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and have much the appearance of an English domain; they are adorned with large native trees, principally high gum-trees, growing in clumps, and the river runs through the grounds for some distance, with handsome foliage overhanging it.

The city of Adelaide, on entering it from the bridge over the Torrens, presents rather an

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imposing appearance, and still more impresses a Londoner with the idea of "home." The

numberless vehicles of all descriptions, drays with sturdy horses, tradesmen's carts, omnibuses, stage-coaches, conveyance carts, barouches, and gigs, with the busy throng of foot-passengers, the fine shops, many of which would be no disgrace to Regent-street, make it difficult for an Englishman to believe that he is so many thousand miles away from his own country. The city is a large place, not yet nearly built over; the majority of houses existing at the present time were built for persons of small means, mainly constructed of nine-inch brick-work, with roofs of shingles from Van Diemen's Land, in many instances so neatly put together as to render it impossible at a short distance to distinguish them from slates. Besides these humbler dwellings, there are many of a higher character, such as the Bank of Australia, which is a magnificent building, and the new Post-office, which is a St. Martin's Le Grand on a smaller scale.

In no other of the Australian possessions yet occupied are there so many capabilities for profitable occupation. There are large tracts of country bearing excellent crops of rich grass, and for miles destitute of a single tree, which afford the finest pasturage for hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle. There are immense forests of serviceable trees, many of them rising to the height of forty or fifty feet from the ground to

the lowest branch, and affording employment for a vast number of splitters, sawyers, fencers, hurdle makers, carters, carpenters, charcoal burners, and persons who supply fuel. There are also considerable tracts of the finest arable land in the world, capable of growing, in the utmost perfection, wheat, barley, oats, maize, hops, and all kinds of fruits and vegetables; and it is said that the finest wheat ever exhibited in the London Corn Market was exported from this colony. There are many profitable whalefisheries upon the coast, and the mineral districts of the colony are unrivalled for their richness. There are mines of lead, tin, copper, silver, emery, plumbago and iron; and although a productive gold " digging" has yet to be discovered, gold has certainly been found; and there is little doubt, considering the numbers who are tempted to explore the country by the promise of 1000l. reward, that the colony will not long remain without the attraction of a gold mine. There are stone quarries, supplying excellent material in the greatest abundance; and slate quarries, not of blue slate only, but of a peculiar kind of white slate-stone, which splits off in large slabs, and is as soft as the blue. slate, and can therefore be easily worked. There is also a blue marble, which works well, and is of great utility; and limestone fit for burning

is found in almost every district. The discovery of coal only is requisite to make the list as complete as it is valuable.

It is mainly to the mineral riches of the colony that South Australia owes its prosperity and importance. It was in the year 1844 that the existence of mineral wealth began to attract universal attention. "In 1844," says Mr. Wilkinson," a loaded dray coming down a steep hill in sight of the town, which was distant about three miles, was obliged to have a large tree dragging behind it to prevent its rushing upon the team of bullocks. This tree coming into violent contact with a rock or stone at the side of the road, shattered off some portions, and revealed to sight a bright silvery substance, which, on being shown to people acquainted with minerals, was pronounced to be lead-ore, or galena. As if a spark of fire had fallen amongst gunpowder every one was on the qui vive, and the excitement was intense. The specimens were stared at, and examined, and tested in every way. Masses of people crowded about the spot from which they had been severed; and, armed with chisels, axes, hammers, everything, in fact, that would break the stone, they all set to work. Never, perhaps, was a hill so knocked about. Worthless stones were slily pocketed and taken home for secret examina

tion. The utmost caution was observed by those who had a bit of stone discoloured by damp or exposure to the atmosphere. All holders of land orders looked anxiously at their number, as it was found that the possessor of the oldest order gained the prize. At one time No. 307 was sure to win; then No. 274 turned up; he could sell his chance for a very large sum, but, like a clever man, he stuck to his chance—and lost; for No. 180 was now found; and so it went on, until the land was delivered up to the fortunate possessor of the proper order. Then the sinking a shaft was commenced, and after all the fuss the mine was found to be almost valueless. It had, however, the effect of setting every one to work hunting about among rocks and stones, over hill and dale, amongst the watercourses and plains, when it was found that the whole country, north, south, and west, was extensively scattered over with valuable minerals. Copper was found in large quantities and in every direction; every person carried his pocket full of specimens; no other subject was talked of in all societies, and the whole population seemed to be in danger of running as mad about minerals as they had been before about the town lands."

The first important mine discovered was that called the Kapunda; but not long after, a union

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