The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-27
ITALIANS TN AUSTRALIA.
Prosperity of Immigrants to New
south WEles

| south WEles.
Some twenty years ago Charles du BreiI,
! Marquis de Ray. then Bolivian Consul at
| MarseiIles, formed scheme for the colo
nization of New Ireland, an island con-
| tanning over million acres. and situated
about $50 miles from New Guinea. The
embryo colony was to be designated New
! France and alluring terms were offered
| intending settlers; but nearly all the i'm
migrants-about 800 in number-were re-
| cruited from the ranks of impoverished
vignerons and laborers in northern Italy.
The scheme ended IN complete disaster
| the settlement proving a failure, and after
much priyation and suffering, the unfor-
tunate immigrants, declining to settle IN
der French rule in New Caledonia, found
their way to Sydney, where they were
kindly treated by the New South Wales
authorities. the majority readily finding
employment in various parts of the col
ony. This vas in 1881.
In the course of the following year one
Of the immigrants, Rocca Comminitu,
! who had been sent into one of the north
ern coastal districts of the colony, having
put by the greater part of his earnings
during the preceding few months, took up
a selection of forty acres, He was speed
lily followed by several of his compatriots,
and, on the strength of what they had
saved out OF their earnings, they reso-
lutely set to work, and by utilizing the
strength of each family. and obtaining
/ occasional employment from other
sources, were speedily enabled to declare
| that they had formed out of apparently
unpromising materials q New Italy of
their own, in place of the New France"
originally contemplated in Polynesia
The story of the successful fight made
by these brave Italians under most discour-
aging circumstances shows what can be
, effected by perseverance, unfiagging indus
try, and systematic thrift. Their earlier
source of income was obtained by cutting
and selling timber, but, as tine rolled on,
barren forest gave way TO a comfortable
looking settlement, with clean and tidy
dwellings. good and substantial fences and
out-buiIdings, some Of them of an especial
ly good and durable character, while SPLEEN
didly titled and cared-for gardens, or
chards and vineyards met the eye OF ev-
cry side. In little more than three years
from the first 40-acre selection being made,
substantial school house was erected, a
priest paid periodical visits to his flock
and although. being a little off the mail
read, seldom visited by strangers, and al
most unknown TO the outer world, the little
settlement has gradually grown and -four
ished, until the colony OF New Italy has
become an accomplished fact, worthy of
the emulation of many Of those who are
now only drones in the great hive Of HUI
man progress. and the consideration of
those who honor themselves by deyotiDg
their time and talents 10 the proper gov
eminent of their country.
The holdings are mainly small ones, and
although each is securely fenced. the land
is not utilized for tillase. attention being
principally devoted to the thorough Guilt
walton Of small areas for horticulture and
wine growing, the Italian colonists evil
IDENTIFY believing in the superior tillage Of
small areas as against the Indifferent cuI-
tivatien OF larger ones, and inspection of
their l-bor, their trees and crops, proves
very conclusively that the policy is a sound
and payable one. The area of grapes IN
der cultivation is from half an acre to
about three acres to nearly every home
stead the black Hambro' being principal
y grown, the Reisling. and probably some
others. finding place also in some Of the
vineyards, which are everywhere maFYels
OF cleanliness and attention. and in every
instance is the area being gradually in
creased at such a ratio as the circum-
stances OF the owners will permit
Within few years from the date of
settlement one Yincenzo Nardi realized
from half an acre a sufficient crop to en-
able him 10 sell fully 600 pounds OF
grapes al cents per pound, in addition to
making over sixty gallons of wine for
home consumption. The following year b..
had double that quantity Of matured vines,
and the year succeeding upward of two
acres OF productive vines representing
over A10o in cash. and more than two
hundred and forty gallons OF wine which
at shiliings gallon, means $50. as
well as citTons. lemons. sweet potatoes.
InN.oerFles, apples. peaches. cabbage, let
tace, peas, oats, and barley And Nardi's
was an isolated caca bv
Some others had larger areas and greater
variety OF fruits. vegetables and cereals
growing. The success of mulberry cuiti-
walton has led to the introduction of the
sHk-gfo"lng industry. which, in time
may assume considerable proportions
Ii may be mentioned that until Rocca
Comminitti. the real foun Ter of New
Italy" appeared upon the scene in April
lss2 the locality was comparatively a
moving wilderness. sacred TO the timber
Setter and the dingo. and the land there
aboGts generally described as being mot
ut TO Keep 2 bandicoot." Nevertheless it
grew magnificent timber and thousands
upon thousands of the tall and stately gi
ants OF the forest. reduced to the severe
~ practical form of hardwood piles and
railway sleepers. have found their wav from
the foTsSt TO the river, and thence 10 Vic
terra, New Zealand, and other distant /
ports. The apparently barren and undu
Gated. and which extend for many miles in +.
the direction Of the Clarence River. are
thfckly timbered with ironbark. mahogany
spotted gum, and species of oak. while /
in the fats at the foot of the adjacent
range, where the richer soil has been
washed down, are large quantities of grey /
and black ironbark, box, orange gum. grew I
gum, tallowwood, pine, bach, teak, and /
/
The trees are tall straight. and stately. /
some Of them growing clean boIa 100 |
feet high without limb, and as showing |
their values as timber. it may be MENTION |
ed that al one place may be seen the re- |
mains of an ironbark tree from which two |
''stringers," for Orders. each SIS feet long. |
Is inches in width. and inches thick. had |
been obtained. The butt of The tree at tho |
severance from the trunk was only 2 feet /
inches in diameter. and SO feet measured t
10 inches. The district is eminentIy suited /
for settlement by those yersed in the ag-
ricultural industries of southern Europe. |
and the story Of New Italy shows what I
can be effected by coIonists, however /
straiteRed their means, who are determfn-
ed to make the most Of their opportUni- !
ties, no matter how slender they may be.
Courting in Cordova.
From the Saturday Review)
At night Cordeva sleeps early 4 few Genital !
streets are still busy with people, but the rest
are all deserted, the houses look erupty thnra /
Is almost oppressive silence Only bern .pd