerous structures of a more substantial character are in course of erection. Every hour omnibuses run from the port to the city, a distance of eight miles. The road is perfectly level, and a portion of it (perhaps at the present moment the whole) is macadamized. The bustle along this great highway generally excites surprise amongst new comers. Most of them imagine that everything they see will present a strange if not an uncouth appearance.

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To their great delight, however, almost all they see puts them in mind of the old country. Houses and shops, shipping, vehicles, men, women and children, all present precisely the same appearance as if they had journeyed but twelve miles instead of twelve thousand from their former home. As Mr. Wilkinson (the author of that excellent work "South Australia and its Resources") says, "Familiar-looking inns and shops, and genuine English shopmen, take one quite by surprise. The cheese, butter, and bakers' bread,' the joints of meat, and bundles of vegetables exposed for sale, and in fact the tout ensemble, is English and comfortable."

Leaving the port behind, you pass over the level ground, smooth as a bowling-green, on which the railway is to be constructed; neat whitewashed cottages and farm-houses stand by the road-side, close to well-filled stackyards. The earth is red, and looks too heavy for growing good corn; but it is better than its appearance betokens, and frequently yields an average of thirty bushels per acre, Passing through two villages you arrive at the Frome Bridge, and then the road runs through the Park Lands which surround the city, and which have been wisely preserved for the recreation of the inhabitants. These Park Lands are very pleasant,

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