New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-12
AUSTRALASIA.

ppAuTY or THE ISLAND AND VALUE OF ITS
NATURAL SOURCES-UNFORrUNATE CON
SEQUENCES OF TIE CONVICT sfSIEM-IhE
CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF rhls-
ONERs-TIE LABOR MARKET-CORRUPTlOS
or THE GOVERNNENT-sTATE OF SOCIETY
PERSONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or
COLONIAL, LIFE--A HAPPY HOME AFTER
TROUBLED LIFE.
JPROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
HOBART TOWN, Sept Is, 1S6S-lt was Dilght
sunny morning when L approached the emu VI
a prosperous voyage from Melbourne in small
brig that claims the title of regular trader IN
the Australian seas We were steering nearly NORTH
and 10 the westward not half q mile distant lay
hold basalt headland against which the spray shot
nm IN A many-colored cloud, as the ocean rollers
svent along by fresh southern breeze broke among
tina tangled rocks The opposite coast was less pre-
c;ntoua but all looked dark and barren. The trees
vere few and the heritage scanty, and no signs OF
animal life appeared. Before MS opened out the "lue
expapse OF Storm Bay and as we proceeded on our
conrss Tho shores became brighter, TILL here ana
thers among the scrub patch of gray-bluo smoke
slowly curling through the trees, gave Indications OF
humanity. These soon increased, till presently, as IL
by enohsntment vail of mist cleared before US anu
the outline of considerable city. rising as IL were
ont of the sea, with dark mountain Tor Il pack-
ground, made its appearance. On our lett was
sandy beach the land behind rising into undulatihs
hills of bold outline near the water, but slopng grad
ually away TO the foot Of Mount Wellington. On Tue
right was the mouth OF o noble river, with pctur-
eaous ranges on either SIDE and III front lay wen
sheltered cove surrounded by fine warehouses ana
wbaryes, save in tho center, where the Union JACK
Indicated the site OF Government House" whose
gardens sIoped down toward small battery when
hero protected the harbOr The brlg was hauled up
TO her moorings without dropping anchor ana III q
abort interval found myself for the hrst time Ill
Hobart Town. the capital OF Englands convict col
ony and the chief town Of one of the finest ISLANDS Ill
the southern hemisphere, then Van DIemens Lana
now Tasmania then prison, now free.
In visiting foreign lands, set little vaiue on nrst
impressons but, If they are OF any WORTH HODaIt
Town ought to be pleasant place OIL ies,uehCe' ~
ocrupea fine site with great natural advantages
it is well planned not badly built ana ior pacsutd
esaue grandeur of its surroundings Is not sIposou
hy any city in the South. 10 sum up IN lev" W1ius
the advantages Of the entire sland-oi many Oh whc
the CITY 10 m very confer parake for there are cOal
mines within it's hmits-it contains the richest Don,
Ceyable soil, fine timber, beautiful scenery, gIana
rivers an exquisite climate. noble harbOrs ana al
most inexhaustible mineral resources, lncudinB es-
pecally iron and coal. And yet, 10 those VINO con
template settling there, can only give inc ADVICE
which sagaoious old gentleman gave 10 those ABOUT
| TO marry and say don't. 4,
| VLen Il can with truth be said Of a country that
its population does not increase and that
tuTo pcrsStently exceeds IT'S refehue-thIs 700, ~
snite Of every gift of nature layshly bestowed upon
if and Of all the advantage Of exemption from ex-
| terna political complications or internal wars-we
may be sure that there IL something M ny
wrong in tho constitution Of its social state 30 mas
| il been an Van Diemens Land. where fdund my
first favorable impressions soon modlhed ana AFTER
a time absolutely altered, by experience ana care
full study of the Institutions both social ana political
of that unfortunate colony
For by EngIsnd's policy misfortune has. indeed
been heaped upon it. II IS not my province now to
discuss ia the abstract tho policy OF transporting
criminals 20 some distant place but tins ~ certain
for IL il proved nv all experience, that colony can
not be at Tor long free colony and convict
colony without serious and almost lrTetrleYable ms
chef being the result. The non-deyelOpment OF
natural resources the absence Of all progress polit-
cal confusion. the stagnaion of commerce.. ANA so
Cial demoTa ikatlOD. Characteristic OF van me
mems and and due solely TO tho prepOnderancc OF
tina convict element and TO the leayen Of conyctisn
in the community. Specifically all ~ far aud pleas
ant but under the surface all II rank and foul; and
little else perhaps To have been expected whero
more than seycnrighths OF the population were the
dregs ~ Englands worst criminals. educated IN the
colony under the most atrOcous stem of prison dis
cipliue that has. perhaps ever dsgraocd civilized
people and then TUNED admit 10 make society and
and 20 populate province .
