Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/33

 the soil. The original Act relative to the sale of waste lands has been repealed, as it had a greater tendency to benefit the capitalists than the industrious poor.

The survey of the country has proceeded with considerable energy and perseverance, and, as it becomes charted and defined, is immediately sold. The duty of Government will now be to prevent too great a monopoly, and, by disposing of it in smaller sections at a fair price, offer a certain inducement to the more moderate capitalist, which previously not having been held out caused many a deserving and industrious man to go elsewhere.

Consequent on the progress of the colony in wealth, has also arisen talent and education, and within its confines are men of much skill and learned lore. The House of Assembly will be found to contain men of this stamp, and as a greater degree of moderation is found to exist, so will the arts and sciences advance with the wealth of the colony. A new era has dawned on Victoria—the new Constitution has been proclaimed—the want of which was much felt; and as the address to the Throne, at the time we write, will afford our readers a correct insight of the general state of things, we conclude our Introductory Chapter with a copy of it:—

":—

"We, the Legislative Council of Victoria, approach your Majesty with renewed assurances of our