The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-20
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Port FAIRY. ~ 6O
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OUR SOCIAL CONDITION.
1t is with considerable pleasure that we announce
that there is decided current of improvement in the
social condition of the colony. On former occasions
when depicting the aspect OF the community for dis
tant readers, constrained to represent crime
as rampaDt-life and property insecure even in the
streets OF the metropolis and the dggers often hover
ing on the verge OF Lynch law. Bat this state Of
things passing away, and far more healthy m ra
tone is beginning to pervade society. There are
STILL it must be confessed, occasional outbreaks Of
crime OF an atroclous character, Of which the muir
derous attack on the gold escort detailed in our
summary for the Chusan, fortnight since,) affords
painful example; but they are almost wholly due
to the importations Of Van Diemens Land convict.
ism which still minge amongst our population. As,
however, the final effort Of that unPrnciped states.
man, Lord Grey, to procure little longer existence
for the accnred transportation system has been Sig
Daily defeated by the wisdom ana frmness Of the
present mil istry, We have strong hopes that in
comparatively brief peri I'd the last vestiges OF
victisn viii be eradicated from the colony of Vic
toria and the vigor infused into our body polite by
the tardy concession OF responsible government will
enable us better and better to keep our rufians in
order.
The large and continuous infusion of fresh and
healthy elements into our population-the absorbing
nature Of the individual struggle for wealth-the
facility with vhic every man who is willing to work
can secure comfortable maintenance and something
overland marked improvement ia the police sys.
tem-have combined to check the tendency to law
lesness, aid to promote order and morality. We
mention the improvement ia the lOlice system with
special qualification, because nothing cond be more
IL fclent Than as sometime SINCE and it not
possible for us to speak of it ia any terms except
those OF emphatic condemnation The main features
II tbs desirable result are the addition to the local
fore OF a craft Of the London police the employ
met OF many OF the military stationed here in police
duties and he introduction of better discipline int)
the orce generally. The system is still very far from
perett but there exists reason why it should not
be IA Std into concltion OF the highest eic ency
AT all events We may now venture to assert that life
81 property are very much more secure than they
have lately been, and the tendency is towards still
further Improvement
In previous urinary we mott ed the improve
ment IN this particular without venturing to assign
q cause; but we believe that we now do no more
than justice In atributing much Of the reform to
gentleman who has la.ey been entrusted with the
head OF this important branch Of toe public service.
Several things have happened lately besides the
general tendency TO Improvement ITSELF to lead to
believe Mr.. Mitchell to be an able, Jealous, and
faithful officer. We make no apology for any tardi-
Less may have exhibited in re cognising such
qualities in government ofi cia under the old re-
gme for thanks to that system OF vasssage which
we have existed, and to The irresponsible influence
OF q very unworthy ruler, merit has seldom work.
ed its way TO Office, that we may excused for not
very readily recognising it when we see it. Ability
and hoellty, IN an appointment o. Mr.. La Trooe,
have been SO infrequent, as to have become almost
fabulous; and, when such case does occur, it eau
not be wondered il the colonsts fist greet it with
an unbeheving stare. The habitual encouragem snt
OF fippan. negligence and OF syc0phaltic incon-
potency, so accustons the Australian to official
worthless ness, that honesty and ability become
difficult of belief altogether 1t is the natural
consequence OF your faulty English system of colonial
government. And as your sarGHs are puzzled with
our msrsupials and amphibious animals, simply be-
cause they are not accustomed TO them, SO do we
doubt really effective government officer for the
sane cause. You turn over and examine our platy-
pus increduousy simply be cause it happens to have
beak; we turn over and examine, equally incredu-
lousy, government official produced under your
system, when be startles us with an indication Of
brain.
We have always repeated our warnings to intend
ing emigrants OF the DIFFICULTIES which would meet
them at their entrance into the colony; but 1t is
creditabe TO the coonsts to state that their benevO
lent efforts to mitigate those evils very successful
Two societies are In active operation tor the purpose
Of sffording temporary shelter TO new corners, and
relief In casual CASES Of restitution. The private
voluntary subscriptions for Of these associations
the Immigrants Aid Society amount already to the
handsome sum Of 1881 rs. l0d, and an application
to the Executive to put upon the estimates grant
Of GAO 600 in furtherance If the benevolent OPP
jects Of the society, has been favorably received
sick ward and dspensary have been established,
where medicine and advice are grstut usy best0 we'd
on persons needing them and III ugh OILY recently
brought into active OPERATION the sc'ety as distr
buted 1870 10 donations to persons requiring assist
auce, and lent f242 in small SUMS TO applicants. 1t
has engaged an agent TO seek out cases Of des ttu
top in order to their being relieved and it is taking
measures to erect temporary lodging house aud
hospital. The Houseess Immigrants Home, has
afforded temporary shelter to 4S4 persons during
the last eight months at very low rate, and the
total amount OF funds collected by private subscrip-
tim and government grant amounts 70 nearly els 000
These facts attest the willingness Of the coonists to
hold out helping hand to new corners, a1d prove
that the too general thirst for gold has not entirely
shut up the fountains Of human sympathy. II
should be remembered that the Of restitution
generally temporary, arising from those inevits
BILE casualties that occur in such condition Of things
as ours. The greatest grievance the want Of house
doubt that building will speedily go forward to an
ton. On the whole, the amount OF hardsrips en-
dured by newly arrived mmi grants is diminishing,
notwithstanding the numbers arriving aud there IL
reason to hope that these ba 'dships will d ,appear
in time. But still the fact cannot he too strongly
impressed on the mind of every including engrsDt,
that the principal difficulties wi, meet him At the
threshold; and IL will require all his sell reliance
fortitude, and perseverance to overcome tbem.
There is a strong disposition on the part of e nj
grants from large towns in Britain 10 cast them
wholly on those means OF subsistence which the
larger towns here afford them. They dread the bush
and they are not adapted to country pursuits Such
OF them have trades fad little difficulty In proc1r.
irg employment, at very high wages but there Is a
NJ 70 class who seem lttoo for nothing except deal
ing In q small way. Hence, the city And suburbs
are crowded with numbers Of small shops, beyond