The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-02 00:00:00

S 11, NOVEMBER 2, 1847.

BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN
EUROPE, AFRICA, ASIA, AND AUSTRALIA
CONNECTED WITH ENGLAND BY THE
INDIA AND AUSLRALIA MAIL STEAM-
PACKET COMPANY. Prepared at the request of
the Committee by the Author of the e History of tha
British Colonies."
This brochure, which has been most carefully com-
piled by Mr. Montgomery Martin, and which is.de-
dicated to the Earl of Clarendon, gives a succinct
account of the different colonial dependencies of the
British Empire, between which and the mother
country the Indian and Australian Mail Steam-
packet Company will open more frequent communi-
cations. The royal charter incorporated the company
for the conveyance of mails, transport of troops, pas-
sengers, specie, goods, and merchandise to
and from Great Britain the East Indies, Austra-
lasia, and New Zealand, and to other intermediate
ports or places." The powers of the company, there-
fore, extend across the globe from north-west to
south-east, over 180 degrees of longitude and 100
degrees of latitude, on a line 13,000 miles in leu!;+1.
Their object is to establish a weekly postal commu-
nication with India, taking en route Gibraltar, Malta,
the lonian Isles, Alexandria, Suez, Aden (from whence
a steam communication will probably be opened
with the islands of Seychelles and the Mauritius),
and so on to Bombay, Madras,
and Calcutta, taking en
route between Bombay and Calcutta- the island of
,
Ceylon.. Prom Ceylon the line--koeli Viretkih the,
Straits of Malacca to Penang and Singapore, from
whence it goes to Batavia. From hence two lines of
communication are opened with Australia; the one
goes to Port Essington, on the north coast of New
Holland (from whence a steam communication
could be easily opened with New Guinea, an island
the colonization of which Mr. Montgomery Martin
strenuously advocates), and from thence to Moreton
Bay and Sydney ; another goes direct from Batavia
to the Swan River. From Sydney there is to be a
direct steam communication with New Zealand and
with Van Diemen's Land; while from the latter
island there is to be a line to Port Philip, South
Australia, and West Australia, or Swan River, thus
establishing a complete and perfect steam communi-
cation between all the British Australian colonies, the
most important as well as the most interesting colo-
nies of the British empire. In speaking of these
magnificent possessions, Mr. Montgomery Martin
says^
" After an examination of nearly all the colonies
of England, that New South Wales is the prcudest
monument of the Christian civilizatioe of our country.
Founded with the refuse of gaols and prisons, peopled
originally by the lowest class of emigrants, planted at
anew
the blessings of
w empire in the
the Antipodes asifashamedyoeft thehas
thoutcasts,sext
extraordinary
drdaifnraaris
o 1
c southernlo
of their moral pestilence,
nyberemmeis
Britain will radiate to millions yet unborn; and future
ages will contemplate with admiration and reverence
the nation that gave the criminal time to repent before
hemisphere,
centrefroni
whichof a
alle
he went to his final judgment; turned the erring sinner
from his way, and held forth the prospect to him of a
useful, nay. happy life; that with such means peopled
the desert, and raised a monument to the glory of God
by the dissemination of His word among the isles of the
south, and amidst myriads who shall yet revere his
name.
" South Australia, of which Adelaide is the capital,
is another illustration of the rapid progress of British
colonization in this part of the globe. In 1836 South
Australia was hunted over by a few migratory savages,
and depasturated by herds of kangaroos; notwithstand-
ing some early unfortunate proceedings, its improvement
has been little short of marvellous. The colony is
situated on the south coast of New Holland, between the
26th degree of south lat. and the sea-coast, and the
132 d and the 14Ist degrees of east long. This area ex-
tends over 300,000 square miles, i. e. nearly 200,000,000
acres of land—about double the size of Great Britain
tied Ireland.
"The province is remarkable for its park-like scenery;
one-third is estimated as good open agricultural or pas-
toral land; one-third as wooded ranges, yet well adapted
for pasturage ; and one-third rocks and scrub, where,
