The predominating rocks in the higher masses of the Australian Alps are granite, sienite, and quarts, intermingled occasionally with mica-schista and vsrious other rocks of a platy texture. Quarts, iron stone, sandstone, and clay-slate are general throughout the other hilly of the colony. Veins of coal have been found on the coast tween Port Phillip and Cape Otway, besides traces of lead and man ganese. Rich veins of copper ore have been rapt with on the banks of the Yarra-Yarra. The chief mineral however is gold, the discovery of which in 1851 has led to a remarkable increase in the wealth and populstion of the colony. The gold is found chiefly at Ballarat, 40 miles N.N.W. from Geelong ; at Mount Alexander, 75 miles N.W. from Melbourne; and around Lake Omeo, in the Australian Alps. At Ballarat, where the precious metal is found extensively on the ranges and flats and in the beds of the watercourses, a section of the work ings exhibits the following series of strata :—Red ferruginous earth and gravel, streaked yellowish and red clay, quartz gravels of moderate size, largo quarts pebbles and boulders with masses of ironstone set in very compact clay, blue- and white-clay and pipe-clay. The gold is uniformly found in the formations superior in position to the pipe clay. The richest deposits occur in the blue-clay, where the ore is for the most part quite pure. It Is waslisd from the clay in rounded or flattened grains; sometimes it is found in fused pieces of pure metal, at others incorporated with quartz-pebble/I, and occasionally in rolled waterworn lumps called nuggets. The number of miners licences lamed at the colony of Victoria in August 1851 amounted to ]5,632; and in July to 14,617. The grand total quantify of gold received at the gold offices of Melbourne and Geelong, from the various gold fields of the colony in Judy and August 1854 was 276,013 oz., valued at 1,100,4541. The amount of fees received on account of licences in the rime months was 54,067G, and the amount of fees on private gold and cash transmitted per escort 10,1911. Tho number of mining licences issued in December 1854 was 8059, and the quantity of gold received at Melbourne and Geelong in November and December 1854 was 277,027 oz., valued at 1,108,108/. The amount of fees received for licences in those two mouths was 43,9901., and the fees on private gold and cash per escort 81411. The quantity of gold exported from Victoria in the months of November and December was 427,921 oz. The quantity exported during the quarter ending the 31st of December was 510,138 oz., valued at 2,034,375/. In the early part of 1855 serious riots took place at the gold-diggings of Ballarat, in consequence of the miners resisting the payment of the licence fees. This led to tho substitution of a tax on gold exported from the colony, instead of the licence fee for diggers.
The climate of Victoria is comparatively mild: The mean tempera ture of summer is 65°, of winter 48', of tho whole year 57'. The atmosphere is so dry and elastic that the heat of summer, sometimes very intense, is lees oppressively felt. Hot winds occasionally come from the north, and last from 20 to 30 hours, suddenly raising tho temperature to an extreme heat, but they do not occasion great incon venience, and they are generally succeeded by a refreshing breeze from the ocean. During June, July,-and August, the winter months, cold and wet days frequently occur, and at rare intervals light snow showers fall. In August, 1852, snow fell at Bendigo to the depth of seven feet. The average fall of rain for the year is 301 inches. The rapid changes of temperature, sometimes 30 degrees in 24 hours, are unfavourable to consumptive patients. Dysentery and a species of
ophthalmia prevail to some extent in the hottest months. On the whole, the climate is found agreeable and salubrious. The wild animals found in the province are, tho dingo, or native dog; the great gray kangaroo, which abounds in some districts ; the rock wallaby, or badger ; kangaroo rat ; opossum ; flying squirrel ; will cat ; bandicoot; sloth, or Australian bear ; and various others. Among its birds are, the bustard, or wild turkey, which on some of the plains appear in considerable flocks; numerous quails; many species of parrots; the lyrs-birds, or Australian pheasant, which frequents the mountains of Gippsland; black swans, which abound in the neighbourhood of Western Port; the emu ; magpie; pelican; eagle-kingfisher ; and plover. Snakes are numerous. Musquiteem, locusts, and auto appear in great numbers in summer, and also lizards and other reptiles. Tho bays and rivers abound with fish. Codfish of a large size are found in the rivers of the northern district. Shoals of herrings appear on the coasts in February and March. The most important timber-trees are, the red gum, lightwood, blackwood, pine, tea-tree, she-oak or sink, honey-suckle, and iron-bark. The kangaroo apple-tree, the grass-tree, and the quandung, which forms a fine preserve, are indigenous. The fruits which have been flucceasfully cultivated are, the peach, plum, quince, nectarine, apricot, pear, apple, mulberry, almond, and fig. Several vineyards have been formed. Vegetables are abundant. The potato, turnip, carrot, cabbage, brocoli, and radish grow to an enor mous size. Indigo and flax are indigenous. The tobacco and castor oil plants and Indian corn grow luxuriantly. The common cereals are produced in great perfection ; wheat is of the finest quality, with a return of from 40 to 50 bushels an acre.
The country around Melbourne is equal to any part of Australia for the growth of wheat, Indian corn, and potatoes. In all parts of tho colony there are tracts of the finest arable land. But sheep-farming Is the principal pursuit in this province, apart from the recent mining operations, and the export of wool has for some years very rapidly increased.
The settled part of the province, comprehending principally the eastern and southern portion., is divided into 24 counties. Melbourne, the capital, and Williamstown, its port, are noticed in the article Messouase. In that article the revenue of the city of Melbourne for 1852 is given at 16,161/. lat. 5d., instead of 26,1611. 19s. 5fL, which is the correct amount. The second town in the colony is Geelong, now an Important shipping port, pleasantly situated on the south-western shore of Port Phillip, at the head of Coria or Geelong Bay. It is regularly built, well supplied with water, and is steadily advancing in population and trade. Smaller 'easels ascend to the town, but those of greater burden discharge at Port Henry, 10 miles down the bay. Tho increase of the town of Geelong consequent on the gold discoveries ie shown by the town revenue in 1851 and 1852, which stood thus: 1851-2785/. 4s. Id.; 1852-10,097/. 10s. Id. The principal part of the receipts has been laid out in public improvements, to assist which considerable grants of public money were made to the town ; moro recently a large amount has been borrowed by the corporation of Geelong for the purpose of carrying out extensive improvements. A railway to Melbourne is in course of construction. Near the mouth of the Yarns, on the north-east shore of l'ort Phillip, are the neat villages of St. Kilda and Brighton, which are resorted to as bathing places by the citizeus of Melbourne.