The Land and the Railway questions are so closely connected, so dependent the one on the other, that they cannot well be separated in considering the future advancement of the colony. Whatever regulations may be made in facilitating the sale of land, and for the more rapid peopling of the country, by the settlement of an agricultural and industrious population on the soil, it is evident that these regulations must embrace the grand feature of railway communication, by which alone speedy transit can be provided to supply the wants and relieve the producers of their surplus or marketable produce. A farm is valuable just in the ration of the means by which the farmer can convey his crops to market. He may have an abundant crop, yet that very abundance is to him a pecuniary loss, because he is deprived of an outlet, except at a ruinous expense, through which the reward of his industry can be reaped. The agricultural capabilities of many of our interior districts and counties are really inferior to none in the world, and an obvious reason why these capabilities, even with our present thin and inadequate population, are not brought into play, is that there is no access to the great seats of consumption. The loud and natural cry is heard from every quarter – “people the country – dot our wastelands with the homes of sinewy and laborious farmers – proclaim through the length and breadth of the United Kingdoms, and the continent of Europe, nay, even the whole world, there is room for many in the vast island of Australia”. But while there is room and to spare, we ought also to attend to the provision of easy inter-communication between the various districts and the chief centres of population. The resources of the country are completely crippled from the want of anything like tolerable roads, and, what is still worse, from the want of bridges of cheap and ordinary construction. If the country is to be opened let those veins and arteries be contemporaneously opened through which its very life blood can circulate freely and rapidly.
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The weather:
For some time previous to the present week, fears were generally entertained for the safety of the young wheat, from the long-continued drought, but on Sunday evening last the much-required rain descended in refreshing showers, and continued to fall at intervals up to Monday evening, when rain fell in torrents, causing the river to rise some three or four weeks. The weather has since continued to be showery. The moisture must have occasioned an incalculable amount of good to the growing crops, and also to the gardens, which in the vicinity of the town are at present looking beautiful, and give promise of an abundance of fruit at its proper season. The weather is now fair, although the heavy clouds and continued westerly winds still indicate rain.
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Fat stock:
Mr. Robinson, of Yass, on Wednesday last purchased a mixed lot of twenty-four head of very superior cattle, from Mr. Pring of Illunie, at an average of £5 per head. The cattle were reared by Mr. Pring, and were in first rate condition. The retail prices of butcher meat in Yass at present are – Roast 4d. per lb.; steak, 8d. ditto; mutton, 4d. ditto.
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Births, deaths and marriages:
Mr. Silles, Registrar for the District of Yass, has favoured us with the following return for the quarter ending on the 30th September; - Births, males 24; females, 28 – total, 52. Deaths, males, 10; females, 8 – total, 18. Marriages, 7. It will thus be seen that during the three months the numbers of births have exceeded the deaths by 34.
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Mail detention:
On Thursday last the down country mail, which were due at 8 a.m. did not reach the Yass Post Office until nearly 5 p.m. It appears that in the first instance a short delay occurred at the Fish River, which was considerably swollen by the rains. On reaching Hume’s Crossing- place on the Yass River, about five miles from town, although the water had risen several feet, the driver, unaware of the strength of the current, incautiously attempted to cross at the usual place. The force of the water, notwithstanding the exertions of the driver, turned the heads of the horses down the stream, and it was found necessary to cut the traces, the vehicle remaining stationary in the centre of the river. The horses with some difficulty were saved. Information of the accident having been sent into town, Mr. Moses of the Yass Hotel, immediately started for the place in his spring-cart, and in about a couple of hours afterwards deposited the mail-bags at their destination. It is also worthy of remark, that in half an hour after the delivery of the bag, the letters and newspapers were in course of delivery – much to the credit of the officials.
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