Documentation of the early history of Churches of Christ in Australia will concentrate on the genesis of the movement in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. A solitary letter from Queensland will also be included. While letters detailing the beginnings of the Movement in the three larger colonies convey something of the ethos and beliefs of Churches of Christ, and reflect on their relationships with other Christian bodies, additional material will be included to expand these areas.

      Henry Hussey, a printer who had been associated with the American Disciples, was a voluminous correspondent. In one of his letters he wrote of life in the Australian colonies.

B.M.H., 1854, pp. 509-512.

      This island, or continent, as from its vast extent it is now generally termed, lies between 112° and 153° of East longitude, and 10½° and 39° South latitude. Its greatest length from West to East is 2400 miles, and from North to South about 2000 miles--its average breadth being 1400 miles, and the length of its coast line about 8000 miles.

      The discovery of gold in this distant British possession, has attracted during the last three or four years, the attention of Britain and the world to its vast treasures and almost unlimited resources. In what a wonderful and providential manner has He who made "the round world and they that dwell therein," shown to thousands of His intelligent, but poor and starving creatures, a country where they may find a habitation, and a home that, with industry and frugality, may be surrounded with those creature comforts which were denied them in their native land.

      Britain was over populated, Australia was, comparatively speaking, unpopulated. Britain was groaning under a weight of rich and poor--the former had oppressed the latter, not so much by law as by a system of unfair remuneration for labor, the result of a needless competition in trade--that revolution and civil war appeared to be an almost inevitable result. At this crisis the golden treasures of California and Australia were brought to light. The ends of the earth were to be peopled, but so great is the love of country and friends, even when poverty and distress prevail, that without some powerful attraction, few would be found to relinquish the former at the expense of the latter. Gold, the procurer and promoter of much that is desirable and almost indispensable, was to be had at the expense of danger and privation. Who were so well able to accept it on these terms as the hardy sons of want and toil? And these, with very little exception, have become the fortunate possessors of the golden treasures. Strange have been the changes effected at the gold-fields--servants have become masters, and masters servants--the rich have become poor, and the poor rich. Many were the evil predictions as to the result of these gold discoveries; but it will most likely be seen that He who can bring good out of evil, will turn that which threatened to be a curse into a blessing. It cannot be denied that there are many attendant evils consequent upon these gold discoveries--that they have in many instances induced profligacy, drunkenness, and vices of every kind; but what many have lost, others have gained: and in this way thousands may be benefitted, both at home and abroad, who have never found the gold in the mine or been near the diggings.

      The employment of capital, the increase of trade, both in shipping and manufactures, with the increased number of professional and mechanical persons required to carry it on, are results mainly attributable to the gold discoveries. In Australia the capitalist becomes a gentleman, the manufacturer a merchant, and the laborer and mechanic a producer and consumer. The soil yields its increase

abundantly to the tiller, and far more certainly than the mine its gold to the digger; and in a short time every steady and industrious family may sit under their "own vine and fig tree," beneath a clear and sunny sky, and think and speak as freely as the air they breathe.

      As several of our brethren have made this land their home, and as many more contemplate so doing, we have, for the information more especially of the latter, inserted the following brief particulars of the colonies of Australia in their geographical order. Western Australia, of which Perth is the capital, is bounded by the shores of the Southern Ocean, and by the 129° of East longitude. The territory comprises not less than 800 miles from East to West, and 1200 miles from North to South, and contains an area of about 1,000,000 square miles. It is one of the earliest settlements, but on account of the unproductive nature of the soil, and other disadvantages, its population is small, and instead of increasing as the other colonies have done, has at times decreased to such an extent as almost to threaten depopulation. The steamers from Britain and India generally take in coal here, and this has had the effect of adding a little to the trade and population; but unless coal, minerals, or metals are discovered in pretty great abundance and richness, it is not likely to make any considerable advance.

