MELBOURNE.
The following extracts from a letter from Capt. Cain, of the " Fly," to a friend in Lyttelton, may prove interesting as throwing some light on the state of affairs in Melbourne •. —
" I am happy to hear by your letter that you have giveu up all idea of coming to this place, as I think you would ever regret leaving your comfortable home. Things are not so cheering at present (August) in Melbourne. There are plenty of hearty men walking about almost starving. I saw the other day an old shipmate of miue, a sober steady man, whom I had not seen for many years. This was our conversation. I said/" Wells, what are you doing here? you look badly off." He said, " I have been to ihe mines, and made a little money. One night some thieves came in my tent, took my money from me, and left me for dead. I have been m Melbourne about six weeks and cannot get anything to do." " How do you live ?" " When I can earn a shilling or two, I buy a loaf and some cheese." "Where do you sleep?' ' I have been paying two shillings a night for a bed, but I owe for three nights, and the landlord will not trust me any longer." I sent him on board the vessel to get something to eat and stop for the night. The next day I spoke to a master of a vessel and got him a day or two's work. I did not think "such misery existed in Melbourne, but I hear there are hundreds as badly off as my poor shipmate. There are thousands of people arriving here, and what will become of those that have got families to support, I don't know. Is is a common saying with them that they are sorry they ever left their homes.
" You will be glad to hear of my good fortune since I have'been here. I sold the " Fly " about three months ago, and bought the half of a schooner for six hundred pounds. The freights at the time I bought her were 15s. per ton'; they have since riseu as high as £2 ; so that in three months she cleared 1,200/. Since I have been here I have made about 1,000/.. so you see what a man may do with industry and perseverance. In the months of June and July "I cleared" to mv own~shaTer2oo£r--per-month, but I'm afraid the gilt is off the ginger-bread, which makes me inclined to sell aud take a trip home."
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Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 29 October 1853, Page 7
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426MELBOURNE. Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 29 October 1853, Page 7
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