AIIIIOLI IITEIPIIBE. Frets the Ilslbearse Weekly Age.

From which side soever we look on the American peopls,—from the literary, the mechanical or the commercial, we must acknowledge that there is a freshness and siegoqr eonqpcpled with the intellect they

ve ope w ic in many cases bids fair to outstrip their fathers in the race. Even here in Australia we are bound to admit the fact that our American brethren are among our most energetic and enterprising citizens, and in more than one instance have taken a most decided step in advance. We were gratiﬁed beyond description, yes- terday, in availing ourselvss ofa~ kind invi- tation from Mr. G. F. Train, the Agent for the White Star line of Packet Ships, to take it quiet survey of the elegant and eommodious suite of oﬁices and stores recently built by him in Flinders-street; and we have no hesitation in saying that, whether for convenience of arrangement, general adaptability to the purposes of an

immense mercantile trade; for strength of

build, for elegance of design, or sumptu- ousness of ﬁnish, these premises stand un- rivalled in the city of Melbourne, or in the

olony, if not in Australia. Every one who has passed through Flinders-street will recollect a stylish-looking building, of lofty and commanding structure, and of most substantial build, close to theeastern corn- er of Elizabeth-street, and opposite the Melbourne -and Hobson’s Bay Railway Terminus, in close proximity to The ﬂgc ofﬁce. It was erected in the year, I851, is built throughout of colonial blue granite, and as the majority of Melbourne founda- tions are disposed to settle on any consider- able pressure of a superincumbent mass, has throughout a number of dwarf walls, extending three feet deep, and of a breadth oftwo feet, upon which rests the lower floor of the structure. The front has a most massive appearance, and the building is entered by means of three large circular- headed doorways, the centre being con- siderably the largest, over which, along the whole breadth of the front, is engraven in prominent lettering “G F. Train and Co., (‘omniission Merchants. White Star Line of Liverpool Packets." This takes the height of the ﬁrst floor: above are ﬁve large square-headed windows which light the upper floor, and surmounting these, an imposing stone cornice, raised on at either end by square corniced stone towers, and in the middle by one of broader dimensions, relieved on either side by gracefully dis- posed ornamental scrolls, also in stone, and which lend a most graceful appearance to what would otherwise be a leaden, heavy mass of stone. Crowning the whole is the star-bespangled banner of America, which ﬂaunts cheerfully over the building.

On entering the ground-ﬂoor we are at

once in a capacious store-room, extending. _ _ _ 25 .' of long experience, than the merely antici-

lpated requirements of the business. VVe

the whole length of the building, and l feet in length, most completely ﬁlled with huge iles, to the ceiling, of every con- ceivab e kind ofimported merchandise, and

ofan incredible weight; a narrow passage; only is left on one side of this immense. olock of goods for the ordinary traffic of i

the store. The width is only about 40 feet,

H back ﬂight of stairs is disposed the wood and coal bin, a eontrivance by means of which, the coals being placed on a platform, their own weight causes them to make their delivery into any vessel which may be placedfor their reception. There was one feature in the ground floor which particu- larly struck us. The day -on which we paid our visit was one of those perfectly dissolving, hot-wind days, when the whole atmosphere out of doors and indoors seemed as if impregnated with flame, and yet a most delicious coolness pervaded the store, making it perfectly refreshing and especially desirable for the storage of some descrip- tions ofnierchandise. At the back of the building is a neatly laid out yard so graded as to drain into a sewer which carries off the entire waste matter of the building. Here also is an immense sunken tank con- structed to hold 10,000 gallons of water, in which the waste of the roof is conducted, and the overflow of which ﬂushes the sewers. Stables and a hay left most com- pactly constructed,-complete the arrange- ments of the yard, from which an opening conducts into Plinders lane. Arraiige- ments are made in the back wall, also of stone, for the ercctionVof hoisting appara- tus, which is in course of being supplied. An American weighing machine, capable of weighing-8 tons, and other simple look- ing but most ingenious and powerful con- trivances, seem to exist in any quantity and adapted to every conceivable purpose. On ascending a back flight of stairs, we reach- ed a second floor of the same dimensions as the lower one, and supported by similar elaborate and suﬁicient contrivances. The weight on this floor must be immense, packed as it is to the ceiling with articles of almost fabulous capacity and weight. Once tnore we mounted a narrow flight of stairs, and reached an attic, in which the peaceful slumbers of the storeman are carried on, in an apartment which partakcs of the sumptuous character of the other arrangements of the building, and which must render the fortunate individual ivlio occupies it a perfect prince among store- men. Descending from this elevated re- gion; we next entered a suit of offices, which are perfectly unapproachable, both for beauty, compactness, and convenience, by anything ofthe kind in the Colony, and which would compare very favourably with older mercantile establishments in the old country. At the top of the front ﬂight of

ASZARD'8 GAZE'l"l‘E. JUNE 9.

