KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



67 



where a seven-and-sixpenny tin-dish realises 

 20s., and a fifteen-penny shovel produces 

 10s. — all in an instant ! 



Never was the labor-market worse supplied than 

 at present. Even during the panic in January 

 and February last, labor was to be had at such a 

 rate as not materially to interfere with the prose- 

 cution of profitable industrial operations. Now, 

 however, it is either not to be had at all, or not 

 without such an advance in the wages as is per- 

 fectly paralysing to the employer. Several causes 

 have contributed to this. First, the continued 

 absence of a number of the less successful portion 

 of the laboring population at the Victoria gold 

 diggings. Second, the indisposition of those who 

 have returned with the means of supporting them- 

 selves without labor, to return to their former ac- 

 customed occupations. Third, the withdrawal of 

 so many persons to the South Australian or 

 Echunga diggings, at a time when the labor mar- 

 ket of the colony was suffering under an excess of 

 depletion. Fourthly, the rise in the price of pro- 

 visions and most of the other necessaries of life, 

 rendering it difficult, if not next to impossible, for 

 people to feed and clothe themselves at the former 

 rate of wages. And, fifthly, the feverish excite- 

 ment which the expectation of becoming success- 

 ful gold-diggers constantly keeps up ; and the ease 

 with which parties, whatever their former employ- 

 ments, can transform themselves into this cha- 

 racter. 



No one, not on the spot, can adequately conceive 

 the effect produced in Adelaide by the reported 

 discovery of gold in workable quantities in 

 Echunga. In less than three days the 2lb. loaf 

 was up to 8d. ; and wood and water were at 

 double their former prices. For tin dishes, the 

 former price of which was 7s 6d, £1 was asked 

 and obtained. Shovels, invoiced at Is 3d to Is 9d, 

 readily sold at 8s to 10s, and picks and most other 

 tools went off at a like advance. Of course, there 

 were great complaints against the vendors of these 

 articles; but they justified themselves in return, 

 by referring to the daily increasing price of wages. 

 This is mentioned with the view of showing the 

 deep necessity there is for a constant stream of 

 emigration from the United Kingdom being kept 

 up. Nothing else can save the colony from utter 

 prostration. There is at this moment a million 

 sterling lying idle in Adelaide for the want of 

 hands to employ it. Tradesmen and artisans of 

 every description, no less than shepherds and agri- 

 cultural laborers, would find instant employment 

 at remunerative wages, without troubling them- 

 selves about the gold fields. 



A pretty picture of society is this ! But 

 who will cultivate the " domestic arts," when 

 gold is to be had? "Aye, there's the rub." 

 — Poor Adelaide ! 



We conclude this graphic sketch of men 

 and manners, with an extract from a recent 

 number of the Melbourne Herald. We shall 

 glean from it some idea of the value of land 

 and house speculation in Australia : — 



Two years ago, a solicitor bought one hundred 

 acres of land on the other side of the Yarra, ad- 

 joining the property of Colonel Anderson and Ma- 



jor Davidson. The terms were £500 at five years' 

 credit, being eight per cent, interest. Last week 

 this property, less twelve allotments (which the 

 proprietor has reserved to himself), was divided 

 into building lots, and sold by Messrs. Stubbs and 

 Son for £5,000. And it is a fact that parties who 

 purchased at the sale are re -selling at 100 per 

 cent, profit already. Geelong Land Sale — Not a 

 single lot was withdrawn, and many allotments 

 realised very high prices. The Ballarat allotments, 

 of two roods each, ranged from £80 to £270. The 

 total amount of the first day's sale was £5,276., 

 and of the second day's, £38,000. Value of town 

 property : — A gentleman of our acquaintance, who 

 about two years since erected premises near the 

 wharf, which, together with the land upon which 

 they were built, cost £2,600, has, within the last 

 few days, been offered £9,800 cash down for them, 

 and has refused the offer, from a conviction that 

 town property has not yet attained its maximum 

 value. 



From all this, we arrive at " a great fact." 

 Mechanics, laborers, and all who are adepts 

 at the useful arts, may at once enter on the 

 road to fortune. People too who have money 

 at their command, can, by investment, readily 

 treble it. But for the rest, they had better 

 tarry where they are. Bad as they may 

 consider things here, they will find them in- 

 finitely worse abroad. Sinecures there, are 

 unknown ; kid -gloves are not recognised; 

 and " six-hour men" are not allowed to have 

 it all their own way. People who will not 

 work, must starve ; or come back and " put 

 up with" their paltry £150 and £200 a year 

 — if they can get it. 



BOUGH NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



BY A SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



A friend of mine, Mr. Editor, having 

 informed me of the immense quantity of 

 wild fowl frequenting the western shores of 

 Connaught (Western Ireland), I thought 

 I could not do better than wend my 

 way thither, and spend a fortnight in that 

 wild and desolate portion of Her Majesty's 

 dominions, so ably described by poor Max- 

 well in his " Wild Sports of the West." 



I left home about 8 A.M., one fine morn- 

 ing in the early part of August last (1852), 

 arrived at Holyhead, via Chester, by express 

 train, at 5, p.m., and in half an hour after- 

 wards rounded the " South Stack," in that 

 superb little steamboat, the " Anglia." We 

 arrived at Kingstown an hour after our 

 time (12 o'clock), in consequence of a head- 

 wind. Thence we proceeded per rail to 

 Dublin, which occupied a quarter of an 

 hour. I put up at " Egginton's Hotel" in 

 College Green ; and here let me advise any 

 of the readers of " Kidd's Journal," visiting 

 Dublin, if they love comfort at an hotel, 

 combined with attention and exceedingly 

 moderate charges, to go to " Egginton's." I 



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