272 OTHER TOWNS. [1839. 



a good theatre. As the soil in the neighborhood of Sydney 

 is so sandy, and as there is a total absence of springs, the 

 inhabitants suffered under great disadvantage, in former 

 years, for the want of water during the long droug'ats. In. 

 order to remedy this evil, and to provide for a permanent 

 supply, Governor Gipps adopted the expedient of damming 

 up all the small water courses, and then distributing the 

 water, when required, from these reservoirs, through the 

 town. 



Banking is, perhaps, the chief business carried on in Syd- 

 ney. There have been several joint stock associations estab- 

 lished, the oldest of which, called the bank of New South 

 Wales, was founded in 1816. A savings bank has likewise 

 been founded, and auction, insurance, gas, and steam com- 

 panies, formed. 



Among the literary institutions are the Australian college 

 and Sydney college ; a normal institution ; several denomina- 

 tional schools ; and numerous boarding schools, and private 

 seminaries of learning. There are a number of newspapers 

 published in Sydney, which are conducted with some ability ; 

 but the licentiousness of the press is a subject of universal 

 complaint. Every facility for the printing and publication of 

 books is afforded here, and those which have appeared are de- 

 cidedly creditable to the taste and skill of those concerned in 

 their issue. A museum, rich in Australian curiosities, and a 

 botanical garden, occupying a part of the public grounds on 

 the east side of the town, complete the list of attractions. 



Paramatta, fifteen miles above Sydney, and one below the 

 head of steam navigation on Paramatta river, is a smalltown, 

 built in a straggling manner, but containing many fine coun- 

 try residences. Among its public buildings, are the govern- 

 ment house, which the governor occupies during the summer 

 months, the female penitentiary or factory, the barracks, the 

 court-house, and several churches. Most of these edifices are 

 constructed of stone. Woolongong, the principal port in the 

 lllawarra district, — which has a good artificial harbor formed 

 by a massive stone breakwater, the material for the construe- 



