Transcription

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V I C T O R I A

DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER IMPORTANT GOLD FIELD

The discovery of another very rich gold field in Victoria is recorded in March 1855.  It is situated about fifteen miles from the Gold diggers Rest, upon Keilor plains, & about twelve miles from Ballan --  Prospecting parties consisting of about twenty persons had succeeded in obtaining a large quantity of gold within a short distance of the surface  -  
the gold is of the description usually known as 'nuggetty' a piece weighing several ounces was obtained by one of the parties they express a strong conviction that a rich & extensive gold field exists in the vicinity in which this specimen was found a rush to the spot was about taking place from Ballarat.

STOCK IN VICTORIA  STATISTICS  27TH MARCH  1855.

A document from the Surveyor General of Victoria has been presented to the Legislative Council containing  various important grazing statistics, of which the following is an abstract : -  The total area of he Colony of Victoria is estimated at 55.571.840 acres, of which 42.572.800 acres are available as grazing land.  The land under fire emptive leases at ten shillings per section, amounts to 249.335 acres, and at one point per section 831.005 acres.  Total under pre-emptive leases 1.080.340 acres  -  The estimated capability of agistment of cattle and sheep in the Colony is as follows:
In the unsettled districts 151.920 cattle, 43,145 sheep and in the intermediate districts 246.014 Cattle & 4.250,580 sheep.  Total 397.934 Cattle, 7.395.500 sheep.  the number of stock actually depastured on the 1st January 1854, was as follows:  In the unsettled districts 6.187 horses, 164,485 Cattle and 2.206.234 sheep. in the intermediate districts 12.009 horses, 288,654 Cattle, & 3,548,986 sheep.
Total 18.166 horses, 453,139 Cattle, and 5.755.220 sheep - It will thus be seen that the actual number of Cattle depasturing exceeds the estimate by 18,166 horses & 55,259 Cattle, whilst the estimate exceeds the actual number of sheep depasturing by 1.640.280.
TEMPERATURE
The mean shade temperature at Melbourne for one year, according to observations made from April 1840 to March 1841 was 57.98; that at the South Head of Port Jackson for 1841 64: 656, & for the following year 62.720 - The anticipated mean temperature of Melbourne, as deduced from observation of a Spring in a rock at a depth of forty feet, was between 58 & 59 to which the mean, of 57.98 above given very nearly approaches.

 

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