This page transcribed by Jane from the noted resources.
The Tipperary Free Press Wednesday, October 21, 1846.
Emigration
To the Editor of the Sydney Chronicle.
Sir – A number of poor parents having represented to me the fact that they had to leave one or more of their children at home, on account of demands made for them on the eve of their embarkation, which they could not afford to meet, and which I brought to the notice of Government, may I request you will do me the favour, previous to my leaving the Colony, to convey to them, thro’ the medium of your columns, the glad tiding that his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to comply so far with my application on their behalf as to cause the Honourable the Colonial Secretary to write to me as follows: – ‘All the Governor can do is, to promise bounty on the children who may have been left at home by parents who emigrated prior to the 31st of December, 1841, and who were themselves eligible for bounty. Of course, however, the children themselves must be in sound bodily and mental health at the time of their arrival in the Colony; and if girls, they must come out under proper protection.’ Also, I have been further advised, that detailed instructions will be shortly published by the Emigration Agent.
To those immigrants who arrived subsequent to this period, and are similarly situated, and to whom the same indulgence has not yet been extended, I can only at present hold out the hope that the same humane consideration on the part of his Excellency the Governor which led to the first, will also, on due application, yield the same generous boon to the other; no exertion on my part shall be wanting, as far as my limited means will allow, I will endeavour to supply the absence of parents to those children, in making those family arrangements which an agent could not be expected to perform.
I embrace this opportunity of stating the gratifying fact, that a very considerable number of immigrants have so far improved in their circumstances as to have intimated to me their intention and willingness to pay, in numerous instances, for the passage of their aged parents and for the younger members of their families, and to this I must deferentially beg to call the attention of the public, and the Board of Immigration and to suggest that this generous and praiseworthy feeling should be met by a spirit of liberal co-operation on the part of the authorities, so that this desirable object may be accomplished, vis., the union of families, and which would be so beneficial to the parties themselves and to the public at large. My attention has been particularly directed to the evil of extracting small sums of money, year after year, from the immigrants here, to alleviate the distress of their poor relatives at home, with no permanent benefit to the parties – hundreds to my knowledge have sent home 30 per cent of their earnings in this colony; the numerous letters it has been my painful lot to read, within the last three months, tell a fearful tale of the sufferings of the people at home – parents struggling with want, and their children inmates of the poor house. A poor woman in her statement to me says, ‘How can I enjoy my beef and tea, when just as I raise it to my mouth the thought comes that my mother perhaps is dying for want?’ What therefore, those poor and respectable individuals desire is, a passage for their relations at the Government rate of contract, on the renewal of emigration, as well as the usual protection and medical aid afforded to bounty emigrants.
It may also not be irrelevant to remark that it is my humble opinion that a number of the better order of peasantry would prefer paying for a portion of their passage, than their coming out entirely as bounty emigrants, for the love of independence beats strong within the bosom of a British peasant.
I remain, Sir, &c.,
Caroline CHISHOLM
Newry Commercial Telegraph Thursday, November 30, 1871.
Emigration
Established 1845.
Free Passage to Australia
Good Female Domestic Servants, Single Men, Farm Labourers, and Married Couples, with or without one child (infants not counting), can have FREE PASSAGES to the thriving and prosperous colony of Queensland (Australia), on application to the undersigned Government Agent.
Free Grants of Land, 40 Acres, will be given to each adult, and 20 Acres to children between one and twelve years.
No less than 130,000 Emigrants have settled in this Colony within the last eleven years – a fact which speaks volumes for the progress of this new Country.
Next Ship, “LIGHT BRIGADE,” sails from London on the 29th November, the succeeding ships to follow shortly.
For further particulars, apply to
GEORGE GUY, Jun., Government Emigration Depot, 45, Merchants’ Quay, Newry.
N.B. – FREE AND ASSISTED PASSAGES to CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND.
Tasmania
Many a field of emigration is open in the British colonies, and in the United States to any in these countries to whom life is a perpetual struggle to obtain means to preserve it. The wonder should be not that so many have emigrated from Ireland of late years, more from the attractions abroad than the repulsions at home, but that so few have emigrated.
