SENDING GOLD TO CALIFORNIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 803, 20 December 1881, Page 3

SENDING GOLD TO CALIFORNIA.

"Sending gold to California," remarks the Sydney Morning Herald, appears synonymous to sending coals to Newcastle, yet reeently one of the Californian mail steamers took hence a large shipment of sovereigns to San Francisco where they arrived, and were available for purchasing grain on English account, on the twenty-seventh day alter leaving this city. Contrast this with the old time movements, when even by the P. and O. steamers gold took 55 days in transit from Sydney to Southampton,! and if the same shipment was required for the purchase in California, more thun forty additional days must transpire before even the advice of its receipt n England culd reach the golden city. This operation in Australian gold was of an unpreced nted character in connection with our trade, and opens up a field for speculative enquiry as to how the exchange business of the future will be conducted. If America claims gold for the food she sends to Europe, Australia Bhould profit by the course events have taken. It is folly 'o send coin or bulliou to England if we have a better market for it in San Francisco or New York. If the Bank of Fra :ce was recently compelled to raise its rate to per cent., and the Bank of England to 5 per cent., to stop the d*ain of gold to the United States, it is diffcult to say what an important part the auriferous wealth of these colonies may be made to play in the money market :if the future, especially as our "nrre-ised pioduction of wool must make the balance of exchange in

our tav r, as against, the mother country. Electricity has removed any disadvantages Australian financiers -labored under during the past, and has opened a new fi'ld for the exercise of tlui r talents.

"A FECK O' KINGDOMS."

John Mackie, M. P. for Kircudbrightshire, Mary Boyd writes, used to describe an extensive view which one of his friend's hills commanded. This he never failed to call to the attention of his English visitors when the weather was clear. Willy, the shepherd, was always the guide on such occasions, as he knew precisely the weather that would suit. One forenoen an English friend was placed under Willy'6 charge to mount the hill, in order to enjoy the glorious view. " I am told, shepherd, you are going to show me a wonderful view."' ' f That's quite true, sir.'' ■" What shall I see ?" " W el, ye'll see a feck o' kingdoms, the part o' sax, sir " •' What the deuce do you mean, shepherd ?" " Weel, sir, I mean what I say." '• But tell me all about it ?" ■" I'll tell ye naething mair, sir. until we're at the top o' the hill." The top reached, Willie found everything be could desire in regard to a clear atmosphere. " Nf-o, sir, I hope you've got gude een ?" " Oh, my eyes are excellent." " Then that's a' recht. sir, Noo, div ye see yon hills awa' yonder ?" •" Yes, I do." " Weel, sir, those are the hills o' Cumberland, and Cumberland's in the kingdom o' England ; that's ae kingdom. Noo, sir, please coont. Then, sir, I must noo trouble you to look ower yonder. Div ye see what I mean?" "Yes I do." "That's a' recht." " That's the Isle o* Man, was a kingdom and a sovereigm§pri the families o' the Earls' o' Derby and the Dukes o' Athol frae the days o' King David o' Scotland, if ye ken onytliingo' fcfeotch history." " You are quite right, shepherd." f Quite recht, div ye say ? I wouldna !>ae brocht ye her, sir, If I wus to be wrang. Weel, that's twa kingdoms. Be sure, sir, to keep coont. Noo, turn awee aboot. Div ye sec yon land yonder ? It's a bit farder, but n<'ver mind that sae lang as you see it." " I sec it distinctly." " Noo sir, keep coont, for there's Ireland, and maks three kingdom J ; but ther's nae trouble aboot the reist, for ye're stannen on't —I mean Scotland. Weel, that makes four kingdoms ; div ye admit

j tliMt. sir?" "Yes, that makes four, i and you have two more to show me." ! " That's tru-, sir, but don't be in sio a •. hurry. Weel,.sir, JU: t look up aboon ver head, and this by far the best o' a' j( the kingdoms; that, fir, aboon, is heaven. That's five : and the saxtli kingdom is that doon below yer feet, to which, sfr, I hope ye'l! never gang ; but that's a point on which I canna speak wi' ony certainty !"