Religion. —The divergence of our self-governed colonies from home example is per haps most striking in two very important subjects—religion and education. In relig ion, as in politics, the tendencies are toward a complete equality, and therefore opposed to the privileges involved in church establishments. In this respect, change of scene, and equality and independence of condition, sensibly weaken the strength of tradition and usage as exhibited in the senior country. All religious bodies, therefore, stand. alike before the civil power, none having any coercive jurisdiction except such as its own members voluntarily impose upon themselves, either by their own rules, or by a special act solicited from the colonial legislature. In Victoria, until lately, there was a yearly donation of £50,000 from the public revenue to the support of religion. It was distributed ratably among the sects, Unitarians and Jews included, and was "scheduled "—i.e., not subject to yearly vote—under the constitution act. This sys tem, introduced into Australia as a substitution for the preceding church of England supremacy, terminated in 1875. Lately, the public feeling had tended to a disapproval of the system of indiscriminate support to religion, and some of the smaller bodies had. altogether rejected it. The state aid was therefore abolished in some of the colonies. In Victoria, the assembly had repeatedly passed an abolition act, which, however, the council negatived. Ultimately, a few years ago, a bill passed both houses, whereby the grant in aid to religion wholly ceased in 187a.
Edacation.—The energy displayed on this subject by the popular administrations of our self-governed colonies, and the tenacious persistence with which they encounter the problem of the education of the whole people, are among the best results pre sented to us by these young offshoots. Under the preliminary " imperial regime" of colonial public life, the comparatively neglected field as to education is taken up, and with creditable zeal, by the various clergy, who institute, of course, the denomi national system. But essential difficulties stand in the way of the successful importa tion of a general education under this system. A national system, to compete with the previously established denominational, had been introduced into New South Wales and Victoria with the advent of the partially representative legislatures that for about twelve years preceded the present self-government. National and denominational, each conducted by a separate board of management, were alike aided by the state. The institution of a partially national system, and of a single board, was carried in the Victorian legislature in 1862. That system was in effect, that all state assisted schools must be open to the children of all religious bodies, and that four hours daily of secular teaching be imparted to every pupil. This arrangement, on experiment, was unsuccessful. Schools still remained in connection with the several denominations; denominational school committees controlled the election of teachers, who were also permitted to impart religious instruction where desired. As a result, schools were unnecessarily multiplied in some localities, and the money of the state was wasted in their support. After various attempts to establish a system of state schools uncon, nected with any denomination—attempts which several of the religious bodies com bined to defeat—the Victorian government at last succeeded in overcoming all difficul ties, and a bill passed both houses of the legislature, which completely establishes a national, as opposed to a denominational system of education. The total number of
public schools in Victoria is (1876) 1111, with an attendance of 104,375; 396 private schools, with 22,156 scholars; besides 5 grammar schools, various colleges, and the Mel bourne university.
Remarks to Emigrants.—Intending emigrants should understand that Victoria is no longer a new and scantily peopled territory, with all the superabundant employment and means of subsistence that are readily found now-a-days on such a scene by help of the arts and implements of an advanced civilization. There are now in the colony the advantages of a settled society, having much of the amenities of home-life; but, on the other hand, the colonial vocations are tolerably filled up by the increasing population, so that the unsuitable or the inexperienced have hardly any better chance out there than at home. It is owing to considerations of this kind that the system of free or assisted emigration—a system still maintained to a limited extent by the colony—has been lat. terly conducted upon very strict principles; the object being, that persons unsuitable to the colony may, as far as possible, be prevented from going there. The system of grant ing free passages has, on the whole, been recently discouraged by the legislature and government of Victoria, where the influx of the home poor is dreaded. Both free and assisted emigration is for the present wholly suspended. Laborers, mechanics, and artisans used to obtain assisted passages by what are known as passage warrants, issue(' to residents in the colony, on making the following payments to the colonial govern went: For each male tinder 15 years of age, £4; between 15 and 40, £8; above 40, £9. for each female under 15, £3; between 15 and 40, £4; above 40, £5. The warrants available for nine months after issue, had to be forwarded to the emigration agent of the Victorian government, to whom female domestic servants, desirous of emigrating to Victoria, should likewise apply; they are in great demand there, and have high wages. Steady-going working-men, agricultural and farm laborers in particular, are in request, and are sure to do well. Self-reliance, steadiness, and good conduct are essential requisites to success in all the colonies; with these, no working-man of the special classes referred to can fail to better his position, and add to the comforts and happi ness of life. There is special encouragement to female emigration. As a general rule in Victoria at present, wages and remuneration generally arc one-third or one-fourth higher than in this country; while the chief requirements of life are, one with another, at about the same price as they are here. House-rent is rather higher, while butcher meat is cheaper, and other necessaries about equal. The climate is, as a whole, highly enjoyable, with its bright skies and sunshine; but to working-men, six mouths of the year (from the middle of October to the middle of April) will be found somewhat oppressive for great in toil—a consideration no doubt present to the -working classes of the colony n connection with their successful introduction of an eight hours' labor system. There are now more facilities than the colony formerly enjoyed for acquiring land at a reasonable price; and the climate has been found quite suitable for the cultivation of all the cereal crops of this country, as well as the grape and other fruits, the gift of a temperature more genial than that of England.