Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/185

 use and benefit to procure at once, and in their highest modern perfection, all those productions of older countries, that we are unable to create for ourselves, and which are now giving a marvellous furtherance to our progress."

The reports also of schools and church matters, even to the first of June, 1856, show a wonderful increase in the number of schools and churches built, and in the numbers attending. We also find that, in consequence of the introduction of machinery and steam power, a great influence has been experienced in the Gold Fields. Many men of capital and enterprise have formed companies for working the Gold Fields, by purchasing the land and employing every invention; and thus the stranger arriving at the Gold Fields will have a choice of immediate employment, or of trying his own luck in digging.

The latest accounts from the Gold Fields are flourishing in the extreme: in proof thereof we quote the "Melbourne Gold Circular" of the 1st of June, during the week the prices being from £3 17s. to £3 17s. 3d. per ounce. A considerable quantity of the national gold has been brought down, melted, and assayed, producing above standard (as 23 carats 1 grain): from Steiglitz and from Gipp's Land, of 23 carats 2 grains. The following is a list of the Gold Fields and their last weekly return, as brought down by escort:—