7 f PAST AND PRESENT
w P: C O R D s
or NEWCASTLE,
•ISAAT" SOCTTS: "W^A^XJISS,
BY
,1 () U N BT^ii^LK,
NEWt)AS'l LE : PAYl, ET, SON, AND HARWOOD, ril.OT OFFICE anS'lKR-fftBKET.
\iQ^-
PAST AND PRESENT
EECORDS
OF NEWCASTLE,
NEW SOUTH WALI^S,
BY
JOHN SINGLE^
fffiWCASTLE BAirtirr, SON, AND HARWOOS*, PILOT 0»FIC», HWKTER-STRKET/
187*
NEWCASTLE,
NEW SOUTH WALES
TUE DISCOVERER.
A SKETCH of thi3 discoverer's career may be the rae3ns of h.anding Ma?tinique, the frPeaades, an([ the other islands vrVitch wefs taeu .saptHred. In 1763, he was promoted co the ratiic of Lieutenant by AdtttiFal Svraatoii. siuci* which peri'jd ke has always been em» ployed la HS'Hve and inipirtant services. During tkn !*te wa,r, fl,ad foreoiwe tiiJe afterwards, h(» was chieflv ^imployed ingoing i^am A-meriea, excspfc In the year !782, when he was appointed to enmm%tkd fch« fccaftsnafti with the 97th R.wt on hoard, destined /np fche relief of Gibrnitsr, under convoy «f H^M.S. Cerberus and Apollo. H« was aot only ancce^sfnl in getting alt the transports in eafuW. h«f; he als'* landed tlse men without auy loss. "On Lwiitenaat i^hortland's return home from this .service, ia «ade<»voiiiring fca sr^t fchvough the Out. of Gihpajtar in the night, ha w^aa/?h»aed by «, Bq't idna of Soanish frigates, wha took three of the fcr!^n«)>«>ft8 in eompiinv, lint he was so fortunate as to escape iii ltfee B^tey feFainspirt, and arrived in England wifchont either loss or d*«na2<>!, in the vear 1786, he w^>si appointed ag©at to the *raB«ir»9rfc3 aont Hw th** (livcrnm'^nt fco Nftw South Wales, at whicli f)!ace iie arpivod (n Jinuary iT8S. After remaining six month* «t the nev asttlement in F >rt .faekson, lie was ordered to England tijT »-^(7 «f SitivU. by His E)ceelleney Governor Phillip, vho ii'Jttored Sum •wiffe <;h<8 o^eial dispitehes foi the (S-overninent, aad lie aMred Jn Engkni OR the 29ik May, 1789. ''TW* «HBjtw»ry reeii)ifciil'Hif>n of Mr, Shortlaad's services suS' Ostitis' ^(t'mta fliit Jiiii njftrifc *ri(i ahitity asi arj eyperieneed seaman, ©KSCWKST OT TUB HUWTES RtVEH. '^^^rt M^^.tvsir^ of fctte Hmnic? R'ver. by Lieut. Shrtrtland of M-M..^. 'Udtfin,",'.. fteeiarped on i6th S«p<-.enaher, 1757. Lient, ^horftJEtrid »-»frt<»(»e(I«d in hi* wfiatft haat in seareh of jfifine ef»nviets •wlia |,!^4 aetzed «ffid triin awav with one of ihe feoi^t Gaverntnent tMMtta iia,«i«e(i tfce Cwin'bertnn'l, Ahrklrjment of General Orders, Puhl'tshed by Aut/writy, '• Newcastle.— Regulations for vessels going to.—The coal and timber the eifcinsive property of the Crown. No vet^sel to proceed thither without a liccLibe from the Governor's Secretary. Tiie owners to enter mtu recog- uizances, themselves in £10l), and two sureties in £i5 each, to observe as follows : First, to take a regular cleaiauce from ihe IS aval Officer . Second, 10 procure cedar and coils as directed by ihe coiumaiidaut, and not to interlere witu people at public labour ; not to be troublesome or riotous, not Io disregard any order issued by the Govefiior or Commandant, on pain of penalty levied, and ves.sel ordered to depart ; no person on arriving Io leave ihe vessel until enteied, and the Conimuudaiit's permission received to load ; to use only one kind uf basket, to contain lUO weignt of coali, lor ii.e.,sijring in and out of the vessel by ; to } The G()vii-nm,"!nt colonial brig Ellzntbelh tflenrlette viHitcl i!i*? poft in July, 1816, and was unfortunately u[iset at her rnooriiu'^ in the harbour ; a Mr."?. Koss and one man were drowned. In tin.- Rume vea.sel in September, 1818, Governor Macquari« paid a vist, to the settlement, and inspected the Public Building-J and Couvici«. In 1819 the fir.st vessel built on the Hunter, the '• rrincp.sn Chur. htle," was launched, and in the January following Commissioner Higge, who had been specially sent by the Home authority to en quire into the working and nxpenditure ot Governor .Macquarie's Government, paid the town a visit in the same vessel, and was much pleased and astonished at tlie Rjilendid discipline he tound under Major Morrisett'« Government. In the month of December, 1821, I first visited Newcastlf! in command of R. .M. C. Sloop Hally, on a voyage to examine and finish the coast survey be•< tween Sydney and Torres Straits, especially Moreton IJay ; and my report of-its capabilities being considered favourable, Mr. Oxiey, the Surveyor Guneral, was sent to select and establish the settle- ment. Although upward of .'")0 years have elapsed since, there ia not eifaced from my memory the impression then made. I had never visited a Convict settlement, or seen arbitrary power carried to .such an extent. Perhaps it was necessary for the safety of the settlement that such severe discijiline atid puoishments should be adopted, but to a stranger's eyo it seemed very un-Kaglish. Walk ing out with the Commandant to see the beauties of the harbour, the splendid ocean view, and above all the magnificent and nn- rivalled prospect from the cliurch clo.se, and to give mean idea of the awe in which he was held, 1 tound no convict passed us walking ; all drew up, head uncovered, long before we r.-^ached them, and every coal cart drew up and stopped. Soon after this, the year following, the. Hunter lliver was thrown open to Free Settlers, and the banks of both the Hunter, Patterson, and Willi.ams were soon alive •with free emigrants, and as a matter of course, the great severity of the e.'tablishment moJihed under the mild sway of Sir Thomas Brisbane's Government. In 1823, Sir Thomas Brisbane, paid the town a visit in H. M. S. Satellite, Captain Ciirrie, the first ship of war that had honored Newca-stle with a vivic. At this lime the -Hunter River District was (araed fiv ;iu t wide tor locating the res pectable .settlers, who were arriving in Sydney by vessels, entirely loaded with goods and passengers direct from the United Kingdom, and to meet their wants the Government had given permission to the writer to build a vessel expressly adapted to the trade, which, . called the ^c/i/).9o, and commanded by Captain Livingstone, late Harbour Master of the Port of Newcastle, was eminently suited to the carrying of passengers and the trade of the Port, There was thus opened up a regular meaM of eomm-iinicatton with, a^ ' P' ply of coals, grain, and timber for, the Sydney mafhet, ^"j^®*" , '^ Government protection and patron-.tge. In consideration '^^ ' ^ y granted to my partner and myseli the tirst two town altotmcnt* measured in the city, a survey at that time being made by Mr, Surveyor Henry Dangar. This document is ol sufficient importance to have a i>lace IK these annals. It speaks for itself, pointing out how few were the free privileges enjoyed by Englishmen iu this country at thafr period of her history. Colonial Secretary's Office, 23rd July, 1S22. GBHTLEMES,-*! am directed by His Excelleiioy Sir Thos. Brisbane, in? reply to jour filemorial, to convey t» yon his periaisaion to buiM a vegael of 60 tons in Port Jackson. On your executing a Bond tcobserse the liroal regulations of the settle* ment at Newcastle, the Surveyor General will be instructed to mark ouS and give you possession of town allotn>ents at that p-lace, tic enaibls yott tc •stablish yourselves a» Trade»'8 and M erchants. I am, Gent emea, Youi sbidient servanl;, F. GOULBtTRN, Colocial Secretary, To Messrs. JoHSS BlNOtS, and KO*ERT COBAN DILLON, Sydney. In 1824 the Eclipse was cut out by a gang of con^victs, and fiiffi away with, and nothing was ever more beard of her, or her crew p and the English cutter Lord Liverpool was craployed under ther command of Captain Livingstone, to continue the trade, mntil th«r arrival of Captain Biddulpb in the steamer Sophia Jane at New castle, J>ine 28th, 183], which with the steamer ^fismar, arrived from Tasmania and commenced a daily trade between Sydney^ Newcastle, and Morpeth. These were the Pioneer steamers eonvey-' ing the prodnce of the early settlers to Sydney. A company wa* formed called the Australian Company. Thev bongbt tber steamers in 1833, adding the William IV to- the fleet, and earriecJ on for a short time^ when the Company merged itself into the A.S.N, Company, established in 1841. Thi.'j Company had built in England three steamers for the trade. The Hose; Shamrock andl Thistle. These all ran successfully for years, and as they became ol<{ were replaced by others of larger dimensions. In 1844 anothes" company was formed called the Hunter River ©team Navigation! Company. They brought into the trade three po«verful boats bnilfr in Enaland, named after our river and its tributaries, viz the Hunter, 'Williams, and Patterson. Tl>ey divided the trade with the" Old Company as they were called, and each continues their service' to thi» day. Both companies have inlroduned new and powerful KECORDS OF NEWCASTLE. 0 steamnrs a.s the trade increased. ISTewcattle has been most fortu nate in her steam fleet. The accommodation afforded to passengers in all their ve.isels is highly creditable to the companies, and their speed is far beyond what might be expected in so young a colony, and quite equal to similar lines in t]i« mother country. NAME. I am not aware that the nime of our city •was first given by any authority of the Government; and am inclined to think that it was called Newcastle by the unanimous voice of the people. For some time after its discovery it wag known as the Coal Hirer, but as its trade increased it was necessary that a name should be given and from the similarity of the river with that of the Tyne, and the mineral deposits also being alike, the name of Newcastle was naturally suggested and adopted. Mt. Burveyor Dangar, however, when marking out the town. Was not favourably imjiressed with the name by which it was gen erally known, and he, in a small work published by him, styled it King's Town. His authority, however, was not sufficient to over ride that of the inhabitants, and to few even now is either his book or the ptojected name of King's Town known ; and to show that no in tention was ever enfeitained of changing the n^me of the town, it will be seen from the fact that the letters patent granted by our most Gracious Qiioen to the jiresent Bishop of the See was under the style and title of the Lord Bishop ot Newcastle. TaE EARLY AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPEMEN'T OF ITS MINERAL WEALTU. UP to the year 1827, the Government were the sole producers of co.d, but in thit year they handed over the whole of the interest that they had vested in the trade to the A. A. Company, who at once commenced opeiations in a manner that was creditable both to the'r management and uieaiis, A ])it was sunk on the hill at the back of their present loading staiths. A temporary shipping place, where the vessels were moored to icceive their cargoes •was constiucted, and the means ot communication between the pit and place of shipment was by an inclined plane, and a wooden bridge, which crossed the road a little to the eastward of the 2)re" sent one, by which it was superseded in 1862. The conduct of the English Government in granting the Company such an area of mineral land and a monopoly on its production was then, and is now, the subject of complaint. This monopoly of the coal trade wan, however, terminated iu the year 1851 or 1852 by an action in the Supreme Court. 10 PAST AND PRESENT The Pit generally called the A Pit was worked for many years ; others were sunk as the trade increased. No. 2 Pit, which is now in full work, produc«» 600 tons of best screened coal for market every working day. _ The late Dr. Mitchell owned the adjoining properties and dis covered that it was equally rich in coal deposits, and that the upper seams could be worked at a trifling cost and without the expense ol sinking shafts. The Doctor requiring a road to his Bur wood Smelting Works, he engaged or contracted •with Messrs W. and J. Donaldson, to bore a tunnel through the Hill as a means of reach ing that establishment; without the circuitous route round the headland. Several persons at this time—Messis. Donaldson, Brown, Nott and Brown, rented part of Dr. Mitchell's estate for the pur pose of supplying coal to the shipping in the harbour. Horse teams for many months were employed in bringing it in for shipment, \intil the ahoye named gentlemen sold their-interest in the land to a company, named the Coal and Copper Company, •which comi menced operations in 1853. Their funds, by expensive railways, cut tings, and mismanagement, soon became exhausted, and their affairs wound up. The plant and expensive improTemeuts fell back in to the hands of Dr. Mitchell iu 1862. In that year the Scottish Australian Company -was brought into existence by gentlemen re* eliding in Scotland, and they have carried on a profitable trade. The Wallsend Company was started in Sydney, incorporated, and the first coal delivered and shipped January, 18G1. The coal stands A 1, and is in great demand in the foreign market. The Waratah Company is also a colonial company and w.is incorpora ted in the year 1863. New Lambton Pit, belonging to Messrs. J. and A. Brown, -was opened February, 1868; th^ir Co-operative Tunnel in 1863, but did not realise the expectation of the miners, who had embarked in the ^pecnlation, and it was sold to Messrs, Lftidley and Co. in 1869, -who now profitably work it. The A. A. Company 1 have already given. These collieries are all directly connected with Newcastle, and the progress that has been made during the last quarter of a century may be seen from the following returns. Tons. Vulne. In 18i9, the tot»l Coal raised was .,. 48,500 £14 000 18.57, ditto ditto ditto ... 210,400 148 200 1872, Aitto ditto ditto ... 6G5,69l "" 24i9n EARLT BECOLLSCTIONS OF NB^WWASTLE. So rapidly has the town grown, and its commerce increased that comparing the figure-^ which we have just quoted, its export of RECOUDS or NEWCASTLE. 