Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/50

 banking establishments: the tout ensemble of this street is very pretty, the centre, dipping in a curve, rises gradually to both ends. To the east, along the low, level country, is seen the bay and the sea, and to the west the wooded park of Richmond, the Pleasance of the city, near which end the houses are of a different style—large, handsome, private buildings, principally occupied by the medical profession. Great Bourke-street and La Trobe-street run parallel to Flinders and Collins-street—streets of considerable magnitude, intersected at right angles by William's, Queen's, Elizabeth, and Swanston-street; these are again intersected by others of minor importance, of which our space will not permit us entering into a particular description.

As the indefatigable labours of the Corporation proceed, these streets assume a different appearance every week; no expense or skill seems to be spared in improving and beautifying them; all the largest streets are now completed, with a wide flag sideway, and paved, open shores to carry off the rain, which frequently falls very heavily, besides which, a large underground shore is is progress of construction. All the streets are macadamized on the most improved principle.

We may here relate an instance of the rapid growth of this noble city. The author visited it in June, 1853, landing in the mud by the river side, and, finding it impossible to get through it, chartered a dray to take him to Collins-street, and not being