The Present State of Australia

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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . google . com/ I'ff'illiii.ii'iftiiii.iiilliiilllJ THE PRESENT STATE" OF AUSTRALIA, - INCLUDING NEW SOUTH WALES, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA AND NEW ZEALAND, WITH PRACTICAL HINTS ON EMIGRATION: TO WHICH ABE ADDED THE LAND REGULATIONS, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE ABORIGINES AND THEIR HABITS. BY •"•*'. HENRY MELVILLE, • ' *, MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS A RESIDENT IN THE DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS. ." . LONDON: G. WILLIS, GREAT PIAZZA, COVENT GARDEN. 1851. T AUSTRALASIA AND EMIGRATION. THE PRESENT STATE OF THE COLONIES OF NEW SOUTH WALES, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA,— VICTORIA, AND NEW ZEALAND. PRISON DISCIPLINE, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR OBVIATING THE DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE TRANSPORTATION OF CONVICTS; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PENAL SETTLEMENT OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. LAND REGULATIONS AND ABORIGINES; WITH APPENDIX. a TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EAEL GREY, HER MAJESTY'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES, THIS WORK ON AUSTRALASIA AND PRISON DISCIPLINE, IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS LORDSHIP'S MOST OBEDIENT AND HUMBLE SERVANT, HENRY MELVILLE. PREFACE. THESE pages contain a descriptive account of the present state of the Australasian Colonies. Persons who may be de sirous of settling in these Antipodian countries, will find the chapter on " Emigration," well worth their perusal; and the " Land Regulations " will afford them every information that can be obtained, respecting the manner in which that description of property may be acquired. A residence of more than twenty years in the different settlements, has enabled the writer to become well versed in all subjects relating to them. Not only has he dwelt in most of the colonies he has described, but, throughout the greater portion of the time, he has been connected with the public press, and has, consequently, procured much authentic information that could not be collected by persons differ ently situated. This is not his first appearance before the British public, having, subsequently to the year 1830, for warded from Van Diemen's Land to England, several works for publication, all of which were most favourably spoken of by the reviewers,—and, what was still more gratifying, were well received by the public. \ PEEFACE. Haying had many convicts assigned to his service during the whole of his long residence in Van Diemen's Land, the author had means of judging what plan could be most advantageously adopted to ensure the enforcement of prison discipline. The suggestions he has offered " to ob- " viate the difficulties attending the transportation of con victs," he recommends with the utmost confidence, certain that, if the system proposed be effectively carried out, it must save a very considerable annual expenditure of British funds, whilst, at the same time, it would be beneficial to the free colonists of Van Diemen's Land; and, as re gards convictism, it would render transportation an example to the multitude, and afford a certain prospect of reformation to the offenders. London, Slst December, 1850. CONTENTS. CHAPTEB I. PAGE Origin of Banishment—Transport Traffic—Slavery—African Penal Stations found to be ill adapted—Proposed Settle ment on the Eastern Coast of New Holland—Departure of the First Fleet—Arrival at Botany Bay—Removal to Sydney Cove—The Natives—First Punishment of Convicts—Cul tivation at Farm Cove and Rose Hill—Norfolk Island taken possession of—Scarcity of Food at the Stations—Wreck of the Frigate Sirius—Arrival of the Second Fleet .... 1 CHAPTER II. New South Wales—Port Jackson—Statistics—Military—Climate — Sydney — Electric Telegraph recommended — Publie Buildings—Hyde Park—Government Domain and Gardens —The Cove—The Corporation—The Market—Boiling down Establishments—Fruits—State of Society 21 CHAPTER III. WBSTBBN AUSTBALIA.—Boundaries— The Swan or Perth—King George's Sound—Present Prospects more favourable—Mines —Pearl Banks—Woods for Exportation—Military Station in the Territory—Included in the Australian Charter . 48 Xll CONTENTS. PAGE SOUTH AUSTRALIA. — Establishment— Statistics — Climate — Population—Exports and Imports—Colony well suited for Emigration—City of Adelaide—Manufactures—Difficulties attending the First Settlements 55 VICTORIA.—Discovery of Port Phillip—Collins' Visit—Buckley— Settlement in 1835—Loss of Gellibrand and Hesse—Statis tics—Earl Grey returned as Member—Geelong—Melbourne —Railroad from Williams' Town recommended . 62 NEW ZEALAND.—The Three Islands described — Verdant appearance—Missionaries of former times—Company's Char ter virtually defunct — Aborigines — Productions—Wood, Flax, &c.—Stock—Food of all kinds—Canterbury Settlement 79 CHAPTER IV. Emigration—Cockatoo Gaol Birds—Opposition to the Convict system—Reasons why it is desirable that Emigration should be conducted extensively—Wealthy Emigrants—The Poor —Education in the Colonies—Evils of the present Emigra tion system—Different plans—A Squatter's life—Natives in the Bush 87 CHAPTER V. Convictism—Public Meeting—Colonists have power to uproot the present system—Old Assignment plan—Probationers— Exiles—Indulgences explained—Comptroller-General's de partment — Sheep Farms — Ship-Building and Washing Establishments 121 CHAPTER VI. Secretaries of State for the Colonies should not be removed with the Ministry — Penal Stations — Hobart Town Stations — Value of Convict Labours-Trial of a Yellow Jacket—Sum mary Justice—Martial Law recommended for all Convicts —Chain-Gangs 151 CONTENTS. XU1 CHAPTER VII. PAGE Proposals for obviating the difficulties attending the transpor tation of -convicts to Van Diemen's Land—The Home Government saved a very considerable annual expenditure— The Colonists benefited, and the offenders reformed . 183 CHAPTER VIII. Van Diemen's Land—Statistics—First Settlement at Bestdown— Hobart Town—New Norfolk—Death of Collins—j^lonel Davey — SorelTs Administration—Colonel Arthur—Bush- ranging—Succeeding Governors '. 197 CHAPTER IX. Population—Description of the City of Hobart—Its Environs— Launceston—The Sorrel Weed—Townships of the Interior —Church—College—Public Schools—Asylum for Insane Convicts 223 CHAPTER X. Revenue—Blue Book—No Taxes in the Colony—Imports—Dis tillation—Duties—Jonathan's Trading—Real Value of Land —British Banks Injurious — Currency — Manufactures— Exports—Woollen and Paper Factories required .... 243 CHAPTEB XL The Public Departments, and the inutility of some of them— The Expense of the Local Government compared with that of South Australia—The Iniquities of the Law—Equity Side—Civil Proceedings 271 CHAPTER XII. English Appearance on Arrival—Society—People proverbially Charitable—Respectability of the Freed Population—The

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