11 505,994 tons valued at £243,911 10s. with the irapressioii which its a[>[)earance in 1821 created when I first visited it, I cannot venture to predict what a brilliant future there is for her yet in store. Then mo.st of the dwelliug.s were huts, inhabited by "short sentenced," men who li»d obtained their liberty by servitude, and by ticket of leavo holders, who obtained that iudulgence for good conduct. These were the only inhabitints, and obtained their living by keeping small shops. At this time the settlement was under martial l«w, and continued so until the laud fronting the river vtna taken up by settlers. The law was then modified so as to suit and adapt its working to the habits which are so dear to Englishmen, and also to bring it more into harmony with other parts of the colony with which trade was being exchanged., The appearance of the huts was most cleanly, for the inhabitants were under the orders ot ihe Comm*ndant, and when ho issued the word that the buildiugj were to be white-washed, the exterihr and interior of every building from Christ Church on the hill down to the humblest hut underwent the cleansing process. One of the oldest dwelling houses of that day, and at jiresent standing, is used as the Post-olhce. It was then occupied by the officer in charge of the Commis-iariat, and not the slightest change has taken place since I Ti»it poses of the old mill -.Thich was [lerfectly distinguished from the sumit of Mount Royal and was of great use as a fixed mark in surveying. Our parson, the Rev. G. A. Middleton, (who was an especial favorite with the blacks) started with myself with the whole tribe of upwards of one hundred (100) on a walking trip to Lake Mac- quarie ; our necessary supplies, blankets, etc., they carried on thair heads. On arrival I was enchanted with its beautiful scenery, and can never forget it, The whole surrounding country and lake were 14 PAST AND PRESENT serene and still, solitude reigned, no tree disturbed, and no trace of the white man's civilization, but all in its natural wild state. We enjoyed all the wild sports of Australian bush life in its primi tive state as the Abotigines of that day (befoie they were con taminated with our vices) were accustomed to enjoy them. Shooting, fishing, kangaroolng, and hunting—our game was ample for us all They supplied us also, by diving, with the finest mud oysters, lor which the waters of the Lake are noted, these we scal loped on our bush fires, and we spent five or six days of as much enjoyment as I ever had in any part of the world. NOBBT'S ISLAND, BEACON HILL AND SHIPPING DISASTERS, The iron gang and convict establishments at Newcastle, was broken up in 1855. They had been principally employed on the breakwater, under the direction and control of Col. Ewen McPherson, a fine old soldier, who died, after leaving, from old wounds, received in the first New Zealand war, in 1854, when serving in H.M. 99th Kegt. He was a member of the Bench of Magistrates, and much respected. On his leaving he was pre sented by the townspeople, with a farewell address, and some handsome silver plate in recognition of his services. The Government at one time acting upon the suggestion of Col. BArney, of the Boyal Engineers, intended to remove Nobby's by blasting, but the citizens becoming aware of their design a public meeting was held in the Court House, on the 21st June, 1854, to petition the Legislative Assembly, to inquire into the particulars of the intention of the promoter?, and with a prayer that the ill-advised measure be frustrated. The citizens having taken this public step considered that their prayer would receive the atten tion it demanded; However, it was a false delusion, for Col. Burney, the promoter of the sofceme, was not to be daunted, but pushed on the excavation of the chambers for destroying the ill- lated Island, as it was called, and throwing it into the sea. Several of these chambers were completed, and filled with (I am afraid to say how many tons of) gunpowder sufficient not only to blow up Nobby's, but to seriously injure the city, and a day was fixed for the greac display. Fortunately for the citizens the inten tion was known, but only a few days before it was to havei been an accomplished fact, Mr. Thorn, of Prince Alfred notoriety, visited the writer, and entered fully into his views on the matter and on his return to Sydney, at his request, called upon the Governor, inducing him to postpone the day. By this at first sight triyial incident the destruction of Nobby's -was abandoned, l^j^,^^ on board the Governor Arthur for Newcastle. There vvei's several other passengers beside myself, the Revs. Mr. Adair and Sister, Mr. Frank Allman, Mr. Jas, Scott, who was going to superintend Col. Duraaresque's estate in my neighbourhood, and many others. Our passage was tedious, and during the last night of our voyage, after retiring to rest, I felt the vessel strike heavily, and immedi. atel)- ran on deck, when 1 found the cafdain and crew in the greatest state of alarm and disorder, so much so that the Captain entreated me to act for him and assume the command, as he was perfectly unable to retain it, and he would willingly act under my rrders; my only alternative was S?.n'" ']j VT' ''"''I'f' ^ I""''^'^^ ^'°°'^' containing £200 or XM[) He did so, and I was amply repaid for all the exertions KKCOEDS OF .XEWCASTLiC. il \lned in savinj; him, and it was a standing joke against him iint the day of his death. Whilst reterring to these early shipiiing disasters we are re minded of tho.se which occurred duringa gale which raged with nvnit. fury on July 19th 18G6, 11 is gt'ueiully known as tiie Cawarra gale. I>rt;ydtul locises were sustained, tjve ves.s'-ls wrecked amongst which was the ill-fated Cavmrru, Cajitain Chattield. Being partly disabled near Port Stejdiens on lii-r wav to the noith- erii ports, she ran for shelter (it is suppnsed) to our ii.-iibour, and succeeded in Crossing tlie I'ar ; at that time the sea was breaking ill liightiul toilers, l.ut from her larneness, want of steam, and the heavy Ire.sli setting out of the harbour, was drawn dack, in and out of the breakers, for nearly an hour in sight of the town. lluuilreds ol citizens lined the shores witne.ssing this awful tragedy, and ivere powerless to render her or the crew and passengers the least assistance. At length after a very hard and maiilv struggle she fouuilered with all her crew and j'assengers, numbering nearly one hundred (100), one man excepted, who was picked up by one of the lighthouse ket jiers in a small dingy. Thirty-seven bodies were recovered, that of Cajitaiu Lhailield beiug one of the first found, and they weie MU deposited in the dead house of the hos- jiital, wher'-i a Coronei''s enquiry was held. At a' jiublic funeral which took [ilac-e the lecovered bodies were buried in a large grave known as tie Cawarra grave. It vvas a sad and solemn spectacle to to witness ti'enty-three coffins placed in a circle loiinJ the door of the oh' chuich, and as we looked upuu them, we had but to raise our eyes, and see the spot where the ill-fated vessel foundered. Never was our mind more affected than when the bodies were lowered into their last resting place, and theie was «aid the words of our incomparable church service—'• Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, in the sure and certain hope ot the resur rection to eternal lite through our Lord Jesus Christ." t)ther bodies were afterwards picked up, and buried in the same srravA whilst those ot three were claimed bv friends and buried in Sydney. On the Cawarra day there was wrecked the William Watson, Seayidl, Mary Hose, and Arthur. For more ample particulars we refer the reader to the appendix. VISIT or PRIiNCE ALFRED. The greatest event of the year [868, was the visit to our ci»y of H. K. H. Prince Alfred, accompanied by His Excellency Karl 18 PAST AXD PKESENT Belmore, the Governor. 'I iiey arrived late at night on the Itii March, 1868, and on the following morning, the 5th, the public landing took place, a triumphal aich of coal from on- mines, wim erected, and other suitable preparations made to receive him. All the public bodies weie in attendance, and he was received with great eclat, an address was read and presented to him on the VVhaif, after which, conveyed in a special train, he paid a hurried visit to the coal mines. i:leturiiing at noon, he held a levee at llie Great Northern Hotel, and any who liked to present themselves—the washed and the unwashed —with cards and without, were received, ami as may be supposed there was a great rush, and put poor Lord Belmore quite in the shade. After the levee, the Prince and his .suite went np. the river in n steame." to Morpeth, and returned to a late dinner at the hotel. At night the town was partially illuminated, and a great display of fiteworks was made, accompanied by tl.o con- siant firing ot guns and other suitable rejoicings. Early ou the 6th, the party started by special train to Maicland to open the Agricultural Show, the members of that body entertaining him and his suite at a public luncheon, given in their best style. He also held a levee and then went on by train to bingleton. Alter making a very flying visit of it, he arrived iu ^Newcastle by 3 p.m., and immediately proceeded to Sydney, where he had (iromised to dine that evening with some public body. Quly six days after all this excitement, that is on the 12th, His Royal Highness was struck down by the hand of an assassin at a pic-iiic giveu at Clontarf in aid (>f the funds of the .Sailors' Home. WHARVES, AS THEY WERE AND ARE. The only jetty in early days was situated at the botto m of Watt street, and was bu: a poor specimen of engineering skill. It re sembled those on the banks of the river, used for private landing pkces for the settlers, and to which they moored their market boats. Watt-street was lengthened by casting'ballast into the river, and the wooden jetty was extended to allow small vessels to load and unload their cargoes. There was very little improvement in wharf accommodation until the railway was begun in 1855 In 1858 it became necessarv to reclaim the land on which to erect the Railway Terminus, and to lay down the numerous sidings to facilitate the shipment of coal. The sand from the Sand Hills •was tiollied down the space over which the tide flowed up to the upper line of Scott.street, and was til'ed up in a line as 1 a- as the , i!i;(oi;us 01' xi;v,r.\sir,i;. 19 Market Whaif. During the time these works were carried on, the front was beiii^ piled and planked, until the long line of wharf, svliich we now pos.sess, was recialnied from the Injrbour Steam cranes ware erected, a raihvay laid down, ships wore enable! to lie alongside, ]ierfectly protected from storms with a de[)th of water ranging from 13 to 20 feet. These improvements were all efllected upon what may be termed the low level ; hense every vxaggon or box of coa' rhipped, has i.nd must be lifted from the wheels upon which it is conveyed, and placed over the «hip's hatchway liefore it can be emptied. Staiths, at a great outlay, have been erected, to the west of the wharf, but there is not such a dejith of water there as at the CDine.". These staiths may be styled the high level, high not; only iu appearance, but in cost. This outlay is supposed V>y some to be exclusively drawn from the general revenue of the colony. But we are bold to say that most of the improvoinencs which have been inadi' in thi? liarVjour of Newcastle, to improve our .shipping,' facili ties, have lieen collected in tonnage and ])ilot dues, with other port charges, made xipon vessels visiting here, and, although thus a great deal has been acc'inipli-,lie Here is a plan vhich would give us an increa.se ot harbour accommodation, to the extent ot 140 or 150 acres, berthing upwards of 30 additional ships of 1500 tons register tcmnage. If it was considered necessary by the Government for the benefit of the colony to make harbours, artificial pier.s, and Breakwaters where nature has .shewn neither design nor nece.ssity for them, and tlie.se at an enormous outlay, and if it was also considered necessary by Government to construct miles of railway, at the expense of millions, for which there is not. nor will be, for years, a return, how much more is it tlieii duty to form for us a dock or basin, to carry on our trade -and to rid our city already too limited in area, of a nuisance which contracts it, and all of which could be done without any loss to the colony whatever. If every consumer of our coal, (for they are the proper persons to tax—not the producer, who gives his wealth, nor the ship that carries it, but the con sumer who uses it), was taxed through our Custom House say 2(1. *)>or ton, a revenue of .£10,000 annually at our present rate of shipment 25,000 tons per week would yield ainjile funds to pav interest on debentures which might be issued, say from £200,000 to £250,000 as a commencement of the undertaking, 1 have given n»y opinion freely on the wants and improvements' t)f the Harbour, and recommend the construction of Docks as a Go- «\;ernment undertaking, I feel myself called upon to suggest the fol lowing ])lan by which the Government would be reim>)ursed for so large an outlay My iiropositiou is this, viz., that GrOvernine!! t debentures at a long date bearing 5 per cent, should be issued, the interrs' on which would be paid by the small duty already referred to, of one or two pence per ton on all coal exported collected by -the Customs, which would not be on the' shipping, but on the merchant who would sell accordingly, this iriflin" advance could not be considered a hardship or detriment to the Port, as this We coiiinii lid tills proposal to those who are in authority, ami iiie convinced that it would not onlv Le a boon to Newcastle, pur chased and secured by h^roun wealth, without infringing upon anVj of the privileges or any person; and would also, tie an undertaking of which our Colouy iii ght be proul, and would would win lor her more renown than the engineering skill and money which has been expeniled in the construction of a zig-zag. INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. A str-ang»Ar to the early history of Newcastle, and looking upon it now with its increasing trade, would, perhaps, lie led to condemn the non-existence of such institutions as a Chamber of Commerce, Kxchanne and Reading liooui, ifcc. ,tfcc.,—institutions which ire es sential to a well regulated commercial community. But their ab sence among us must not be attributed to any want of spirit O.A the part of early citiz'-ns, for a Chamber of Commerce was estab lished in iVlay, 1856, and succeeded admirably in all its important undertakings. At that time the trade of the port was in its in- taiicy, and required every effort of the Chamber to establish it iu the eyes of the world as a free port and commodious harbour, as well as to regulate its internal commercial arrangemeius. Of, course there were jealousies of a rising port SO near head quarters, and it was no trifling matter to contend against these and other difficulties. The Governiiient were induced by the Chamber to )j;raut the citizens in perpetnitv (35) thirty-five acres of laud as a riicreation ground in the most delightlul and picturesque part of Newcastle from the top of Watt-street i-ound the Horse Shoe to the Obelisk. Thev also procured the site for the present Post- office, and its adjoining allotment for an Exchange building, when the subscrihei's were prepared with funds and the wants of the city required it. The (Tovernuieut architect has been allowed by the Mayor and Corporation (who woi'e aware of the a[)propriation, as well as fr'oiii the officially [lublished chart of the town from the ^urveyor-Genei'al's Othoe) to build on the site a Telegraph and Post-office, thereby depriving the citv of what had been granted to it. The commencement of the wharves and manv other mercantile advantages originated with the Chamber of Commer'ce, and it also exerted itself most strenuously to obtain a local Trinity or Pilot and Uarliour Board for the management of and to supply the local wants of the ])ort, so that it would be jnder their control and direc tion. 'Idiey succeeded in obtaining this from the Government, and a list ot nauticiil gentlemen was forwarded from which they would select tlios! they considered best adapted to pi-omote the welfare 22 PAST AND PBESENT and interest of the port, but unfortunately at that jiincture an uu . expected change in the Minisiry took iilace ; they resign'" Pilot and Harbour Board, Chan.'.ber of Commerce, Newcastle. .June 30th, 1857. StB.