AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



given security to life and property. The best proof of this is the rapid rise 

 of colonial securities in the public favour. When New South Wales, South 

 Australia, and Victoria commenced to build their national railways in 

 1 85 7-1 860, they were glad to sell six per cent, debentures at par in London, 

 and now they float four per cent, loans at a premium. 



The colony of Victoria is altogether protectionist, and South Australia 

 has given in a partial adherence to the system. To the author the policy 

 seems to be wrong in theory and practice, but the belief is widespread that, 

 even if sacrifices are made, the resources of the colony are thus developed. 



Twenty years back the populations of the various colonies did not touch 

 each other : each colony spread from its own centre ; but now this isolation 

 has disappeared. Settlement is contiguous with settlement, and trade and 

 intercourse are accelerated accordingly. The colonies can no longer ignore 

 each other, and hence the movement for federation has gathered strength. 



The first Federal Council met in Hobart in January t886, but un- 

 fortunately jealousies had crept in, and the new body was shorn of its fair 

 proportions. Federalists cannot help feeling greatly disappointed that the 

 results hitherto have been so small, and yet probably there is much more to 

 rejoice over than to be downcast about. 



Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia were represented 

 at the Council, and such laws as it can pass will thus affect three-fifths of 

 the area of the continent. The absence of South Australia is understood to 

 be accidental. She is really one of the parties to the federal bond, having 

 agreed to the terms, and having invited the Imperial Parliament to pass the 

 Enabling Act, and her early adhesion is expected with confidence. No 

 continental state will then remain outside except New South Wales, and it 

 is fairly to be presumed that she will not be insensible to the pressure of 

 public opinion, both in Australia and throughout the Empire, especially as 

 care is being taken to soothe the local susceptibilities that are now offended. 

 The Federal Council meets for the present at Hobart, the chief town of 

 Tasmania, and this town may, for the present, be called the ' federal capital.' 



The immigration into Australia is about eighty thousand men and women 

 yearly. If double or treble that number came, they could well be ac- 

 commodated. The labourer of to-day is the employer of to-morrow ; and as 

 soon as a man acquires landed property his chief complaint is the paucity of 

 hands to improve his holding. 



A few specimens of wages may be taken from the official list of Mr. H. 

 H. Hayter, Government Statist of Victoria. On the whole, labour is more 

 in request in Victoria than in most of the sister states, and the figures may 

 be taken as representing fair average rates for Australia generally. Servants, 

 with board, coachmen, and grooms, 20s. to 30^. per week ; female cooks, 

 ^40 to ^65 per annum; laundresses, ^35 to ^52 per annum; general 

 servants, \os. to 14^. per week (these figures are for 1884, and there has 



