The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-12 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN EMIGRATION.

In Saturday's NORTHERN TIMES we devoted some
space for the purpose ()flaying before our readers
a statement of the progress of Australian com-
mama The facts-and figures to whiCh we referred
ace highly gratifyinwand encouraging, and clearly
demonstrate that all that is required to .render the
• Aestralian colonies one of the most favoured
portions of the globe is a proper supply of labour •
'and increased population. Referring, as we often
do, to these colonies for the purpose of keeping
our readers well posted up in all matters relating
to their program, and also the rapid developement
of their resources, mineral and agricultural, we
`shall on the present occasion notice the demand
for labour, the rate of wages paid, and the cost of
living. According to our last aclvices frem Mel-
bourne, labour of all kinds was in good demand,
and the classes who found ready employthent were
a asicultural and road labourers, female servants,
eel. mechanics. Married couples, for home
stations, hotels, &c., were paid 65/. to 85/. per
-annum; ploughmen, 11. 5s ; and general farm
servants, 1/. to 1/. 5s per week; bullock drivers, for
the roads, 25s to 30s; carters; for roads, 30s ; cooks
for hotels, 25s to 455; waiters, 25s to 355: good
house carpenters, 3es to 40s per week But in
addition to the foregoing, each person was supplied
with the following rations :-101bs of flour, l2lhs.
.of meat, .21bs. of sugar, and alb of tea per week.
'ow, estimating these anti,les at their marketable
value in this couniry, each person had food sup
Pied to them worth Oa. 61. per week. Such as
were engaged without rations had a corresponding
increase of pay. Masons earned 13$. to 14s. per
day ; bricklayers and plasterers, 12s. to 14s. ;
labourers for the roads, Os. to Ils ; and gang men
109. 12s. The demand for female labour was good,
Housemaids, with board and lodging, received
£23 to £2B per annum; nursemaids, £l5 to £25 ;
e,.)lis and laundresses, £25 to £35 ; and general
house servants .£25 to £3O. On comparin' these
roes with those at home, it will be perceived that
that they are nearly double the amount
Usually paid to servants in any part of United
Eingdorn. Nor is it' in Victoria alone
'that this employment is to be found, and
excellent wages obtained. The accounts from New
SoUth Wales and South "australia are equally
ncouraging. No one,
is said, whois disposed
to be industrious, r
. ....eeo want employment. Let us
now glance
at 'one cost of living a And first, as
regards I:ictoria, where the markets are rather
dear,- than in the other colonies, owing to the
proximity of the gold fields-prime English bacon
'sells at Melbourne for ls. per lb. wholesale; Cork
butter, Is.; English cheese, ls. 2d. to is. 4d.;
American, 10d. to ls. ; York hams, Is. to ls. ld,;
split peas, 18s to 1/. per cwt. ; and potatoes 21. to
.3/. per ton. Van Diemen's Land Onions, 121. per
ion; lump, and crushed lump, sugar, old. per lb.;
Manilla ration sugar, 28s. to 325.; best Liverpool
asap, 1/. Bs. to 1/. 10s. per cwt. ; and Liverpool salt,
Si.• to 5/ 10s. per ton. Congou tea was held at
tl/ ss. to 6/. 10kaper -Chest. The price of. colonial
flour was 261. per ton, best American 3/. to 3/ 3s.
:,aer brl. Indeed, we are told by a late Geelong
paper that the abundance and the cheapness of
potatoes may in part account for the dullness in
flour trade, so unusual- at that period of the
`year; but the principal cause is traceable to the
iiricirtainty as to the real quantity of grain in the
,bands of farmers, and which can be brought to
market before the next crop is reaped. The want
of reliable agricultural statistics waa making itself
felt in this colony, and especially just now; in the
absence of such data, instead of just calculations.
we have merely guesses at our real position; butit
may be fairly inferred that should an increased
demand enhance the value of breadstuffa, it would
be temporary only, for the harvest on the Hunter
River commences early in November, in South
Australia it begins in December, and in the Vieto
ria colony at the end of January; while all accounts
concur in the promise everywhere of an abundant
crop. In the foregoing remarks we have not re-
ferred to the prolific character of the gold mines,
and their inexaustible character. The observations
'Made in Saturday's paper fully allude to this im-
portant matter ; and if we take into account the
report of the discovery of fresh gold fields, there is
not any prospect of an exhaustion of the autiferous
metals for years to come. We give a few extracts
froth some of the lateatletterS from the gold fields of
Victoria. Froth Steiglitz we are told that mining
Operations continue to show considerable progress
on that gold field, and as the season advances it is
expected that these operations will bo correspond-
ingly extended. Oa Boxing Reef a marked
improvement has taken place lately, several claims
at its northern extremity having struck the golden
leader, which in some case is upwards of two feet
in thickness. New Chum Reef still maintains its
reputation, and now that the deep leader has
been provedi to be rich, renewed activity
is discernible amongst those claims which have
not yet obtained it. The old reefs at Ander-
son's Creek are still worked with profit,
whilst others have been opened in the same
locality. M'Callum's Reef still yields very
-Well, and the vein of quartz continues about a foot
in width. The accounts from Creswick are equally
good, and a correspondent at Bendigo, writing-to
the Melbourne papers, states that " in spite of the
croakings of those people who:are so fond of ex-
pressing themselves as fearful that Dunolly will
swamp Bendigo, and that this,. the richest and
most thickly populated gold field in the colony, is
de-Creasing in its yield, we may mention `that the
total amount 'of gold taken down yesterday was
13,071 ozs. 10 dwts, of which 1,722,0za. were for
warded from Heathcate, and the amount of cash
forwarded by the same means was 6,979/.

