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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . google . com/ SIX YEARS' RESIDENCE IK THE AUSTRALIAN PROVINCES. SIX YEARS' RESIDENCE IN THE AUSTRALIAN PROVINCES, ENDING IN 1839; EXHIBITING THEIR CAPABILITIES OF COLONIZATION, AND CONTAINING THE HISTORY, TRADE, POPULATION, EXTENT, RESOURCES, &c &c OF NEW SOUTH WALES, VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND PORT PHILIP; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF NEW ZEALAND. BY W. MANN, ESQ. DA VENIAM SCRIPTI8, QUORUM NON GLORIA NOBIS; CAU8A 8ED UTILITA8, OFFICIUMQUB FUIT. HotOfon: SMITH, ELDER, & Co., CORNHILL M.DCCC.XXXIX. 77 8» M'DOWAJLL, PRINTER, LEADKNHALL STREET. TO THE BRITISH PUBLIC. FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, THE following sheets were written and compiled, as the motto imports, with the view of being useful, and not for the sake of fame or reputation. I have studi­ ously avoided what is emphatically called book-making, and inserted nothing which I conceived unnecessary to give a correct sketch of the Australian provinces in their present state. Judge favourably of my unas­ suming labours: they were composed under difficult circumstances, in a voyage home from these provinces, in a cabin eight feet square, where the uneasy motion of the ship often obstructed my undertaking. There are many works on these colonies more diffuse and particular than this, but none more recent; and in places which are daily rising into importance, from their fluctuating state, there (iV. ) is always something new to communicate. I have stated nothing respecting these coun­ tries which has not passed under my own observation, or which I cannot prove by the most indubitable authority. New Zealand having lately excited much interest, I have given a short sketch of that interesting people and country; which, if taken under the protection of the British Govern­ ment, and colonized on a fair reciprocal principle of justice and mutual benefit to all, both natives and emigrants, cannot fail of success, and being attended with incalculable advantanges, in a commercial and political point of view, to the British Empire- WILLIAM MANN. LONDON, August, 1839. CONTENTS. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. CHAP. 1—-History, Rivers, Lakes, Soil, Climate, &c ... 1 CHAP. 2.—Land Regulations, Emigration, &c IB CHAP. 3.—Van Diemen's Land Company , 33 CHAP. 4.—Trees, Mines, Minerals, Fish, Birds, &c 45 CHAP. 5.—Aborigines, Bushrangers, &c 55 CHAP. 6.—The Magistracy 75 CHAP. 7—Civil Establishments—Public Institutions ... 86 CHAP. 8^-Statistics 93 CHAP. 9.—Politics 112 NEW SOUTH WALlSs. CHAP. 1—History, Soil, Climate, &c 141 CHAP. 2.—Statistics, Population, Aborigines, &c. 149 CHAP. 3—Revenue 159 CHAP. 4—Land Regulations 163 CHAP. 5,—State of the Church 209 CHAP. 6—Australian Agricultural Company 216 CHAP. 7—General Observations ....223 PORT PHILIP 231 VI. CONTENTS. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. CHAP. 1—Soil, Climate, Natural Productions, &c. 246 CHAP. 2—-Port and City of Adelaide 262 CHAP. 3.—Land Regulations, Aborigines, &c 283 CHAP. 4—Politics 294 CONCLUDING REMARKS 301 NEW ZEALAND , 308 NAUTICAL OBSERVATIONS 362 VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, CHAPTER I. HISTORY, RIVERS, LAKES, SOIL, CLIMATE, Ac. If I might give a short hint to an impartial writer, it would be to tell him hie fate* If he resolve to venture upon the dangerous precipice of telling unbiased truths, let him proclaim war with mankind a la mode le pais de Pole— neither to give nor take quarter. If he tell the crimes <f great men, they fall upon him with the iron hands of the law; if he tell their virtues, then the mob attack him with slander. But if he regard TRUTH, let him expect martyrdom on both sides; then he may go on fearlessly. And this is the course I take myself.—DE FOE. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND was discovered in the year 1648 by the Dutch navigator, Abel Jansen Tasman, who gave its present name thereto in honour of Anthony Van Diemen, Governor of Java and the possessions of that nation in the East Indies, to whose daughter it appears he was betrothed* It was visited by Captain Furneaux, in the Adven- B 2 VAN DIEMETN'S XAND. ture, in 1778, who accompanied Captain Cook in his second voyage round the world ; and ultimately by that cdebrated circumnavigator in 1777, during his third voyage, who took in wood and water there; but not having discovered Bass's Straits, supposed it to be the most southern part of New Holland, and expressed himself respecting it in the following terms:—" I hardly need say that it is the southern point of New Holland; which, if it doth not deserve the name of a continent, is by far the largest island in the world.'1 The Island of Van Diemen's Land lies between the parallel of 40° 20', and 48° 40' south latitude, and between the meri­ dian of 144° 30yand 148° 30' east longitude; con­ taining an area (according to Mr. Bischoff) equal to the size of Ireland. The appearance of the country is by no means inviting, being decidedly mountainous* woody, rug- ged, and repulsive; but on a nearer approach die landscape improves, and many fine tracts of land are discoverable, which are in several places improved by cultivation, and in others covered with flocks and herds. It is well watered by rivers, springs, and lakes; and where, firom numerous adventitious causes, marshes and swamps are formed, yet firom thei undulating surface of the land,, it is all capable of being drained; and that which at first sight might be deemed (he worst soil, would then become the Best both for crops and gasturd. The rivers KrtSEB, LAKES, BOIL, &C. 3 are-fine and numerous; but only two, the Derwent tend Tamar, are aavigaWe for any cxtemt: tbeformer, rawing tfoutb, is accessible to ships of burden to Hobafct Town, situated about thirty-seven miles from the open sea, but capable of admitting boats arfaor as New Norfolk, about twenty miles higher tq>-.the stream* From the wide entrance to this river; the rise of tide is scarcely discernible* not being greater than from three to four feet; and from* the open nature of the channels, ilk rendered difficult of defence against an* enterprising enemy, a* a frigate, or even a brig-of-war, might lay Hobart Town and the surrounding country under contri­ bution. The Tamar takes a northern course* and is a fine river, capable of admitting firstoate men- of-war as far as Middle Island, about seven miles from its entrance, which is narrow, and easily de­ fended: it is navigable for ships of 500 tons burden 4s.far up as Laoneeston, about forty-three miles . from the sea. It is a beautiful river, from its HU- . merous reaches resembling a succession off lakes, and has a rise and fall of tide of fourteen feet; and in this ifespeet has a decided advantage over the Decwent, or any other river hitherto discovered in cither this country or New South Wales, or any river belonging to Great Britain south of the Equa­ tor.