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íSviüsl) extractó.
OUR AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AND s
THEIR EXPORT OF WOOL
TO ENGLAND.
(From the Leeds Mercury, October 9.)
An effort is now being made to interest the woollen and worsted manufacturers in this country in a project for an extensive emigra-
tion of labourers to New South Wales and our ' other Australian colonies ; and various docu- ments arc in circulation, which convey valuable information on the past history of those colonies, with the special object of showing the connexion which exists between their prosperity and that of the mother country, through the classes here engaged in manufactures, of which wool is the principal constituent. It appears that the great want of the colonists is more labourers, in order that the growth of wool, already so extensive in Australia, may keep pace with the growing disposition to receive it in this and other manufacturing countries. In consequence of the European demand for this article, the Australian wool-growers have been tempted largely to increase the number of their sheep, but the scarcity of labourers to take care of them has been such as to embarrass the owners to the most serious extent, insomuch that " thousands of sheep annually perish for want of attendants, while tens of thousands are destroyed for the tallow they afford ;" and it was even stated to the Committee of the House
of Lords which lately sat to inquire into the t state of New South Wales, that " the colonists,
in their necessity for labourers, had actually contemplated the destruction of one million of sheep !" There can be little doubt, too, that 1 the dirty and unsatisfactory condition in which
Australian wool reaches this country is owing in great measure to the same cause ; for where I labourers are so scarce as to be incapable of
properly attending their flocks, it is not to be expected th^ the fleeces will be thoroughly cleaned ; amPa necessary consequence of this is,
that Australian wool enters the British and
other markets at a decided disadvantage, which
limits the demand for it.
But notwithstanding every drawback, a slight reference to facts will show that the hold which this description of wool has obtained on the favour of British and Continental manufac-
turers-but especially of the former-is re- markably strong. In 1803, the cultivation of fine wool in Australia first became an object of attention. In 1S06, 245 lbs. weight were ex- ported to England ; while in the past year the supply of wool from all our Australian settle- ments amounted to the astonishing quantity of 21,765,270 lbs., or nearly one-third of our entire import, which was 65,255,462 lbs. The friends of Australia are persuaded that this increase, wonderful as it is, by no means exhi- bits the profitable capabilities of wool growing in the various settlements ; on the contrary, they affirm that if adequate facilities were afforded, the cultivation would be much in- creased, and its produce would command a still greater sale in comparison with foreign wools. In answer to the inquiry, how is this to be brought about? they reply, by a continuous and systematic emigration of labourers from this country to the colonies, under government sanction and with government aid.
The promoters of this scheme have large views. Mr. Edward Macarthur, who bears a name honourably identified with the fine wool cultivation of New South Wales, states, with the utmost confidence, that Australia can pro- vide ample subsistence for at least 50,000 new emigrants from the mother country every year ; and in proof of this, he refers to the fact that in 1842 New South Wales experienced an immi- gration of 50,000 individuals, or nearly one fourth of its entire population at that time, most of whom speedily found profitable occu- pation. Mr. Macarthur suggests that the pre- sent depressed condition of Great Britain and Ireland is peculiarly favourable for the ready emigration of that class which is principally wanted in Australia ; it would relieve the mother country, while it would confer the very boon which the colonies require to give them pros- perity ; and, in the name of the colonists gene- rally, he urges that government should make a loan adequate to accomplish the conveyance of 50,000 labourers to Australia, the local revenues of the respective settlements being security for the repayment of the principal within a certain period, and the interest being deducted by go- vernment for the first five years from the total sum lent, rather than make a charge upon the colonial revenues. The reasons given for this last recommendation seem weighty. It is also wished that the emigrants should be sent out in equal numbers every month, so as to allow of their being draughted off by the colonists as they arrived, instead of the labour market there being overstocked at one time, and unduly con- tracted at another. Mr. Macarthur is of opinion that the numerous settlements already formed, or springing up, on the immense seaboard of Australia, would ere long advantageously dis- pose every year of a far larger number of labourers than he proposes to convey thither.
