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Large areas of the best lands of the colony were bought up in the early days and formed into great grazing stations. Natural causes are gradually operating to break up these large estates. Fathers die, and, as there is no entail, the land is divided amongst their sons; while some owners are tempted into disastrous speculations in great sheep stations in the far north of the continent, and are obliged to sell to meet their engagements. It is thought, however, that the process of disintegration is too slow, and provision has been made in a Land Bill just passed to allow the Government to make purchases of land where the owner is willing, and then to lease or sell it on long terms in small farms to persons who will put it to a profitable use. A similar practice obtains, as we shall see, in New Zealand, Queensland, and elsewhere. It was proposed to give the power of compulsory purchase, but this was fiercely combatted in the Lower House, and rejected by an overwhelming majority in the Council. The Legislative Council of Victoria is probably the most powerful institution in the Australian colonies. The weight and local influence of its members makes it impregnable to the assaults of the demagogue: and not on this occasion only has it been able to save private rights from unnecessary spoliation. At the same time, there is no doubt that the future, in Victoria, is with the small holding. The real founder of Victoria, Mr Henty, was also its first agriculturist: whose plough is preserved in Melbourne as a sacred relic to this day. But the pastoralist, naturally, had the first innings; and the day of mining and its attendant commerce followed. Agriculture has been progressing less and less slowly during the last quarter of a century: but it may be said to be still only in its initial stage; a fact which no one appreciates more clearly than Mr Taverner, the energetic