AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 88, 8 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND.

(Fj-omthe/lJbndon \Dctity : Newsi)i ; Australia, we really think, has; a legitimate grievance agaihst^lil^purUiam for not keeping a fifth corner of his commemorative pedestal for the *" fifth quarter "of the earth. She is certainly old enough to '" come out" even in company with gorgeous Asia, lethargic Africa, and civilised Europe, although more truly a " new world " than America. She has a right to be piqued that the sculptor did not find a place for her in his allegorical party, especially after the handsome trifles she sent in the way of gold dust, malachite, 'possum rugs, and timber to the great conversazione of her mamma. And if the artist had not been so very forgetful or so much pinched for room, there is no doubt about the way which he should have carved the youngest daughter of Britannia. A strapping lass, with her mother's frank and fearless air, rocking a cradle-— that is to say, of course, a gold digger's cradle, for she will come to the other all in good time, and be in turn a mother of empires — with a kangaroo by her side in place of the lion, and. a wool-fleece for the Imperial mantel — but, in all the rest, a British damsel all over, it is thus that Mr Durham should have represented Australia. However, if"our artists and art-committees neglect her, the " fifth quarter '' is determined that she will , not be overlooked ; she is as tall as her mother already, and takes care to let her know it. Not content with challenging our cricketers to meet her chosen twenty-two's upon swards which, thirty years ago, were the hunting grounds of savages, she has almost taken the breath away from the nation that bred and owns Maccaroni and Tim Whiffler, by defying us upon the turf. The last mail brought the report of a match which was talked about between English and Australian horses for LIO,OOO, and now our columns are filled with the account of another audacious glove flung down by the riflemen of Australia to the riflemen of England. Uncommonly good hands, too, the selected team of autipodal marksmen seem to be, though they date from a place with a barbarous name, where we would have expected encampments of" black fellows'' rather than the parade grounds of volunteers. The " Milang Company," which boldly challenges the best company of citizen soldiers in England, will be hard to beat. Out of the thirty men classified, all the thirty are of first-class rank, according to the regulation method of estimation, and twenty-two are "marksmen." These are knights indeed " worthy of our steel " — or lead rather — and for the honor of ap;e and matronly dignity, we hope the mother-country can find as good a set to represent her. The match is to be with the long Enfield, at distances ranging from 200 to 900 yards, by ten men a-side — the system of scoring used at Wimbledon being dutifully pi'oposed by the young country. If it come off, it will be curious to watch '■ whether rifles sighted on the green downs of Surrey, or among the rolling "scrubs " of Australia, carry their leaden i messengers truest ; and it will be a sensation indeed if Miss Australia is to "train" her mother's "young ideas how to shoot."