The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-17 00:00:00

COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Will you permit me, through the medium of your
columns; to offer a few remarks• on an article I met with the
other day in the Liverpool Mercury of April 29, headed
" Colonisation without Cost," treating upon Australia and
New Zealand ?

I have spent eleven years at the settlement of Swan River,
Western Australia—have witnessed its progress nearly from
its commencement—have had a personal acquaintance with
most of the early settlers—and shall, therefore, write from
my own knowledge of its state and the condition of its in-
habitants. The settlement was commenced about the mid-
dle of the year 1829. 1 arrived there in the early part of
February 1830. _

Before entering on particulars, I beg to offer two or three
general remarks on the article in question.

- I would observe that the idea of sending out labourers by
means of a fund raised from the sale of land in the colonies,
is not new; it has been acted upon for some time. Num-
bers of free emigrants have been sent to New South Wales
and Van Dieman's Land on that very principle.
Will the editor of the Liverpool Mercury inform his read-
ers at what time in the history of colonisation any number
of free emigrants were sent to Australia at the expense of
the British public ? I can answer for it that none were ever
sent to Western Australia on that principle.
May I be allowed to ask, by the way, why the labouring
man should not have a portion of land given to him in the
wilderness, where there are tens of millions of acres that
have no occupier ? Labour is the capital of the working
man, and I cannot see why government should not allow
him a boon for embarking with that capital, especially as the
surplus land is of no value to the government till the increase
of population requires it.
The figure employed by the editor of the Liverpool Mer-
cury, representing one man with " two spades," and the
other digging his land with a " stake," may serve to amuse
children who wish to play at colonisation ; but I can assure
your readers that the capitalists at Swan River have too
much regard for their own interest, and the general welfare
of the colony, to allow their spades to " rot ' for want of
use ; and the labouring classes possess too much common
sense to dig their land with stakes, or to refuse to work for
the capitalist when they have not the means of supporting
themselves and their families on their own freehold property.
Part of the labourers have worked for hire till they have
saved a sufficient capital to enable them to commence for
themselves, and they are now in a condition to employ others.
Part are continuing to work for hire. Some of the indus-
trious classes with small means, who have been settled on
their sections of land adjoining the capitalist who possessed
more ample means, have been enabled to borrow the capi-
talist's " spade," or—what answered their purpose on a
more extensive scale—his plough and horses, for which the
borrower repaid the capitalist with his own manual labour.
Several of the capitalists have placed their most trustworthy
servants as tenants upon portions of their land, and have
entrusted them with the care of their breeding cattle and
sheep, from which the tenant receives part of the increase
for his care and attention.
As a system, " squatting" has never prevailed at Swan
River; and from what I heard from persons who have vi-
sited the other colonies, I sincerely believe it is less followed
at Swan River than in any other Australian colony.
The most extravagant part of the article in the Liverpool
Mercury is the following:—
" The last colony deliberately formed on the principle of
giving land away was the Swan River colony. One man
took 800,000 acres, another 500,000; some were more mo-
derate in their desires, and took only 100,000 acres. The
emigrants who were conveyed out refused to labour for hire,
although they had bound themselves to the capitalists. They
found a country without bounds open to them, and they re-
fused to comply with a contract in which they believed they
had been cheated; so they squatted on the land; and the
goods, and the seeds, and the tools, which the capitalists
took out, perished on the beach, for there was no man to
carry them to a place of shelter. At length these indepen •
dent occupiers of the soil were almost starved (some did
starve); they returned to their masters, whom they had
deserted and ruined, and said, Let us stand to our bar-
gain' ; but the masters were unable to do so, as the capital,
which can alone set labour in operation, had utterly perished.
This is by no means an overcharged picture."
Let us now see how far these most grave and deliberate
charges are correct. (If your readers cannot rely upon my
statements, I would beg to refer them to a work written on
Western Australia by Nathaniel Ogle, F.G.S., &c. In that
work they will find a number of tables, furnishing a statis-
tical account of the condition of the colonists, of imports
and exports, of the increase of stock, &c., and also of all
lands assigned by the government from the commencement
of the colony to the 30th June, 1837.)
The four individuals who have had the privilege of having
the largest quantity of land assigned them, were allowed to
take up the following -quantities, viz., 250,216-113,100-
100,000—and 84,413 acres (not quite so much as quoted
above). A considerable portion of the quantities here quoted
have been forfeited, the conditions never having been ful-
filled. Three of the four individuals have not been much
benefited by their high favours. Two of the cases especially
may be considered as complete failures. The reason was,
because the parties who held the land, and engaged to employ
and support the men, were not in possession of the " spades"
—or, in other words, could not raise the wind to carry on
their intended operations, and to supply their dependants
with the necessaries of life. Numbers of these men, after
languishing for some time without any prospect of continued
support, were at length, by legal authority, freed from their
obligations to their master, and allowed to shift for them-
selves; and several of them, after they had acquired a little
property, were afterwards prosecuted for repayment of their
passage money. _ . _