      Adjoining this colony is South Australia, of which Adelaide is the capital. The limits of South Australia are the meridians of 1320 and 1410 of East longitude, the parallel of 260 South latitude and the Southern Ocean. Its entire population is about 80,000. It is a fine mineral, pastoral, and agricultural country; and though it cannot boast of a rich gold-field, its fields of wheat are not only sources of sustenance, but of wealth. The vine, and nearly all kinds of fruit, grow here. The Burra Burra copper mine, one of the richest in the world, appears to be inexhaustible. Besides affording remunerative employment to some hundreds of mechanics and laborers, it returns an annual profit to its shareholders of about 400 per cent. It is situated about 100 miles from Adelaide. There are several other rich copper, lead, and silver mines in different parts of the colony.

      The country around Adelaide, which is both level and hilly, is mostly occupied for agricultural purposes. There are towns and villages at intervals of a few miles. At several of these there are local courts, and throughout the country there are between 60 and 70 post-offices. The most distant parts of the country are occupied as cattle and sheep runs--some of the stock owners leasing as much as 300 square miles of country from the Government, at prices varying from 10s. to £1 per square mile per annum.

      The largest river in Australia, viz. the Murray, empties itself into the sea about 60 miles from Adelaide. It has recently been navigated for several hundred miles; and although shallow in some parts, it is expected that at certain seasons it can be navigated for 1000 miles. On account of a sand bar at the mouth of the river, vessels cannot safely enter from the sea; but a railway, 7 miles long, has been constructed, to convey goods and produce from the river to a port in the gulph.

      The city is divided into North and South Adelaide, the latter of which is the business part, and the ' former part generally occupied by private residents. The houses are mostly built of brick and stone. The population of Adelaide, North and South, is upwards of 10,000. The city is surrounded by park lands, about a mile wide; and the river Torrens, from which it is supplied with water runs between North and South Adelaide.

      The port is 8 miles from the city, and has a population of about 4000. There are a number of coaches and omnibuses plying between the city and the port. A railway is in course of formation, and will probably be opened in twelve or eighteen months. The exports of South Australia are copper, wool, oil, grain, and flour. There is an extensive trade carried on with Melbourne in the two latter articles. Adelaide is about 1000 miles from Perth.

      The colony of Victoria joins South Australia. This colony embraces the country between the Murray river, a line drawn from its sources to Cape Horne, Bass' Straits, and the 141st meridian of East longitude. It extends about 250 miles from North to South, by about 500 miles from East to West. Melbourne is the well-known capital of this golden land. The city is situated on the banks of the Yarra Yarra, a river which, although scarcely wide for a ship to turn round, is lined with vessels on each side for two or three miles; while steamers are constantly running up and down the narrow passage in its centre, conveying passengers and goods to and from the ships in Hobson's Bay. A railway is in course of construction from Hobson's Bay to the city, a distance by land of little more than 3 miles. It will probably be opened by the end of the year.

      The city of Melbourne is being extended in all directions. It has some very fine brick and stone buildings. Most of the streets are generally crowded, and the business done here is immense. Owing to the great number of persons daily arriving in the colony from nearly all parts of the world, and passing through Melbourne, to and from the diggings, it has always the appearance of bustle and confusion. The population of Melbourne is estimated at about 100,000., There are several places in the suburbs which contain a large population, and form an outlet for those whose business is in the city, but who-cannot dwell therein. There are very large wooden buildings for the reception of houseless emigrants, but many are compelled to reside in tents. The gold diggings, which are from 80 to 100 miles from Melbourne, extend over a distance of 100 miles. There are coaches, carts, and bullock-drays constantly going to, and coming from the diggings, loaded with passengers and provisions. The expense of travelling is very great. The charge for an adult is from 2 to 3, without luggage, and from 60 to 80 per ton for goods. A railway between Melbourne and the diggings is talked of, but notwithstanding the resources of the colony and the prospect of remuneration, it is an undertaking that will require a few years to accomplish.

      Geelong, another city of some extent and importance, is about 50 miles from Melbourne, and is situated in Hobson's Bay. The famous Ballarat diggings are near to Geelong. There are steamers that ply between this city and Melbourne daily, and a railway is in contemplation; but it will be some two or three years before such an undertaking is completed, after it is commenced.

