AL'STRALA SI A II. 1. 1 'S 7 7vV/ TED. 



over and made the library free. The size of the building has since been doubled, and a 

 separate lending branch has been opened in Macquarie Street, nearly opposite. Although 

 the position is not central the library is well attended. In several of the suburban munici- 

 palities there are free libraries, the law allowing a portion of the rates to be applied to this 

 purpose. There is a large library of general literature attached to the Mechanics' School of 

 Arts, access to which is attainable by a subscription of five shillings a quarter. There is 

 also a Parliamentary Library, a scientific library attached to the Royal Society, a law library 

 at the Supreme Court, and another library at the University, which latter will be greatly 

 enlarged as soon as the Fisher bequest for that purpose has been expended. 



The markets of a city are generally characteristic places, and in many respects 

 typical of the habits and character of the population. Sydney has three agoras, but 

 only the Fish Market at Woolloomooloo can claim any consideration on architectural 

 grounds. One is situated in the old Haymarket the hollow that lies between the 

 Railway Station and Brickfield Hill. This locality, as its name implies, was in earlier 

 days the place where the farmers who brought in their hay from the country drew up 

 their waggons and waited for customers. But the character of this trade has now under- 

 gone a change ; most of the hay comes to the city by train, and goes down to the 

 goods-station at Darling Harbour. The George Street frontage of the Haymarket 



SCHOOL CHILDREN TRAVELLING AT STATL EXPENSE. 



has been let on building lease by the Corporation, and a portion of the spare ground 

 in the rear is a favourite place for travelling circus managers to pitch their tents. On 

 part of the land the Belmore market-sheds have been erected very plain, commonplace 

 buildings, and only specially interesting on Saturday nights. The market-sheds are then 

 all filled with farm and garden produce, meat, clothing and children's toys ; buying and 

 selling going on vigorously. In the adjoining open ground merry-go-rounds are humming 

 and roaring, jugglers are playing their tricks on temporary platforms, tragedies are 

 enacted on a stag*; in front of a canvas theatre, pennyworths of electricity are sold to 

 those who like the sensation of a shock, a panorama of the last great war is to be 



