The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-26 00:00:00

Latest News of the Bounty.

Norfolk Island
watered, and the climate isisg
thousand acres. The land
is estimated to contain about ten
rich,ood well-wooded, and
hardly have sent the descendants* of the mutineers
to any place so well suited for immediate •
The Queen could
habitatien-
The convicts, who had been the previous occupants,
had left behind them strong stone buildings,
good roads to every part of the island. Sir anal
food
Denison embarked at Sydney for the express pur-
pose of visiting the islanders, taking with him a
quantity of things which he thought might be useful
to them, His arrival was very opportune, for they
were without flour or vegetables, except unripe pota-
toes. He induced a merchant at New Zealand for
send them a supply of the things they most needed,
in exchange for wool, tallow, and hides. The total
number of inhabitants was then 212, and they
still preserved the remarkable morality which
has always distinguished them, since the
time when John Adams became such an altered
character, in consequence, it is said, of a dream.
The governor of New South Wales summoned them
to meet him, that they might hear him read and
explain the revised code of laws he bad drawn up,
which were substantially the same as those he found
in force there, as he did nog:, consider himself to be a
good judge of what was nest suited tar a state of
society which had nothing analogous to it in the rest
of the world. By these regulations, the government
of Norfolk Island is vested in a chief magistrate and.
two councillors, all to be elected annually by the
inhabitants who have resided six months on the
island; as no distinction of sex is specified, it
may be assumed that women are entitled to
vote. Commissions are issued to these magistrates
under the great seal of the colony of New South,.
Wales, and power is given to them to enact new
laws with the consent of a majority of the popula-
tion ; but they cannot repeal these previously exist-
ing. As a contrast to the innumerable laws in-
cluded in our statute-books, the simplicity of their
code is the mote striking. In cases of dispute, the,
chief magistrate endeavours to bring the parties to
an agreement; hut if the parties refuse to be guided
by his advice, he is to summon his councillors to
his assistance, their joint decision to be final in all
cases where the property in dispute does not
exceed fifty shillings in value. In cases of common
assault they might inflict a fine not exceeding ttsn
shillings. In cases of a more serious character.
when the parties refuse to submit to the decision of
the council of three, the chief magistrate obtains the
assistance of seven elders. Together they aro em-
powered to inflict a penalty not exceeding ten
pounds, and the offender is to pay it in money or
produce. If he have neither, the e
public amount o
t be
works. If
taken out of him in labour on th
the offence is of a public nature the convicted p
ncar-
The e
ties are required to pay all costa.
of all children, from the age of six years to four-
teen, at the school is compulsory, absence being
punished by a
fine of sixpence a day. The annual
payment for each child is ten shillings a year. No
beer, wine, or spirits, is allowed to be landed, ex-
cept such as is required for the medical store, which
is under the chaplain's charge.—Mckens's "All the
Year Round."