THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE. 31 



been a heavy rise in 1885-6); ploughmen, 255. per week and board; black- 

 smiths, 1 os. to 14s. per day; boiler-makers, iay. to 14s. per day; plumbers, 

 £3 to £3 los - P er week; lumpers, 10s. to 125. per day; masons, carpenters, 

 bricklayers and plasterers, 10s. to 12s. per day. 



On the other hand, the necessaries of life are cheap. Bread is 6d. 

 the 4-lb. loaf, and beef and mutton are retailed at from 3d. to Sd. per lb. ; 

 butter varies from gd. to is. 6d. according to the season ; milk is ^d. to 

 6d. per quart ; potatoes 2s. 6d. to 4s. per cwt. ; tea is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 

 per lb. ; rabbits are sold at is. per pair, and hares at 2s. each. 



In the Australian colonies there is neither an Established Church, nor 

 is any aid given by the State to the cause of religion. The denomi- 

 nations are now entirely dependent upon the voluntary exertions of their 

 members for support. A strong feeling has grown up both among politicians 

 and the people in Australia that the State ought not to interfere in 

 ecclesiastical matters upon any pretext. The Churches, therefore, are simply 

 corporations empowered to hold property upon certain conditions, and at liberty 

 to manage their own affairs as they think fit. 



There are, however, great difficulties in the way of maintaining religious 

 services regularly. In many of the country districts the population is sparse 

 and scattered ; and, however willing the people may be, the paucity of their 

 numbers renders it hard for them to support a church. Only a mere handful 

 can be gathered together, most of whom have a hard struggle in their private 

 lives ; for, although they own the land which they cultivate, they have to 

 wait until it is cleared for the expected return. The difficulty is enhanced 

 by the fact that each denomination wishes to have a footing in every village, 

 in order to meet the wants of its own people. In many townships where 

 there is room for one strong and self-supporting Protestant congregation, 

 there are three or four, each of which is embarrassed by its own weakness. 

 Some attempt has been made to prevent the weaknesses of disunion by 

 co-operation among the Churches. The Episcopalians and the Presby- 

 terians combine to support a society which is intended to supply the religious 

 wants of the rural population. The money that is thus raised is spent 

 principally in the erection of buildings, which are used alternately by clergy- 

 men of each denomination, so that the preferences of the people for their own 

 form of service are gratified at the least cost, and without any rivalry. 



By such means the Churches have spread their network well over the 

 land. There is not a township of any importance that cannot boast of two 

 or three neat and substantial edifices dedicated to the service of God. 

 There is not a district that is not visited at intervals by ministers or agents 

 of the different denominations, some of whom have to ride long distances in 

 order to overtake every part. The vast plains that stretch between the rivers 

 Darling and Murray are traversed by clergymen who visit from station to 

 station. The deep forests of Gippsland and the Otway ranges, inhabited by a 



