The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-12 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

SOU FR AUSTRALIA.
TO THZ EDITOR or TYE REPRESS.
Sir,—The deep interest with which thousands in
this mammy are now regarding the Australian oo-
lonies will probably render the enclosed extracts from
letters I Lave received from South Australia within
the last week acceptable to large numbers of your
readers. They are from persons of considerable in-
fluence in the colony, whose position gives great
weight to their opinions, possessing as they do the
best opportunities fur forming them correctly.
In reference to the demand for lebour, it is gratify-
ing to be able to state that the most unequivocal
proofs of the vastly improved condition of labourers
and mechanics whom I have been instrumental in
sending out are constantly coming before me, and the
letters received by their friends are of such an en-
couraging kind that hundreds of their relatives would
immediately follow did the means exist for the accom-
plishment of so desirable an end. It should be re-
marked, however, that the classes most likely to bene-
fit themselves and the colony by emigration are small
capitalists and really useful labourers, such as rough
mechanics, who are all the more valuable if also con-
versant with country occupations, agricultural la-
bourers, shepherds, and female domestic servants.
I add au extract of a letter from a young man,
named Blackler, whom, among others, I fitted out
two yams since. Here is an instance of a youth only
now twenty years of age who left this country penni-
less now talking of sending home 101. to his parent/.
It appears to be settled beyond question that any
amount of useful people will meet with immediate
eurplo3 meet in the colony. There need, therefore, be
no fear that emigration thither is overdone.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
MS. B. WILCOCKS.
Barbican, Plymouth, July 9, ISI9.

. „
Adelaide, Jan. 22, 1849.
I see from time to time the evidences of your great emir-
lions in the cause of emigraii n. Oa the extensive reduction,
by this means, of the population of the mother country wilt
hinge the commerci -1 salvation of Esigland, and the int-
' pOTWOOS of the colonies as dependencies of the British power.
None but these who have seen it can form the least idea of
the unfavourable position in which we have sometimes been
placed for want of labour. It is a singular anomaly
is the state of things, that whilit the mass
of the people, at your end, are suffering from want
of the necessaries of life, we are suffering at Oho end from
repletion. We actually require thousands more than we
have to assist us in eating our mutton and cent. No sensible
effect upon the labour market seems yet to have resulted,
from the immense zombies of emigrants that we are con-1
steady receiving. After horveet, however, I think the price
of labour, which is at present out of proportion with every-
thing elr, will be somewhat lessened. There is n A much
fear of inconvenience to emigrants, even should the supply
for ordinary demand become redundant, as the gosern-
meet require a great meny hands, which they cannot get at
present, for the prosecution of colordal works, for which
sums have been voted on the team ate* for some time past.
Adelaide, Jan. 22, 1849.
You will no Inger wonder that many of our female ser-
vants are a pest in the families of the colonists. Some time
ego two of my servants quarrelled with their mistress, and
left us because we could not agree to their habit (for the
circumstance was not a solitary act, but of constant occur-
rence) of coming home from dancing at two or three o'clock
in the morning. Once a week they had bargained to spend
their evenings from home, and, such wan our circum-
stances, that this was tolerated ; but coming into the house
at late hours was intolerable, end the mistress would rather
do her own household work thus submit to it. lam happy
to say there us so many exemptions to this character of
emigrant, that I have now three good girls in my family,
but they are the careen selections made out of at least
twenty very indifferent characters whom I had in m) family
t my cost : their pirloinings had beta a salmis item in my
household expenditure.
Good labourers and tradesmen with their wives and [wal-
lies are the people we want ; my time of late has been sari-
°wily encroached upon by young men wantintr situations as
clerk.. I cannot deny the poor knows an Interview, and
it is always under the conviction that I can do them no good,
whilst it is painful to one's feelings to tell them their 'Mktg
are not required in the colony. We cannot trust them with
flocks of sheep, and they make wretched labourers upon •
farm. 'n

Extract of a letter from Edwin Muckier, dated Nairn',
near Mount Barker, South Australis, Dec. 23, 1848:
The first twelve months I was in the cAoay I was going
from place to place all over the country, and I could not save
anything at all ; not only that, I have tot worked at my
trade since I have been in the country, fo: there are no
mnble chino.> -pieces here—they are all timber ones. I
wished I could have got a job at ft; but now I am !caving
the hulloing and plastering business. I have bound =pelf
for twelve months, for which I have a home, and a goad one
too. 1 have 9s. a week, and my boned and lodging ;my
washing costume 31. ed. per dozen. I am comfortable ;
have the best of living, and good clothes to put on. I bare
had a plenty ever since I have been is the country. If I
went to Adelaide to work I could get a guinea a week, but I
should have to pay 14s. a week for my board and lodging. A
young man cannot save much in the town, and it is very hot
now ; but I like the bush beet. Dear parents, I have heard
it is very had times at home, still I hero managed to save
sue money, and I will send you 101. oe more if you will
accept it item your son Edwin.