THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES; TOGETHER WITH NOTES OF A VOYAGE FROM AUSTRALIA TO PANAMA In the "Golden Age," DESCRIPTIONS OF TAHITI AND OTHER ISLANDS IN THIS PACIFIC, AND A TOUR THROUGH SOME OF THE STATES OF AMERICA, IN 1854, BY H. HUSSEY. LONDON: BLACKBURN & BURT, HOLBORN HILL; ADELAIDE: E. S. WIGG, RUNDLE STREET. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THE writer of the following pages has been a resident for fifteen years in the Colony of South Australia. He has endeavoured to give such information about each of the colonies, but more particularly the one in which he resided, as he trusts may be both useful and inte- resting to his English readers, and to his friends in Australia—some of whom previous to his departure re- quested him to take notes, and furnish them with the result of his observations; to whom, as well as to the former, he hopes the latter part of this little work will not be uninteresting. In the few countries visited by him, the writer has seen sufficient to make him well pleased with his adopted land, and to see that each country pos- sesses advantages and disadvantages far more equally balanced than many are disposed to admit. Having determined on leaving Adelaide for a few months in order to visit England and the United States, he availed himself of an opportunity that offered, in the steamship "Golden Age," of proceeding via Panama. This enabled the writer to satisfy himself, and he doubts not, from the contents of this little work, others will be satisfied, that, notwithstanding the desirability of the Panama route, as the shortest and most direct route be- tween England and the colonies of Australia, as well as the United States, it is not one that could at present be recommended; but when the following improvements are effected, the writer has no hesitation in stating, that it will be the quickest mail, and the most pleasant passenger route that can be selected. To insure this it will be ne- cessary that, in addition to a coal depot at Tahiti, or one iv INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. v of the other islands in the Pacific, a steamer should route is no doubt the best for the Adelaide mails, the always be in readiness there, in order to convey the mails communication has already been effected by this means and passengers forward, instead of having to stay to coal ; in 55 days. Melbourne lying between Sydney and Ade- the railway across the Isthmus must be completed, and a laide, would probably derive the greatest benefit from the steamer must also be in readiness on either side the Panama route. The loss sustained, by the owners of the Isthmus. "Golden Age," (which was stated to be £1000, the want of The steamers for the Pacific need not be large, as they confidence in the route no doubt deterring many from would seldom meet with rough or boisterous weather. The proceeding this way) ; the suspension of the operations of "Golden Age" was far too large, and her extensive cabins the Company formed in England, for opening up the and upper works on deck offered great resistances to the Panama route ; the steamers of the Peninsula and Ori- steady contrary wind she met with during nearly the ental Company, and the General Screw Steam Company whole of the passage across the Pacific. In addition to being required for service in the war with Russia, the this, she had not all her furnaces alight. Taking both these whole of the colonies have to depend for their mails upon things into consideration, the voyage of the "Golden Age" the runs of the clipper ships between Liverpool and Mel- can scarcely be taken as a fair specimen of what might be bourne. The quickest passage that has been made by a accomplished on this route. The number of days sailing vessel from Melbourne is 63 days ten hours. The under steam from Sydney to Panama was 32½ days. distance to Melbourne direct, is about 14,000 miles; by Under more favourable circumstances, there is little the India Overland route from Southampton to Adelaide doubt, but that the passage might have been accomplished about 12,000, and from Southampton to Sydney, via in 30 days, or even less, without stoppages. The passage Panama, about the same distance. A steamer is now from the Isthmus to New York has been made in six or building, which is intended to reach the Australian Colo- seven days, and reckoning one day for crossing, the States nies in 30 or 35 days, and to circumnavigate the globe in might be reached in less than 40 days. The passage from about 60 or 70; if this is accomplished, all the other routes New York to England is made in ten or twelve days, will sink into insignificance, but however this may be, one which would make the number of days from Australia to thing is certain, that the quickest communication, and the England via New York, about 50, but from the Isthmus to cheapest mode of conveyance for both mails and England direct, a few days less, so that there is little doubt passengers, will do more to unite each country with the but that, with proper management, the communication other than almost any other project which has been or between England and Australia might be effected in about may be set on foot. 45 days by this route. Without reckoning stoppages, the Since the writer's arrival in England, he has heard writer was only 55 days on the passage from Australia to several complaints of the difficulty which many sober, England, via New York, and the steamers in which he industrious persons have met with in their efforts to emi- proceeded made by no means quick passages. grate. From what he could learn, such an amount of The people of Sydney would derive the greatest advan- priestly and parish influence is generally necessary as tages from the opening up of that route, as this would be to preclude, in many cases, the possibility of those not be- the nearest point for the departure and arrival of the longing to the Establishment getting a passage. Not- steamers to and from the Isthmus. The Overland India withstanding all the restrictions imposed in the Emigration Regulations, a large number of idle and worthless cha- vi INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. racters find their way out to the colony in the emigrant ships. The following are the different methods of proceeding THE under the Emigration Regulations:—First. Married agri- cultural labourers, and miners (for South Australia) under AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, the age of 45, if they can procure the necessary certi- ETC., ETC. ficates, can go out on payment of £1 per head; Married journeymen mechanics and artizans, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, sawyers, wheelwrights, gardeners, &c. CHAPTER I. under 45, £2 per head. Secondly.—Purchasers of Crown Lands in the colony may, within one month after pay- WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ment of the purchase money, nominate for free passage in the emigrant ships, two statute emigrants for every £80 WESTERN Australia, as its name signifies, is the western so paid, the sum paid by the emigrant being as aforesaid. portion of the vast island or continent of Australia, or Thirdly, the sums required by the Emigration Commis - New Holland, as it is also called. Many maps give sioners to be paid for the passage of emigrants nominated both these names, but in such a way as to lead any one without the purchase of land are: for the class of emi- to suppose, that part of the island is Australia and part grants first mentioned above, under 45, £4; and for the New Holland, whereas one name is as applicable to the second class, under 45, £6; wives of emigrants now in whole as the other. It derived the name New Holland the colony, under 45, £10. Either the whole or part of the from the Dutch navigators by whom it was first dis - last-named amounts must be deposited with the Colonial covered in the year 1606; and subsequently, from having Treasurer in the colony, by parties wishing to assist the been classed by geographers as a portion of Austral, or emigration of their friends; but, in case of part payment Southern Asia, it has derived the name of Australia, or only being made in the colony, the balance of the passage the Great South Land. The island lies in the Southern money must be paid in England to the Emigration Com- and Indian Oceans, between 112° and 153° east longi- missioners, before the Embarkation Order is issued to tude, and 10½° and 39° south latitude. Its greatest them. length from west to east is 2,400 miles, and from north The best months for leaving England, are May, June, to south about 2,000 miles; its average breadth 1,400 July, and August, which would enable persons to arrive in miles, and the extent of coast line about 8,000 miles. the colony in the spring, and previous to the busy season Western Australia is the largest but least of the year. important or attractive of the colonies of Australia. It The emigrant ships generally make the quickest pas - comprehends the entire country between the longitude sages, if the clipper ships sailing from Liverpool are of 129° east and the shores of the Indian Ocean. Within excepted. The average passage of emigrant ships is these limits there is an extent of territory of about 800 about three months, and of cargo and passenger vessels miles from cast to west, and 1,200 miles from north from three to four months.