however, rich mineral veins are found. Through the
Adelaide, Pera, and Gwalior plains, a plough might be
driven 12 or 14 miles without a singe obsttaetuns --
" The harbour of Port Adelaide is an Wet from the
sea; it is nearly eight miles in length, and'will accom-
modate a large amount of shipping. Captain Stokes,
R.N., calls it a natural dock. Ships of 500 or 600 tons
can always pass the bar in safety.
" Two great inland seas indent the coast; Spencer's
Gulf on the west, and St. Vincent's on the east; each
being separated by a long and narrow neck of land
termed York's Peninsula. Kangaroo Island is situated
in front of St. Vincent's Gulf, and is a good barrier
against the force of the Southern Ocean, and contains
several safe and commodious harbours. The mariner,
with ordinary precaution, has no difficulty even at night
in sailing through the other gulf, or Investigator's
Strait, as they are quite free from hidden dangers.
" In the absence of navigable rivers (except the
Murray) abundance of water is found for man and beast.
" For five months in the year the creeks and rivers
are running with good water, and during the drought
their natural reservoirs are full ; besides, water can
always be procured at a depth of 20 feet.
" Situated on the south coast of New Holland, it has
the benefit of the whole indraught of the south-west
winds which prevail for four months of the year. The
colonial surgeon, after some years' experience, says,
'we are without any endemic disease. We have no
marsh miasma, and consequently escape those dreadful
remittent and intermittent fevers so prevalent in India
and China. We have all the meats, fruits, and vege-
tables to be found at home; and if our days are warm
our nights are cold and bracing.' The average of the
mortality for five years is less than one per cent.; in
England, it is 2-13.
" From the calculations of Mr. Dutton, the coldest
day was in June, 1844, when the thermometer was 47i
deg., and the warmest day in January, 1845—at noon it
stood 106 deg. The average of the annual quantity of
rain which fell in South Australia is 19-902. The
longest day, in December, is 14 hours; shortest, in June,
10 hours.
"It is surprising how long this fine region was ne-
glected. In 1836 its woods resounded to the war-cry of
the naked savage. In 1839, there were introduced from
New South Wales, 4,200 horned cattle ; 130 horses ;
35,000 sheep ; and the first three months of 1840, 7,000
horned cattle ; 100 horses, and 25,000 sheep, the total
being valued at 230,8001. in fifteen months.
" The subsequent increase of stock is enormous.
1839. 1840. 1841. 1842. 1843. 1844.
Sheep •• • • 108,700 200,160 242,055 300,000 350,000 450,000
Horned cattle • • 7,600 15,100 16,696 20,000 25,000 30,000
" Pigs, horses, and goats, which had increased 30 per
cent., are omitted. In 1845, there were 480,669 sheep,
26,146 horned cattle, and 1,044 horses assesed as stock
in South Australia.
"The agricultural resources of the colony are quite
equal to the pastoral.
" The official return of acres in cultivation under
wheat, barley, oats, maize, and potatoes, was in 1840,
2,503 ; 1841, 6,722 ; 1842, 19,790 ; 1843, 28,690; 1844,
26,918 ; 1845, upwards of 30,000 acres.
"The produce is exported to Sydney, New Zealand,
Van Diemen's Land, Swan River, Mauritius, Singapore,
Cape of Good Hope, and England.
The South Australian, of the 13th of April last,
states, that 660 acres of land, situate at Lyndock
Valley, produced 28 bushes per acre. At Mount Barker,
some hundreds of acres produced 35 bushels per acre.
Sweet pea yields 40 tons per acre, arrow-root, 4 tons,
and maize ranges from 70 to 100 bushels.' South Aus-
tralian wheat sold in England for 965. per quarter, when
English wheat was selling for 603. In November, 1845,
there were sold in England 450 quarters of South Aus-
tralian wheat at 765., when English wheat was 605. ;
these 450 quarters were freighted at 641bs. weight per
bushel.
"The mining resources are also very great. The
South Australian Mining Association during the first
six months raised 2,707 tons of ore, and a great increase
was looked for. A conical hill, 40 miles north of
Spencer's Gulf, is said to be literally a mass of copper
ore, which it would require .
ages
to work.
" The share list of the mining companies in the colony
in 1846, shows the estimation entertained of their pros
pects

