[PREFACE]
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PREFACE.
HAVING been employed in Ireland and Scotland during the whole of the misery, famine, and distress prevalent from 1845 to 1847, as Paymaster of H. M. S. 'Stromboli,' and afterwards living in Ireland till June 1849, I witnessed the most heart-rending scenes at Ballinskelligs, Kenmare, Rathkeale, and in the Western, Shetland, and Orkney Islands.
These scenes and a severe loss induced me to think of emigrating, but circumstances prevented it. From reading on the subject, I took a great interest in it, and was fortunate enough to get appointed to H. M. S. 'Fantome' going to the Australian and New Zealand station, where we were from 1850 to 1853. Having seen all parts of the Australian colonies--having mixed in every society--and having formed an impartial
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judgment as to their several merits, some little account of the trip, from remarks in my Journal, may probably be of use at the present time. I passed nearly two years in the North American Colonies, and have visited the States, and can therefore speak of the Antipodean possessions in relation to them.
In order to make this little Work useful to intending emigrants, I have given the leading statistics of the Colonies, and referred them for more detailed information to the periodical Circulars of the Government Commissioners.
Gloucester Street, Gloucester Gate,
May, 1854.
[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Leaving England--Madeira--Rio Janeiro--Cape of Good Hope.......... 1
CHAPTER II.
Arrival at Hobarton--Sydney--Auckland--Waiheki and Wangari in the Shouraka Gulf.........8
CHAPTER III.
Bay of Islands--Kawakawa--Korararika--Ruapekapeka Pomare's Pah and Tomb--Pokatutu--Kidihidi Falls --Mary Lockhart--Pomare's Daughter.........14
CHAPTER IV.
Departure from Bay of Islands--Wellington--Hobarton --Tasmania--Convictism -- Norfolk Island -- Aborigines -- Exports, Imports, and Products -- Trade-- Whale Fishery...........25
CHAPTER V.
Tasmania -- Climate -- Aspect -- Soil -- Products -- Hobarton --Demesne--Church Education--Markets-- Morals--Country--New Norfolk--Mount Wellington --House of Assembly--Adjournment...........34
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CHAPTER VI.
Tasmania--Races--Regatta--Ball on board the 'Fantome'--Pate, who struck the Queen--Deserters--Irish Political Prisoners--Society.........52
CHAPTER VII.
Auckland Islands -- Discovery -- Settlement -- Southern Whale Fishery Company--Maories--Enderby Island Sea Lions--Walking and Shooting--Tide in Laurie Harbour--Naval Courts of Justice--Whale Captured --Cutting up--Maori Woman hangs herself--Enderby and the Law--Macquarie Islands--Auckland as a Penal Settlement--Population--Weather..........59
CHAPTER VIII.
Hobarton--Search for 'City of Melbourne' Steamer in Bass Straits--Port Phillip--Victoria Settlement-- Buckley, thirty-two Years amongst the Natives--Geography--Melbourne and Geelong--Produce--Population -- Resources -- Extraordinary Expenditure of Police--Vine Cultivated--Stock--Imports--Exports.........83
CHAPTER IX.
Sydney--Swedish Corvette 'Eugenie'--New Zealand-- Mana--Porirua--Dreadful Accident and Loss of Life -- Wellington--Taranaki--Description of Settlement of New Plymouth--Nelson--Description of Settlement --Wairoa--Waimea--Croixilles--The Pelorus River-- Queen Charlotte's Sound--Ship Cove of Captain Cook --Kapiti-- Wellington--Difficulty of getting Information on New Zealand--The Hutt--Regatta and Races --Arrival at Sydney--Arrival at Auckland.............98
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CHAPTER X.
Departure from Auckland--Passage in Colonial Brig 'Moa'--Jew Passenger--Sydney--Australia--Geography; Discovery--New South Wales--Exports--Imports--Products--Manufacturing Trade--Church and Education--Sydney University Charities--Sydney-- Markets, Hotels, &c. --Domain..........122
CHAPTER XI.
Sydney--House of Assembly--Museum--H. M. S. 'Fantome'--Society--Balls -- Botany Bay -- Paramatta -- Cities--Sports--Trip to Diggings--Hartley--Bathurst --The Turon--Sofala--Diggers--Women at Diggings --Roads--Climate--Port Curtis..........147
CHAPTER XII.
Gold Discovery--Value of Labour, &c, at Diggings-- Diggers' Habits -- Songs -- Returns -- Contrast with American Mines.........170
CHAPTER XIII.
Gold--Victoria Gold Regions--Licenses---Produce-- Ballarat--Buninyong--Bendigo--Diggers--Precious Stones--Plans of Digging--Hints..........197
CHAPTER XIV.
South Australia--Climate--Population Revenue --Exports--Imports --Mines-- Stock -- Constitution-- River Murray--Soil--Aborigines-- Adelaide-- Weather.........222
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CHAPTER XV.
Western Australia--Swan River Settlement--Climate --Soil--Products--Perth--King George's Sound--Population -- Revenue -- Exports -- Imports -- Immigration ...........232
CHAPTER XVI.
Arrival at Auckland--Houraka Gulf--Manukao--Town-- Colleges--Billiards--Politics--Scenery--The Bishop --Pensioners--Statistics--Signal Station..........238
CHAPTER XVII.
New Zealand--Natives--Company--Division into Provinces--Provincial Councils--Climate--Canterbury-- Bishop Designate--Statistics--Cannibalism-- Otago-- Overland Communication--Climate--Country-- Stewart's Island--General Statistics.........249
CHAPTER XVIII.
Passage Home--Valparaiso--Cape Horn--Falkland Islands --Spithead..........266
CHAPTER XIX.
Emigration--Advantages of Australasian Colonies over others, and their comparative Merits--Passage out-- Who should and who should not Emigrate--Difficulties in way of Land Purchases, &c. --Happiness in View for Immigrants--Things to take out--Emigration Returns and Commissioners' Regulations.........273