—As Chairman of tliG Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, and in confor mity with a resolution of the (yoniinittee of that body, I beg "respectfully to submit to the Tiotico ol the Government the ur^^ent reces.sity which exists of a local board with power to direct the matters ooncerninc; the Port, in order to its triide for the improved regul.ations of its pilotap;e and ha'-bour generally. Experience has ,hown that the intentions of the Government for the im provement of the port of Newcastle, have been hitherto rendered ineffective by the difficulties which must always occur in directing and supervising the .aff EXCHANGE. The Exchange and Reading Room, with offices and shipping books similar to Lloyd's in London, was estab ished at the same time as the Chamber of Commerce, May 1856, and destroyed in 1850 as 1 have just stated. The reading room was open to visitors, with a secretary, Mr. J. Wright, always in attendance, and cap tains after introduction were allowed its use, and were s.ipplied with cohiuial and foreign newspapers, the periodicals of the day, and other local information. The tire already referred to destroyed all the maps, books and jiapers. It was a great loss to the town and to the snipping masters, as it was intended to be a place of meeting at a certain houi'" of the di-iy for all the mercantile and trading community, also a rendezvous for captains to facili tate their commercial transactions. If such a convenience Was considered necessary at that time, with a more limited commerce than now, and such facilities were afforded the citizens and their constituents through the influence of the Chamber of Commerce 17 years ago—surely, uow, our necessities ar'e greaoer, and it behoves our citizens to stir themselves. An energetic movement should be made to establish a similar insii- tution, as the requirements of the trade and shipping demand, havi; increased tif such an unprecedented extent. Soon after the forma tion of the Exchange, and when in working order, they apiilied to the Government to allot them a (liece of land for the erection of a suitable building, which was given at the ijame time the ])ost- ofiice site was selected, and the adjoining allotment to il wa.s given as the site ot an Exchange, and \>as marked so on an othcial Goveriuntiut chart, issuetl from the Surveyor General's oHice, Sydney, and dated July 1860. A number of these charts were sent to Mr. Baker, the Clerk of the Court, to be disposed of to the inhabitants of the town- On the first movement to erect the Telegraph and Post-office the writer made it his business to see the Mayor ftlr. llaiinell, and for him to bring it under the Consideration of the Town Council to protest against the land so giveu and charted lor Town jiurposes, being used for any other than the erection of an Exchange and Chamber of Commerce. No 24 PAST AND PRESENT steps were taken I believe l.y that body and thus a largJ portion of the land 1 elonging to the City has been mis-approprialed l^otie injury of the commercial interests ot the Town. Ihe Municipal Council were the projier authorities to upP^**'! *"'' when the Committee applied for the land to be placed in the hands of Trustees, the Government of that day ajiplied to the Chamber to supply them with the names of gentlemen for in sertion in the grant. All this was attended to, l>ur in the mean time the Munici[)al body was created, and then the Chamber was informed that all public grants connected with the town would be issued to them, thus no more was done. It was most unfortunate •when the building was destroyed by tire that all the papers and documents wete burnt, those especially beating on this subject among the number ; but most fortunately the doings of the Chamber were refiorted in the Telegraph, the local paper of that day; and also three of the lettf-rs ])ublished in the Chronicle'by one of the Aldermen will speak for themselves. Letter addressed to the Newcastle Chronicle, published 15th March, 1865. THE RECREATION RE ^,ERVE. SIR,—In compliance with your request, I herewith enclose you the three documents which I wish should be reail by the Town Clerk, at the metting of the Municijial Council Ust Monday night. I stated that on their being read I should move that they be received and referred to the Reserve Committee. Ob jections were m,ade on their being read, and the Mayor having ruled that they should not be, I consequently failed in making them the property of the Council which 1 was very anxious to do, believing them to be imiJortaiit documents, and that ou public grounds they should be in the hands of the Municipality. The first letter proves the origin and objects of the grant, and the rei>ly to the second proves who were intended as Trustees, viz., the Municipal Council. You are at liberty to make what use of them you think proper, and then return thera to me. I have kept them for six years. Twice have I offereil them to the Newcastle Municipal Council, the third time ] hope they will receive them—thi? jilot thickens.—Yours, &o., THOMAS ADAM. Newcastle, March 14th, 186-5. ColoniaL Secretary's Office, Sydney, 10th September, 1856. GENTLEMEN,- His Exccdlency, the Governor General, has laid before the Executive Council your memorial, prayi-.g that the remaining unaltered portion of the " Newcastle City Extension Reserve" may be granted, and placed in trust for the inhabitonts ot Newcastle, to be appropriated for "the lurpose of recreation, and forming a reservoir. 2. His Excellency in Council has under the report on the subject received trom the Surveyor-General approved'of the land in question, containing aboutthiity-five acres, being permanently dedicated to the public purposes named m the memorial, of which that officer has been apprised. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant. To J- -Wright, Esq., and other gentlemen signing the Memorial," Newcastle. llEC<:>liDS 01' .N'KW'CASILE. ^•'j c )'r. • ^» wc-i*ti.i, 2')ih Suptomber, 18i)(), ?5ltt,--On behalf rf tho Memorialists, I b-!j to aoknowled:,':; the recei|it of joUr comimiiiicatioii of the lOth instant, announci'e.; oinpliance by bis E.xceln-ncy the Governor General in CouQcil, with the iirayer ol a memorial addressed to him from here, for il grant of the unalienate I pir'-iju of the Newcastle City Kxtensioii Iteilerve, for the public purposes therein mentioned. I am reciuested by the n.eraorialists to express the grat<-ful siMise tlioy entertain of the enlight ened liberality of his Kxcelloiicy the Governor (i-eneral and Council, wjiich has induced this important public boon, which it is tho earnest wish of the inhabit.mts of Newcastle, that they may be eiitbleif to soon adapt to the fm ^ portant objects, for which it has been so liberally granted ; and in requesting your conveyance of these feidings of the memori.iiists to his EvcpHency. I am desired to state their impression of the courteous manner in which, you have been plca.sed to cxpre.ss to them his E'Ccelleacy's iletermination. As bis Excellency's intention prob.vbly contemplates the no.nin ition from here of it number of gentlemen interested in the advancement of this city, and conse quently in tho promotion of the objects of th<' trust, to be appoio ted trustees ia the deed, 1 am requested to name the undermentioned, wlio would POt la that ca;iacity. The object in naming this number is to secure a more extended int rest and etticient action in carrying out the purposes of the grant. — I hava tho honor to be Sir, your most obedient servant, (Signed) SA.MUEL 'WUIGHT. IMemo of names submitted, Jtessrs. .John Rin'tle, R. Hudson, George TuUy, lionjamin Hislop, Simon Kemp, P. V. Hoswell, Thomas Ailani,and S. L. Wright. To the Honorable tho Colonial Secretary, Sydney, Colonial Secretary's >)ffice, Sydney, 21st Oct.ber, 18.5(5. Stii,~-With reference to your letter of the 20th ultimo, in which you submit tlie names of cfrtain gentlemen proposed as trustees to receiv.e a grant of thif land, recently appropriated as an extension reserve for the recreation and amusement of the inhabitants of the city of Newcastle. I am directed to inform you, that, in contemplation of the establishment of municipalities it is con* sidered proper to defer, for the present, the issue of a deed in this case. I am directed to add that the papers on this subject have now been transmi''ted to tho Secretary for Lands and Public Works, to whose department the business belongs, ami that any further communication which may be necessary, will be made to you from tho office of that Minister. — I have the bono r to be Sir, your must obedient servant. W. ELTAtU), SAMUEL WRIOHT, Esq., Newcastle, riiis correspondence does not directly apply to tho Exchange Clriiit, but to that of the Recreation groiiui'. They were both made at the same time, and both dealt with in liUn manner—• fiirthe"-, these letters prove that the city was indebted to tho Ciiinmittee's exertions for the Kecreation land, ami it is fortunate tJia"; othcial letter's have been preserved iu private lun'ls. The lime may como (it is to be hoiied .soon) when a suitable building may be required for,' an Exchange and Chamber' of Commerce, When it does, the Government may fairly be applied to tor another Kllotiuent in tho s[)are space I'eserved for the Custom house (m^ thoy have no land elsewhere in the town at their disposal) to re^ j»lac« the orijjinal one purloined for the Telegraph office. Thi» irt 2C P.4ST A.vn PKESEXT common justice they would feel bound to do, and redress the citizens lor a grievous and dishonest act that had been perpetrated on a former Government's generosity. I have gone fully into the sul)ject knowing there are few who are in possession ol these tacts 4fter the fire the subscribers were disheartened, and no attempc has since been made to r'eplace it. However, it is never too late to mend, so it is to be hoped that our influential cora- u.ercial men may throw all jealousies aside and bestir themselves in carrying out the views and intentions of their former beneiac- tors. To show the interest the Chamber of Commerce took in this matter. July 9th, 18G5. " The Chairman was requested to address the Government requesting the grant of a site in Hunter.street, for the erection of an Exchangf room for "the present and future accommodation of the trading community of Newcastle it appearinii; to the Committee desirabla t.hat^ the site should be secured while it .vas yet olitauiable in a central and convenient position." October 27th, 1857. *'The proceeilings of the prewous meeting having been read, a letter was read from the Under Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Otlice, acknowledging receipt of an application from the chamber for the grant of a site of land for an Exchange, which the letter stated had been referred to the Secretary for Land and Public Works. On this authoritv the Chairman said that, at an interview which he had had with the honorable the Colonial Secre tary, wheu recently in Sydney, the latter had promised that the block of unoccupied land in Hunter-street, from the Police Court to AVatt-street, would be granted for the purpose of an Exchange, a Post Office and Town Hall, and that, as regarded the first named, the chamber, therefore, now waited the IJroinised communication." November 28ch, 1857. " The Chairm.an reminded the Cnamber, that they had the promise of the honorable the Colonial Secretary of the grant of a site of land in Hu'.iter-street, near the Court House, for the erection of an exchange, and that as the last communication from the under Secretary, on this subject was dated the 1st C»ctober, it would be proper for the Chamber to now apply for the grant, which the Secretary was instructed to do actordingly." February 10th, 1858. "The Chairman said that the promise made by the honorable the present Colonial Secretary of a grant of land as a site for an Exchange was in course of fulfilment as he (the Chairman) had been applied to by the Colonial Architect on the subject who had since marked out the land." Harbour Pilot Board. March Slst, 1858 —" The Chairman said that the Chamber had again to ap proach a question, which, as a first cause was the most important of aU, and which formed the root of all the mismanagement and evils of which the port had to complain ; he referred to the want of a local Harbour and Pilot Board. They had been fully set forth in t^'e report of the special parliamentary coip- mittee two sessions since, and a local board recommemled, yet nothin"- had been done in it up to the present time. It was also admitted on evei-y htuid as the only sufficient remedy for the grievances of which they had so Ion" complained, no Government being competent to that universal supervision which until now appeared to have been the object of the legislature. While everyone condemns the principle and admits the evils which it has caused, an unaccountable delay has occuixed in initiating the remedy which local management would immediately afford, and thus remove an unpleasant and serious responsibility from the Gover-'u KEC iRDS OF NhW(J. *' rr.ent. Our wharves are in the meantime going to ruin, and the port to general \ff decay ; eve.-ything is admitted to be either mismanaged or to be suffered to . remain without any attempt at management at all. The Tasmanian Marine j' Bill now on the table of the Chamber, .' 1." iiii H:KI'ITALS. V» J* The old Hospital was one of the very earliest jiublic buildings „i in the town, and many years the only one for s'ck convict jiatient-i al» in the Hunter liiver District, a distance extending beyond 100 ™ miles north, west, and south. It was pulled down in 1864 to mi U^^^ ))lace on the same site to the present handsome and ornamental lis: stiucture which was opened to tlie public under very great diflS- , culties and sqaabbling in 186.5. its success may be attributed to ((.j, the good arraiigemcnts and management of the .'secretary, the F»ev. V-' Canon Fletcher, as without his unflinching jierseverence and con- '1', trol, little would have been accomplished beyond j'aper plans and hard words. It is so arranged that to complete its uniformity, 'i' the south wing must be added to it at a future time when fands ';' and the necessities of the port and town require it. lid' • SCHOOL OF ARTS. 1,1 After a lamentable display of ill feeling and nnjileasantness which il.i lasted for sever'al years, a School of Arts was instituted and a '*.• suitable building er'ected in 1870, but it was never entirely cora- japleted Instead of being used for the original purpose, it a))! eared iMo be fitted up for theatric* di'])lays and other similar amusements .'for the purpose, not of elevating the mind, liut of r-aising money. ill 'Ihus abused and injured, it at last suffered a martyrdom by fire ifc in 1872, its bare walls only left standing. Vigorous steps were y taken to restore it, and many ]'ilans and much talk ai'e the r-esult ot j[f the mee+ings, with but very little progress up to the present time. 28 I'AsT AND rKlOSK.NT A'oLUNTEKR M11,1TARY FORCE. A conijiany of the Nortiiern Battalion Volunteer Newcastle Rifles was established in 1855; they are under the command of Mnjor Bolton, Captain Brown. Lieutenant Arnott anil Ensign J. D. Langley, and muster 100 rink and tile. Iliere is also a company ot Volunteer Artillei-y Biigade which was established in lSo5 — No. 3 Battalion, now under the command of Captain Holt, first Lieutenani: Kirkaldy, and second Lieutenant Richardson, and 80 artillery men. A iS'aval Bi igade Company, No. 5, e.stah- lislied in 186.Tis under the command of Captain Allan and Lieiiteini ant Herbert Cross ; they muster- 60 and are a very able body of men and have an excellent band. THE MfcDICAi. STAFF. The fii'st on the list is our old established friend. Dr. Bowker, who is celebrated far and wide for- his medical talent. He has been for many years a benefactor- to the city. He commenced his ))ractice in Newcastle so tar back a'* 1841 and contii.ues his repu" tation to the present time. There are also Messrs. B. C. Knagga, B. Hauis, Dr-. C. U. D. Sclirader, J. J. Hill, Dr. S. T. Knaggs- A. Bickburn and Dr. Read, who practice th^^ir pridcssion in ihe city and district. COURT HOUSE. The Court House, situated at the corner of Hunter and Bolton streets, attracts the attention ot evei'y pa.sger by. The tirst Court House was builtof wood in 1821. It was a two story building, and was considered a master-piece of archrtectuie, it was suh-divided inio Government Ofhces, Post, Customs, Petty Sessions, &c., &c., for the Special use and acciMiirnodalion of the* commandant. In 1853 it was granted by the Government as a manse and school for the minister of the Scotch Chui'ch and .still continues in his posseession. .fhe pies",nt Court Honse was built iu 1839 ; capable of holding crimin-jl sessions, and is in every re spect a suitable and convenient building, and much superior to most other Court Houses in the colonv for the holdin" of Petty hessions. It is presided over at piesenfbv a Police Magistrate, Mr. H. Scott, who is the senior magistrate of the colony (from documents in my possessimi). Jle wa« with myself appointed a rnagisfate of the teii.tory ,n 1829, a,.d it i» remarkable that all tho«e who vere on the conirmssio,, ot that date have passed away. How truly may ,t be sard •' Man Oiat is i.orn of a woman is of few RECORDS OF NEWCASTLE. 29 days and full of trouble ; he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not."—Job. xiv. ver. 2. The Court House is generally ined for jiublic meetings and well adapted for that purpose. A meeting was called on the 15th August, 1862, on the news ot the death of Prince Albert, the good consort of our' gracious Queen, and an address adopted, sympathiz ing with her Majesty on her irreiiarahle loss, the following is a copy of an address sioned by 'he Mayor, by order of the meeting :— ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE TO HER MAJESTY. The folio win ^ is a copy of the address of condolence to Her Majesty, forwarded by the inhabitants of Newcastle fiy the last mail. To THE QUEEN'T MOST EXCELLENT M.