twenty years ago Van Denens Land surpassed al
the Australian colonies IA tho prfcctlon OF public
works though since then the Others have IN on
stripped her. There good roads. strong. well
built bridges Caplcous government stores. ample
wharfage and a sufficient depth OF water 20 allow
ships Oi hc largest tunnage Ia lie m ue very near
Of the town. All this mist be placed To the c,ed'i of
!
gested that all work done by prisoners aust come
under the head OF fucd labor but this ~ not alW ~
true. at least moi Ia ia" ordinary sensc In We c"ih
DAYS Of the colony prisoners were subjected '" the
most unwarrantablr cTucties IN the later days thcy
were treated with quite ~ great lchienty' IL was
once part oil The policy al the billi u"lthm,u.
10 offer grants of land ia lien OF pensions 90 wornout
or retiring officers OF the army and navy. many al
whom aftol lilo downfall of NAPOLEON, accepted these
grants and became settlers IA ne nisan, ,9loh.- It
the empire These persons rnled al about them WIN
the stcrncst dc.potlsm. MANY 90 them were armed
with magsterial power. aud exercised u Wth the -"
yeTest cIucltes against the unhappy prisoners w"
fell to them care rs servants Or lahOrcn upon the
estates. While The native Tribes oi tie country woe
murdered tot mere sport the convcts were ifcaled
as AN inferior race and made subscIsient To the DIu
tai passions oi then masters. Corruption per'adrd
the whole governing class from the highest To the
lowest aud very few officers OF the "oNtln
ment hestaicd Ia perpciIatc crimes fOI Whloh
their servants had been nsuised the country II lust
or ambition OF the love of money stimulated them
Then indeed. She labor Of the prisoners was
forced that. too, with such a vigorous and Ire
q,ient application Of the lash and ingenious fortunes
that many hundreds aIe supposed To have fallen We
tins by death Ia the treatment they received. More
recently things improved. Corruption IN hugh places
continued ia less degree. but the influx Of free i'm
migrants. and tue development OF pubic voice en-
dued with some independence, stayed tue hands "i
the old iyaut settlers. From that time the l0t o lo
prisoners improved. TILL on the discovery OF gold ~
the adjoining Continent of Australia, any ne'cr-do
well in the Old Country miglit, with reason. nave
prayed 10 I've transported Labor became dear. ~
Inc working classes. and many others who had luf
efiy OF acton clossed BASES Straits 10 ry their 80.
tune in Victoria aud the settled popuaton IN Ean
Diemens LA nd glad to Ia the iailk for house
hold servants.
The annnntO of freedom accorded 10 prisoners was
Of two degrees thus separating them uto two classes:
pasSlloldeIs.' and Ticket leave men, o. wOut,
Those prisoners who held ticket OF leave were s.
tnally free Being known to the police who. 90
the way ware ofte en- more deprAvcd than then
selves aud almost always expirce c0nvicts-ihri
lived under u measure OF surveillance; they wtt
also required not 10 leave the police district ~ which
they resided without inst giving notice Of iioir IN
.rntion ut the Central Office; Int III all other re-
spects they were free. They could work for whom