GERMANS IN AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 11, 11 May 1881, Page 4

GERMANS IN AUSTRALIA.

The Fall Mall Orzette says :— " Probably few people have any idea of the strength and importance of tbe German element in tbe population of tbe Australian colonies. In a paper on the subject, reed st the last meeting of the Geographical Society of Halle, Dr Jung, who spant many years in Australia, etates that German colonists are to be met with everywhere exoept ia West Australia. Tbeir tendenoy is to become absorbed in the colonial population and lose their German characteristics and drop their German tongue. Tfcere is, however, in South Australia an insular settlement of Germans, who for many years have kept themselve' thoroughly German iv many respects. In 1838 Pastor Kavel, of Klemzig, left his native l»nd with his parishioners who had refused to receive from Government an unwelcome miniater. Others followed, and soon a new Klemzig was founded near Adelaide, and around that centre numerous villagts have gradually arisen, entirely German, retaining intact tbe language and customs of their Fatherland. Many hundreds of other Germans have gone out to push their way, but these soon, became absorbed into the mass of the colonists ; but the emigrants for conscience sake have remained faithful to their national traditions — the old nameß, the native art, and the structure aod arrangements of the houses are all German. At Tanunda, for example, nothing but German is beard, and nothing but German beer is drunk in the hotel of the place ; German ii taught in the schools, and English only as a foreign tongue ; while Tanunda boast* of a well edited German paper. •'The* head of the Botanical Gardens at Adelaide, Dr R. Schomburgk, is a German,

aud the names of other Germans bave been prominent in the public life of the coloniee. No doubt the isolation referred to is very picturesque, but it is not likely to last, and ibere is no reason why it (should."