14 November 1872

We found an Exhibition was opened for the reception of things for the Vienna Exhibition of 1873. It appeared like new life to find a Band playing, and ladies walking in holiday costume. We were struck with the quality of the Australian Wines, but much choicer qualities are to be page 106 Produced by care in selection and mixture by Wine Merchants, especially if the processes I have seen in Germany, but more particularly at Bordeaux and at ?, are adopted. I have no doubt the Wines can be blended to a uniform quality – at present every grower makes his own and nothing is sure. The manufacture of cheese and butter in diary produce is spoiled exactly in the same way. The application of the process of butter making as in Holland would remedy this and be of enormous value to the Agriculturalist. The price of labor for 8 hours (the legal day) is rather higher than in New Zealand.

The Yarra River above Melbourne runs alongside the Public Gardens, which are very pretty and afford a lounge for the people which would be most enjoyable but for the mosquitoes.