150 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER 
are the public gardens, or Reserves, as they are 
named, affording green walks and shady retreats, 
and mainly assisting to bring much of the health, 
and some of the pleasures, to those whose business 
may keep them in town. 
Such is this truly wondrous place — a city which 
has risen to its present proud position as if by magic ; 
but it is only another evidence of the energy and 
perseverance of the English race. 
While in Victoria, I had opportunities of seeing 
much of interest, and to join in many pleasant ex- 
cursions in the suburbs ; amongst others was a trip 
by rail to Ballarat. On leaving the Spencer Street 
Railway Station, after a run of somewhat over 100 
miles, the destination was reached, which since the 
gold fever of 1853 has been metamorphosed from 
a few canvas tents to an extensive and beautiful 
city. From the discovery of the riches of Golden 
Point — the first opening of those famous “jewellers’ 
shops ” — the progress of Ballarat has been steadily 
onward. 
At the present time there are about one hundred 
and twenty streets, some of them containing hand- 
some buildings ; there are forty or fifty schools 
full of scholars ; hospitals, asylums, a town-hall, 
and police-courts ; several banks, mechanics’ in- 
stitute, two or three theatres, gasworks, foun- 
dries, machine-works, flour-mills ; and a fine com- 
modious market has been built ; reserves, and an 
