EMIGRATION.
NEW COLONY ON SWAN RIVER.
We have abridged the following very important and interesting information respecting the New Settlement on the Western Coast of Australia, from the last Number of the Quarterly Review. The writer appears to have profited by access to official sources, and thus enhanced the value of his paper; but, disposed as we are, generally, to coincide with his views on the subject of Emigration, we do not think it necessary to detail them in this place. We have, however, retained the "Regulations," as issued from the Colonial Office, and made occasional quotations from Captain Stirling's Report; besides availing ourselves of a pamphlet lately published, entitled "Hints on Emigration to the New Settlement on the Swan and Canning Rivers."[2] The Report of Mr. Fraser, the government botanical surveyor, from Sydney, who accompanied Captain Stirling, is not so easy of access. The Quarterly writer, by some coincident opinions and references, appears to be acquainted with the above pamphlet, although it is not mentioned in the review. The official Regulations are as follow:—
1. His majesty's government do not intend to incur any expense in conveying settlers to the New Colony on the Swan River; and will not feel bound to defray the expense of supplying them with provisions or other necessaries, after their arrival there, nor to assist their removal to England, or elsewhere, should they be desirous of quitting the Colony.
2. Such persons who may arrive in that settlement before the end of the year 1830, will receive, in the order of their arrival, grants of land, free of quit rent, proportioned to the capital which they may be prepared to invest in the improvement of the land, and of which capital they maybe able to produce satisfactory proofs to the Lieutenant Governor (or other officer administering the Colonial Government,) or to any two officers of the Local Government appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for that purpose, at the rate of forty acres for every sum of three pounds which they may be prepared so to invest.
3. Under the head of investment of capital will be considered stock of every description, all implements of husbandry, and other articles which may be applicable to the purposes of productive industry, or which may be necessary for the establishment of the settler on the land where he is to be located. The amount of any half-pay or pension which the applicant may receive from Government, will also be considered as so much capital.
4. Those who may incur the expense of taking out labouring persons, will be entitled to an allowance of land at the rate of fifteen pounds, that is, of two hundred acres of land, for the passage of every such labouring person, over and above any other investment of capital. In the class of "labouring persons," are included women, and children above ten years old. Provision will be made by law, at the earliest opportunity for rendering those capitalists, who may be engaged in taking out labouring persons to this settlement, liable for the future maintenance of those persons, should they, from infirmity, of any other cause, become unable to maintain themselves there.
5. The license of occupation of land will be granted to the settler, on satisfactory proof being exhibited to the Lieutenant Governor (or other officer administering the Local Government,) of the amount of property brought into the colony. The proofs required of such property will be such satisfactory vouchers of expenses as would be received in auditing public accounts. But the full title to the land will not be granted in fee simple, until the settler has proved, (to the satisfaction of the Lieutenant Governor for other officer administering the Local Government,) that the sum required by Article 2 of these regulations (viz. one shilling and sixpence per acre) has been expended in the cultivation of the land, or in solid improvements, such as buildings, roads, or other works of the kind.
6. Any grant of land thus allotted, of which a fair proportion, of at least one fourth, shall not have been brought into cultivation, otherwise improved or reclaimed from its wild state, to the extent of one shilling and sixpence per acre, to the satisfaction of the Local Government, within three years from the date of the license of occupation, shall, at the end of three years, be liable to a payment of sixpence per acre, into the public chest of the settlement; and, at the expiration of seven years more, should the land still remain in an uncultivated or unimproved state, it will revert absolutely to the crown.