Untitled

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 333, 25 August 1868, Page 2

The Governor of New South "Wales, on entering Albury, passed under a triumphal arch, bearinS the motto, " Welcom to the Federal City." The 'Border Post explains the meaning of the term. It says for the last twelve years Albury has been known in these districts under the appellation, having been so christened by a leading public man in those days—oneDrO.wen—who had deserved well of the towns people by making himself instrumental in getting the border duties removed when they were first imposed. The inhabitants have all alono; cherished the idea that at no distant day there will be a federal union of the Colonies, and that Albury, from its geographical position, will become the future seat ot Federal Government—in fact, as Australian Ottawa. Situated on the borders between New South "Wales and Victoria, it occupies a site at the junction of the thre great highways leading to the threa capitals of the three Colonies. To the north the great overland road leads to Sydney, to the south it proceeds on to Melbourne. The Murray river forms the principal highway to Adelaide' and the road alongside of it takes all the land traffic from South Australia into the interior. Our Convict Establishments abroad are situated at Gibraltar, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia. The Imperial establishment at Gibralter provides accommodation for 309 convicts, at a total cost of £14,135, of which £72-40 is spent in superintendence, £B9O in religious instruction, £845 in medical treatment, £3700 in victualling convicts and o&cers, £556 in escort and conveyance of officers and eonvi-ts, £428 in fuel - aud light, and the rest in miscellaneous expenses. The colonial establishment at New South Wales provides for the lodgment of ninety-five convicts, most of whom are invalids or lunatics, at a cost of £2741. Tasmania accommodated 863 convicts, 179 of whom are chargeabto to colonial funds ; and the total cost of maintenance, salaries, and allowances, amounts to £36,544, from which, however, the estimated produce of a farm, amounting to £2OBO is deducted. The colony of Western Australia now has in keeping 1450 convicts ; the cost of salaries, wages, and allowances amounts to £22,186, aud £9054 are required for clothiug and bedding, £22,474 for military establishments, £13,003 in aid of the colonial magistracy, police, and gaols, and £1305 for pay of and gratuities to convicts. Military prisoners are maintained in New Zealand at a cost of £173 ; and a summary of the above statistics shows that our convict establishments in the colonies keep in durance a total of 2708 persons at a csst of £152,891. It should b# remarked that re-payments are made amounting altogether to £11,763, which will in future be carried to the credit of the Exchequer.— lllustrated London News.