\ji-;srT. We, your dutiful and loving subjects, desire to approach ysur Most Gracious Miijesty with expressions of oui deep symjiathy on the occasion of that heavy bi;reave.melit with which it has pleased our God in his inscrutable counsels to visit your IMaiesty and our nation. We have, therefore, assen,bled together in public meetings to declare our heartfelt sorrow and condole wilh your Majesty, the lioyal I'rinces and Prin cesses, and all our fellow subjects, on the untimely and une.xpected death of your Majesty's late Koyal Consort. The vast distance of ocean which separates this de]a'ndency ol the British Crown from our mother country, in no respect pre vents our enjoyment of those blessings which, emanating from our Heavenly King, are distributed by your careful and powerful hand iu every portion of your Majesty's empire. The warmhearted sympathy of those of your Majesty's subjects who are pri vileged to dwell under the shadow of your Koyal Palace«, is not exceded by the sympathy of ourselves, and whilst we are fully assured that the warmest spring in'|er t le circumlocution and red tape system, which is common to aU puVilic bodies. The money pas.sing through their hands has lieen in round numbers at least £36,000, In walking through the City, a stranger would ivaturally look round and ask where all this huge sum of money has been expended. Echo says, where ! ! Jame.s Hannell, Esq., was the fir.st ATayor -cind h-A% several times since tilled the Chair. Thewint of a Market Building was teh and a great outcry raised for its erection, but no sooi.er was it completed in 1870 and the stalls open to public comjietiticn than it proved a failure, the hawkers, and farm settlers preferring tlieii old practice of disposing of their Colonial jiroduce from their boats, •at what, is called or known as the Old Market Wharf, where up to the presenttime the principal su|)plies of the town are sold. The New Market is a handsome structure, built by the contractor Thomas Smith, in 1870. BANKS. We ought not to he in want of money as no less than four Banks have already lieen established in our City, and all apjjear to be doing a prosperous business paying a good dividend (10 per cent) to their respective shaieholders ; laige pr'ofit« these, jiroviug be yond a doubt tley thoroughly understand the art of money lend ing, and being liberal to their custoiiiers. The Bank of New South Wales was established in the year' 1853, and at the present time carries on the largest business, they have lately built a well arranged house. Soon after this Bank was o])ened, the Bank of Australasia made its appf-araiice and com menced operations in 1854. They have also built splendid premises, which are an ornament to the Ciiy. Then followed the Australian Joint Stock Bank in 1860. They have also erected elegant jiremises and are in a tiourishing condition, and in the year 1870 a branch of the Commercial Bank of Sydney was established. Besides these flourishing establishments, thei'e is a Savings Branch Bank, opened iu 1857, and a Post Office Government Savings Bank ojieued only last year. The business of these Banks is carried on in large and csmmanding premises situated conveniently in the principal street for the irausaciion of business, and can easily be found by the greatest stranger to our City. INSTITUTION FOR IMBEGItiES. Part of the Garden belonging to Christ Church Parsonage was bought by the Ordinance department in England, h,r the sum of KKCOEDS OF NKWCASTLc;. 31 £800. fh(! land '.vas required bv them for the Military Barracks, wliich -vrie built in 1840, the iiitercsc on this sum forms a portion of the iiicunilient of Christ Church'* income. On the removal of the Militarv, the Barrack) iiecame useles.^ for the purpose for which tli,-y Here built, and wei'e handed over to the Colony on the estahlishiueiii of responsilile Government in 1856. They were tlieri bv their orders occupied V)v thf Police f irce (a most suitable arr'am/emt^iit) for a time, after which they were conve.-ted (in the year 1867), much against the wishes of the townspeople, as [lubliu mcptings were hell to protest agaiust, it, into a Reformatory and Industrial School for F'emales. This scheme not answering the gii'Is wei'e removed to Sydney, aud in the t'arue year there was estatilished in them an A.syluiii for Imbeciles—and remains so to the [iresent time. CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND SCHr OL LANDS. Christ Church was b'lilt by Cipt-iin Ja nes Wallis of the 46tli Regiment Commandant, in the year 1816. and was opened for Divin- Service in 1821. The Rev. G. .\- Middleton was the tirst Goveriimeut Cliapliin. The church was originally built with a lofty shingle,! spire, and formed a prtty object on entering the port in bygfine davs, when there were so few leading objects to attract attention, but from its exposure to the heavy gales ahiriff the coast, und liijhtning, it was thought prudent to pull it down to prevent ics beiuu; destroyed, and a smaller one like an extin goisher was substituted as a finish to the tower. Whether this extin','iiislier was to exclude the pure light is not cei'tain, but it is certain it did not. The tower on which it stood was pulled down in 1868, and. ol course, the extinguisher was removed, perhaps to admit a little of the ni^w light which is so prevalent in our churches just now in hhigland aiiil elsewhere. I's removal, aud that of the I'ower was iinrii-ces-iary if it was to increase the accnmmodation of ))t:NV sittiu},'.-! in the cbincli. All the alterations which have been effected could have been ;iccoiiiplished wit'iout sacrificing the appeai'ince o* thi^ old church, which had been no faithfully put to^rei.her, and whieii has caused it to be so disfigured, witii a sentry box pliced on (he stump of the old lower. Christ (/hui'ch was the 'iily (larish chur-ch in the city lor many years; but on the completion ot St Johns iu 1860 the Parish was equally divided ; since then it has undergone another division, and a new parish has been made, principally from that of tt- John's. • 32 PAST AND PRESENT St. John's Church and St •John'" parsonage were built with i)art of a muniiicent gift sent to the colonv by several of the directors of the A. A. Corn[)any as a ihank offering for benefits received. T much regret not being in a position to place on record the names of the^e truly good and Christian geiitlemeu. It was a large sum, £7935 forwarded to the Bishop of N'ewcastle, for the purpose of building two churches and two parsonages on the estates formerly belonging to the company, one at Newcastle and the other at Peel River. In pursuance of these instructions the Bishop commenced building the ch.irch and [larsooage of St John's, which he state.s cost £5701 lOu, leaving for the Peel church and buildings the remaining sum of £2234, which, with other sums in hand and materials on the ground from other sources, ought to have been sufficient for that purpose. Surely then this splendid gift »vas enough in 'all conscience to complete and carry oilt the nirections of the Donors. But no, it is not so, as the Bishop ignores it and brings a claim agaiust St. John's to a large anuuint, and the pai'iies concerned with the management of the parish affairs have admitted, therefore, St. John's has a debt hanging ovei it, while at the same time the parish is enl iwed so tar back as 1856 with £1000 with aU the interest accruing from it to the present time. The Rev. H; L' Rumsey held the first appointment in 1856. The parish of St. James', Wickham, is of late formation, and consists of the out ."kirts taken from St. John's including the river islands, and extending even to ITexham. I'he new town, in which the church is situated, is rising rapidly into importance. Ihe church was built and opened for Divine Service in May, 1872, under the indefatigable exertions ot che present minister, the Rev. John Pixon. In this parish, in addition to the parish church, there are four (4) others in which Divine Service is held every Sunday, and also on week evenings. A new commodious parsonage is being built und will be shortly -eady for occupation. ST. ANDRRW'S PRESBYTERIAN. The land occupied by St Andrew's Scotch Church, was origin nally the site of the first Sold'ers Barracks, and after their rer'ioval ' the land wa.s given to the Presbytery for their' Chuich, which ^^as Vmilt in 18o0 and opened for Divine Service in 1853. The Rev. James Nuumo was the first incumbent, aud waa succeeded bv the Itev. James Contts. l«&^l^-°"''''' •^''""''' "fl^'''^'^-' them.selves in > ewca.-tle in L I;!"" '"'?'"!' ""," ^'^'^ '"^ " ^•"^'" '—" -^ tl>e long room m Newcomen.str.et, ana continued to the y«..r 1845, the Hieeting, RECORDS OF .NEWCASTLE. 33 were then held in Father Dowling's dwelling-house till 1849 when the Government allowed the Priest to occupy the old store in Watt-street, until it was sold in 1852. Then a temporary wooden church was built in Church-street, where service was performed until the pi'esent brick building was erected in 186 4. THE WESLEYAN CHURCH was built in Newcomen.street inl844 ; the first minister was the Jiev. Mr. Lewis; the nev chuich was built in 186.'!. PRIMITIVE MKTHODIST CHAPEL erected in lSo.>. BAPTIST CHAPEL erected in 1865. FREE PHESBYTERIAN CHURCH built in Hunter-street in 1863. We have al.'-o a NJ'.WCASTLE AU.MLIARY BRANCH OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIKLK SOCIETY established in 1859, [iresided over by James Coiiutte, K'sq., J.P, The annual subscriptions are progr-e.ss- irjg favourably, and a depository is eslablished iinder tlie manage ment of Mr. W. Arnott. GRAMMAR SCHOOL. The first effort to introduce a Grammar School in the city was made in 185.'5. A Mr. W. H. Wilkinson was appointed head master by the Bishop of Newcastle, but no house or school having been prepared, the vestry room of Christ Church was used for the pur pose, and only a few boys attended. A labourer's cottage belong ing to the Bishop, at the corner of Church and Wolfe streets, was appropriated as a dwelling for the master, but this hut, for it was nothing more, (now standing) was in a most dilapidated state, scarcely habitable, and in rainy weather the shelter of umbrellas was necessary. This state of things could not be expected to last, and the result was his resignation and departure for Sydney. This Was only a temporary arrangement as the Hev. W. H S'ivigny had received the appointment by the Bishop's commissary in England, and arrived in Newcastle to commence his duties in NovoiuVier, 1853, aud expected to find a school and suitable buildings, instead of which there was no preparation, not even lodgings for him. He was greatly disappointed and disgusted, and complained bitterly to the Bisho]) of ihe trealmeLit. Ihe result was thai he opened a collegiate school. Jealousy, that bitter weed, sprang up; theGiam. mar School was closed, and Mr. Savigny's license tlireatened to be withdrawn. He left the place and went into tho Sydney diocese, taking with him the regri^ts of the peojile. He was presented with a splendid silver salver and a purse, containing 40 sovereigns. Beiug talented, he stood high in his profession in England, and was a 3i PAST AND PRESENT splendid preacher. Similar circumstances drove away from the city another highly talented clergyman, the Rev. Canon Fletcher, B.D. Both these gentlemen were a severe loss to Newcastle, and, strange ! to say, they are both located in Tasmania where their talents and abilities are better appreciated. In 1,855 the Bishop applied and obtained a grant ot land for an episcopal residence and Grammar School which he selected op* posite Christ Church on the opposite side of the street, and, in 1859, the Grammar School portion was marked out, and a suitable house built for the original purpose, the Rev. E. K. Yeatman appointed head master. He very soon threw up the berth, returning to his parochial duty. The house and sohool remained vacant until the arrival, in 1865, of the Rev. H. S. Millard, in whose charge it still remains. Christ Church had its Primary School established in the vicinity of the Parsonage, soon after the Church was opened. In 1850 the School was held in a small cottage school room, in Church-street, built tor that purpose, and suited to the wants of the parish, until the increasing population demanded more extensive premises, wheu it was pulled down, and the present convenient structure erected on [its site in 1859. It was capable of accommodating a large number of children. Since then it has been more than once en. larged by enclosing the verandahs to meet the increasing number of scholars, and the wants of the Master and Mistress who have comfortable quarters under its.ioof St. John's Primary School was built in 1856, a suitable and ornamental one for the purpose, in which are apartments provided for the Master, PUBLIC SCHOOL. Among the recent Public Buildings in the Town is one for the special benefit of the rising generation,—a Public School built in 1862, to accommodate a large number of both sexes. It is under ableteachers, but the one thing needful is neglected, namely the teaching of the Bible. What makes Infidelity so rampant in our day ? The withdrawal of the Bible and the Fundamental Unsec tarian Truth neglected in our schools. The children from their earliest years should be accustomed to its teaching, as its rejection causes susp.cnn-and no indecision in Bible truth ought to be Srvt'JrIlid"' <^W-:r' r "" "^^-^^^-^ --^«' asoufBl Ld '^;ry.:;^'Iou:Ll7,\nTourpoTert important element of Christian loT::''lt:^^:i;^lZt RECORDS or NEWCASTLE. 3.5 despair. " Heart wisdom is religion in its truest sense; he alone is wise who.se heart has been operated upon by the spirit of God, so that he discerns the superiority of eternal things, to temporal; and sets himself in earnest to the securing himself happiness in a world beyond the grave." The Bible is the word of God. God in spired good men to write it, and, when read, it should not be con sidered a common book, but a lesson from God himself; in it he says " Suffer little children to come unto me," and exhorted to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. " It has been a thousand times said, it will never bj disproved that education withouc religion is not a blessing, but a curse" and our Colony by its vigorous support of Bible education might be one of great prosperity. How truly might it be said as of old by the Almighty "Them that honor me I will honor'."