For some time the English government has favoured emigr.ition to our North American colonies rather than to Australia, and for a reason which is very specious ; the cost of each individual in the former instance being £5 only, while the average expense of conveying emigrants to our southern colonies is £20. Mr. Macarthur adduces as an argument in behalf of his own country, that the capital expended in the latter case is reproduced far more rapidly than in those where the actual cost of convey-
ance is even much less.
It would seem that the statements of the Aus- tralian colonists have already produced some effect on the government, which has consented to resume its encouragement of emigration to New South Wales. How far it would be proper to go in expending the public money, by way of loan, for the promotion of this object, de- pends upon the various other claims which may be made upon the national resources. A com- parison must, of course, be made, and a pre- ference given to some over others of the plans which may be proposed for the relief of that distress which we fear Ireland, and England also in a mitigated degree, will experience during the ensuing winter. Our leading statesmen do not appear to be yet agreed on the propriety of encouraging a very extensive emigration as a means of relieving public distress ; but if any such system be adopted, the representations from Australia as to the solid and immediate advantages which it can afford to emigrants of the poorest class, ought certainly to be tho- roughly investigated ; and if found correct-as there is reason to think they will be-it is possible that government may avail itself of the avenue thus opened for at once relieving this country, providing its destitute subjects with a mode of obtaining a competent maintenance, and furnishing the Australian settlements with that agency for the development of their re- sources which every one must wish them to possess.
Of course, while the existing crippled state of the wool cultivation would be regarded as a fit moving cause for increasing the population of these colonies, it would not of itself be a suffi- cient reason for the adoption of any extensive scheme of emigration under direct government
sanction. There are evils connected with the
pasturage of sheep in such enormous and thinly-peopled tracts of country as Australia presents, which must not be overlooked. The principal of these is the withdrawal of shep- herds for long periods from civilized life and Christian advantages. But when the labouring population of the colony is not adequate to its wants, the towns may be drained of that class, in order to maintain in a state of tolerable effi- ciency the cultivation on which the colonial wealth mainly depends, and thus the scarcity of hands may ultimately affect the town pur- suits rather than those of the country districts. We look upon towns, however, as the media of civilization and Christian influence to a new country, without the prosperity of which no solid progress can be made ; and for their sakes, quite as much as for that of the flock-masters, we would wish that the labouring class should be adequate to the wants of the Australian colonies. If it were so, and the owners of sheep were to increase their numbers beyond the demand for their wool, the pecuniary loss
thus entailed would soon teach them the wisdom of contracting their speculations, and keeping
them within due bounds.
ti
Serious Collision at Sea between the Steamer ?? Queen Victoria" and the Ship "Isaac Allerton."-On Wednesday morn- ing last, an alarming collision took place between the Queen Victoria, Dublin steamer, and the ship Isaac Allerton, Smith, from New Orleans. We are happy, however, to state that, so far as is at present known, though both vessels have sustained consi- derable injury, no lives were lost. The Queen Victoria left the Clarence dock shortly after ten o'clock on Tuesday night last, for Dublin, having 12 cabin and 180 deck passengers on board. About half-past four the following morning, when near the Skerries (Dublin and Howth coast), a vessel (afterwards ascertained to be the Isaac Aller- ton) was seen at a short distance. The weather was at the time clear, and signal lights were shown on board the Queen Vic- toria, to indicate that she was a steamer. So far as we can understand, the mate of the steamer (seeing the other vessel rapidly ap- proaching, and fearing there was a possibility of a collision,) called out, four or five times, to " bard-a-port." Whether this injunction was attended to- or not we are unable to
learn-and, without knowing the exact posi- tion of the vessels, it would be difficult to form