Really, if two or three individuals will make wildgoose
speculations, they ought to bear the consequences of their
own folly, and not let a thriving community be stigmatised
for their blunders.

The liberated servants of whom I have last spoken, (and
who are said to have " squatted on the land,") were placed
by the local government on what is denominated the con-
centration system, and had three acres of land each allotted
them ; but in a few years their empty cottages and partly-
cultivated plots of land were proofs of the failure of the sys-
tem, whilst the men were more profitably employed—some
as labourers, others as bailiffs, to the capitalists.
A comparison is made in one part of the article which
forms the subject of these remarks, placing South Australia
and New Zealand in contradistinction with the other Aus-

tralian colonies. On this subject I must confess that I can-
not divest myself of the idea that the agents employed by the
two companies, particularly interested in the first-named
colonies, with their paid lecturers and bookmakers, materi-
ally assist them in selling their land—in the same manner as
a puff advertisement assists a tradesman in selling his wares.
But, as I prefer, dwelling principally on practical effects,
let us naw see what is doing on the other side of the water.
Of New Zealand I know but little : it has not yet arrived at
the turning point which naturally succeeds the sifting time
to which all new colonies are subject.
On referring to Lord Stanley's speech, delivered in the
House of Commons on Tuesday, April 19, it will be found
that in South Australia (of which so much has been said
and written) there were 1200 persons living as paupers, being
maintained out of the public funds, for want of employment.
So much for " completeness " of principle. Also on this
subject see Quarterly Review for April 1842.
The Swan River settlement has steadily progressed from
its commencement. The first four or five years were seasons
of difficulties, but those have been overcome principally by
individual enterprise, assisted and encouraged by the activity
of Sir James Stirling, who was the first governor.
In a little more than two years from its commencement, a
road was opened across the range of hills into the interior,
and a farm commenced at a distance of sixty miles from the
seat of government. Others followed the same track, and
the principal sheep-farmers are now in that district. It is
to the interior that the settlers look as the source of their
future wealth, where their sheep can have an unbounded
pasture. Wool being the staple produce, they look to it for
an article of export. _

When I left the colony last year, it was in a healthy and
prosperous state. All classes were profitably employed. The
chief drawback was want of labourers. The flocks and herds
were rapidly increasing. Very passable roads had been
opened through the different districts, and inns established.
The towns were advancing in improvement. Two printing
presses were in operation. A discounting bank had been
established, which returned a good profit to the shareholders,
and was a great convenience to the public. Whaling esta-
blishments had been commenced. An agricultural society
had been in operation for ten years. A. reading society and
benefit club had been established. Five churches and two
Wesleyan chapels had been erected, or were in course of
erection. A subscription had been made, amounting to
upwards of £BOO, towards the eredion of the Wesleyan
chapel in the town of Perth, which contained between 600
and 700 inhabitants. Sabbath and day schools had been
established, and likewise a school for the native children,
which promised fair for success. Instead of the colony being
a failure, the first difficulties of colonisation may be said to
be overcome, and business to have assumed a settled form.
Mr. Ogle, in his work on Western Australia, after fur-
nishing a table shewing the average amount of property pos-
sessed by each adult male in the colony in 1837, (and like-
wise shewing the per centage of mortality,) makes the fol-
lowing observations :
" On an inspection of the preceding table, it will be seen
that each colonist, on an average, possesses a considerable
amount of property in land, buildings, and cultivation; that
after providing for his own subsistence, he exports in wool
and oil to the amount of £8 19s. 2.0., and contributes to
the local revenue the sum of £6 2s. 3d. per annum ; that
the comparative mortality is very small, while the births and
marriages are unusually numerous. In recapitulating these
facts, it is not out of place to advert to certain rumours
which have been assiduously propagated as to the failure of
colonisation in this quarter. So far is this from the truth,
that it may be fairly asked, with reference to the table above,
in what other, colony are the colonists, on an average, in a
more prosperous condition than this, or in the possession of
larger means for future welfare."
The above quotation shews the state of the colony in the
year 1837, when it had only been in existence eight years ;

