Among the colonial papers just laid before parliament will be found
an account, by the governor of Tasmania, of a tour recently made by
him, in company with the Minister of Lands and Works, through the
north-eastern and eastern districts of that very fine island, worthy to
be called the England of the southern hemisphere, which seem to us to
meet the requirements of the class of emigrants alluded to; and it is
to these localities that the following brief notes refer.
The north-eastern districts of Tasmania are only now attracting
general attention, owing to the recent discoveries of tin; and Mr Weld
undertook his long journey on horseback because he was desirous of
seeing for himself enough to enable him to judge of their capabilities
both as mining and agricultural districts. The result, as will be seen,
sufficed to convince him that the future of Tasmania will be materially
affected by the development of these regions. The north-eastern corner
of the island is chiefly hilly, and even mountainous; but it contains
large tracts estimated at fully seventy thousand acres of undulating
and almost level land of very superior quality, and the soil of a great
part of the hills themselves is exceedingly rich. Mr Weld describes
the country as being almost entirely clothed with the most luxuriant
vegetation. The Eucalypti on the flats and rich hill-sides attain a
great size; and the valuable blackwood, the native beech or myrtle, the
silver wattle (_Acacia dealbata_), the sassafras, and the tree-ferns
and climbers, add beauty to the forest. The tree-ferns are most
remarkable for the great profusion and luxuriance with which they grow,
reaching occasionally a height of thirty feet, and being thickly spread
over the whole district.
The region, Governor Weld says, may be described from a settler's
point of view as a 'poor man's country;' that is, it is best adapted
for settlement by men who will labour with their own hands, and who
have sons and daughters to work with them. The following anecdote is
suggestive, and is worthy of reproduction in its entirety: 'In the
heart of the district I remained a day at the comfortable homestead
of a most respectable settler, a native of Somersetshire, named Fry,
who, with the assistance of his wife, four sons, and five daughters,
had in eight years cleared and laid down in grass about two hundred
and fifty acres of the three hundred acres he owns, milks fifty cows,
and lately obtained a prize for cheese at the Melbourne Exhibition. I
could not but be struck at the indomitable energy of this family, which
had penetrated alone into a then pathless forest, and attacked its
huge trees with such determination, doing everything for themselves,
working hard all day, and at night taught lessons, prayers, and even
music by the father.' Capitalists, Mr Weld adds, would find such a
country too expensive to clear; but the man who can always be cutting
down or ringing a tree himself, by degrees sees the light of day break
largely into the forest, and though he will not make a fortune, he
will make a home and an independence, and all his simple wants will be
supplied.
The district alluded to is capable of keeping thousands of such
families in health and plenty. Surely then we are right in looking
upon this as a promising field for the class of emigrants of which we
have spoken. In addition too to its capabilities from an agricultural
point of view, the country is not without mineral wealth; and a region
roughly estimated at some fifteen hundred square miles, and but
partially prospected, has been found to contain tin in such quantities
as to warrant its being called 'a rich tin-bearing country.' Fair
profits are being made in working this mineral; some of the claims
are worked by men on their own account, others in part by working
proprietors and in part by men employed by them on wages; and again
there are two or three companies of capitalists employing managers and
labourers. Labour is scarce and dear, and labourers are being imported
from Melbourne; wages range from fifty shillings a week for the best
labourers downwards; and on farms men get twenty shillings a week and
rations. The great difficulty the north-eastern districts labour under
is want of roads; the tin has consequently to be carried--at a cost of
ten to thirteen pounds a ton--to Bridport on the north and George's
Bay on the eastern coast, on the backs of horses, by bush-tracks over
steep hills and across ravines and water-courses. The population is at
present comparatively sparse, but there cannot be much doubt that it
will rapidly increase as means of communication improve; and steps are
already being taken to that end as far as the limited resources of the
colony will allow.
On the east coast, Governor Weld saw some fine land, good farms, and
neat villages, especially in the Fingal and Avoca districts; but as a
rule he considers that this region is more remarkable for climate and
scenery than for any continued extent of good land; coal exists in this
part of the colony, and there are some fine stone quarries at Prosser's
Bay, from which the Melbourne post-office was built.
In conclusion, and to render our brief remarks regarding this colony as
a field for emigration more complete, we add the opinion expressed with
respect to the stretch of country lying between the Ramsay River and
the west coast of the island, by Mr Charles P. Sprent, who was sent to
examine it in the spring of last year. He thinks that it is of little
use for agricultural purposes, and that it does not contain any large
amount of valuable timber; but he adds in his Report to the colonial
government, there are sure indications that this part of Tasmania
abounds in mineral wealth, although it may be that the search will be
arduous and slow. As in the case of the Hellyer River, so it is with
the Pieman; wherever the softer schists occur, gold is found in small
quantities; and Mr Sprent has not the slightest doubt that in both
rivers gold will be found in paying quantities, both alluvial and reef
gold. Tin and gold occurring together in some spots near the Pieman in
what is called 'made' ground, would indicate that the country higher up
the river is worthy of examination, and he would recommend prospectors
to try the neighbourhood of Mount Murchison and the Murchison River. As
an inducement to prospecting the western country, it may be mentioned
that over three hundred ounces of gold have been obtained in one
season from the Hellyer River, and that a party of Chinamen have done
exceedingly well there since that time. Copper has been discovered on
the Arthur River in several places; and copper, lead, tin, gold, and
platinum have been found in the vicinity of the Parson's Hood and River
Pieman, not to mention the discoveries at Mount Bischoff and Mount
Ramsay.
The Report upon which this brief account is mainly based will be
found in 'Papers relating to Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, Part
I. of 1876;' which may be obtained from the offices for the sale of
Parliamentary Papers. The agents of the Board in London are 'The
Emigrants' and Colonists' Aid Corporation (Limited),' 25 Queen Anne's
Gate, Westminster, to whom all applications for 'Land Order Warrants,'
as well as general information about the colony, should be made.
'EVER BELIEVE ME AFFECTIONATELY YOURS.'
Ever believe you true? Dear friend,
Your words so precious are that I
Can but repeat them o'er and o'er,
And kiss the paper where they lie.
How shall I thank you for this pledge,
This sweet assurance, which destroys
The doubt that you my love repaid,
And changes all my fears to joys?
Ever believe you true? I _will_!
I hold you to this written gage!
This shall console me, now you're gone;
Still next my heart I'll bear the page;
By day and night, where'er I go,
It shall my prized companion be;
And if a thought would 'gainst you rise,
This from all blame shall set you free.
Ah, need I say, believe _me_ true?
You know how tender, yet how strong,
This heart's emotions are, how half
Of all its throbs to you belong;
How fain 'twould burst its prison-walls
To nestling beat against your own;
How joyous 'twas when you were near,
How sadly yearning, now, alone.
Ay, till the weary life is done,
Though we again may never meet,
Let's not forget the by-gone days
That like a dream passed, swift and sweet;
Still let thy knowledge of my love
Thy faith in humankind renew,
Let that great love still for me plead,
And, to the last, believe _me_ true!
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