engravin of the building has been litho- graphed Messrs. Quarril and Sharp, in a style wliie reflects credit both on them and on the Colony. On the walls of the ship- ping oﬁee we noticed finely-executed en- gravings of the far-famed - Red Jacket (which Vessel must be now close at hand), as well as representations of other vessels of this celebrated line. When speaking of the position of the store it may be well to mention that, being directly opposite the Railway 'I‘ermiiius,—as vessels of small tonnage can now discharge at the pier at Sandridge—goods, by being brought by rail to the foot of the warehouse, can be safely secured in it in a few hours tier their arrival, thus avoiding the clay caused by lighterage on the river. We understand, also, that iron shutters and doors are now on their way from England, which will make the building perfectly ﬁre- proof. Although this notice has extended beyond the limits we had anticipated, still we must not neglect to say that the perfec- tion of the arrangements ofthis celebrated VVhite Star Line is not conﬁned to their business premises in Melbourne; the same sumptuousness and perfection of detail pre- vail in their arrangements on the other side ofthe ocean, and is carried throughout the whole of the proceedings of the Company. It has been reported that, in consequence ofall the available steamers of the General Screw Company having been taken up by the Government, the clipper ship Red Jacket would most probably bring the Eng- lish mail of December 4th. We are in it position to say that the owners of that cele- brated vessel offered the Government to convey the mail from England to Australia in the same time as that occupied by steamers, and in the event of failure, to forfeit. The offer was refused by the Go- vernment, on the ground that the convey- ance of the mail belonged to the G. S. S. Co., although it is notorious that com- pany is not in a position to furnish the means. The Paciﬁc was advertised to sail about ten days prior to the date o'f making up the mail, and in the event of that vessel keeping her appointed time, it is expected the Red Jacket will bring the mail. A growing conviction seems to exist among those connected with Australian shipping in England, that the Home Government is most careless about the interests of her sons at the Antipodes. There can be no doubt but that blunders of the most serious

stairi-i—the main staircase—protected by a magniﬁcent cedar hand-rail, on the left lies the warehouse, and on the right hand are u “ captain and salesman’s” room, Mr. Train’s office, which opens again into his private office, and the long room in which sit the clerks. These rooms are all ﬁtted in polished colonial cedar, and the arrange- mants carried out with a minuteness of de- tsil which looks more like the suggestions

were particularly struck with a pile of cedar boxes, for the convenience of Captains of vessels, which contained an opening for the introduction of letters, the fronts of which opened on the application of the key of the particular captain whose name was posted

which gives considerable facimy to melon the outside. In these oﬂices is built, warehouseman, in ",3 compactness and enclosed in a wal_l.of thickly laid brick, an comparative ease with which the locale of. "“"“’"5° ﬁ"°l"'°°l "'°" ‘ ‘ S“l“'"3d°"" Cllesl, {be adopted for the future as the medium of

all the multifarious articles can be at once which ll” “l"°“dY °"d_“"°d ‘he 95‘ 0f “"09 5 postal comtnunicnlion. km,,,.,,_ on the right hand, .3 we enter, day’s envelopement in fire, without evenf are two eommodious offices, ﬁtted up in 5l"8°l"8 “ P"P°" °°'““"ed in "- coionial cedar’ one devoted to the “S59, sides of this chest are not composed of solid i exclusively, of passengers by the ships of’ iron, but of two rather thick sides of easing,

this favorite line, who are accommodated with locked closets for the safe keeping of‘ any articles for the passage; and the other,

between which is introduced aquantity of non-conducting material of about fourl inches in thickness: this eontrivance pre-.

The :

character have been committed with respect to the postal arrangements which prevail with this Colony, and although we scarcely think the superiority of sailing, over steam ships has been manifested in a suﬁicient number of instances to entitle the Sail to claim the preference in Ocean transit, still enough has recently been achieved to make the Post Ofﬁce authorities hesitate no longer in giving a contract to these ships which have performed such marvellous passa es, and which in some trips have successﬁilly competed with the steamers of the G. S. S. line. The Red Jacket performed the voyage out in 7 or 8 days less than the Queen of the South, and beat her on the return trip about the same time. VVith a few more ofthese successes, we think they will establish such a preference as will

justify the colony in desiring that they may

VVe will conclude this article with the remark, that Mr. Train scents to have gone the right way to work, to construct, in all its departments, a build- ing suited to his extensive business; and i no can judge from so short ati observation, he has reduced the matter to such system as to have a place for everything and every-

to the warcliouscman, where samples ﬂlldlﬁﬂlls “"3 "'°“‘l r'°"‘ ‘“""“"8 ‘° 3 °°“dl'ltlIiHg in its place. An extensive commer-

other adaptations to the duties of this do- partment are most ingeniously placed. This gentleman is also accommodated with a gutta-percha communication to the floors above, and without the necessity of becom- ing ubiquitous, can literally be in two places at once. Throughout the lower ﬂoor, at easy distances, are disposed mas- sive teak columns, nearly a foot square, which act as supports to the floor over; the beams are placed on edge in very close proximity, and to ensure extra strength, are what is technically called “herring-boned,” a eontrivance which adds considerably to the amount of the weight a floor can sustain. Under the