since that period it has made very considerable advancement.
In conclusion, I have only to add, (and I think your read-
ers will agree with me,) that the portion of the article I have
quoted from the Liverpool Mercury—backed by " This is
by no means an overcharged picture "—is as unfounded as
it is unjust ; and it shews that the source from which the
writer has obtained his information, is by no means respec-
table.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
Manchester, May n, 1842

VEPdTAS

THE. HAMBURGH SUBSCRIPTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Stu,—l see by placards on the walls of this town, that the
mayor has called a meeting for next Wednesday, to sympa-
thise with, and grant pecuniary relief to, the citizens of
Hamburgh. Now lam quite inclined to sympathise with
them, and deplore as much as any one the awful calamity
that has so recently visited that city ; but, considering the
many and urgent calls that are made, or ought to be made,
on the community for claimants nearer home, I think that
charity should begin at home. We have thousands—aye, I
fear even millions—in this country who are in a far more
destitute condition than the citizens of Hamburgh at this
time. A return recently made to parliament shews that
upwards of two millions of persons—our own countrymen
and women—have received parish relief, exclusive of many
thousands who are relieved under local acts, which do not
come under the commissioners' notice, and exclusive of dis-
trict relief funds, which have administered greatly to the
wants of the suffering poor, and many are eking out a mise-
rable existence rather than apply to their parish. Such
being the state of things at home, I think it not right to ask
our people to relieve those of other nations, when all their
philanthropy might be so justly exercised at home. Besides,
there are other reasons why we should not be called upon.
I never yet heard of the Hamburghers, or any other foreign
nation, ever affording us any relief; and I am sure the treat-
ment the English received in Hamburgh during and subse-
quent to the conflagration, was not such as to enlist our
sympathies. lam a poor, hard-working man myself, but I
trust I have always, as far as has lain in my power, been
willing to assist my fellow-man in distress ; and if our coun-
try was in a prosperous state, I would be the last man in it
to object to pecuniary relief to the citizens of Hamburgh ;
y. it is not desirable
but the country being in such a. deplorable state, 1 hope
some gentleman of influence in this town will come forward
any pecuniary grant
on Wednesday, and move an amendment, to the effect
.t that,o
recommendipresentnthe t
hee gsitsal
at et
uorfe,the
to
_Ecmoaua nter
remarks, ma r
MECHANIC.ks
to the citizens of Harnburgh. Private individuals can, of
SUFF
pace for these
Trustingcourse, do ayso they
willey lgeiayseeAs.
Liverpool, May 16, 1842.

THE SURVEYOR'S OFFICE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—As I perceive, from two letters recently inserted in
a contemporary, that there is an inquiry instituted to inquire
into the practices of the corporation surveyors, would you
allow me, through the medium of your journal, to make, or
rather to cause similar inquiries to be made, why a preference
should be given by the said surveyors to one builder more
than another ? Surely, if the architects in Liverpool are
entitled to an inquiry into the improper practices of the cor-
poration's servants, so also are the builders. lam one of
those blunt fellows who will not purchase favours by means
of cant and treats, and hence I am one of the excluded par-
ties. There are some persons who are employed and pa-
tronised by those gentlemen, who, I am informed, frequently
give something substantial for past, and in anticipation of
future favours, and whose sole dependance rests on their
apparent generosity, which eventually is indirectly paid by
the corporation in the payment of the favoured builders'

accounts, which have been " examined and signed," &c.,
by the partakers of the favoured builders' bounteous gene-
rosity. I hope this obnoxious system will be fully inquired
into, and the malpractices of the guilty individuals shewn up
before the ratepayers, as I am heartily sick of reform (being
myself of that class) under such circumstances. 1 was one
of the applauders and supporters of the radical reformers
(save the mark !) previous to the municipal act being ob-
tained, because I was led to believe that those immaculate
gentlemen would do away with all patronage and favouritism,
but the contrary is the fact, and from that cause alone I am
now A TORY BUILDER.
Liverpool, May 16, 1842.

THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND THAMES HAVEN

RAILWAYS

TO THE EDITOR OF TH.

RAILWAY MA G,4 ZINZ

MR. EDITOR,—In your journal of the 7th instant there is
a letter, signed " E. C. 5.," on the subject of the proposed
arrangement by which theVhames Haven Railway Company
were to have brought their traffic to London by the Eastern
Counties line, but which arrangement, it appears, is broken
off in consequence of the two Companies not being able to
agree upon terms. Your correspondent appears to be a
Shareholder in the Eastern Counties Railway, and is, no
doubt, extremely anxious to obtain the largest possible
amount of traffic upon this line • and, as I doubt not, there-
fore, that any information will be acceptable to him, I am in-
duced to communicate what I know of the subject, as I also,
as well as himself, have heard some " whisperings" relative
to this matter. As the whispers which I have heard differ a
good deal from those of your other correspondent, I propose
to show, not only that his deductions may possibly be wrong,
but that from the very nature of things, they must neces-
sarily be so ; and I may therefore, perchance, be able to
calm his apprehension of loss to the Eastern Counties line,
in which, no doubt, he is very deeply interested.
" Lucri bonus odor, ex re quabet"—the smell of gain is
good, from whatever source it proceeds—was the answer of
the Roman Emperor Vespasian, when be was upbraided for
layinG, a tax upon wine. And no doubt your correspondent,
" E. C. 5.," thinks the same thing, and with reluctance sees
the prospect of an income of traffic to the Eastern Counties
Company, which he considers will produce £21,000 per
annum, fade for the present from their grasp. Being myself
a Shareholder in this Company, I confess I should very much
like to see this additional traffic secured ; but I cannot dis-
guise from myself the fact, that gold itself may be purchased
too dear, and that as the Directors of the Company must ne-
cessarily be in possession of more of the facts than any or-
dinary Shareholder, and knowing, too, that many of them
possess very large stakes in the concern, I cannot think that
they are actuated by the paltry avaricious motives which
"E. C. S." attributes to them. The views taken by Direc-
tors are also very frequently, and necessarily, different from
those of particular Shareholders ; for the latter may possibly
be mere temporary holders of stock, and whatever, there-
fore, improves the present value of their shares, it is their
aim to uphold, while a Director, acting for the permanent
prosperity of the concern, looks far beyond the present
moment, and will often sacrifice an apparent present gain, to
secure a more lasting benefit.

To descend, however from general propositions to parti-
cular instances. "E. C. S'" states, that it was the unjust
demand of the Eastern Counties Directors, to be allowed to
run their trains on the Thames Haven Railway at the same
rate of toll as they were to receive from the latter Company,
which caused the negociation to be broken off. It may be
owing to some natural dullness of comprehension, but I must
confess I am not able to see the injustice of this demand.
The distance run upon the two lines is, 1 believe, pretty near-
ly equal, but the cost of construction (arising from the res-
pective situations,) must be more than three times as much for
the Eastern Counties Railway as for the Thames Haven,
mile for mile. If, therefore the Thames Haven Company
grant the privilege for the Eastern Counties Company to run
trains over their line at the same rate that will satisfy the lat-
ter tor their tollage, it is quite clear that the Thames Haven
Company will have much the best of the bargain. But then
" E. C. S." says that in this case the Thames Haven Com-
pany would lose their monopoly of the traffic. I can very
easily suppose that this is just the subject which may have
caused the difference between the two Companies. Experi-
ence has shown in more than one case, that if this privilege
of inter-traffic between main lines and their branches existed,
the public convenience would be promoted, and the quarrels
of public Companies prevented. Take for instance the case
of the Greenwich and the Croydon Companies. The Croydon
Company most absurdly endeavour to charge their first-class
passengers, one shilling and three pence from New Cross to
London Bridge, a distance of about 21 miles. The conse-
quence, of course, is that the passengers will not come on the
Greenwich line. But if the Greenwich Company had the
privilege of running their trains on the Croydon line at the
same rate of toll which the latter now pay the former; they
could afford to take the Croydon passengers from Newcross
to Tooley-street, for about sixpence each, paying the Croydon
Company the same rate of toll per mile, which the latter now
pay the Greenwich Company. , Now, as regards the Thames
Haven Company, the same kind of case may arise. They
propose to bring an enormous amount of traffic on their line
at a most unusually low rate. If, therefore, they make their
bargain with the Eastern Counties Company on this basis,
and afterwards discover that a far smaller amount of traffic
at higher rates will be more remunerative, it is evident the
Eastern Counties. Company would 1
thqr tbs

