New South Wales is divided into two bishoprics, Sydney and Newcastle, the Bishop of Sydney being the metropolitan of Australia; the other are those of Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania, New Zealand, and Christchurch, which forms a second bishopric in New Zealand. There is an archdeacon in New South Wales who is styled Archdeacon of Cumberland, one of the districts. In 1853 tho number of clergymen in the colony was 163, of whom 47 were sup ported wholly by voluntary contributions. Of the whole number, 78 belonged to the Church of England, 32 were Presbyterians, 32 Roman Catholics, 16 Wesleyans, 4 Independents, and one was of the Jewish persuasion. The amounts paid by government to religious teachers were as follows :—Chureh of England 18,3441., Roman Catholics 12,8371., Presbyterians 50981,, and Wesleyan Methodisth 1013/.
There is a considerable number of roads within the boundary of location. Various lines of roads, which have been made at consider able expense, traverse these districts, and various others have been made or are making in consequence of the gold discoveries, to faeili tate transport to and from the commercial towns and ports. A regular post is established, and all letters not exceeding half an ounce in weight are delivered at a uniform rate of twopence. In 1852 the income of the post-office was 18,174/. ls. lid.; the expenditure was 25,3041. Fs. Newspapers are exempted from postage.
Edueaticm.—Sydney University, incorporated and endowed by the Act of Council, 14 Victoria, No. 3], and inaugurated on October 11th 1852, had 38 students iu 1852. Its expenses for that year amounted to 38601. 11s. 7d. There sre three colleges or Grammar schools—two at Sydney, called Sydney College and Australian College, and King's School at Paramatta. These high schools are supported by tho pay ments of the students. The elementary schools are mostly maintained by government. In 1852 there were at school 11,387 male and 9678 female children ; of these one half were at Church of England schools.
Bistory.—The history of a colony so recently established may he soon told. New South Wales was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770, though the western and northern coasts of the island had been prsvioualy visited by Dutch navigators. in 1787 the British govern ment decided to form a convict establishment in Australia, "to empty the jails and houses of correction " of the mother-country, and eleven ships were therefore sent, which arrived at Botany Bay, where it was , intended to form the settlement, on January 20th 1788. Botany Bay was found inconvenient, and the establishment was removed to Sydney by the governor, Capt. A. Philip, who had been sent out with the fleet. The early progress of the colony, owing to the circumstance that the first settlers were only convicts, was so slow that its population in 1810 did not exceed 10,000 individuals. About that time one of the landed proprietors ascertained that the climate and soil of the colony were favourable to the rearing of sheep, and many persons consequently went to the colony to settle; but they soon found themselves embar rassed for want of room, and it appeared impossible to extend the ' settlements farther westward, as several attempts to pass over the Blue Mountains had been frustrated by the nature of the range, which consists of sandstone masaoa, furrowed by numerous ravines, whose sides are so steep that it is impossible to ascend them. In 1S13 three enterprising individuals, Illaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson, succeeded in passing over the mountains; and in the same year fol lowed the discovery of that fine pastoral country the Downs of Bathurst, In the following year a practicable line of road was con structed over the mountain ranges by convict labour. Mr. Oxley, in 1817, began the task of exploring the interior. Since this period some portion of the country has been nearly every year discovered and explored. Among tho discoverers may be particularly mentioned Allan Cunningham, Lieut. Sturt, Count Streletzki (who first asserted
that gold was to be found in the mountains), Mr. Eyre, Mr. Windsor Earle, Messrs. Landor and Lamy, and Dr. Leiehardt, who, leaving New South Wales, reached the Gulf of Carpentaria, and who, on a second journey, lost his life in the interior. The results of their discoveries havo been given in the geographical notices of Australia and of the several colonies.
The system of transportation has been discontinued of late years.
Towna.—The capital is SYDNEY. Bathurst is a thriving town, 198 miles W.N.W. from Sydney, on the west of the Blue Mountains, situated on the upper part of the Macquarie. It derived its import ance at first from being the chief place of trade of the rich pasturage, Bathurst Plains, which surround it. It has since become of still greater importance from its vicinity to the gold diggings of Ophir, which lie from 20 to 28 miles west from it. Boyd, or East Boyd, as it is sometimes called, is a small but rising port-town, near the southern border of the colony, on the mouth of the river Towamba, which here falls into Twofold Bay. Brisbane is at the northern extremity of the colony, situated on the river Brisbane, about 10 miles from its mouth. It is a flourishing town, in an agricultural district. Tobacco and wine are produced. Campbellton is on the coast, about 20 miles S. from Sydney, and has considerable trade and manufactures, particularly of leather. Liverpool is about 16 miles W. from Sydney, on the left bank of George's River. It is an inland town, surrounded by a rich and well cultivated country, which secures it much retail business. Macquarie, or Port Macquarie, is a small but increasing town, at the mouth of the river Hastings, which a little higher up receives the Wilson and Maria rivers, and forms a tolerably safe bay. It is about 120 miles N. from Hunter River. Maitland is on the right bank and about 40 miles from the junction of Hunter River, at the junction of the Wallis creek. The river here first becomes navigable for sloops. The coal-mines in the neighbourhood have greatly contributed to the prosperity and increase of this place, which is properly two towns, East Maitland and West Maitland. In East Maitland are a court house and jail, and in Weat Maitland are numerous stores and some good hotels. A steamer runs regularly from Maitland to Sydney. Newcastle, about 70 miles N. by E. from Sydney in a direct line, is built at the mouth of the Hunter River, which forms a harbour deep enough for merchant vessels, but the entrance is narrow and crooked. The town owes its importance chiefly to the collieries in its neighbour hood, which are extensively worked. It gives title to a bishop. Para. motto is situated at the mouth of the small river Paramatta, and at the head of the harbour of Port Jackson. It is 18 miles by water and 15 miles by land from Sydney. The principal street is a mile long; at the end farthest from the harbour is the country residence of the governor of the colony. Daily communication is kept up with Sydney by means of stage-coaches and steam-boats. 19ne observatory at Paramatta (founded in 1821) was the private property of Lieut. General Sir Thomas Brisbane, an active and well-informed astronomer, during his residence in the colony as governor. At his return to England, the government adopted it as a public establishment, and it is now under the superintendence of an observer appointed by the Admiralty. At Paramatta are two lunatic asylums, one of which is for convict lunatics and invalids. Windsor, about 30 miles N.1V. from Sydney, stands on the right bank of the Hawkesbury, which is navigable for a few miles above the town for coasting vessels. This circumstance and the fertility of the country which extends along both sides of the river above the town have raised it to some commer cial importance. There are at Windsor mills for grinding grain, breweries, and tanneries.