pleasant, prosperous place. A granite hill and cliffs rise in the centre of the town, and are dotted over with picturesque ramshackle houses, palm trees, cacti, children all trying to break their necks down the banks, goats, empty bottles and tin cans—giving quite a careless, homely aspect to it all. Numbers of blacks were camped around; there were Chinese store-keepers; wagonette cabs and hansoms were dashing about, and a tramway was in process of building.
Just at this time there is talk of dividing Queensland into two colonies, and Townsville has made up her mind she is to be the capital of the new colony of “Alberta,” and has even fixed a site for the Government House, so bent are they on separating from Southern Queensland. There are two newspapers, and the advertisements of the land sales are very high-flown, as for instance:
“The scenery in the neighbourhood is of the grandest description. Glorious nature (in her varied form of imposing mountain grandeur, limitless plain, majestic cataracts, and maritime scenery) is viewed from St. Kilda as the eye of the denizen wanders to each point of the compass. Lofty Mount Louisa rears its noble crest and shelters St. Kilda from the keen and cutting southerly blasts of winter, and its cloud-capped summit causes copious and seasonable showers to descend upon and refresh this much favoured and naturally beautiful suburb.”
This is still better:—
“From the time of the advent into the world of Adam and Eve
“Great changes have occurred.”
“New Kingdoms have been founded.”
“Mighty Empires have been swept away.”
“New Cities have been formed.”