,e just in t

,e option

of continuing the traffic cn the ola terms if tb-,- ,
and not be made the cat's paw of, or the purpose of calling
into existence the Thames Haven Company, for them to reap
all the profit. But 1 have also beard another reason assigned
for the Eastern Counties Company demanding a reciprocity
of tollage wag the Thames Haven Company. It is said there
are other projects contemplated for branches to the Eastern
Counties line, which propose to use part of the Thames Ha-
ven line ; it is, therefore, very natural for the Eastern
Counties Company to endeavour to secure similar advantages
for these branches, which they propose to grant to the Thames
Haven Company. For it is notorious, that without the as-
sistance of the Eastern Counties Company, the Thames
Haven line can never be made ; and, therefore, the apprehen-
sion of " E. C. S," that they will obtain a distinct line into
London, is perfectly groundless, as it is scarcely likely that a
Company, that has been trying for five or six years to raise
a capital of two or three hundred thousand pounds, and has
failed in their endeavours, should succeed better when they try
to raise a million or a million and a half ! I differ in opinion
from " E. C. S." therefore, and think that the Directors of
the Eastern Counties Company, instead of " impaling them-
selves" on the horns of a dilemma, have acted very wisely for
the interests of their Shareholders in demanding reciprocity
of tollage, as the basis of their agreement with the Thames
Haven Company, and that without such reiprocity they
would betray the interests of their Company in granting
terms lower than the usual Parliamentary rates. For, in ad-
dition to all the previous reasons, it must be borne in mind,
that if the traffic prove so extensive as the Thames Haven
Company expect, they may ultimately obtain another line
into London independent of the Eastern Counties, and then,
after putting them to a vast expence, may terminate the
agreement ; but I apprehend by the other arrangement this
could not arise (and in justice it ought not) for the East-
ern Counties Company would then be able to continue the
traffic to themselves, if their allies proved faithless to the
spirit of their agreement. Whether these are all, or even any
of the reasons which have led to the present interruption of the
negociatiou alluded to, I can of course, on the authority of
the " whispers" before mentioned, only state conjecturally,
but I think they show that common prudential motives alone,
completely sanction' the course which the Eastern Counties
Company have taken, and exonerate the Directors from the
charge made against them by " E. C. S."
I have replied to your correspondent as though he were
really entitled to the character he assumes of an Eastern
Counties Shareholder ; and possibly he may be entitled to
it. lam disposed, however, to think that the same gentle-
man sometimes acts in other characters ; and in the lan-
guage of Goldsmith (when George, in the Vicar of Wakefield,
met the man who sold him the gross of green spectacles, and
recognised him by his introducing the second time the only
scrap of learning which he possessed) I would say to him,
" I think, Sir, I have met you before." The days of
chivalry I thought had long since passed, otherwise I should
have imagined the writer of the letter in question was a true
Knight-errant in search of adventures, for the extirpation
of oppression and avarice in whatever secret corners they
may lurk. Like Don Quixote, he appears to discover giants
in windmills, and distressed damsels as plentiful as the
pebbles on thel sea-shore. " Virtue," it is said, " once
dwelt upon this earth !" and if our Knight can discover her
secret dwelling, and liberate her from the spell which now
binds her in some dungeon fastness, none will more rejoice
at his success than

