WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3964, 16 November 1891, Page 2

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Mr W. H, Jones, solicitor, Greymouth, has received a letter from a former resident of the West Coast, but now located in Western Australia. The Greymouth paper has been allowed to cull the following extracts " The country is run by six men, whom it will be difficult to displace. The qualifications for a member ot the House is £SOO worth of unincumbered freehold land, or the ownership of a lease yielding £lO per annum. There is a considerable agitation for a change to a more liberal state of affairs, and as the population increases such change will be forced on the old and conservative members. The supreme courts are presided over by two judges, the chief receiving £I2OO per annum, and the otber £9OO. A very great absurdity exists in an appeal from the ruling of one judge, as he sits with his col league on the appeal, and in the event of their differing the ruling of the iudge before whom the matter was first decided prevails. This has been repeatedly pointed out., and it is probable that a third judge will be appointed. The general laws follow the English more closely than in New Zealand, and the Married Women's Property Act lias not been adopted. Barristers and solicitors must, uo matter what their qualifications may be, reside in the country six months before they are in any way alloyed to practise their profession. There are large numbers of people arriving every day from the other colonies, no less than 300 arriving in one day. At present there is nothing to warrant this influx. There ara no publio works of any magnitude going on at present, although tenders closing in December are invited for fifty-two miles ol railway, and it is possible that a contract for sixty miles will be advertised in about six weeks. Should parliament sanction it the Government intend spending £150,000 on harbour works at Freemantle. Of course if these works all go on things will be a bit lively for a time at least. One effect of the rapid increase of population has been to largely enhance the value of property. Houses to letHre not procurable in Perth for love or money. Mr C. Y. O'Connor is living at Freemantle, being unable to get a house at Perth, and was deemed fortunate in getting a house at Freemantle. He looks worn and overworked. The necessaries of life are fifty per cent dearer than in New Zealand. Almost everything is imported, the farmers being a terribly slow lot, intensely conservative and jealous of new comers, whom they evince no desire to assist. Tho latter are very discontented with the state of affairs. Great things are expected from the goldfields, and the prospects are very encouraging, but the want of wafer is a great drawback. Fresli water for domestic purposes is Hot [procurable about Yilgaru, which is the principal field. Condensing engines are used to purify tho water taken frsm the Salt Lake in the vicinity. "At present I would not advise diggers to leave New Zealand, for travelling and provisions are both very expensive." It cost £3O first or £22 second to get to Freoinantle, and it will take about £ls more to reach Yulgaru, which latter place is reached by 100 miles by railway and live days coachiug. "Until the field has been more developed, New Zealand, with all its drawbacks, has a greater charm for the miner than this country."