Paid. Price.
Adelaide Mining Company ••• ••• £2 .£lO 0
Greenock Creek 9 9
Burra Barra .• 100 0
Grand Junction 85 0
Victoria ... ••• ••• ••• ••• 2 3 10
" By accounts to May, 1847, the mining operations
were being prosecuted with great success ; the dividend
on the Burra Burra Mine, on the ore sold was said to be
equal to 280 per cent. The mineral wealth of Australia
is probably very great. Sir Thomas Mitchell, in his
recent expedition to the north-east, found a region like
the Uralian Mountains, abounding in gold. The spe-
cimens I have seen of the gold are very rich. It is in
large grains or irregular veins, loosely imbedded in white
quartz. Lead is also found.
~ The commerce has augmented in the same pro-
portion as the products. Bearing in mind that the colony
was founded only in 1838, the following shows the ex-
ports in 1844-45: 1, 1844.
Wool Oil Sp. Oil 81. Tallow. W.bone. Hides. Bark.
lbs. tons. tons. tons. tons. tons.
9 450 083 928 312 2,172 16 31,945
: f Exports, Oct. 31, 1843, to Nov.
Oct. 31, 1844, to Nov. 1. 1845.
10,007,2891,513 562 3,252 2,813 72,833 351
Besides which there have been shipped in the last year
inclusive, 439 tons manganese, 463 tons copper ore, 51

. - .
tons lead ore, 113 tons log;ood, about 150 tons South
Australia gum, nearly 450 tons New Zealand gum, be-
sides leather, sheepskins, soap, honey, lard, gelatine, flax,
tongues, hams, horns, tips, hoofs, treenails, &c. &c.
" The whole amount of goods and merchandise im-
ported into the South Australia colony in 1845, was
184,8191., and the exports for the same year, 148,459/.
In 1846 the exports had increased to 287,0001.
" The chief items in the Custom-house returns for
1845, were—cottons ar.d linens, upwards of 10,0001. ;
drapery, 16,000/. ; apparel and slops, 14,0001.;; canvass,
&c., 5,0001; porter, &0., 5,500/. ; books and stationery,
2,100/. ; tea and sugar, 9,000/; ironmongery, 4,000 L ;
wine, 3,500/.
The experts of the last quarter of 1846, were
123,6811. The other threo quarters were 163,378/. ;
total, 287,0004 ; showing an increase of 145,0001. The
articles were corn, flour, &c., 7,8004 ; wool, 63,6004 t
copper, 48,276/.
The total imports of 1845, were...

~. £103,797

Ditto, in previous year ... 63,635
Exports, 1845 .. ▪
X 97,600
Total, in previous ye-.,r ▪
60,785
"'The UN-mu 7..0d condition of the colony will be
seen thus:-..

Total 1840. 1845.
_ population... 14,610 ... 22,390
..11 town ... 8,489 7,413
In the country ... ... 6,121 14,977
Number of public houses ... 107 ... 85
Convictions of crime 47 ... 22
Acres of land in cultivation 2,503 ... 26,218
Exports of-colonial produce ... £15,650 ... £131,800
Revenue ... • ... ... 30,199 ... 32,099
Expenditure ... 169,066 ... 36,182
Copper ore exported ... ... 4,099 ... 17,172
(Copper ore for two quarters of 1846, value 54,1681.)
" The population iu the colony in 1847, is about
35,000, and there is a truly British and enterprising
spirit in the inhabitants, who, as well as their brethren
in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, deserve
a free representative constitution.
" Western Australia, or ' Swan River,' between the
parallels of 31 deg. and 35 deg. S., and that part of New
Holland westward of the 129 deg. of longitude, is 1,280
miles from N. to S., and 800 from E. to W., comprising
a great extent of country. The colony has made less
progress than the settlements on the east and south
coast. It was founded in 1829; in 1836 the population
was only 2,000; and in 1845 no more than 4,350. The
imports from Western Australia into the United King-
dom in 1844 were only 4,778/., and the British and
Irish produce consumed there the same year only
13,4771., yet Parliament has granted altogether
232,6621. to Western Australia. The best means of
improving this settlement is by establishing a good
inland communication with South Australia, thus de-
veloping the internal resources of the colony. Steam
communication with Mauritius is impracticable by reason
of the distance (3,400 miles), want of coaling stations,
violent adverse winds for a large part of the year, and
absence of traffic. The same remarks apply to com-
munication with India.

