Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/55

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MELBOURNE AND ITS ENVIRONS IN 1855.

those of Vauxhall and Cremorne Gardens in London, where dancing for the million, and the terrible descents amid coruscations of fireworks of "Joe il Diavolo" attract numerous visitors.

Not the least singular sight in Melbourne, and one which soonest attracts the attention of new arrivals, is the long procession of water-carts in early morn en route in Elizabeth-street to the temporary waterworks near the Hobson's Bay Railway Terminus. Here a private company supply water at so much per cask, which is distributed throughout the city and its suburbs, at prices ranging according to distance. A more complete system of supplying water will, shortly come into operation, as a capacious reservoir has been constructed on the eastern hill, which will be supplied from the Government Waterworks, at the eastern end of Flinders-street. And great will be the improvement on the old system; for the time is not far distant when the city will be amply supplied from the other great reservoir now being constructed at Yan Yean, eighteen miles from Melbourne, which will derive an unlimited supply of fresh pure water from the river Plenty. As the elevation of this reservoir is considerably above the level of the most lofty buildings in the city, the water can be laid on to the upper storeys of houses. Melbourne requires to be drenched with water to keep down the dust raised by the increasing traffic in its streets, and an attempt is being made to effect this with the "down-with-the-dust" carts.