—Then let the Parents and Guardians of the rising generation see distinctl}' their responsibility, and not allow God's word and the necessity of Bible teaching to be forcibly withheld by any act of Parliament. That i)lessed Book is the greatest boon with which mankind has ever been entrusted,—the choicest gift of an all wise beneficent Creator. It teaches man how to lire and how to die, and happy is he who can say with St. Paul " I have fought a good tight, I liave finished my coui'se; I have kept the faith ; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim. iv. 7,8.) The writer closes these remarks with a scrap co[>ied from an old newspaper. Tho Bible e.xiilts tlie faculties, e.tpands the iniml, Jevelopes tha powdra of the will and of feeling, and opniis more sources of intellectual and spiritual enjoyment than any other book. A nation must be truly blessed if it were governed by no other laws than those of this blessed book ; it is so complete a system, that nothing can be added to it or taken from it ; it contains everything needful to be known or done; it affords a copy for a king, and a rule for a subject ; it gives instruction and counsel to a senate ; authority and direction for a magistrate ; cautions a witness ; requires an impartial verdict of a jury, and furnishes a jud^e with his sentence. It sets the husband as lord of the liousehold, aud the wife as mistress of the table ; tells him how to rule, and her how to manage. It entails honor on parents and enjoins obedience to children ; it prescribes and limits the w.iys of the sovereign, the rule of the ruler, and authority of the master : commands the subjects to honor, and the servants to obey ; and promiiei the blessings and protection of its author to, all that walk by its rules. It gives directions for weddings and for burials ; it promises food and raiment, and liniiti the use of both ; it points out a faithful aud an eternal Guardian to tho departing husband and father ,• tells him with whom to leave his fatherless children, and in whom his widow is to trust ; and promises a lather to the former, and a husb.and to the latter. It teaches a man how to set his house in order ; and how to make his will; it appoints a dowry for the wif«, and entaila ^C> PAST AND PRESENT all the rights of the first-born ; and shows how the younger branches shall be left. It defends the right of all ; and reveals vengeance to every (letrauder, overreacher, and oppressor. It is the first book, the best book, and the oldest book in nil the world. This is the Book rejected by an ungodly Paidiament, and ex- jielled from our National Schools. CHURCH AND SCHOOL LAND,?. The paitionlars ot the land at Honeysuckle Point, are as follows ; A few gentlemen met at Newcastle, and, talking over the wants of the town, agreed among themselves that a Propi'ietary Grammar School was much I'equired, and subscribed the sum of £303 15s. for the ])ur'cliase of a piecfi of land suitable for the ))urpose, they selected a valuable i)roperty at Honeysuckle Point, and applied to the Government for the purchase ; luit before the auction sale took jilacp, they found their funds were vei'y inadequate for the ])urcha.se of so large a pi'operty, and applied to the Bishop of Australia to help them, offering him at the same time, a vested interest in Ihe land, and to be the visitor of the school. It so happened at that time, that the Bishop had £500 in hand belonging to the S.P.C.K.I Society, of London, which he agreed to lend them, and in the mean- r.ime he would inform the Society of the transaction. The land was measured by order of the Government by Mr. Surveyor White, and described in the Government Gazette oi that period 1840, as containing about 35 acres, with the water frontage. It was offei'ed by auction in S-ptember, 1840, and sold for the sum of £803 15s., and the deed of gr'ant was made in favor of Dr. Mitjhell, one of the subscribers, and the (rust deed from him to Messrs. A. W. Scott, and W. Croasdel. In July 1844 the former chosen by the subsci'ibers and the lattei' appointed by the Bishop l^s. Trustee on his behalf, and the S.P.C.K., who had communicated with the Bishop and confirmed the loan into A GIFT for the imrpose intended. The Societv had a title to five-eighths ot the land (as stated by Mr. K. James in his evi dence before the Assembly Committee),—their porthm of the imrchase money £500. Nothing more was done with the land, and it laid idle, until soon after the arrival of the Bi.shon of New castle, when he learned from M,'. Kerison James (the Bishop of Sydney s Secretar-y and Regist.-ar of all Church properties), that the Horieysuckle Point property belonged to the Church. The DitT 1 "iTT • "' '•* '"'T''^ "° '""g*^^- l^y ^^^te, but that his ttTr^ ^i^I'LJ"^^^^ from it, so he had it marked out into .J2 allotments, and let from S.-i to 40 of them, on a 21 years RECORDS OP NEWCASTLI^. 37 lease, on reasonable terms, nominating Mr. Simon Kemp as his agent and collector. These leases wf re dated Ist January, 1851, aud the lessees imprived them by buildings, &2., &c. Time went on and a railway was projected. A company was formed under an Act of Parliament, styled the Hunter Riv^r Riilway Cjrupany, who had the power given them in one of the clause* to take any land they required, aud pay for it by arbitration. After obtaining ]io(session they availed themsnlveg of the (jower and took possession of the whole of Honeysuckle Point, on the 5th July, 1854, giving a (ii'inted notice to the lrtssr;es and eji'ccing thftm forcibly. The rent ha 1 been p lid up to tli it tim3 to Mi' Kvnp, th? Bishop's agent. Disputes so )n arosf an 1 a me;ting was held iu the Court House, 22nfl July, 1854, at which Mr. A. VV. Scott, the subscribers' trustee endoi'sed all t!ie Bishop had done, but His Lordship finding ho had actuJ without sufficient caution, igii u-ed the leases, stating that he was neither'legally nor morally b uuid by thcM, and re fused all assi--tance to secure their rights to the Lessees. The Company admitted their claim, an I would have settled with then by ar'oitr.ition. D lys were appoiate 1 for that purpose, but the lawyers found fiaws in the leases, aud the matter was in dispute when the railway was transferred to the Government. The Company when they sold lo the Government, tr'ansferred the claim of these les;.sees to tlinnr as still unsettled, admitting the right of these claims hir compensation. Disputes, corres])ondence, and objections were I'rtised by the Lawyoi-s, when a Parliamentary enquiry was at length obtained, and a Committer of the House of As.iembly,. ap-. pointed in 1859. Long examinations and many witnesses examined, who were in favour of the Lessee's claims, Mr Kemp, the Bi«hop's agent, in his evidence stated tlwr. he had received tr.un the lessees about .£14C rent. He stated that that amount was still in the Hank of New South Wales, aud he was reidy to give a cheque to any person who could show him any legal authority to receive it. The Government, after some years'correspondence and considera tion, admitted the right ol the Trustees to a compen.satiou, nnd agreed to an arbitration, leaving the Trustees to settle the claims o;'the lessees^ who would not allow (hem to be heard, however, they sent a formal protest to the Ministe- tor Works, Mr Byrnes, who pocketed it, but took no farther notice of it. This ai'bitrat'on was held at the Gi'eat Northern Hotel in June, 1868, when the Government had the bind remeaaurvd by one of their Licensed Sur veyor's (isnoring the grant from the Ci'owu), curtailing it many acres as the award was to be so much ])iir acre. I'he following i» 11 copy taken from the Sydney Morning Herald o? 13th June, 1868; 3 8 PAST AXn PBEBENT THE HO-VRr-SUCKLB POINT Cr.Al.MAKTS.—An inquiry before arbitr.ators has been going on this week in reference to the land at Honeysuckle ioint, near Newcastle, taken by tha 'government for railway purposei. The laudm question was h9ld by trustees, in whom it was vested for the purposes of an emlowment for the church of England Grammar School. In the inquiry, which has just closed, .Mr Vindin acted as arbitrator for the trustees, and Mr Biden for tho Coraoiissioner of Kail ways, and these gentlemen seleccad BIr Colquhoun as um. pire. Mr Davis, barrister, assisted by Mr Bradley, appeared for the trHstees ; and the SoUcitor' TR.ADE AND CO.MMERCE. In the appendix will be found tables showing the wonderful and rapid increase for the last ten years, of our shipping and local trade, and all other,branches'connected with the'commercial interests of this city. The tables contuning this information have been carefully collected from the custom home paper.?, published in 1S69. and others kindly put together by their officsrs under the direction of W. R. Logan, E.sq , the present Collector of Customs, to whom, from his politeness and ready desire to aflford all the information m his power the writer, is greatly indebted. In analvzin"' their wonderful statements the results are so a.stoundino' tha't thev cxn scarcely be believed. They are as follow, viz. : in the yearl853 the export of coal amounted to 96,810 ton., conveyed from the ?A^ >" ^^l\f ips,nioasuring41,877 r'egister tonnage, and valued S'f QQl ? T' "" "'" rr ^^"2' 'l"^e^P"'-t of coLl amounted ^n;'^^^^' •^''.\''''1''y'^ f'-""^ the colouy in^876 ships measur ing o42,o 14 register tonnage and valued at £243 911 18s ex clusive of home consumption. The total value of our exp .r't's iu >^ .<7-r, • ^ni^C:': 11? . itECORDS 01^ NEWCASTLE. 39 1852, was only £78,000, but now we find in 1872, they realize the enormous amount of £243,911 ; thu.i, in twenty years, the ships visiting the port have incieased trom 113 in 1853, to 876 in 1872. The amount of coal is equally astounding. In 1853, 96,800 tons were exported, and in 1872, 565,994 tons, exclusive of home consumption, and the tonnage of coasters and steamers are not included in these figures. On the 24th June, 1873, there wera 69 ships of 39,811 register tonnage in the harbour, averaging 577t tons for each ship. These facts are almost incredible and there is no limit to the extent of the co'al fields, not only in Newcastle, but they reach from the southernmost extremity of the whole line of coast an fur north as the boundary of New South Wales. The advantage of the coal fields to Newcastle is enormous, They require neither labour nor money to produce them, but have been de|)osited there hy a kind and wise Providence ready for the pick and shovel to bring them to the surface. They are also the means of bringing lai'ge fleets of ships into our harbour, with their natural wants of meat, bread, vegetables, milk, poultry, Ac , and giving om|)lofiiient to patent slips, tugs, lighters, wharves, cranes, rail- ways and many other industries. The miners receive their wages every fortnight, givicg'lifo and vigour to the shopkeepers, especially on pay nights, and to every other branch of the Ir'ading community. They are a numerous body of men, at least 1600 strong. Their pay is good and they are about the best paid men in the district. Their pi'ospects are still on the rise, as their earnings are regulated on the slidinj; scale hothjust to masters and men. Withdraw the lU'odnction of coal, and all is cheerles.'i, blank, and desolate and every branch of trade suspended. Ihe miners alone give remune rative employment ; therefore it behoves them to be true to themselyes and their families, and to continue a regular supply of coal, without interruption, to the many ships that visit the port. The great draw back at present is the want of accommodation at the wha'rves, which can only be remedied by the wet dock basin proposed in a former part of this work, V^Let there be no more strikes, and more wharf accommodation, and I venture to pi'ophecy that Newcastle will take the lead oi all the C(donies; and if the consumption and increased demand for coal to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope continues as at pi'esent, Newcastle must become rne of the greatest cities in the Southern Hemisphere, in wealth and prosperity. All machinery is set in motion by cral, and it must be had at any price ; for without it, all commercial and postal contracts would bo broken ; and all industries be at a standstill, especially steamers. 40 PAST AND PBESEKT The lives of miners and mariners are similar—the one doing their business in great waters, in a treacherous and stormy ocean; the other in the damp dark bowels of the earth. In both life h held in jeopardy and uncertainty, not knowing what an hour may bring forth. As the Royal Psalmist says—" Thou turnest man to destruction. When thou scatterest them, they are even as ia sleep ; and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green and groweth up ; but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. For when thou art angry, all our days are gone: we bring our years to an end as it were a tale that is told." TUGS. The want of a Steam Tug was a great drawback to the port, and every effort was made by the Chamber of Commerce to induce the Government to supply the deficiency ; but they would not listen to their importunity, or in any way assist. At length one was introduced by Messrs Single and Son, the Lowestoft, a powerful boat, which commenced her work in May, 1855, but was unforn tunately wrecked September, 1864, between Newcastle and Sydney, while proceeding to the latter port for the purpose of towing a large ship to Newcastle. Other toats were soon found to replace her, and a Company formed, called the Steam Tug Company, with three pow«rtul boats, besides others owned by private individuals. At the present time, for the benefit of vessels trading to the port, there are four powerful boats continually in attendance, ami realizing a successful harvest. A bell buoy was moored to the eastward of Nobby'.s, at the end of the reef alongside the Big Ben rock, to warn steamers and others of their proximity to the Har bour, especially in foggy weather. LIFE BOAT. A large and cumbersome lifeboat was built in Newcastle in 1847 or 1848, ill adapted tor the purposes for which it was in tended, and was often used tor' picnic parties up the river. On one occasion going to a wreck it got injured, was sold, and made into a splendid sailing vessel, to trade to Lake Macquaiie. The boat was replaced ty another, built in [Sydney, 1855, but from some defect in the valves, and mismaiugement, came to grief. Another was ordered from England on the most improved principles ; it does the work well, but finding one was not sufficient for the work, another splendid boat was also ordered fiom Enojand Thev are still at .work, manned by paid crews, who arc ready at a moment's ttECORDS OF NEWCASTLE. 4l warning. A Committee was formed for their management in 1867, assisted by the Harbour Master. Sheds are erected near Nohby's, where the boats are always kept leady for any emergency. The first two boats were manned by volunteers, but that system did not answer. On the 19th March, 1864, in endeavouring to rescue the crew of the Zone the life boat was capsized and three men drowned. DREDGES. The partial removal of the Flats up the river and other supprised improvemen's in the harbour, caused new shoals and banks to appear, and it was found necessary to deejien both the Horseshoe, and the loading channels, so in to admit larger class vessels, which were daily on the increase, and a steam dr.^dge was deemed an absolute necessity. The Hunter steam dredge was built in Sydney, and towed to Newcastle in 1859, and continued her work, both in the harbour, anl the river, between Moi'peth and Newcastle ; but the woik being too much for her, another powei'-- ful one, the Vulcan, was built in Sydney, and commei.ced her work iu 1864. Tliey are both kept constantly at work, night and day, and have more than they can do. Another dredge wa." found to be indispeniable, and is now being built in Sydnev, and will be shortly employed to assist in keeping down the accumulat.- ing banks that are increasing ia the harbour, and in the river. FIRE CO.MPANIES. The Volunteer Fire Company, was established in 1855, and a Fire Engine was sent from Sydney by the Liverpool and London Insurance Com])ar:y for their use. 'Ilieir stationdiouse is situated in Newcomen-street. At the present time there are two com panies with four engines, but their efforts in most cases, are frus trated by the want of a good supply of water, and defective apj)!!- aaces. KOUADRY. Our late enterprising townsman, Mr. A. Eodgers, estaVlithed an Iron and Brass Foundry in 1854, where castings of large dimensions in both metals were made. At the present time the business is in the hands of his sons, Messrs A, Eodgers and Co., who are carrying on an extensive trade, having added the engineering branch to it, and steam boiler-s and engines are made, and heavy castings of the largest dimensions executed. 42 PAST AJfD PRESEN* GAS. It was a great benefit and improvement to the city, the intro duction of gas. A company was incorporated in 1856, and^ the town partially lighted. It is generally used in shops and private dwellings, but not generally in the streets. For this reason the citizens object to an additional rate to the present extravagant one of one shilling in the pound on all assessed lands and houses, so they are left in darkness, as far as gas is concerned, in the un frequented and side streets of the city, where light is more re quired than in the main streets, where the shops afford light and protection to the citizens. It is a flourishing company, and must succeed, as the wants of the city are daily increasing. RAILWAY. In 1854, the first batch of navvies arrived in the Ellenborough Captain Thornhill, and commenced the Hunter Kiver Railway, under a company bearing that name, which, after proceeding a few, miles beyond the city sold their plant and interest in the railway to the Government, who carried on the enterpiise with spii'it, re-naming it the Great Northern Railway. The first portion was form»lly opened ou the 30th March, 1857, by his Excellency, Sir William Ueni=on. All went oil well, with great rejoicings, feastings, and display of bunting, and so the first rail way traffic was an established fact, which has, from year to ye«r, gradually extended to the town of Mnrrurundi, a distance of 120 miles from Newcastle, and is still progressing as a grand northern trunk line I suppose, ultimately to Queensland, as the southern one will connect Melbourne with Sydney. NEWSPAPERS. A Newspaper called The Telegraph was started in 1855 by Mr. Maxted. At the present time there are two—the Newcastle Pilot and the Newcastle Chronicle—vreW supported. TBLEGRAPHS. The telegraph wires were first set in motion in the year 1860 at the Railway Station (as a temporary office) on a limited scale, to the diff'trent parts ot New South Wales and the adioinin« colonies. A station-house was erected and opened on 21st August, 1861, and every facility afforded the public. At the present time, RECXJRDS OF NEWCASTLB. 