We believe that we have said enough to satisfy
our readers that, to any among them who are dis-
posed to emigi ate,no other cOuntrypresents so many
and such substantial inducements as do our several
Australian colonies. We intended fisheye made a
few remarks upon the bounty. regulations adopted
by. the Tasmanian Board of Immigration, lot-44e
introduction of mechanics, laboaters, add domestic
or other servants into that colonylrorn part of.
Europe, but must defer doing so until another
occasion.

From the number of vessels now on berth for
the different ports of Australia it is quite evident that
the demand Or passages is active, -and in orderto
secure the entire and satisfactory accommodation
of emigrants, the ships are being fitted up in a
most superior style. We paid another visit to the
Great Britain a few days ago, and found that she
is. rapidly approaching the completion of her alte-
rations and repairs. When she first. started, on
thee-AnStralian tra4e her passenger.. arrangements
were considered to be the best extant. Any one,
however, who takes the trouble of now paying her
a visit, . must be struck with the 'value and
importance of the alterations 'and modifications on
her former system of berthing, whether we regard
comfort or health during the run. , Again,- nothing
can exßeed the effective character of .the cooking
galley. It is so extensive and well regulated. that
everything connected therewith must proceed like
clock Nit ork. 'We have seen less commodious cabin
berths in other ships than those intended
for the intermediate and steerage pas-
aengers of the Great Britain. The arrangements
of numerous baths and washing rooms are simple,
but most effective ; whilst the grand saloon for
first-Mass cabin passengers begins to assume a
pleasing appearance from the simple, though
chaste,, style of its decoration. The arrangements
for lifti,ng ,the screw, as adopted by the Royal
Charter, are now completed, and this with her
extensive additional spread of, canvass will, it is
calculated, enable ,her to make a, rapid run to
Melbourne. Of the Captain and officers little need
be.said beyond.the mere -mention of the fact that
each and all are well'up to their duties, and- have
already proved themselves able, intelligent, and
truly: courteous navigatora and , seamen.
We , must not omit to mention that
although the Great Britain salts for Mel-
bourne she carries passenger to the other
Australian colonies. The owners, Messrs. Gibbs,
Bright, and Co , forwarding them on to the respeo.
tine destinations from the capital of Victoria. In
thus recommending the Great,Britain to intending
emigrants, we would have them to bear in mind
her former character; to consider the effective
service she performed 'during the Crimean war;

and, above all, to reflect that of the many emigrants
carried out by the owners, they have been fortunate
to be free from sickness, or dewlis, and to escape
murmurs from disappointed passengers ; a 'strong
and convincing proof that everything is done
which can make them . comfortable, cheerful,
healthy, and happy, during the voyage.

COURT OF PASSAGE.-SATURDAY.

BEFORE EDWARD JAMFB, ASSE'BOR.

Cuartniv V. BARTO7.4.—This was an action brought by
the plaintiff to recover compensation for damages sus-
tained by a little girl, Caroline Curphey, through the
carelessness of. the defendant, who it was alleged had
caused serious injuries to three children by his reckless
driving. Mr. Brett appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr:
Aspinall for the defendant. The circumstances of the
case were these :=On the evening of the 2nd of October
the defenslant, Mr. Barton, a brewer, and a friend, were
driving into town from Prescot, in a pony and gig, and
when coming down the London road three children, of
the respective ages of four, six, and twelve years, were
crossing the road just above Stafford street, they were
knocked down by the gig, and severely injured.
For the plaintiff it was contended that the defendant
was driving "the fast trotting horse from the Old.
Swan," and was at the time " rather hazy," having been
out dining with a frit:rid. The defence to the action was,
that the pony was not going more than right mites an
hour at the time of the accident, which the plain iff
said was entirely occasioned by the eLiest child pulling
the others under the wheel of the gig before he could
pull up, On the one pare, it was ailege.l that the defend.
ant was going at the rate. of from twelve to fourteen
miles an hour, while on the other it was stated that they
were going at not more than eight or nine, The learned
assessor in summing up the evidence, which he did with
great minuteness, said it would be for the jury
to say whether going at ORM or nine miles an
hour in such a crowded thoroughfare as London
road, particularly just coming to a crossing where the
public have a right to cross in safety, was prudent, but
what they would really have to consider was the pace at
which the defendant was going, and whether the injuries
were occasioned through his carelessness. the jury,
after a consultation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff,
damages, £l5, and nominal damages for the other two
children. There were two other cases disposed of, of
not the slightest public interest, and the business of the
court concluded.