We have before us a pamphlet giving “practical hints to emigrants intending to proceed to Tasmania,” with a description of the country and its products, written by the clerk of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The information it contains may be relied upon, as it has been prepared under the auspices of the Tasmanian Board of Immigration.
The climate of Tasmania is tempting, as it is not more severe than that of the South of France, and its temperature superior to that of London, Edinburgh, Quebec, and New York. The colony wants labour, and the pamphlet has been written to attract, if possible, four classes – capitalists, farmers, agricultural labourers, and household servants. Tasmania is not so far out of the world, when there is a regular mail communication with Great Britain every four weeks. The Post-office money order system is in force there as well as here; and passenger steamers ply to Sydney, and Melbourne.
Land fit for agriculture can be purchased at £1 an acre, and pastoral lands at less. The whole of the purchase-money is not required to be paid at once. There are also Agents in England who will give warrants for Crown lands to families who pay their passages out. Licences to dig in search of gold are issued. Crown lands have been inspected and classified by a practical farmer, and it is reported that there are 90,587 acres of first-class, 895,650 of second-class, and 874,479 acres of third-class. The population of Tasmania is 100,000, and it has twelve newspapers, fifty-five medical men, three hundred and sixteen places of worship, and a great many schools. The rate of wages is high, and the prices of provisions low.
Coal is largely found in some places, and gold has been worked for several years. The country contains several rivers. Apples and pears are abundant in some of the counties. The County of Glamorgan boasts of a public library. There are no less than fifty-five islands belonging to the Government of Tasmania. The land produces fair crops. One thing is insisted on, that all who go to Tasmania will have to work. A piece of good advice is given to emigrants – “to avoid the public-house and its attractions.” It is candidly started that “mechanics, artisans, clerks,book-keepers, grooms, coachmen, dressmakers, and needlewomen, shop-men, and shop-women,” would have a better market for their labour in Canada. An important fact is stated that “life and property are as secure as in Great Britain;” probably they are more so than in Ireland. Tasmania has five banks. It is gratifying that there are so many places on the earth’s surface at present to which those who are discontented at home may “choose their place of rest, and Providence their guide.”
The Armagh Guardian Friday, December 15, 1871.
Correspondence
Nebraska, United States of America, Advantages Offered to Colonies
To The Editor.
Sir. – For the benefit of your readers, and particularly those who desire to emigrate to that country for free farms and cheap houses, will you please publish the following brief article in your most worthy paper: – Nebraska – the youngest State of the American Union – lies between the 40th and 43rd parallels north latitude, and 95th and 104th degrees of longitude, west from Greenwich, extending from the Missouri river nearly to the Rocky Mountains. Its total area is 75,955 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres of the best agricultural lands known to the civilized world. Its surface consists of gently undulating prairies, vast table lands, and well drained bottom-lands, intersected by numerous clear-watered and fast-running streams. Its climate is mild, healthful, and the most congenial of the temperate zone. The atmosphere is pure, dry, and invigorating; chills and fever, and other malarious diseases, are here entirely unknown, neither extremes of heat or cold; winter short and mild. The soil is of a rich black loam and vegetable mould, from two to ten feet in depth, unsurpassed and unsurpassable, and can be penetrated to a depth of one hundred feet if necessary with the spade, and yet its natural tenacity renders unnecessary the walling of
cellars, cisterns, or wells. No hard part is found and the soil contains just sand enough to make it friable. The geological formations are clay, chalk, plaster, cement, gypsum, limestone, building stone marble, salt, peat, turf, coal, and the ores of superior quality and unlimited quantity are well distributed throughout the State. Timber for fuel is plenty. No labor or expense is required to clear the ground or manure it, neither root, stump, or stone, will be encountered in its cultivation ; while its natural fertility will preclude the necessity of manuring, for at least twenty years. The population of Nebraska, in 1860, was 16,000, and in 1870, 150,000.
