Australia To-day.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1922, Page 3

Australia To-day.

DUNEDIN. Sept. K

The Rev Graham 11. Balfour, of First Church, Dunedin, who has returned from Melbourne after an absence of fourteen years from that ri'.v, where he was horn, told an interviewer that, the growth of the remote suburbs has been • Mormons. New townships have grown up within the last few years, and though building lias been going on at quite twice the pace of before the war, there is a boom in building to-day. It is expected that the population of Melbourne will reach 800,00(1 at the next census.

Manufacturers are making great strides. For instance, the Dunlop Rubber Company employs 2(X)0 hands, and produces all kinds of rubber grinds, ineluding 3000 motor tyres a week.

Mr Balfour added: “I spent part of my time with one of my brothers in a great wheat-growing district of New South Wales. Great developments will soon take place there. Irrigation is going to work wonders. Already there is a great dam, called Bilrrinjivk. on the Murrmnbidgee, and even now it

conserves as much water as there is in Sydney harbour. This dam is forty miles long and 700 yards wide and of great depth: an even larger scheme is bring carried out on the Murray river near Alliurv. It is intended. I understeed tn irrigate Ml" country right down through Smith Australia.

Speaking of other matters, Mr Halfour said: “I was present at Do General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia when the union ol Churches debate was on. The debating was of a very high order. It I sted tin'•••hole day: the vote was 13! for and 87 against. The questing is now remitted to the people. The new Archbishop of Melbourne (l)r Harrington Lees) has already proved himself not only popular, but also a great power for good in the community. He is a very line man, with a broad c ntlook in

•‘Golf is one of tin- mo-t popular hirins cl* sport in Melbourne. Though I here are many clubs and many links, it is almost impossible to gel on the membership roll. They are full. A Country Court Judge with whom I Itn-I ■i gain -, being present as a visitor, (old me that he put his name down in 1017 at Sandritndiam. and had trd yet hcon able to obtain mctiih-rsliip.”