      The colony of Victoria has few other towns, but many are being laid out in the neighbourhood of the principal diggings, and also near Melbourne. Large tracts of country in this colony are occupied as sheep runs, and before the discovery of gold, wool was the principal article of export. The country is nearly level for a considerable distance from Melbourne, and with the exception of the Yarra Yarra, there are no rivers of importance in the colony. Wages are much higher in Victoria than in South Australia or New South Wales; but provisions and house rent are high in proportion. The entire population of Victoria is upwards of 250,000.

      The colony of New South Wales joins that of Victoria. It is bounded on the East by the Pacific Ocean; extends on the North to the 26th parallel of South latitude; on the West to the 141° of East longitude; and on the South its boundary is a straight line from Cape Horne to the nearest source of the Murray. This range of country comprises 400,000 square miles. The crown has the power to form a separate colony of the territories North of the 300 parallel of South latitude. At this point the climate becomes of a semi-tropical character, and this colony will probably become to the other colonies, what the Southern States of America are to the North. The principal settlement in Northern Australia, (which this part of New South Wales is called) is at Moreton Bay. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, and is the oldest and finest city in Australia. Melbourne has of late become a powerful rival to Sydney, both as respects extent, population, and trade, but it has not the advantage of such a fine harbor as Port Jackson, which is one of the finest in the world. The streets and buildings of Sydney are little, if at all inferior to those of some of the principal cities of England.

      There are several large towns in New South Wales, and the country for a considerable distance in every direction, is thickly populated, and there are postal communications with Sydney from every quarter. Agriculture and pastoral operations are extensively carried on in the county districts, which are for the most part well watered. Some of the rivers in this colony are navigable for small vessels, and towns and villages are situated on their banks. Here, as in the colonies of Victoria and South Australia, the distant parts of the country are occupied for cattle and sheep runs. Coal is found in great abundance in the countries of Newcastle and Maitland, to the North of Sydney, and is an article of export as well as of consumption. The principal articles of export, before the discovery of gold, were wool, oil, tallow, hides, grain, and coal.

      The gold-fields of New South Wales, which are scattered over a large extent of country, are not so rich and prolific as those of Victoria; but, from the internal resources of the colony, it is not so dependent upon these uncertain riches for its prosperity.

      The population of New South Wales is probably little short of 300,000.

      New South Wales was formerly a penal settlement, but has ceased to be such for many years.

      In each of these colonies there is a Governor, a Legislature and Executive Council, Law Officers, &c. Also, a Protestant and Roman Catholic Bishop, with a large number of priests and several churches; ministers and congregations of Baptists, Independents, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Lutherans, Primitive Methodists, Christian Brethren, Disciples of Christ, Bible Christians, Society of Friends, Unitarians, Swedenborgians, Mormons, and Jews. There are large annual grants of money and land to those religious bodies who will accept of these State aids in Victoria and New South Wales, but the voluntary principal has triumphed in South Australia, and has banished State support to religion from its Statute Book. Education is liberally supported from the public revenue of each colony. In addition to the Auxiliary Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies in Australia to those in Britain, there are several kindred institutions whose objects are of a local character, and are supported by the colonists.

      The benevolent and philanthropic institutions of England and America will also be found in the colonies of Australia, supported by Government and by voluntary contributions. There are hospitals and asylums for the afflicted and destitute; Free Mason's, Odd Fellow's, Forester's Rechabite, and Tea-total Societies. In fact, what with Libraries and Mechanics' Institutes, Banks, Chambers of Commerce, Exchanges, Mining, Insurance, Building, and Land Companies, and Literary and Scientific Institutions, it would be difficult to name any in existence either in England or America, that are not to be found in the colonies of Australia.

      What a fruitful field for contemplation do these colonies afford! Of their future extent and greatness few can form any conception. Of the vast increase of their population there cannot be a doubt; but whether they will be characterized as religious and moral communities, and exercise a beneficial influence upon India, China, and the world, is a more difficult matter to determine. For the attainment of such a desirable end, certain means must be used. Nothing will tend more to form the future character of these nations, than the preaching of a pure and perfect Christianity, the circulation of a pure gospel, and practically carrying out those principles which were designed to benefit and restore mankind to happiness here, and to everlasting felicity hereafter.

H. HUSSEY.      

[NOF 11-19]