43 1873, messages can be forwarded to all parts of the world : England, Europe, America, China, India, and Hong Kong, in a few hours, eclipsing all tho wonderful sc'entific inventions of the present age. CEMRTERY: The Government were applied to by the Municijial authorities in 1866 for a suitable piece of iand in the immediate vicini y of the town for a Cemetery. Theyobtainel their request in 1868, and 'I'rustees were named for the preparation of th° grant, but disputes arising, as they always do in Newcastle, as to its locality and suitableness for the reception of their departed friends, no Ceme tery to the present time exists,—to tht* great inconvenience and necessity of the City; and no relief to our over-crcpwded Burial Ground. However, I hear the subject is again brought before tiie Government, who are in treaty with the A. A. Companv for the purchase of 50 acres, situated between Hexham and VVaiatah, bii*-, whether its distance and locality may be approved of liy the con tending parties time can only determine. This is another instance of the folly ot the Government granting the A. A. Company all the land surrounding the City as I have mentioned in another page. FLOUR MILL. So far back as 1844, Mr. Steel, an old enterprising resident erected a Flour Mill, the first and only one in Newcastle, and up to the present time doing its duties satisfactorily to the public. SMELTIKG WORKS. Only a few months ago, at the beginning of the present year, 1873, the tin Stockton works were set in motion, and doing a good business. Tin ore is being brought down in large quantities, and smelted into a marketable state ready for shipment. PATENT SLIP. Most intimately associated with the trade and commerce of Newcastle, is the possesion of a Patent Slip, upon which ves.sels of 120C tons register tonnage ha^'e already been placed, and received the necessary repairs and overhaul. The Slip is at Stockton, on tho north side of the Harbour, 44 PAST AND PRESENT A small Patent Slip on a primitive scile, without steam power', wa.s laid down in 1857, on the North Shore, aljoining the Salt Works, only capable of taking up small ve.saels, which is still Occasionally used. Some short time after Mr Scott rented laud further' up'the river from Dr Mitchell, and laid one down with steam power, on a much larger scale in 1859. This slip was re- laid, and further improvements added to it, and is now capable of repairing ships of upwards of 1000 tons, a great advantage to the [lort. NORTH SHORE. Mr. A.W. Scolt, one of the early benefactors to the Town, erected very extensive and ox[)ensive buildings on the North .Shore about the year 1836 which gave employment lo a large number of men. One of the buildings was for the manafactnre of salt on a lar-ge scule, the other an Iron Foundry sufficiently extensive at that early period for the wants of the Colony ; but the s[)eculation in both cases was unprofitable and abandoned—and the buildings from neglect fell into decay. At the breaking out ot the gold mania in 1851, ihey were u£ed as a hay store, and for other-pro duce, as 'ong as the Melbourne market requii'ed the agricultural jiroduce of our lands. After that to the present time they are let ffU'the purpose of manufacturing Sulphuric Acid. The Stockton Tweed factory was first built on a very small scale, about the year 1834, by Dr, JMitchell, and in 1842 it was a prosperous and paying establishment under the firm of iVfessrs Fisher, and Donaldson. The Buildings, Machinery, and the who^e of the arrangements were of the latest and best construction, worked by steam power. The cloth manufactured was of the best description and realised the best price in the Colony. Unfoi tunately it was totally destroyed by fire on the 3rd July, 1851, a serious loss to the proprietors and to Newcastle ; not less than 300 hand-, men, women and children, wei-e thrown out of employ and had to find other homes and em- ji'oyment. The buildings and machinery were totally destroyed, and no effort has since been made to replace them. The shaft or tall chimney of the engine house only remains to point out the spot; and on the 5tli of the same month, only two nights after-, the old Stockade or Lumber Yard, rented as a store front the Goveruu ment by Mes.sis. Mitchell and Tully, was discovered in flames, and entrrely destroyed, to the great consternation and alarm of the inhabitants, as both the fires had the appearance of incendiarism occurring as they did so close to each o.her. A man was brorght before the Bench suspected ot the crime, but there was not snffi- RECORDS OF NEWCASTLE. "45 cient evidence to commit him, although under very suspicious circumstances, and he being a lucky fellow got the benefit of the doubt. PUBLIC HOUSES. Connected with the trade and commerce of our city, is the prevalence of the drinkin.,' customs of Society. Tha town, a quarter of a century ago, could not boast of more than half a d izen publichoiisos ; and most ni them without; acconimodation tor either man or beast, aud little or no better th.iri dram drinking pothouses. But how great the change in the present day. Thei'e are now no less than 35 piiblichouses within our n.unicipal boundary, and exer cising a most debasing and demoralising influence, which it ought to be the eai nest endeavour of every good man to counterac":. The Gi'eaC Northern stands coiisipicuoiis, and is an ornament to the city ; it is weU situated,and commands the best run forfamily visitors, with every convenience for their comfort. But how sad to contemplate tiie efl'eut produced by these houses—|;romoting intemperance and its injurious consequences, both to the mind and body, on all those who are led a^tr^y by their enticements. What was considered a degradation and loss of cast, years ago, when I was a young man, is now, I am sorry to say, disregarded, and drinking at the bar of a publichouse, now has no shame attached to it. It is an every lay, and many times in tho day, a common practice of even gentlemen, who indulge in nobblers, as they are called, and inilncing the young and unwary to fi Wav/ in their footsteps. It is wh.tt our fathers and "rindfathers would have considered sufti- o cient lo.ss of character to have banished them from genteel society. CONCLUDING REMARICS. The reniinitcences of old times, are most refreshing, for there was an amount of genial and kindly feeling existing at that time, which does not, I regret tosav, inflneuce our citizens now to work the Olio with the other. It is truly grievous the want of unanimity, ill-feeling, and bickerings displayed at our public m«eiings. Even when we are personally concerned. But call a meeting for any local display, or especially lor a patriotic purpose. Then I am pr'oud of my tellow townsmen, who can, when the niattir is properly brought before them, throw ofl' all bickerings and strife and join heart, hand, and purse, for the advancement of either object. Take tor instance the pieeting called on behalf of the Patriotic Association, 46 PAST AND PRESENT 1855, for our suflfering countrymen in the Crimea, when no less a sum than £557 was subscribed for their relief, also for the Indian Relief fund in 1858, about £200, and last of all, for the British Operative Relief fund in 1862 when £315 was collected. AU these sums were raised in Newcastle. Take another proof of the sympathy .•shown by our city in an address to Her Majesty on the death of H.R.H. Prince Albert, and also at an overflowing public meeting on the 12th March 1868, when Newcastle was the first town in the colony to condole with H.R.H. Prince Alfred, on the same evening that he was struck down by the hand of an assassin at Clontarf. At times like these the good qualities of our townspeojde 'are brought out without a dissenting voice. At the call of the Patri otic Association, when our aid was required, our contributions were equal, if not larger, in proportion to our pf puhition, than most other towns either in the colonies or England. The Australias contributed altogether mor'e than India or the Canadas, with all their great wealth and influence, and from the accounts we read, is considered in England, at the present day, from these loyal patriotic causes, the brightest gem in her Majesty's crown. We cannot permit the opportunity to pass over A'ithout pointing out a few social wants of Newcastle, several ot which we have already referred to, viz., the Chamber of Commerce and Exchange. If these existed, temptation to close transactions in the parlor of a public house would be lessened, the comfort of both merchant and trader promoted, and the domestic life of every person made much more bright and cheerful. Another want, and one moat keenly felt, by the seafairing popu lation, is that of a Sailor's Homo and Reading Room. It was at one time suggested by the Rer. John Dixon to establish such an institution, in connexion with the Church of England, and an interesting article was published by him in the Parish Magazine. But that sympathy and sup port which should have been accorded to the establishment of such a « Home" was not given, and the movement lell to the "round. It is very desirable thit a Sailors' Home should be built''so that the seamen, whose comforts at sea are of a very limited character, may, on their arrival in port, have protection thrown around them, and thus be saved from the grasping power of crimps, land sharks, and the baneful influence exerted by the low public houses. Another most important desideratum, which ought to be supplied, 18 th«.t of a proper aud copious supply of water. When our town BEC0RD3 OF NEWCASTLE. 47 has been visited by fire, the result has been frequently disastrous, and the efforts of many willing workers entirely neutralized by the absence of water. Also for domestic purposes it is absolutely re quired, and we believe that many of the diseases which are preva* lent amongst us arise from scarcity of good water. The drainage of the town ought also to be commenced, and a proper system of drainage carried out. Then indeed with Docks, and increased harbour accommodation, with additional fucilities for loading and unloading of vessels, with care and vigilance exercised in everything connected with our port, with Exchange and Chamber of Commerce and « Marine Board composed of men understanding their work, with Homes for Sailors and other institutions, tending to elevate the mind, the poBiession of these, and the vast mineral wealth which is ours, would cause Newcastle to become the greitest and most important city, not only in New South Wale» but the whole of tho colonies. It requires us as citizens to bury all paltrv jealousies and unite for the advancement of our city, and as its progress is developed, our interests, which are identical, will aho go onward, and the years in store for us will cause greater moral and commercial successes to be achieved than have been chronicled iu either the Pcut or Present Records of Newcastle. . 48 PAS I AND PBESENT APPENDIX. WRECK OF T.iE STEAMER "CAWARR.'i." From he Newcastle Clironicle.) THURSDAY, the I2th of July, 18G6, will be a day lonjj to be sorrowfully re membered by Ihe inhabitaats of Newoast'e It wid ho marked in the Calendar as the day on which one of the most dreadful wrecks ocourrsd tha has ever taken plaee either here or eisewhere in the entire history of tho colony. The worst among ihe wrecks of former yeai-s are as noihing as compared with this, if we except only t"ae loss of the Dunbar and one or iwo others, whilit in many of the eleiiiants of tragic horror, this going down in broad daylight, at the very mouth of our harbour, within a few hundred yards of ihe shore, is tht most dreadful, the most ciilamitous. and the most heartrending of them all. Wo proceed to give an account of the loss of the ill-fated steamer from the commencemont to the close. The weather, which for the past few days had be-n very tiae, suddenly changed on Wednesday. During the d»y it was not very bad, but as night came on the wind fresh ened, aud throughout the whole of Wednesday night it blew very hard from the South, and rained almost without a minutt's intermission. At daylight, on Thursday morning, a stiff gale was still blowing, and a very heavy sea was runninf' outside the harbour. Between nine and ten o'clock the gale if anything got worse, and the wind veered round to the ."> .B., and a brig being signalled as inakng for the port, her position was fell to be one of con siderable danger. A large number of persons went o« to the sand-hills and over to the Lighthouse to watch her make the harbour, which she did in safety, about half-past 11 o'clock. This vessel proved to be the brig Victory, recently out from Kugland, as we are informed, and quite a new vessel. Shortly before this the Sydney steamer, the Coonanbarra, had, to the sur- pr se of almost everybody, sailed, and her progress as she rounded Nobby's was watched with no little anxiety. She got safely out. and proceeded on her voyags to Sydney. About the time ihat the Victory -was nearing the port a steamer was observed a consi lerable distance off, but whether making for the port or no: could not he ascertained. For several hours now and agam, as the squall cleared off, the smoke of the steamer could be igeen At one time it w.as thought to be the Coonanbarra returning to port. It would w^' f^rV.' ''°"7"' .*'i*t this must have been the Caxvarra all ihe time. What the Captain s object was in standing of the port so long before he at tempted to enter, is. ot course, not known, and now that the Captain him self and all oa board save one solitary individual, have perished, it is not likely that it ever will be known. However, about one o'clock rather later perhaps, a steamer was signalled in the usual way, and it was* at once^x' BEC0RD3 OF NEWCASTLl. 