VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 83, 7 August 1852, Page 10

VICTORIA.

A private letter, written by a gentlemen who left this colony some months ago, has been placed in our hands, extracts from which we give, as it conveys some original information about Australia. " You will think it a long time before I could give you an account of this country, but ever since I came I have been on the move. I went to the Diggings of course, but it was a case of 'w no go" altogether, there being no water to wash the earth. Labour of course is very dear ; shepherds and lmtkeepers are getting £40 ayear and upwards, but are difficult to be got. Drays are little fortunes on wheels, and I only wish I had one. Living is very dear in Melbourne, and very dirty and wretched. There are more robberies going on there every night than in any other town in the world ; in fact every thing is brutal and disgusting, and I now look back on New Zealand as a little Paradise. Most certainly all people that there do dwell are angels compared to the rascals living here. Even • would stand a chance of going to heaven was he to live here, and be no worse than he is. T think Sheep may be got down very well, there are always men returning from unlucky expeditions to the diggings. As soon as I have made my money there, down I shall come and set up a sheep shop. I shall then be an experienced person in that line, as my present residence is a sheep station. lam afraid must have a great deal of trouble now : I pity her very much when I see the long whips they use here, and think she has got none for Mary and Robert. There is some suspicion there is gold in this run, which I hope to be the case, —any way I shall try the beginning of spring. * * * This is-a queer country altogether: the birds do not sing, and dogs do not bark, but they kill sheep like mad, if they get the opportunity." * * *