which depth is brought up stone yielding over four
ounces of gold to the ton. We have by no means exhausted the list of
noted diggings in this region, but have only mentioned a few of them,
such as came most readily to mind; moreover, new deposits of recognized
value are being discovered every few months. Still, we repeat here that
reliable figures show that in the aggregate the corn and wool of
Victoria alone are of more monetary value than is the result from all
the alluvial and quartz-yielding mines within her entire borders.

Three days from Melbourne will suffice for visiting the interesting and
handsome city of Ballarat. It is now a place containing over fifty
thousand inhabitants, owing its existence entirely to the finding of
gold on the spot which it occupies; indeed, it has not inappropriately
been called the city of Midas. Where thirty years ago the land was
covered with miners' tents and log-huts, an arid and treeless expanse
lying between two low hills, there is now a fine modern city. It is a
metropolis with broad boulevards, substantial stone buildings, massive
warehouses, sumptuous residences, elegant official structures, and good
schools, supplemented by many philanthropic and religious institutions.
The environs of Ballarat are also beautified, having many choice trees
planted all about them, especially California pines, which are great
favorites here and multiplying continually. Trees grow in this climate
with such rapidity as to encourage their planting. They are particularly
desirable here, where the surroundings were redeemed from such original
crudeness, as they impart a certain grace and home-like appearance to
otherwise desolate places.

A glimpse only may be had of Ballarat in the time we have named, but let
no one who comes hither neglect the Public Garden, which the reader of
these notes has by this time learned is one of the prime necessities of
each of these colonial capitals. The wealthy citizens of Ballarat have
expended freely of their gold upon this delightful park, which, if it
does not rival in some particulars those of Sydney and Melbourne,
certainly comes quite up to them in general excellence and beauty. There
is plenty of water to be had in the city for irrigating and all other
purposes, an artificial lake having been created in the hills not far
away, whence pipes bring the water to every one's door. This reservoir
is of admirable workmanship, and of inestimable value to the tow