nny opinion on the subject ; but, in a few seconds, the bow of the sailing vessel struck the steamer on the larboard paddle-box with terrific force, producing a shock which spread the utmost consternation and alarm amongst the passengers and crew. The star- board anchor of the ship became hooked into the steamer's paddle-wheel, and the vessel was held fast for some lime. During the confusion which prevailed, about twenty of the passengers scrambled up the side of the side of the ship and got on board, imagining that they would be in less danger, as the steamer had received so much damage. Both vessels thumped together for some time, and it waa not until the cable of the Issac Allerton was slipped, that they were separated. Several of those who got on board the ship afterwards returned to the steamer. Such was the force of the collision, that the steamer's engines were disabled, and not a single revolution was made afterwards. The captain and several of the crew of the Queen then went below, and after an exami- nation, found that the vessel had not made any water, being perfectly tight, and though disabled, Hiere was nothing which induced them to think that she would not float, and admit of being towed into port. The officers of the steamer are of opinion that no lives were lost, although from the confusion which prevaileel at the time of the accident, they cannot state positively. One of the paddle boxes with the wheel, ami part of the frame- work of both engines is smashed, and other portions of the machinery are more or or less damaged. The larboard deck, gun- wale, and binding, are also broken to pieces. The principal engineer received a scalp wound from the falling of a portion of the machinery upon bim, at the time he was making preparations to stop the engine, but we are h.tpoy to say the injury was not serious. The Isaac Allerton sailed away immediately, and arrived in the port of Liverpool on Wednesday evening, having on board twenty of the passengers who made their escape from the Queen Victoria during Ibe accident. The Queen Victoria was towed into Liverpool by screw steamers, subsequently taken in charge by a tug boat, and was taken into Liverpool on Thursday morning. It is said that she has sustaiued damage to the extent of nearly £1000, and will require a complete overhauling and new machinery before again placed on the station. No doubt the cause of the accident will be the subject of investigation, but we cannot help thinking that from the numerous colli- sions which have at various times occurred, the present regulations of the admiralty with regard to vessels meeting each oilier, are in- adequate to afford that security which is so desir.tble.-Leeds Mercury, Nov. 12.
An Unpleasant Predicament.-A young sprig of the law, sojourning at Hie beautiful village of Bowness, wishing the other day to have a refreshing wash, secure from human gaze, took a bont and directed his course to one of the islets behind Bell Isle, where he undressed, his dollies being deposited tidily in the ves»el, which was moored to the shore. Scarcely had be plunged into the rippling wave ere a gust of wind undid the insecure fastening of the craft, and left the embryo lawyer in the most piteous, though, to all but himself, the most laughable quandary. No boat being at hand, though several per- sons witnessed the plight in which he stood,
it was some time ere his distress became known. A person from the direction of Harrow Slack was attracted by the spectacle of an indescribable something running to and fro, and ever and anon rushing into the water, and wemderingly steered towards Thomson Holme. As he neared the shore he was met in the water by the unfortunate wight, whom he sympathisingly took on board, and then proceeded with him in pur- suit of the runaway skiff.-Observer.
Chelmsford.-Forbidding the Banns.
-This rather public mode of ruffling the smooth current of love, and, if possible, of snuffing out the honeymoon ere it be risen, was resorted to by a disappointed damsel in this church on Sunday. It seems that a gay wielower had wooed and won her, and then, with the hardness of a heart seared by some fifty years, had turned carelesidy away and fallen into the meshes of a fair widow, who, with more experience than her rival, promptly proposed to hi id her captive in the legal letters in such case made and provided. This intention was accordingly notified from the desk, when the slighted one, thus challenged to assert her claims, rose, and " in accents low and weak" forbad it, afterwards retiring to the vestry and pleading promises and plighted vows as bars irrevocable to the widow's pretensions. But it is doubtful whe- ther the law ecclesiastical can stay the course of matrimony on such grounds ; and it may probably be left to the civil courts to fix the value of the widower and the weight of the broken promise.-Essex Herald.