49 pected that the midday Sydney boat was coming iu. From motivas of curiosity a great number of persons soon assembled on the wharf. We our selves arrived there just as what afterwards proved to be the unfortunate Cawarra had rounded Nobby's, and was abreast of the Light-house. It hay ing been noted that a tremendous sea waa rolling ou the l>ar, every eye was turned towards the steamer to see how she would acquit herself in crossiog it. The excitement at this time was intense; people were rushing in all directions to the wharf, and to every place which commanded a view of the steamer. Soon the vessel ^as seen to be approaching the bar, and already iu the midst of a terrific sea. For a few minutes after this she continued to steam ahead. Up to this time scarcely any one dreamt thak she was in imminent dangnr, although her position was felt to be a critical one. Suddenly she was noticed to come to a stand-still. This inceased the excitement, and the crowd on the wharf and sand hills increased rapidly. After remaining in one position for several minutes, the Cawirra steamed with her jib and mainsail set, in the direction of Nobby's. It was now evident to everyone that the unfortunate vessel was in great danger. Some asserted that she was losing ground and drifting to the Oyster Bank. After again remaining stationary for several minutes, she was observed palpably to be drawn back to her first stationary position. She remained there rorling and pitching in a fearful sea for a short time, and then sud denly turned round and steamed ahead as if going out to sea again. Sha made some little headway, but not much. Several tremendous seas struck be'' in succession, and an impression prevailed among the spectators that the water had got into the eiigir.e-room. Almost immediately afterwards, she made a futile effort to get into smooth water by steaming backwards. The attempt, however, was made too late, and the unfortunate ship was then discovered to be in a hopeless state. A few minuieu more, and smoke eeased to issue from her funnel, plainly denoting that the fires were ex tinguished. A rush of steam followed, and the worst fears of everyone were realised. In about a quarter of an hour from this time, and about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, she was seen to be settling down, head foremost. It is impossible to describe tne wild excitement which prevailed at this moment. The lifeboat, it was expected, would be launched every moment. On every hand persons were to be heard anxiously inquiring the reason for the delay iu launching the lifeboat. On, however, sped the awi(t"Wiugad minutes, and no sign of the boat being launched. The vessel, meanwhile, waa settling down fast, and no sign of a boat of any kind putting off to her assistance About a quarter of aa hoar afer the Cawarra began to sink her funnel fell overboard. Some of the people on Nobby's fancied they saw at the game moment several people washed overboard. It is very probable that such was actually the case. This must have been about a quarter past three o'clock, at which time the steamer had been fully an hour in a position of imminent danger, without any attempt whatever having been made to launih the lifeboat. By this time, some 300 people had assembled in tho vicinity of the lifeboat shed, aid from that time out, group after group of people were observed to be washed off the steamer, and still no sign of the lifeboat putting off. At tweuty minutes past three o'clock, the mainmast, around which some score of people could be distinctly seeu clinging, was noticed to be swaying back wards and forwards. A minute or two more and over it went with its burden of human beings into the boiling, seething cauldroa around. Even 50 ''AST AND PBESENT at this juncture, late -as it was. if the lifeboat had put out promptly, many lives beyond all doubt might have been saved. But, no ! because the proper crew were not 'at their posts, the boat could mot be put otf. Ihe sea was now making a clean breach over the steamer, which was rapidly going to pieces. About a quarter to 4 o'clock the foremast, with another mass of poor drowning souls, weut overboard. The bulk of the people were, of course washed off. Two brave fellows, however, managed to Cling'to this spaV for some ten minutes longer. As the mast was lifted up and down by the .sea, the forma of the two men could be plainly seen still holding on—all, however, to no purpose ; a few minutes later and a huge, remorseless looking billow rolled over the wreck, and the two men on the foremast were never seen after. At last, when all but two or three poor creatures on that awful wreck had perished, the lifeboat was launched, and proceeded slowly in the direction of tho wreck. Alas, it wag too late. Only a few were lelt on the vessel, and these had no chance ot saving themselves, for th« li'eboat w« can positively afBrm, Hever went within several hundred yards of the main portion of the wreck. Tha harrowing scene was now drawing rapidly to a close ; ft few minutes more only, and Boaroe a vestige (except fioatin? pieces of wreck) was left standing to mark the spot wh«re the mignifioent Cawarra, steamer, with her living freight of over fifiy souls, had recently floated in all her strength and glory upon the surfRoe of the ocean. A boat belonginjj to the barque Maggie V. Hugg put off to the wreck shortly before the lifeboat, but WM unable to do any good. The sight which we have feebly attempted to describe above was one ot the most appallina it is possible to conceive of. Big, stalwart men, with brawny arms and weather beaten faces, turned from it with tearful eyes, whilst down the faces of many of the more tender-hearted of the spectators,' the tears rolled thick aud fast. At length, when it was all over, shortly after four o'elock, the concourse of people began to wend their way homewards. The following is a list of p.^,ok : James Fox, second cook above have left tf X°" ' Catherine Croz.er, stewardess. Most of the »h.ir%iSirT;XVbter,^en1.*''''^ "^^'^ ^''""-'- — RECORDS OP NEWCASTLE. 51 Later in the evening, one man named Hedges was picked up near the red buoy by Mr. R. Hannell and others. We append his statement of how he was washed from the wreck and succeeded in keeping afloat. RJMARKABLE COI.VCIDENCB.S. Since our last pnblicatioc, we have heard of two or three remarkab^ ooiuoidencea in connection with the loss of the unfortunate Cawarra ste** mer. The first hng referenoi ^o the late Captain Chatfield, commander of the Cawarra. Ten or aleveii years ago, it appears Captain Chatfield wa« ' in the port of ^ewcn8tle, in oou/mand of the Bocmerang, at tho time the Eleanor Lancaster was wrecked on the Oyster Bank. On that memorable occasion Captain Chatfield rondered signal assistance in rpscuing from the wreck of the Lancaster several half-perished people. From that time to this (Thursday last), one of the masts of the BleanoT Lancaster has re mained standing to mark the fatal spot where she wag wrecked. Singular to relate, that identical mast, which for so m'lny yeara has withstood the fury of successive storm g, and served as an rxcellent beacon to murinere, was washed away giinnltaneously with the loss of the Cawarra i>nd the drowning of Captain Chatfield. The coincidence is certainly a striking one, and well worthy of placing on record.—The other coincidence which ht» come under our notice has reference to the chief steward of tho *Cawarra, whose name is Newland. Mr Newland, we are informed, -waa formerly chief steward of the Star of Australift, a vessel that left New castle some years ago and was never heard of afterwards. She is supposed to have foundered at sea. At the time the Starof Ajstralia sailed from Newcastle, Mr Newland had a sore foot, and on that account did not go with hia vesiel. Strange to say, on Wednesday last, when the ill fated Cawarra left Sydney on her voyage to Rockharapton, thli .fame man NeW' land again had a sore Joot, a-adi on that aocouDt was prevented from pro- ceediag to sea with his vessel, thereby again saving his life—for there can be bat little doubt that had he gone he would have shared tho same dread ful fate as the rest of the crew, except only one solitary man. RECOVERr OF THE BODIES.—HARROWING SCENE. We stated in oar isjiie of Saturday that up to n Inte hour on Friday night, the 1,3th instaEt, ooiie of the bodies had been washed ashore. On Sdturdny afternoon, the following day, the first bodies came ashore. Sinoa that nearly thirt,' corpses have been picked up at various points, tho majority having been washed or. to the boacli on the North Shore. Under the superintendence of Mr. Inspector Harrison, a9 many bodies »• possible were brought over f-om the North Shore on Sunday and placed in the Hospital. As soon as it was kaown thnt the bodie« were being cast on shore, a number of shellR were ordered to ^e made, and the first five or six bodies which were brought to ths Hospital were at once placed in tko coffins prepared for them. On Monday night eight or ten more were taken to the hospital, but owing to no shells being in readiness they were Uid upon the str iw in the large room on the' ground floor of tho new hospital. Tha scene in the Hospital at this time, as one by one tha corpses were bronght in naked, and laid side by side upon the straw, waa awful in the oitremei Several of the bodies were much bruised and mutilated, and all of them were without covering, except ahosi and stook- ingg, and in one instance a pair of troasers. 52 PAST AND PBESEXT The following is the list of bodies that had beea identified up to sir^ o'clock ou Tuesday night, making 37 in all :-Sophta M*'''^^^, ^ramp" -„, . a lady passenger. Body gone to Sydney per Morpeth, steamar Joteph Abrahams, assistant fore-oabin steward. Body taken » ^^^'y- Catherine Crozier. stewardess. Body taken to Sydney. C»ptain Chat field Mr McDowell, chief officer. .Vlr John A'ichincloie, second engi- neer Mr Fountain, chief engineer. Mr Kay, carpenter. A sailor, name unknown. Sandy, a fireman. Joe, alias Lavender Bih, quarter.master. A Chinaman, named Ah Fooh. A nephew of Mrs Cramp s, aged seven Tears Alexander Livingstone, fireman, ident fied by his wife. VVilham Manton, lamp-trimmer, identified by his uiothar and sister Jamen Leonard fireman, identified:by atirernhn of the .steamer Susannah Cuthbert. Miss Anderson, oabia passenger on board tho Cawarra. John Hyde of the barque William Watson. Alexaader Brash, passenger on board tha Cawarra. Tho remainder of the bodies whinh may be identified, will be found under the heading" Latest partioalnrs." INTERMENT OF THB BODIES.—PU BLIC JUNERAL. Directly it was arranged that the numerous liodies lying at the Hospital should have a public funeral, no time was lost in giving the matter publicity. A large number of placards logether with an announcement in our extra ordinary, of Tuesday, made the decision arrived at by the public raeetiing, pretty generally known by an early hour on the moraing the funeral was to take place. More publicity would doubtless have been given, had time permitted, which it did not. However, every thmg that could be done •under the circumstances, was done, aud the immense concourse cf people who attended to witness the fonsral obsequies performed, pointed very conclusively to the fact, that the committee of management had done their work well. The morning of Tuesday broke cloudless and serene. A more beautiful day is seldom experienced, even in the sunny clime of Australia. The sun shote out resplendently from an unclouded sky, aud the air was soft and baliay—it was more like a spring day, in fact, than one in mid-winter. As early as half-past eight or nine o'clock groups of people, many of whom were clad in the habiliments of mourning, might have been observed wend ing their way in the direetion of the Hospital. As every quarter of an hour passed over the number increased, and by half-past nine o'clock an assem blage of persons, numbering in round numbers, somewhere about a thousand, had congregated in front of the Hospital. The time appointed for the funeral procession to start, was ten o'clock, but it was fully half an hour later than that, when the head of the cortege was first observed to be ia motion. At a quarter-past ten o'clock the first preparations were made for starting, by the drawing up in front of the Hospital, the various drays and hearses, in which the corpses were conveyed to the churchyard It took seven drays and two hearses to hold all the coffins, which were lifted from the building on to the conveyances by members of the Naval Brigade, under the superintendence of the gentlemen composing the committee appointed by the puolic meeting held ou the previous day. The whole of the ooffina having at last been pUced upon the drays and the hearses Mr. J Hannell, M.P., ou behalf of the committee, ascended an el vated mound of sand to the right of the Hospital, and announced the order in which tho procession was to move. It was a« follows : rUNBRAL PR0C«SSI0N. The clergymen of the city, three abreast, consisting of the Revs. Mr. Mayue, Mr. Coutts, Mr. Prichard, Mr. f^ane, .\ir. Gainford and Mr. Bain.' The Committee of Management, consistiug of Captain Alleu, James Hanuell, Kiq., M.P,, and Dr. Brookes. Hearse No. 1, containing the body of the late Captain Chatfield, commander of the Cawarra, and Mr. M'Dowell, chief mate. Members of the Naval Brigade on either side of the hearse. Hearse No. 2, containing tha bodies of Mr. Fountain, chief engineer of the Cawarra and Mr. Auchinclose, second engineer. Members of Naval Brigade on either side, same as first hearse, Mr. J. R. Fox and Air. Dig well in command of the Naval firigade. Dray No. 1, containing four bodies. Dray No. 2, containing three bodies. Dray No. 3, containing three bodies. Dray No. 4, containing two bo lies. Dray No. 5, containing two bodies. Dray No, 6, containing two bodies. Dray No. 7, containing two bodies. Two members of the Naval Brigade ou either side of each dray. Relatives and friends of the deceased. Captains and officers of ships iu port, Seamen belonging to vessels in port. His Worship the Mayor (S. Kemp, Esq.). Aldermen composing the Municipal Council aud ihe Town Clerk, Citizens, four abreast. Having announced the order in which the procession was to :.'0, Mr Han nell requested, on behalf of the committee, that every one would, to the best of their ability, observe the arrangement decided upon. The gentlemen composing the Naval Brigade had consented to act as pall-bearers, and also to keep a line from the churchyard gate to the church. He trusted their efforts would be seconded by the public generally, so that no accident or confusion might occur wken the funeral service w*8 being conducted. About this time the report of the first minute gun was neard, fired by the Volunteer Artillery in Barrack-square. The scene at this moment Was a most solemn and impressive one, and bronght tears to many an eye. Bight in the front of the spot on which the bulk of tho people stood, could be discerned the fatal bank ou which the'Cawarra wos lost,—immediately at hand were no less than twenty two lifelesi bodies, representing the forms cf as many human beings who, but a short time previously, wera in the enjoyment of their usuil health and strength,—tothe right was tha mighty Pacifio, the fory of whose waves bud been the cause of ^o much bureaveinaut and sorrow, but which now presented the app^aranoa of comparative tranquility and repose,— 00 the left hand, io the distance, wm the graveyard — ihe last, long home, where the inanimate and mangled remains of the dead were about to be deposited,— STATISTICS OF THE PORT OP NEWCASTLE. "By the oourtesy of T. B. Corbett, Ksq., Collector of Customs, and the •48eisrl.ano6 of P. NihiM, Esq., we are enabled to publish, iu to-day's issue, ihe usual annual statistios of the Port of Newcastle. The returns given oompriss the total amount of imports andexportt, onstoma duties, tonnage and harbor dues, the number of vessels that entered and left the port, immigration and emigration returns, together with other important and in teresting statistioal ioformation respecting the port, for the jrar ending 81»t December, 1868. The tables ala indioate the comparative increase or decrease in the various items with the preceding year. itishighly gratifying to be in a position to note that nearly all the returns show a marked . ieorease. ,STATiM»NT of the Coal Exports for the past fifteen yearg, showing the in crease and decrease during that period. ' Coal E:cpor t from tht 3 Fort of Newca.stle , from If i54 to 1863. inclusive. Increase Deer ease Intercolonial over over Year. Coastwise, Total. and Foreign. previous previous years. years. Tons. Tons. TOBS, Tons. Tons. 1854 49,880 44,751 94,031 185,5 65,870 47,101 112,971 18,.340 1856 61,304 70,786 1,32.1.50 19,179 1857 60,998 84,553 145,551 13,401 1858 70,385 69,553 1.39,938 5613 18.59 91.201 1.50,125 241,3'26 [ 01,.388 . . . 1860 104,.383 179,4.53 28.3,836 42.510 1861 85 060 170,880 255,940 27,896 1862 127,613 229,810 357,423 101,483 1863 140,387 2'29,856 370,243 12,280 1864 160,710 279,1.50 459,860 89,617 1865 1,59.040 ,302,362 462,002 2,142 1866 233 819 411,746 645 615 183.613 1867 194,011 398,022 .592,033 . ... 5,3 582 1868 207,051 480,069 687,1'20 90,187 VESSELS ENTKRINO THE PORT, A return showing the number and tonnage of vessels entering inwards, at Newcastle, daring the ye»r 1868, exolnBive of coasters. Conntries. , Vessels, Tons Victoria ...... 454 ... 169,930 New Zealand ...... 285 ... S2,2fi5 • Tnb ^u'lt-ilia ...... — 72 ... 29,163 Qaernsland ...... 46 11,306 Tusmania ...... 6 ... 1,536 Cape of Good Hope...... ••• 1 ••• 370 Opara ...... 1 — 404 New Caledonia ...... 5 ... 1,132 South Sea Islands ...... 1 ... 411 Totalt. 871 29(3 517 56 A STATEMENT showing the Exportation of Coal from the port of Newcast t to foreign and intercolonial ports, during the year 1868. To where Exported. Tons. ^ • ^^ Victoria 165.715 ... 