296 A^^fr SOUTH WALES. 



Commission was appointed to suggest remedial measures, and indeed 

 it was as the outcome of their recommendations that the present system 

 was adopted. The result of the steps taken has been that in the city 

 proper, the death-rate, which in 1875 reached 3r65 per 1,000, has 

 rapidly fallen till, in 1894, it stood at 17-07 per 1,000. The suburban 

 rates are even more instructive than those for the city. From 1872 to 

 1885 the death-rate gradually rose till it reached 24-47 per 1,000. In 

 that year the southern outfall sewer was brought into operation, 

 followed by the northern outfall, and the reticulation of the eastern 

 and southern suburbs has been since gradually extended. The statistics 

 show that, although there has been since 1885 a more rapid propor- 

 tional increase in the population than at any previous period, the death- 

 rate has steadily fallen till it has reached 13-14 per 1,000. 



In the matter of public buildings the people of the Colony, and 

 especially tlie capital, have every reason to be proud. Probably no city 

 for its age contains such a large number of stately buildings, showing 

 fewer lapses from good taste, as Sydney. Building stone of a first rate 

 quality — a fine sandstone — abounds in the neighbourhood, and as the 

 better class of buildings have been fortunately built of this stone, the 

 streets and public buildings present a more monumental appearance 

 than would otherwise have been obtained. The principal Government 

 offices in Sydney, notably the Colonial Secretary's and Public Works 

 Office (an illustration of which is given), and the Lands Office are very 

 handsome edifices well worthy of the beautiful city in which they are 

 situated. The General Post Office, not very long completed, will 

 challenge comparison with any buildiug of the kind elsewhere. It con- 

 tains a facade 363 feet long, of remarkable dignity, and a lofty clock 

 tower. Government House, which was erected half a century ago, is 

 a fine building of cut stone in the perpendicular Gothic style, charm- 

 ingly situated on the shores of the harbour. The Sydney University, 

 in the same style of architecture, though erected at a later date, 

 contains a Great Hall that, for architectural features and charm of 

 design, vies with the better known ones of Oxford and Cambridge. 

 The Parliament Houses, Courts of Justice, and the Royal Mint are 

 very old buildings originally intended for other and more modest 

 purposes, and must, in course of time, be superseded by more elaborate 

 structures. In every township of any importance throughout the 

 country, commodious Court Houses, Lockups, Police Quarters, Post- 

 offices, and Public Schools have been erected, and, in certain centres, 

 extensive Gaols. 



The Colony possess two very large and important Hospitals for the 

 Insane, namely, at Call an Park and Gladesville, the former having 

 cost upwards of £300,000 to construct — the latter is surrounded by 

 noted gardens. A third hospital of an extensive character is now 

 being erected at Kenmore, near Goulburn. In addition, there are 

 others at Parramatta and Kydalmere, and one at Newcastle for incur- 

 ables and idiots. 



The total expenditure on new buildings since Responsible Govern- 

 ment was instituted in the Colonv, exclusive of that on Public Schools, 

 amounts to over £8,000,000. 



From the particulars which have been given a fair idea will, doubt- 

 less, have been gathered of the work which has been done by the 