"PORT ESSINGTON.—The only remaining station in
Australia to be noticed is in lat. 11 deg. 22 min. 21 sec.
south, long. 132 deg. 12 min. east. It is 2,300 miles
from Sydney, 1,800 from Singapore—and forms the
northern link between our possessions on the eastern
and western coasts of Australia, thus securing the N.
and N.W. coasts, and closing the ring fence with which
we have girt the island of New Holland.
" The most striking feature of Northern Australia is
an excellent harbour, sufficient to hold the largest fleet;
since the establishment of the settlement, aid has been
rendered to vessels in distress, and the surviving crews
of shipwrecked vessels: good teak and oak for repairing
ships are found on the spot.
" Port Essington and the contiguous country was
first taken psssession of in 1824, by Sir G. Bremer, but
was not made a station of until 1838. The township
(Victoria) is situate 16 miles from the harbour; this
great distance was selected with a view of combining
the advantages of a good soil, fresh water, and an easy
approach for the ships in port. Shortly after the set-
tlement was formed. Lieut. Stewart, and a party ex-
plored the Coburgh Peninsula, on which Victoria is
situated. The second day they crossed several running
streams, with grassy patches, fine cedar trees, while
thick woods of mangroves appeared on all sides. On
the eastern side of the Peninsula, they found a rich and
beautiful ,country, which reminded them of the South
American forest rather than the Australian wood.
" Their observations extended over about 80 miles.
Lieut. Stewart says, there is abundance of fresh water
on the Peninsula; the south side is the best locality;
the trees are free from the white ant; and the cabbage
palm abounds.'
" Captain Grey says, the productions for the growth
of which the country and climate seem best adapted, are
cotton, sugar, indigo, and rice. The cotton-plant
grows wild in the greatest abundance, and if a new
plant were introduced the advantages would be incal-
culable.'
" The Rev. Dr. Lang, whose exertions for the benefit
of Australasia deserve the highest commendation, has
recently arrived in England to urge the formation of a
new settlement on the north-east coast of Australia for
the growth of cotton and other such tropical products.
" Captain Stokes, RN., says of Port Essington, it
is in truth a magnificent harbour, and well worthy of
having on its shores the capital of North Australia,
destined to become a great commercial mart and naval
station.' Its great size and admirable position render
it a shelter for vessels in distress.

" Dr. Leichardt's expedition overland from Sydney to
Port Essington shows that there is excellent pasturage
and water for cattle the whole way. Cotton andi ndigo
have been found growing wild in the intermediate
country, and the report on the cotton is very good.
Chinese would make the best settlers on this part of
Australia.