tion of red heat. There is another ofthese chi-sis disposed below stairs, and both are \\‘tll‘l'illll.0(.l perfectly ﬁreproof. The lengthl of the entire liuildin we have alreadyi stated to be l'..’.5 fcct; its breadth 40 feet; in height it is 31 feet; the walls up to the height of the second floor are 2 feet in thickness; and above this to the roof, I foot 6 iuclies. its capacity is equal to 2700 tons of measurement goods, and fully 1600 tons of stone were used in its erection. The architects are Messrs. Knight, Kemp, and Kerr; and the builders Messrs. Sinclair and Sons. The original contract of the entire building was £6500, and the total cost with oﬂices, extras, stables, &c., was about £&l00. A most skilfully executed

cial library, containing valuable works of reference, and other details which spaco alone forbids our iticntioning, are among the embellishments oftiiese perfectly unique business premises.

Conocn or run Ens.—'l‘hat the colour of the eyes should aﬂ'ect their strength may seem sti_-an ; yet that such is the case needs not at this time of day to be proved ; but those whose eyes are brown or dark coloured should be in- formed thut they are weaker and more suscep- tible of injury, from various causes, than gray or blue eyes. Light blue eyes are cactcris pari- bus, generally the most powerful, and next to those are gray. The li hter the pupil the great- er and longer-continue is the degree of tension the eye can sustain.—Ilall's Journal.

BEAUTIFUL OLD LGI.

Mrs. Sigourney, in her book " Past Meridian,” just published, gives the follow- ing charming picture of contented and vir- tuous old age :

lonca knew an aged couple, who for more than sixty years dwelt in one home, and with one heart. Wealth was not theirs, nor the appliance of luxury, yet the plain house in which they had so long lived was their own. Humble in every appointment, that they might keep free from debt, they were respected by people in the highest positions, for it was felt that they set a right example in all things. Every gift or token of remembrance from friends, awakened the fresh warmth of gratitude. Though their portion of this world's goods was small, benevolence, being inherent in their nature, found frequent expression. Always they had by them some book of slight es- pense but ofintrinsic value, to be given as a guide to the young, the ignorant, and the tempted. Cordials, also, and simple medi- cines for debility, or incipient disease, they distributed to the poor; for they were skill- ed in extracting the spirit of health from herbs, and a part of the garden, cultivated by their own bands, was a dispensary. Kind, loving, words had they for all—the fullness of their heart's content brimmin over in bright drops, to refresh those around.

That venerable old man, and vigorous-— his temples slightly silvered, when more than fourscore years had visited them, how freely ﬂowed forth the melody of his leading voice, amid the sacred strains of public worship ! His favourite tunes ofMear and Old Hundred, wedded to these simple sub- lime words,

" While shepherds watched their ﬂocks by night,” and— “ Praise God. from whom all blessings flow,"

seem even now to fall sweetly, as they did upon my childish ear. These, and similar ancient harmonies, mingled with the devout prayers that morning and evening hallowed hisliomc and his comforts; she, the loved partner of his days, being often sole audi- tor. Thus, in one censer, rose the praise, which every day seemed to deepen. God's goodness pulled not their spirits, because it had been long continued. They rejoiced that it was “ new every morning, and fresh every evening.”

By the clear wood-ﬁre in winter, sat the aged wife, with serene brow, skilfully busy in preparations or repair of garments, as perfect neatness and economy dictated; while, by the evening lamp, her bright knitting-needles moved with quickened speed, as she remembered the poor child, or wasted invalid, in some cold apartment, for which they were to furnish a substan- tial covering.

In the latter years of life, their child- less abode was cheered by the presence of a young orphan relative. She grew under their shadow with great delight, conforming her pliant heart to their wishes, and to the pattciu of godly simplicity. When they were seated together, she read to them such books as they chose, and treasured their Clnistian counsel Her voice in the morning was to them as the carol of the lark, mid they seemed to live again a new life in her young life She was to them “ like the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley.”

_ Love for the sweet helplessness of unfold- lng years, seemed to increase with their own advancing ago. Little children, who know by instinct where love is, would draw near them, and stand lamb-like at their side. Thus they passed on, till more than ninety years had been numbered to them. They were not weary of themselves, or of each other, or of this beautiful world. Neither was time weary of bringing them, letter by letter the full alphabet ofa serene happi- ness, and when extreme age added the Omega. they were well-educated to begin the bliss of eternity.

PASTURAGE.

ONE hundred and ﬁfty acres of excellent PAS- TURE, well shaded and watered, at WlI|Il°°

Barton, Wiiisloe Road. Apply to Joint '1‘. ltonn.

on the premises. or to _ ruowts itooD._ Buckley Point Road, June, 4th‘ 1855. 4'1