The Ship " Sw atara."-A Chapter of Mishaps.-On the 14lh of March last, the ship Swatara left Liverpool with 296 passen- gers, who entered themselves as emigrants to various parts of America. Shortly after, from stress of weather, the vessel was obliged lo put into Belfast, when a most malignant fever prevailed amongst the unfortunate emigrants; ami the vessel had not been long out, after leaving the port, when she was compelled to put into Lough Foyle. There she bad to undergo some reptiirs, which having been made she put out; but was not long at sea when she was again necessitated to put back, to get extensive repairs made, to enable her to resume the voyage. She arrived at Philadelphia on the 11th of last month: so manyas 181 days having inter- vened from her leaving Liverpool till her reaching Philadelphia. She was refitted three times, namely, in Liverpool, Belfast, and Londonderry ; and was three times dis- masted on the voyage out.-Leeds Mercury,
Oct. 9.
The Black Sea Fishery.-We find the following in the Courier Francais:-"The Emperor of Russia has lately published a ukase, which involves one of the gravest questions of international law. This ukase has for its object to suspend the exercise of the right of fishing along the coasts of the Black Sea, from Anapa as far as Batouini, in order to prevent assistance from being afforded to the population of the Caucasus. This interdiction, according to the circular addressed to the foreign consuls and agents, is to apply to nil nations. The Czar, by this measure, appears to arrogate to himself the exclusive property of the Black Sea ; for, otherwise, be would have the'right of sur- veillance over the coasts of Mingrella, Abasia, and the other provinces of that part of his states, but he would not possess any right to interdict all nations from an industry which they have exercised from time immemorial. The ukase in question, therefore, mools a point that demands to be seriously ex- amined." .
The New Parliament.-The composition of the new Parliament has excited some grave apprehensions. There are not less than 160 new members. Of these, nearly all are talkers or writers. Every one of them is returned with the full expectation that he is to put everything to rights, and with a well-grounded conviction in his own mind that he is exactly the man to do so. How is it possible that so many can be satisfied out of a session which will only last one hundred nights? We should think the Speaker's ears are already beginning to tingle! There never was such an irruption
of bores. But one name is foremost among them, and looms big through the mist of the future. Mr. T. Chisholm Anstey promises to he the lion of the session. Though his parliamentary life is not more than two months old, he can shake the island with his roar. From his den in that truly horrid region, New-square, Lincoln's Inn, he daily issues for the work of depredation. Should a constituent or a Premier, or some other small cattle, be found lacerated and bruised in that gloomy defile, depend upon it it ia only Mr. Chisholm Anstey just practising his fangs for the arena of St. Stephen's. Beware, mortal passenger, of No. 11. The member for Youghal has renounced all other objects for the salvation, that is the sepa- ration, of his country. He refuses twenty briefs a day, and as many invitations to dinner. He has forsworn all bodily com- forts and social amenities. He sleeps on flint, and has his bread and pottage straight from the kitchen of Lycurgus. It is his austerity that makes him sn formidable. By virtue of it he has acquired an infallible keenness of perception, which enables him at once to weigh the motives and see into the hearts of all men ; and should you fall into his clutches with the least taint of human infirmity in your soul, you are a gone 'coon. It's all up with you. The porters of New Inn-square will stand at a prudent distance, surveying the ghastly spectacle of Mr. Chis- holm Anstey sucking your bones.- Times.
Discovery of Platinum in France.-M. Gueymard has just informed the General Council of the Istre that he has discovered a
vein of platinum in the metamorphic district of the valley of the Drac. Hitherto this precious metal, which combines with incom- parable hardness the lustre of gold and silver, has only been met with in the Ural Moun- tains, and its scarcity has always rendered the price very exorbitant.-Paris Paper.
Making Soldiers Useful.-Fifty thou- sand soldiers have been turned into " navies," and set to work on the St. Petersburg ami Moscow line of railway.-Leeds Mercury,
Oct. 23.