" Port Essington possesses little influence at present,
but experience has shown what great emporiums have
grown up from small matters. 'Wherever a few English
merchants settle, if left free, they plant the germ of
future prosperity. There ought, however, to be a station
at Cape York, and one at Wellesley Islands, at the head
of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
" We now pass from Australia to Van Diemen's Land,
an island of the South Pacific, lying between 41 deg.
and 44 deg. south latitude, and 144 deg. and 148 deg.
east longitude. It is about 210 miles from north to
south, and 150 east to west, and contains 24,000 square
miles, or 15,000,000 acres—nearly as large as Ireland.
For a length of time it was erroneously conjectured to
form a portion of New Holland; Mr. Bass, a surgeon,
discovered the strait which separates the island from
the continent. Hobart Town, the capital of Van
Diemen's Land, is 800 miles distant from Sydney, and
is picturesquely situated on the river Derwent. The
physical features are very beautiful, and in some places
grand. The island reminded me of Great Britain more
than any other country I have visited. It is well
watered, and has several excellent harbours.
" The colony is more agricultural than pastoral. The
land is very productive, and although the progress of
the colony has not been so rapid as New South Wales,
it has been more steady. The island was colonized by
by a detachment from New South Wales in 1803. The
population in 1844 was 57,420 ; the exports in 1845,
242,5611., and the imports for the same year, 339,1191.
" Wheat, oats, barley, flour, potatoes, cattle, wool, and
oil, form its chief exports ; that of wool now amounts to
nearly 5,000,0001b5.
" Van Diemen's Land has a weekly communication
with Adelaide and New South Wales, and would be
much benefited by steam communication with India and
England.
"Late accounts state that the colonists had petitioned
for a free emigration to be provided out of the surplus
land fund. Wheat tillage last year exceeded 70,000
acres—produce 1,200,000 bushels, which was then fetch-
ing 4s. 6d. a bushel.
" New Zealand islands, equal in extent to Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, next claim attention. There are three
islands, lying north and south, extending from 35 deg. to
47 deg. south lat., and between 164 deg. and 176 deg.
east long. The most northern island, Eainomawi, New
Ulster, is about 400 miles long from north to south, and
5 to 30 miles broad. The middle island, New Munster,
separated by Cook's Straits from the northern island, is
about 500 miles long, varying in breadth from 50 to 120
miles.
" The most southern island, or New Leinster, is not
much larger than the Isle of Wight.
"The North Cape (Otou) is situate in lat. 34 deg. 25
sec. 30 min. south, long. 173 deg. 9 sec. 48 min. east ;
where the country terminates in barren hills of sand
and rock. This portion of the coast has a dreary aspect,
but none of the shores of this country give any indica-
tion of the fertile interior. The east and west coasts
are divided from each other by mountainous ridges ; in
many places at the southward the altitude is such as to
be continually covered with snow.
"The greatest breadth is at the East Cape in 37 deg.
44 min. south, 178 deg. 36 min. west, where its estimated
width is about 300 miles, but the average breadth is not
more than 100 miles across.
" The Bay of Islands, in latitude 35 deg. 10 min.
south, longitude 171 deg. 30 min. east, is capacious,
being nearly 12 miles in width ; it will accommodate
the largest ships. The anchorages vary in depth from
5 to 25 fathoms. This has been a favourite resort for
the ships of all nations for many years.
" The North Island is so contracted a few miles from
the North Cape, and at the Thames. the centre of the
island on the east, and Kaipara and Manukou on the
opposite shores on the west, that canoes are drawn by
the natives across the narrow isthmus, which does net
exceed three miles. The east coast is the best locality;
the harbours indenting its shores are valuable, not being
obstructed by sand-banks. New Zealand, lyingsnorth
and south for about 900 miles, enjoys a great variety of
salubrious climate, is well adapted to European can•
stitutions, capable of supporting a large and civilised
community, and worthy of becoming the Britain of the
south.
" The New Zealand Company deserve great credit for
their colonization of the country. The far-seeing mind
and promptitude of B. S. Halswell, Esq., M.A. (who
patriotically made a philanthropic voyage to our pos-
sessions in the southern hemisphere, with the primary
object of ameliorating the condition of the aboriginal
natives, and also with a view of understanding the
nature of penal discipline there, Mr. llalswell being an
active magistrate of the Middlesex bench of magistrates
in London), in conjunction with other spirited indi-

viduals, caused the dispatch of the ship Tory' on a
preliminary expedition to New Zealand, May, 1839, and
thus prevented those noble islands becoming a French
colony. It is to be hoped that the diff,rences between
her Majesty's Government and the New Zealand Com-
pany are now entirely at an end, and that the progress
of the colony will he as rapid as that of its sister set-
tlements in Australia.

"The number and tonnage of vessels inwards and
outwards from one settlement in New Zealand, the port
of Wellington, in 1846:

Vessels. Tonnage. Men.
Inwards from beyond the seas... 47 8,362 547
Coastwise ... 172 5,753 609

Total inwards ... 219 14,115 1,156

Outwards beyond the seas
Coastwise ... ...