79,516 10 (> N wZealand . 86.207 ... 42.226 0 »• South Australia . 64,512 ... 25,135 0 0 S-Aands-;; ...... ,|S;;;,SiSS New Caledonia :.•. :.•; 918 ... 440 10 0 Guam .. 775 .<.. 367 10 0 Yava 14.918 .. 7,459 0 0 Japan 1.479 .. 739 10 0 India ... 22,688 .. 11,253 0 0 Singapore 855 342 0 0 Mauritius ... 3,919 ... 1,959 10 0 Manila 5,737 ... 2,868 10 0 United States 25,058 ... 12,333 10 O Panama 1 633 ... 816 10 0 South America 1,677 ... 80110 0 Opara 2,135 ... 1.067 10 0 Petropaulovski ...... 3,239 ... 1,548 0 0- Total 470.169 ... 226,440 0 0! CUSTOMS DUES FOR THE TEAR. The following is a RITUKK show ing the total amoant of duty reoeiv^d at the. Custom House, Newcastle during the year 1868, on the undermen tioned artiolee. The Return shows also the gross quantity of the articles received. Quantity £ s. d. Brandy ...... 9,54i2 gals. 4,771 18 11 Gin...... 2,949 1,475 0 6 Liquors, Ac...... 532 ... J... 266 13 10 Whisky ...... 682 541 10 U Rnm ...... 16,633 8,316 13 7 Wine ...... 6,680 1,002 3 2 Ale and Porter (in wood) 6,795 73 5 3 Ale and Porter (in bottles ... 87 2 3 6 Tobacco and gnnff ... 9,887 lbs 989 18 0 Cigars ...... 1,130 169 18 7 Tea...... 934 11 13 6 Coffee and Chiokory ... .. 315 2 18 6 Sugar (unrefined) ... 33 cwt 8 7 6 Bic« ...... - 2 cwt 1 5 0 Total*. £31,175 9 5 RECORDS OF .NEWCASTLE. .71 VISSELS LBAVI.SG THE POKT. A return showing the number and tonnage of Vessels cleare;ared frofromm the P .it of Newcastle, during the year 1868, exclusive of coasters.sters . Countiies. Vessels. Tons. Victoria 431 ... 133 Sti'J • South .Australia ... 133 ... 44 704 New Zealand ...... '... 247 ... lis, 045 Tasmania ... 46 ... 9,141 Queersland 14 ... 3,118 India 16 ... 17,315 Mauritius 9 ... 2,832 Ceylon 2 ... 1,114 United states 29 .. 19,782 China 107 .. 44,508 Guam .. ... • • •• • 1 ... 522 Panama 2 1,550 Christmas Island T .. 244 Petropauloyski 8 .. 2,458 Callao 1 ... 490 Valparaiso 1 ... 502 Fiji Islands 1 185 Java -, ... 11,528 New Caledonia ... 6 ... 1 191 Maniitt 7 ••• 3,269 Philippine Islands 4 ... 1,669 Singapore •2 ... 1,362 Japan 3 ... 1.088 Opara 2 ... 1,034 Total 1100 372.71S The totals for the previous year were as follows 925 ... 303,504 The'ollowing statement shows the nationality of all vessels enterii.^ outwards from tho port of Newcastle, in the year 1868. Vessels. Tons. British Vessels ...... 98 .'8.498 British po8ae8»iou8 ...... 914 276.737 Prussian ...... 26 8.187 American ...... 24 13,514 French ...... 17 0,231 Duloh ...... ,. 12 5,291 Worwegian ...... 2 84.? Swedish ...... 6 3,119 Dullish ...... 1 301 1100 3/2,718 The totiila for the orevious vear were...... '...... 925 ... 303,504 The niimoer of me" leiiviug the port in B6:»going vessels during toe year 1808, was 16,7?1. VE.'SSELS BUILT I.\" NEWCASTLE. During tie year 1368; one vessel was built in Newcastle. 58 PAST AND PRESENT EXPOKT or LIV« STOCK, &C„ &C, A BFTtJBN embracing the principal items in the miscellaneous Exports from the Port of Newcastle, during the year 1868, Article. To where exported. Quantity. Value. Barley . Victoria ... 2018 bushels £.347 0 0 Butter . New Zealand ... 2100 lbs. 100 0 0 Bones New Zealand 150 tons 220 0 0 Bull (one) . New Caledonia 120 0 0 Cattle . New Zealand ... 2714 head 15,329 0 0 Ditto . Tasmania ... 160 head 1.360 0 0 Ditto New Caledonia 202 900 0 0 Ditto Fiji Islands ... 140 350 0 0 Coals This item is given in a separate table. Coke New Zealand 126 tons 271 0 0 Copper . India ... 13i tons 1215 0 0 Cows Japan .. 6 50 0 0 Flour New Zealand .30 tons 620 0 0 Fruit New Zealand ... 36 cases 24 0 0 Hay Victoria ... 35 tons 100 0 0 Ditto Other Ports ... 292^ tons 1158 0 0 Horses New Zealand ... 234 head 2104 0 0 Ditto China Shoad 90 0 0 Ditto New Caledonia ... 11 head ro 0 0 Leather China ... 2 balg 30 0 0 Ditto New Zealand 139 0 0 Maize Victoria ... 31,301 bihls 4361 0 0 Ditto New Zealand ... 12 470bshls 1891 !0 0 Dit;o South Australia .. 1068 bahls 169 0 0 Meat (preserved) ... . 30 oases 150 0 0 Oysters Victoria 182 b«gs 83 0 0 Persoual effects ... New Zealand 15 pks 200 0 0 Pigs Victoria ... 696 871 9 0 Ditto New Zealand ... 301 342 10 0 Potatoes New Zealand ... 4 to.is 16 0 0 Sbole New Zealand ... 20 tons 60 U 0 Sheep Tasmania ... 570 366 0 0 nitto New Culfcdonia ... .540 2/0 0 0 Ditto Queensland ... 260 85 0 0 Shocks New Zealand .. 94 casks 57 0 0 Soap Nevr Zealand 4 tons J 32 0 0 Sovereigns Petropaulovski 20,000 20,000 II 0 Spokes Victoria .. 54 018 272 15 0 Sugar New Zealand ... 25 bags 50 0 0 Tallow China oi tons 185 0 0 Ditto Manila ... 25i 061 0 0 Tar New Zealand 15 casks 17 10 0 Timber New Zealand ... --'4,00011. :m 0 0 Ditto Victoria ... 433 logs 265 10 0 Tobacco New Zealand 5 boxes 17 0 0 Wine New Zealand 58 gals. Ditto (colonial) ... New Zealand It 0 rr a ) Q 210 0 0 Ditto India ... 120g«lg. 30 0 0 Wheat Uniied States 86 0 0 ... 85 bshls. 850 0 0 RECORDS or NEWCASTLE. 59 VESSELS BELONGING TO NEWC4.STLB, AH ACCOUKT of the number of vessels belonging to th«i port of Newcastle, on the 3l8t Dofember, 1868, registered iu pursuance of Acts of Pnr- limienl, with their tonr.nge, and the number of men and bov.9 liv wham they are usually navigated ; di-'t-ngaishing snch of the vesaeie as havotioeii lost, brok'sn up, or otherwise cleslroytd, sold to foreigners, or registereii de novo since the last account was made op. Year and No. «f,Certificate Official NamesofVeiseli, distinguishing Tonnage Tonnage Men anu of Kegistry. NHmber .suoh as have been lost, &c. UndtrSO Over 50 Boys .1 of 1857 32,320 Martha Ellen 124 6 2 1857 32,326 Nancy 75 4 1 18.58 32,698 Dougias 93 4 .3 1858 .32,370 Deva . . 244 8 4 18.59 31,864 Notion 109 4 1 1860 32,493 Venture 117 5 3 1860 31,044 James'Paxton 61 5 2 1861 32,699 Islander 106 2 .3 1861 32,700 Edmund and Alfred 17 2 4 1861 32,625 Laviiia, 3 ,5 1861 32,702 Doonbangfs.) .3.5 7 1 1862 40,202 Pioneer '"88 4 3 1862 40,921 Ranger 43 3 1 1863 .32,705 Triton 120 ,5 5 1863 31,869 Mary Ann 134 6 6 1863 ;'.5,5,50 Eden 243 9 7 1863 22,835 Royal Exchange ... 222 8 3 1864 ... Bee... - 26 2 4 1864 ... Ant 24 2 5 1804 49,29] Maid of Riverton*... '82 4 e 1864 15,.5.37 Alarm 195 8 7 1864 45,1.53 Rose of Australia ... 262 10 8 1864 31,993 Fox 157 5 2 1865 46,4'i3 Kathleen t 227 9 t 1865 23,182 P. C. E 291 9 4 1865 51,!552 Brothers 20 2 1 1866 32,589 Aquarius (B) 0( ... 19 2 t 1866 31,982 Highlander; '196 8 4 1866 45,390 Mary Francis 209 8 1 1867 .51,5.55 Rose of Kden 30 3 2 1867 .51,516 Nil Desperaudum... 157 7 3 1867 48,'209 Stiftugcr 249 9 4 1807 ,52,367 Lismore 8« 5 5 1867 ... Newcastle 36 •i G 1867 ... Hunter S7 2 7 1867 51,5,57 Waterman .5 8 1867 51,558 Margaret... 16 2 9 1867 4:"),768 Prince Alfred (s) ... m83 8 10 1867 ,n,.55y Duke ol Edinburgh 470 10 11 1867 43,230 Buiigaree (s) 85 9 12 1867 52,433 Flying Cloud 235 9 — 1868 ... Collingwood 1868 41,246 Tell 320 — 1868 31,777 Ann amlJaue V.. _, 262 — — 1868 ... Summer Cloud — 305 — — 1868 .. Bon Nevis — 357 — 1868 31,862 Amherst — 170 -- 186S 52,347 Southland (s) — 87 — — 1868 163 William Ackers ... — '.'99 — 1868 25,733 Kialto — 30J * Transferred to Sydney. + Wrscked. 60 PAST AND PRUSENT AMOUNT OP REVENUE FOR THE TEAE. THE following is the total amount of Kevenue collected at the Port of Newcastle, for the year 1868. £ » d. Ad Valorem 729 18 0 Duty 17,660 6 7 Torinwgo ... • ... 6,104 19 6 Pilotage ... 5.801 17 8 Dues 889 5 0 Total £31,175 6 9 EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION RETURNS. The following are the emigration and immigration returns for the port of Newcastle, during the year 1868. Adults, Chileiren . Males. Females. Males. Females. Total, Inwards ... 1250 115 71 51 1487 Outwards ...... 769 90 44 933i The totals for the previous year were as follows :—Inwardsm , 43H ; Out wards, 398^. VALUE OF IMPORTS AND E.XPORTS. The following return shows the total value, in sterling, ;of the Imports and Exports of the Port of Newcastle, from and to each country, iu the year 1868. Conntries. Imports therefrom. Exports therel 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. Victoria ...... 15,847 4 11 .. 85,940 5 0 New Zealand ... 6,167 15 0 ., 66,009 0 0 South Australia .. 61,129 8 0 .. 25.314 0 0 Tasmania ...... 127 2 9 7.714 0 0 Queensland ...... 1.016 17 0 1.466 10 0 fhina ...... 29.847 10 0 Petropanlovuki ... .. 21 548 0 0 Sonth America ... 801 10 0 Fiji Islands ... 3So 0 0 United States ... 46 4 0 '..'. .. I2,S83 10 0 New Caledonia .. 1,766 0 0 Phillipine Is'ands .. 1.160 0 0 Panama ...... 81.3 ,10 0 ilauritius ...... 7 0 0 1,959 10 0 Manila ... .. 3,536 0 6 Guam ...... 367 10 0 Opara ... .. 1,067 10 0 Java ...... 145 4 Q "" 7,464 0 0 Japan ...... 7S>t; ]0 0 India ...... 126 14 Singapore... .. , u S42 0 u '^°'*'« f^r75~5 i2b3';;i:3Tl RKCORDS OF NEWCASILE. 61 CHABGES ON VBSSEuS. The following is a statement showing the number of all vessels, inward and outwards, at this Port ; the ports of arrival and departure, ans the charges actually paid for the year 1868. INWAKDS. Port of Arrival Number Tons £ s. d. Sydney... 2,053 388,684 1,545 7 0 Victoria 453 169,930 2,641 9 G New Zealand 285 82,265 1,2.57 13 6 South Australia .. 72 29,163 .396 10 0 Queensland . . 46 11,.306 189 I 0 Tasmania 6 1,536 58 8 6 Cape of Good Hope 1 370 9 5 0 Opara ... 1 404 New Caledonia .. 5 1,1.32 17 0 0 South irea Island* I 411 10 i 6 Total ...... 2,924 684,601 £6,104 19 0 OUTWARDS. Departure Number Tons Sydney... 1,835 315,782 297 4 S Victoria 431 123,869 1.035 2 8 New Zealand 247 68,P43 546 4 4 Bouih Australia... 133 44 704 259 4 0 Queensland 14 3,118 77 16 4 Tasmania 40 9 141 130 8 0 India ... 16 17,315 742 4 4 Opara ... 2 1,134 81 13 8 New Caledonia ... 6 1,191 57 0 8 Mauritius 9 2,832 81 3 0 ('eylon... 2 1,114 43 12 8 United States . . 29 19,782 710 0 0 China ... 107 44,508 1,698 3 0 Guam ... 1 C?2 19 3 0 Panama 2 1,.550 60 13 4 Christiaustadt ... 1 244 9 1 4 Petropaulovski ... 8 2 458 79 18 0 Callao .. 1 490 17 16 8 Valparaiso 1 502 18 9 S Fiji Islands 1 185 8 1 8 Java 27 11.528 448 11 0 Manila ... 7 3.200 120 9 4 Philippine Islands 4 1,669 61 7 8 Singapore ."> 1,362 49 8 0 Japan ... ' ... 3 1,08S 38 5 8 Total ...... 2,935 688,500 £6,691 2 S 62 PAST ANIU PRESENT COMPARATIVE STATEMENT ¥ INWARDS. Year No. of Vessel* Tons £ s. d. 1868 ...... 2,924 ...... 684,801 6,104 19 6 1867 ... .. 2.e96 ...... ,588,256 5,096 7 6 Increase for 1868, 228 96,345 1,008 12 0 OUTWARDS. £ s. d. 1868 ... .. 2,935 ...... 688,500 6,691 2 8 1867 .. ...• 2.713 ,. ... 595,290 5,440 6 8 Increase for 1868. 222 93,210 1,250 16 (0 STATISTICS OF THE PORT OF NEWCASTI.E. IN WARDS. OUTWARDS. Year Cargo Ballast Total No. of No. of No of No of Vessels Tonnage Vessels Tonnage Vessels Tonnage Vessels Tonnage 1862 25 6 ,551 494 130,989 519 137,54 • 715 186,170 1863 48 14,919 4.S8 100,318 486 121,237 672 r70,447 1864 23 5 321 641 191,640 664 196 961 795 266,528 1865 22 6 ,'03.3 654 183,587 676 189 620 872 248.769 1866 29 11 09i 770 •235 253 799 246,340 992 308,.^75 1867 44 15 ,090 644 213.974 688 220.064 925 303,504 1868 70 24 ,580 801 271 928 871 296.517 1100 .372,718 1869 104 36,970 750 260.885 854 297,855 1084 386.176 1870 148 54 ,793 fl7 2-28,298 765 •283,091 1046 383,248 1871 159 63 9-28 58G 214,031 745 •277.959 1U40 c76,375 1872 197 86,206 679 256,308 876 .342,514 1092 427,842 IjirORTS. EXPORTS. Year Amount Year No, Tons of Coal Amount 1862 .35,125 10 1 181)2 239,810 174 275 5 0 1863 43.917 14 3 1872 565,994 243,911 18 0 1864 59,656 2 0 1865 78,355 17 0 1866 53,219 3 5 1867 98,083 6 I 1868 84,486 15 5 1869 151.410 4 5 1870 154,816 5 8 1871 203,168 2 7 1872 268,148 12 11 BECORDS OF NEWCASTLE, 63 ADDENDA. The following paragraph was omitted from its proper place in the body of this Work, HARBOUR. A Northern pier or breakwater was considered indispens.'ilde, and great results were expected from its formation by those in power. The undertaking was negnu in 18G2, tlio stone'ballast landed from ships at a wharf constructed cose at hand, was used for the purpose, and it was conveyed to the spot by a line of railway—but from the formation of I'anks in certain parts of the harbour, and deepening ot it in others, the predominance of evil overbalancjd the good, and it was found desirable, about two years ago, to abandon the work. Had the large amount of labour and money been expended in extending the Soufhe.-n Breakwater from the eastward of NobVjy's, to the extremity of the reef to Big Ben, it would have added pro- tecoion and shelter to the Harbour, and Vessels entering in heavy Southerly weather, would have been better protected and much sooner in comparatively smooth water and in ctse of difficulty would have had ii free course to the beach, which has otten proved a rescue to the distressed. The Northern Breakwater being on a lee shore, these advantt.ges would have been fustrated if the jilans for its completion had lieen carried out, however, money and time haye been expended and fooled away, the Breakwater formed, the Banks in the Harbour increised, and the undertnkin2 abandoned to th« great satisfaction of the seafaring community. There have been several surveys of our hai-bour at different times; about one of the firit was in 1822, by Mr. J. Bingle. Tn about the year 1840, Mr. Surveyor G. B. White made a survey not only of the harbour, but of the river as far as it was navigable ; then 1851 by Captain Stokes of H. M. S. Acheron, and, in 1861, hy Captain Allan, our present Harbour Master ; amd the last and the most elaborate and complete of the lot, by Commander F. W, Sidnej^, B, X,, in I SCO, 64 PAST AND PBESENT For the benefit of »hipmasters and pilots, two small towers were erected on the Hill adjoining the Roman Catholic and Wesleyaa Churches, as leading raaiks by day and with red and white lights by night, directiUj^ the fairway entrance to the harbour. They were built under ^.he direction of the Harbour Master, Captain Allan, in 1866. [While this work was in the Press, the following appeared in the Government Gazette of the 10th October, 1873 ] ' Department of Lands, Sydney, October lOth, 1873. CiTV OF NlWCASTLE. A Lilhograph of the City of Newo.istle having been pnbliRhed by the Goverment, the pnblio are informed that copies m.iy be prnrnred at the Snrveyor-General's Officp, Sydney, and fit, the Crown Lands Office, at New- cssilo, at the price of two shillini;S and sixpence each. •lAiMES S. FARNI'LL, • fn this plan of the City the Exchange and Post OfBce lands are charted'as the one referred to at page 23. RECORDS OP NEWCASTLl; 65 EERATA. Facte 10, line 29, for there read the. Pige 14, line 22, for Riirney rend Barney. Page 31, line 17, for 1810 read 1817. Page 32, line 17, for and rend whicli. 66 PAST AND PRESENT, INDEX. PAGE. A. A. Company • — ^^ Address to Her Majesty ^•' Adams ••• ^* Addenda <>3 Barney, Col '4 Banks ... ' 30 Beacon Hill 15 Bible Society 33 B'gg8 J. "Cawarra" ... ••• 'j Cemetery ...... ••• •.- 43 Chamber of Commerce ... .. •• 21,2 Christchurch II, S4 Churches ...... 31 Church and School Lands ...... 36 Coal Companies...... 10 Concluding Remarks ...... ,...... 45 Convict Settlers .., ...... ,...... 13 Court House 28 Dangar, Hy 8,9 Dredges ...... ,, ...... 41 "Eclipse" 7 " Elizibeth Henriette " 7 Errata 65 Obelisk 13 Bxchanee „, 21,23,25 Fire Companies ... .. 41 First Settlers ... . ]2 Flonr Mill 43 Fo*idry .. 41 Gas...... 42 Governor Arthur .. ... lO Grammar School ...... 3g Harbour ...... gg Honeysuckle Point 36 Hospital ...... " 27 Institutions ...... -JQ Lake Macquarie ...... •" ].3 Life Boats ...... _._ '_ "' ^'Q Market ...... ___ "| "' "' on Middleton, G. A ... ..'. 'ig Macquarie ...... __ _ ' " - McPherson ... '" ''\ '" '" '" ,. Medical .„ „a RECORDS OF NBWCASTL*. 67 FAOI. Mitchell Dr .. 10 Municipal ... 29 Name 9 Newspapers . 42 Nobby's Island .. . 14 North Shore . ** Patent Slip .. 43 Pilot and Harbour Board 21,26 Post Office ... 11 Prince Alfred .. ... 17 Princess Charlotte ... 7 Publicihouies ... , . 45 Public Meetings ... 45 Public Schools ... 34 Railways ...... 42 Recreation Land 25 Sailor's Home ...... 46 Satellite ... 7 Schools . 31 Sohool of Arts ...... 27 Settlement established .. 5 Shortland Lieut. ... 3, 4 Sir Thomas Brisbane ...... 7 Smelting Works ... 43 Telegraphs ... 42 Trade and Commerce ...... 38 Tugs ... 40 Volunteers .. 28 Wharves ' .. 18 Wind Mill ... 13