Cost of Emigration to South Aus- tralia.-In obedience to an order of the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Liddell, a return has just been made by the Colonial-office of the average cost of passage of emigrants from England to South Aus- tralia in ships chartered by her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commis- sioners, from Jan. 1 to July 6. The total number of statute adults (persons above 14 years of age, and two persons under that age being reckoned as one), embarked in fifteen ships, is estimated at 3,021, and the average cost per statute adult, at £12 7s 7£d. This cost represents the net average cost of the conveyance and victualling of the emigrants, and is exclusive of gratuities allowed to the surgeons superintendent and officers pf the ship, and other small incidental expenses.
Atlas.
A Juryman in a Fix.-It is customary for the Chairman of the Middlesex Sessions (Mr. Sergeant Adams), when the criminal business of each session is concluded, to give the jurors an admission to the House of Cor- rection, in Coldbath-fields, nnd generally the jurors seem very much pleased with the indul- gence. The foreman of the jury that tried the last case on Friday last, applied to the court, in the name of his fellow jurors, for the usual order, and in granting it, the learned judge said, that in their peregrinations over the establishment to which, by their verdicts, they lind consigned many a luckless fellow, the jury bad betterbe mindful how they exa- mined the cells, for one of the jurymen who bud served at the preceding session had, by his own incautiousness, been taught what solitary confinement meant. So assiduous lind he been in examining every department of the prison that he lingered behind his companions and entered an empty cell-one of the " series" set apart for solitary confine- ment. He felt a desire to experience all the solitude the dungeon could afford, and shut the door, when to his utter dismay and asto- nishment, he found that it closed with a spring-lock, and his attempts to open the door were no more effectual than his cries for help. He bawled and hallooed till he was hoarse, but all to no purpose ; there was no official in that portion of the building, and there the poor fellow remained self-incar- cerated in a cell for nearly four hours. At length, his waiiings caused some alarm to a warder in another part of the building, and on search being made, there was found the bewildered juryman, nearly exhausted with shouting foy his release. This was a rich joke for the turnkeys who set him at liberty. The assembled jury, no doubt, profited by his lordship's caution, and enjoyed a hearty laugh at the recital of the adventure of their brother juror.-Sunday Times, Oct. 10.
Awful Death.-An extraordinary event happened at Bishop's Offley, in this county, in the morning of Monday last, forming a signal instance of the most severe punish- ment, that of death itself, overtaking a thief whilst in the act of plunder. The man's name was Joseph Boulton ; he was a cord wainer, a single man, aged 48, and lived at Bishop's Offley. His dead body was found by Mr. William Petchell, the occupier of Bishop's Offley-mill, between nine and ten o'clock on Monday morning last, lying be- tween the pitwheel of the mill and the bolster which supported it. His head was so firmly jammed between the wheel and the bolster, that it required the united strength of six men to disengage it. The collar-bone and top part of the right arm bad been frightfully fractured. He had apparently been dead some hours when discovered. His coat
pockets were filled with wheat, and a basket which lay near had barley in the bottom, and some wheat tied up in a pinafore ; whilst some pieces of wood lay at the top. It is presumed that this unfortunate man had entered the mill through a hole which had been made by workmen for the purpose of repairing the wheel; and that,after obtaining his booty, he was attempting to return the same way, when he lost his footing, owing probably to the circumstance of his having a club foot, and the force of his weight upon the wheel setting it in motion, he fell bead foremost between the wheel and bolster, when his head would at once be dreadfully smashed, and his death be instantaneous. Stafford Advertiser.
