LIFE ON THE DIGGINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17942, 18 November 1921, Page 5

LIFE ON THE DIGGINGS.

AUSTRALIA IN THE 50' S.

LORD SALISBURY'S LETTERS. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 16. The life of the lato (3rd) Marquis of Salisbury, by his daughter, Lady Gwendolen Cecil, has been published. It includes letters written during his sojourn in Australia and New Zealand. Writing in 1852 from Melbourne, ho said ho found he could gather little of the condition of tho Church there because tbo great mass of the pcoplo seemed immersed in tho all-absorbing interest in gold, almost to tho forgotten existence of Christianity. Loi-d Salisbury found Adelaido almost evacuated, and on the vergo of ruin through tho gold rush. Melbourno was thronged with ephemeral plutocrats, generally illiterate, hurrying to exchange gold nuggets for velvet gowns for their wives, and unlimited whisky for themselves.

Curiously enough ho found more to admiro at tho diggings. Ho was prepared to find the social anarchy which characterised California, but instead found more order and civility than ho witnessed in his own native village of Hatfield. Tho Marquis recorded tho strong feeling prevailing against Downing Strcot, and added that tho peoplo woro apt to bo angered at having their minutest affairs settled for them at a distanco of 16,000 miles by clerks without tho faintest notion of tho questions handled. "Wo alienate the colonics and harass overy Ministry for the exquisito privilego of supporting somo thirty useless clerks." ho said. Lord Salisbury's political career is dealt with in an interesting manner.