EMIGRATION From Sydney to China.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 51, 25 July 1844, Page 4

EMIGRATION From Sydney to China.

As there may be some persons still discontented with this colony, desirous of trying their fortunes elsewhere, we recommend to their consideration the following extract from an article in the Friend of China , of February 13. The prospects are scarcely more encouraging than those held out at Valparaiso.—“ In looking over cur fifes of Sydney papers to the 9th December, we perceive no fewer tb£h three vessels advertising for freight and passengers to this colony. We are afraid, from the present state of the i Australian Colonies, that maoy of the 1 unemployed will find their way to Chi la, ■ allured by the prospect of a demand for ! labour in a new place. Should such be the case, they may have lasting cause to regret leaving cue of the most healthy countries in the would, where the neces saries of life are abundant and cheap, to seek au * El Dorado ’ on the pestilential shores of China. There is no doubt that the colonists of'New Holland, are but imperfectly informed of of of affairs here ; and the employment for mechanics as are most likely their present home. few overseers, European mechanics of any class will never be required on the island of Hongkong. The heat of summer is almost overpowering to an English constitution, whose labour is comparatively light; and we believe that mechanical employments such as carpenters, blacksmits, &c., would exhaust the strength of the strongest man in a very few days. This case of itself should deter every man who earns his bread by manuaF labour from coming here. There are other reasons however. The Chinese, under an European superintendent, are good workmen, answering every useful purpose, aud their services can be obtained for one-fourth of what would suffice to keep an Englishman in the mere necessaries of life. A few sobei\amL industrious mechanics will undoubtedly do well as superintendents ; and in the event of their possessing the necessary capital, as mas ters may speedily realise an independency. The nurabpr of such will however be limited, and we question whether there be not already a sufficiency on the island. Another class of adventurers are young men of education, seeking employment as clerks in the public service, or in merchants’counting houses. Their prospects we can scarcely look upon as much brighter than those of the mechanics. Every situation of emolument in the Government offices will be filled by gentlemen coming out with their appointments from home. The climate in too many instances causes vacancies, but local appointments will only be made to the inferior situations. Those employed by the authorities in the colony will have the labour and drudgery with just a salary sufficient to coyer expenses. In sickness they have, of course no claim on the Government. That connexion terminates when they are no longer found serviceable. From a variety of causes, into which we need not enter, the chances ofxespectable mercantile employments are so slender, that in summing up his prospects of success the adventurer need scarcely take it into calculation.„ There may be instances in which grea,t interest with shippers in England may procure him employment in China, but they are few. On mere letters of introduction little reliance need be placed ; as testimonials of respectability they are useful, but unless from some very influential quarter, they will not command much attention.” The following letter from a mechanic who was induced to proceed from Sydney to Hongkong a few months since has been handed to us by the person to whom it was ad dressed Dear.rFriend, I received your note,and am very much obliged to you for taking the trouble to send ; my letter. You wish to know whether I have got plenty of work ; 1 have not done work since I arrived, and am not likely. I have met with a friend, and he is going to advance £IOO and to send to Sydney for stone ; I have wrote to Talbot about it ; as soon as I can get an answer I will remit the money and setup a yaid..not but here is plenty of stone, but it is all granite, and only fit for foundations. You can get four masons for one dollar, and some, times three masons and eight Coolies a day for one dollar. There are plenty of

tradesmen of all descriptions here. We afe all under martial law. Very few English here..they dieoff very fast with fever. The Chinese are terrible thieves j you are obliged to have fire*armg by your bedside, and long pikes, .they break into your house, forty to fifty atonee, and rob you of everything * and. as we have no Judge here, they only flog, ..them instead of hangingfthem. Tobacco,lo lb. for one - dollar; 3 dozen brandy, 3| dollars; case gin, 3.4 dollars; 200 duck eggs, 1 dollar; good duck's, each 7|d.; fowls* each 7|d. ; geese, Is. Bd.; pork, sd. per lb.; sugar, 3d. per lb.; bacon, 2s. per lb. butter, 2s. per lb.; cheese Is. 6d. per lb. Hongkong, March 4, 1844.” Sydney Herald.

Caution To Persons -Making Wills. —Since tifif passing of the new Bill, in 1838, numerous wills have -been sc-t aside for want of due attention to the manner of attestations prescribed by that act. Amongst t|re latest cases of hardship of this kind we may mention one that, occurred-in the Prerog:«nV» Court last « eek. Ttfe deceased si Mi is wiii in the presence of two a man and 1 his wife present at the same time, but the man having written his wife’s name, the court Field, that though the witnesses might have attested the signature of the deceased, they had not both “ subscribed’*' to the will as the act required, and refused the probate of the will.

Simple roles for Interpreting. Acts of Parliament- —Always avoid reading the preamble, which is likely to confuse, rather than enlighten. It sets forth, not what the act is to do, but what it undoes ; aud confuses you with whati the law was, instead of telling you- what it is to be. When you come to a very long clause, skip it altogether, for it is sure to be unintelligible. If you try to attach: one meaning to it, the lawyers are sure to attach another to it; and, therefore, if you. are desirous of obeying an act of parliament, it will be safer not to look at it, but wait dntil a few contrary decisions have been come to, and then act,upon the latest*. When any clause says either one thing or other shall be right you may make sure that both will be wrong.— Cruihshanks? Comic Almanack .

The Danish Government have just abolished the tax of fourteen crowns imposed on all persons claiming liberty to contract a mixed marriage between Protestant and Catholic.

The number of horses in France, in lSlO" was 2,498,137 ; in 1825, 2,423,702 ; and., in 1840, 2,318,495. Thus whilst the population has nearly doubled, the number of horses remains about the same People’s College... An institution has been opened at Sheffield called “ Th& People’s College,” in which, for the trifling sum of 30s. a year, it is said, the humble classes may receive a first rate education. The plan is that of the Rev. R. S. Bay ley. Munitions of War.. .lt is ! stated that the Low Moor Iron Company, near Bradford, have received an order for 1,220 iron cannon, 22,000 8-inch shells, and 150,000 cannon shot, 32-pounders. It has not publicly transpired whether the order is from the Hon. the East India Company or from the British governs ment.