Greece.-Accounts from Athens come elown to the 30th of October. The Senate
had passed an address to the King, by a majority of twenty-three votes to sixteen, impeaching the conduct of the Ministers at the recent elections, and commenting on the wretched state of the finances of the country, notwithstanding the advances made in agri- culture, commerce, and navigation. The King refused to receive the address, and created nine new senators, who will secure a majority to the Ministers. The country was in a state of disorganization. A private letter relates a strange scene at a Cabinet Council :-" It appears that, during the sitting of the Council, and whilst discussing the affairs of the nation, M. Higas Palamidea, the Minister of the Interior, proposed the immediate settlement of the Turkish-Hel- lenic question, by according the satisfaction demanded by the Porte. No sooner was this proposed than up jumped the President, with his face as impassioned as a turkey cock, who exclaimed, 'What do you say? Giye satisfaction to the Porte? Never, sir, never, whilst Tzavellas sits as President of this Cabinet!' This rude speech raised the dander
of Rigas, who nbused Tzavellns in such -good set terms' as would have been no dis- grace to the classic purlieus of tlie St. Giles's of Athens. Tzavellas, with true Spartan valour, then struck Rigas a blow oil the head ; this Rigas returned by throwing a stool at the President's head ; it fell, how- ever, into the arms of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Some of the Ministers, who are no admirers of the ' manly arl,' rusheil. out of the scene of tumult, leaving the parties to' fight it out." A Ministerial change was expected. The report which was abroad some time ago, that Otho had written an autograph letter to the Emperor of Russia, requesting his intercession in the Mussurus affair, is ascertained to have been true, and also that the Emperor Nicholas refused to act individually, and recommended an appeal to the five great powers of Europe, as the most likely way to come to a satisfactory settlement.- Britannia, Nov. 13.
Count Bresson.-The Conservateur pays the following tribute to the character of the deceased diplomatist :-" This sad intelli- gence plunges not only into mourning a re-pectable family, but it afflicts nil men who value services rendered to one's country; for no man ha* served France better than CounC Bresson. What was the cause of this catas- trophe? They who knew the count, who could appreciate the strong affection he bore to his father, his wife, to his brothers, who know how much he was aslave'to his duties, are obliged to think of the events of the last few years, and to call to mind the brain fever which nearly caused his death in Spain. After that terrible illness he was subject to intermittent attacks which affected his brain. These nttacks, however, never led to the supposition that any such frightful dénoue- ment eo#d take place as that now an nounced.^Wbat occurred in this last and fatal night? A Marseilles journal asks, ''"Is it an assassination? Is it a suicide?' No one knows. All that we can say is, that, in a last letter to his father, M. Bresson, ufter having expressed his tender affection, adds, -1 feel that I am more a man of tlie north than of tlie south. This beautiful climate excites my nervous system to excess.' We must then at least wait for certain news before pronouncing on the real causes of the unhappy end of a man of the highest distinc- tion, who united to the truest and most profound social feelings the most eminent qualities of the citizen."
Turkey.-We have received accounts from Constantinople of the 27th October. The troubles in Albania are considered as com- pletely at au end, and the army was about to take up its winter quarters at Janina and Bitalia. The organisation of the govern- ment of Kurdistan is going on steadily. The Greco-Turkish question is in statu quo. The Athens government was understood to be waiting for the reply of the Russian govern- ment, to whom King Otho has applied per- sonally before taking any further steps in the affair. Sami Effendi, the Minister of Finance, had sent in his resignation, but tlie Sultan refused to accept of it. The treasury is in the most deplorable state of deficiency. A letter of the 27th says:-"One of the finest barracks in Europe was that of Scutari. It was a quadrangular building of stone, capable of accommodating 15,000 men. It was situated on a point between the Mar- mora and the Bosphorus, and was the first monumental edifice which struck the stranger on Hearing the Golden Horn. Here the im- perial guard, composed of the picked men of the Turkish army, was quartered, and close at hand was the residence of the grand seras kier, or commander-in-chief. Last night Hie whole of this splendid building was burnt to the ground. Thousands of the Sultan's sol- diers were present: fire engines, and every requisite for extinguishing a fire were there, and yet no effort was made to check the progress of the flames. The soldiers waited for the orders of their superiors, and the superiors looked on, if not with the satis- faction, at least with the indifference, of a Nero, till the whole of the vast edifice waa laid in ruins. It is not yet known how the fire originated, and dark suspicions exist as to the cause."-Atlas, Nov. 13.