MIDAS NOT STARVING.
TICE gold-convoys begin to come thickly from Australia. One, the Eagle, brings more than six tons of geld, worth 600,0001.; three others bring between them considerably more than two tons ; a fifth is expected with eleven tons; and more will follow. From Australia we have the same accounts as ever of a steady increase of the produce. In all directions the ground is completely riddled. South Australia is now added to the number of Gold. Colonies, and everywhere the yield increases rather than otherwise. From these facts we may presume that the general features of wealth in Australia will continue to develop themselves for some time to come. No doubt, there is ascorresponding effect upon the price of necessaries. Provisions are at rates which would be thought quite enormous in this country; but when those prices are compared with the produce of precious metal by individual labourers, or by the receipts in money and rations of the labouring classes, it will be found that even those enormously-priced provisions are comparatively cheap. For example, biscuits are 28. 6d. per pound, cheese 38. 6d.; prices which would shock an English housewife : but then, shepherds can obtain engagements at 381. per annum, bullock-drivers 501. or 30s. per week, and on the roads from 3/. to 4/. a week, farm-servants 50/. a year, general servants 401., all with rations. In other words, the labourer can have all that is necessary for the most ample table, such as he is wholly unused to in this country, and 40/. or 50L a year besides. Some of the pro- visions, indeed, bear no proportion to this kind of income for the labouring class : beef, for example, is 8d. per pound, sugar is. 6d., tea 48.; and there is ever ,reason to suppose that the price of pro- visions will not increase. Iii Launceston and Hobart Town the prices remain unchanged; wheat at only 98. Perishable provisions, therefore, are likely to be supplied with reference to the growing demand ; and it is evident from the prices here cited, that the less perishable and more importable provisions, such as tea and sugar, will be supplied in unfailing abundance.
Meanwhile, the other produce of Australia goes on. Attention has already been turned to farming even in the neighbourhood of the Diggings : the South Australians increase their activity both in cultivation and merchandise ; and the substantial cause for the amazing prosperity of Australia is, that it continues to develop it- self in well distributed production. While such is the case, Aus- tralia will continue to astonish us with her splendours, and will still present that beautiful monstrosity in modern times, a land of affluence for working people.
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