10th May, 1812,

Your obedient servant,
SIMON PURE

THE EX-KING OF HOLLAND.—THE HAGUE, May 11th
—ln consequence of the favourable accounts which continue
to be received of the health of his Majesty King William
Frederick, Count of Nassau, his Majesty has given orders
that the public prayers. for the entire recovery of the aged
Prince shall be accompanied with thanksgiving to Almighty
God for having preserved his life.
THE 'REJECTED OF NORTHUMBERLAND.—The General
Committee on Election Petitions have reported to the House
of Commons that a Select Committee will be appointed on
Monday, June Gth, to investigate the petition presented
against the return of Lord Howick for the Borough of Sun-
derland. If the inquiry is only conducted in a searching and
skilful manner, corruption, in all its shades of character, will
be brought to light equal even to the Whig performances at
Sudbury and elsewhere, and there can be no doubt but the
" Rejected of Northumberland" will be sent to keep emu pany
with that " sombre" gentleman Mr. Dyce Sombre, who has
been ignominiously kicked out of the House of Commons.—
Newcastle Journal.

THE FIRE AT HAMBURGH.—Some of the merchants ac-
quainted with the customs of Hamburgh observe, that this
will offer a favourable moment for the improvement of the
city, as the particular method which is adopted of insuring
the houses in Hamburgh will place great power in the hands
of the government. Nearly every house is, it seems, occu-
pied by a freeholder or a tenant-at-will, or for a short term ;
and there is nothing similar to the long leases which are so
common in England. These freehold houses are insured by
means of a system of taxation—that is to say, the holders
pay a certain rate to the government, who undertake, on
their part, to repair the damage done by fire. This rate of
insurance, it seems, the government may vary to meet the
exigencies of the occasion, and as the present will be so great
as to exceed the possibility of paying any adequate rate that
may be levied on the inhabitants, the freeholds being already
mortgaged to their full amount, it is thought that the govern-
ment may fairly expropriate the lands, and resell them in
lots. This certainly seems a violent proceeding, and one
the justice of which it is difficult to make intelli-
gible in this country ;' but whether it be consistent with
Hamburgh institutions, those who are familiar with the
laws of that city can alone decide. More intelligible is the
proposition of seizing this opportunity of throwing down the
rampart that surrounds the town, and thus preventing Ham-
burgh from being selected as a suitable spot for a garrison in
the case of a European war. Private letters contain several
melancholy facts connected with the ill-usage of the English
residing in Hamburgh, on account of the prevailing suspicion
that some of our countrymen had a hand in the fire. Two
Englishmen had tongs tied round their necks, and wear!,
thrown into the canal; another was thrown into the canal,
and stoned till he sank ; a third bad his head split ip
th atws°worly:
an axe; and a fourth was run through the body
When it is ascertained how contrary is the feelipwgiiii found
tL.sondon,
to anything like malice towards flamburgh—
vewthe distressed
how promptly and liberally the call to relilsh_the recollec-
in that city has been answered by the Brit
n the deepest re•
tion of these outrages will, doubtless, awaken
among the inhabitants.—London Time .

SECOND EDITMIV;

Standard-office

rhree o'clock

LIVERPOOL. CORN EXCHANGE,—Tats DAY

(From Messrs. R. MAKIN & SONS' Circular.)

In addition to the scant

have very fey

only imports deserving no

comprised in 10,668 qrs. of Wheat f

ports of Europe, about 1,700 qrs. of

qrs.; Malt, -
- qrs. ; Oat

Wheat, 1366
Oatmeal, 164 lds. ;

qrs. ; Oatmeal

Gems of Protestant Truth. By a Lady. I

Under the title of "GE

pp. 170

:

)f Protestant Truth," OH

amiable compiler has selected a great variety of passages on
It truth and Popish error, from the speeches aad
of Edward Dalton, secretary to the Protestant As-
ion. Many striking remarks, calculated to retain. a
in the memory for many a long year, will be found in

writings

. _
mpretending little volume. We strongly recommend it

to the notice of our Protestant friends

Letter on Free Trade, addressed to the Right lion. Lord
3,1. p. By Walter Fletcher. Liverpool

John Rzeuell