Stock, farming implements, building materials, and household furniture, can be bought as cheap as in the East. The markets are excellent; manufacturies are springing up; educational and religious privileges are ample; public improvements, such as school-houses, churches of all denominations; bridges and county buildings compare favourably with those of the older States. The State House, University, Asylum, and other public State buildings are now completed at Lincoln, the capital, and are large, beautiful, and imposing structures, built by the proceeds arising from the sales of lands donated to the State by the general government, and with a cent of tax on the people. The public roads of Nebraska are the most durable and beautiful in the country. Taxes are low, and the State free of debt. Transportation facilities are ample. The great Missouri river rolls by on the east, and among the numerous railroads, building and completed, is the Great Union Pacific, running a distance of 450 miles in the State, from east to west.
For stock-raising this country cannot be excelled; the resources are abundant; the wild grasses are nutritious when cured as well as green. The tame grasses grow rapidly and rank. Stock of all kinds and best breeds; a general herd law, to protect those unable to fence their land, is in full force, and a great benefit especially to the poor man. The soil and climate is particularly adapted to the growth of the choicest varieties of large and small fruits. At the last National Fruit Exhibition, of the United States, held at Richmond, Virginia, Nebraska took the first premium for the best exhibition of apples, peaches, plums, pears, and grapes. The State is rapidly filling up with intelligent and enterprising people. Towns are springing up in all parts, as if by magic. Omaha, one of the cities now contains over 20,000 inhabitants. Lincoln, the capital, laid out three years ago, now has 5,000 people, and is located in the midst of the Great American Salt Basin. The lands in Nebraska, may be classified as follows: – Improved farms owned by citizens; lands on sale; railroad lands, sold cheap, on credit of two to ten years time; State lands, sold for the benefit of the State; and United States – or public lands, which are subject to entry under the wise and liberal provisions of the Homestead and pre-emption laws, and are being rapidly taken up by actual settlers. Under the homestead law, any person, male or female, who is at the head of a family, or is 21 years of age, and is a citizen of the United States, or has declared their intention to become such, (which can be done in a few hours) can take land to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres each, free of any charge except the Land Office Fees (about to £3 10s) and own the same for ever, by settlement on and improvement of the land.
Where parties have more means at their disposal, they can purchase either improved or unimproved lands that have been occupied for some time, at 10s to £2 per acre for unimproved, and £2 to £10 per acre for improved farms, according to location and improvement. In quality, the land is all the same; and all kinds of root crops, vegetable and cereals, that grow in the same latitude, east or west, can be raised in the greatest abundance. There is a constant throng at the five United States Land Offices in Nebraska,
on account of the rush and greed for land. Thousands are settling in colonies from the older States of the Union, and from all parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Europe. Through the systematic and efficient efforts of the Nebraska State Board of Immigration and its agents about 40,000 settlers have found new homes within her border during the present year of 1871. No greater inducements can be offered to settlers in any country. Nebraska’s motto is “Equality before the Law,” and inspired by the genius of Republican liberty, and the spirit of progress, she welcomes the emigrant to the enjoyment of her advantages, and will enrich his industry by generous recompense. Land occupied is now valued at five times times as much as just before the great rebellion. From every consideration, colonizing is by far the most advantageous; the benefit is mutual to all. The best time to emigrate is in early spring. By virtue of a commission from the Governor of Nebraska, and the State Board of Immigration, I am here to aid in the organization of colonies. A few energetic men can arrange among themselves to bring about local organizations throughout Armagh and adjoining counties, say “Nebraska Colony Association.” The Monaghan Nebraska Colony Association was organized last week at Monaghan. A public meeting will be held at Armagh on Wednesday evening, Dec. 20, at seven o’clock, in the Market-house and will be addressed by the undersigned. It is hoped that all desiring to secure free farms and cheap homes will be present, that an organization may be made for the purpose of enrolling members from time to time, until the time arrives for embarking. My address is – Monaghan, Ireland. – Further information, with pamphlets, will be promptly furnished on application or by enclosing stamps for return postage.
W.D. Blackburn,
Commissioner of Immigration for Nebraska, U.S.A.