EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 682, 27 October 1852, Page 3

EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.

(From (he "Liverpool Journal," July 3.) The great increase in the shipping trade between Europe and the Australian colonies, caused by the unparalleled amount of emigration, has been the means of showing the existing want of an efficient steam communication between Liverpool and Australia. This want is in a Fair way of being removed, by the establishment of two lines of steamers ; the one by the South Atlantic and the Indian Oceans, and the other by way of New York, Chagres, Panama, and the Pacific Ocean. The first of these enterprises has been announced by the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Company, who have made arrangements for running a first-class line of steam ships^ to Australia via Chagres and Panama, in connexion with their mail steamers from Liverpool to New York. This new route will greatly encourage British enterprise and protect British interests in the Pacific, inasmuch as New Zealand and the whole Australian colonies will be brought into direct and rapid communication with Europe, as well as with the United States, Central and South America, California and the South Sea Islands, between which places and the colonies the trade and shipping is considerably on the increase. There is every reason to expect that the Cunard Company will enter into a contract with her Majesty s Government for the conveyance by this route of mails between Australia and the mother country ; and, ns the island of Tahiti will no doubt supply a portion of the passengers and letters to be cairied by the company, negotiations will be immediately entered into by the French Government to secure their co-operation and support. The passengers taken to Panama from Liverpool by the Cunard steamers, and from Southampton by the West India mail steamers, will be carried forward by the Australian Pacific Mail Steam -packet Company, the distance from Panama to Sydney being about 7000 miles. From Liverpool to Chagres, via New York, the distance is about 5300; and the railway trip across the isthmus separating the Gulph of Mexico from the Pacific Ocean, nearly fitty miles. Tahiti is about half way between Panama and Australia, and will be found a convenient coaling place. The company will also have the advantage of conveying passengers from the United States to the Pacific Ocean on their way to California, the rival Eldorado ; and they, or any other British Company can run a line of steamers from Panama to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, shortened one-half by the Chagres route, can be cut up into two foreign voyages both of which are open to the British flag. The other enterprise to which we have adverted, it full of the deepest interest, and cannot fail to enlist the good wishes of the public for its satisfactory consummation. The Great Britain, which originally excited the favourable notice of the most experienced judges of naval architecture has gained additional laurels by the satisfactory runs she has made in the recent trial tripsto New York and back, — the home passage having been accomplished in eleven days. She is now announced to run, in connection with Messrs. Gibbs Bright, and Co.'s "Eagle" line, from Liverpool to Australia. She is to leave this port for Melbourne, Port Phillip, on the 21st of August next, and is expectsd to have about 1000 passengers. The first firm who were sufficiently spirited to announce their determination to create a direct steam communication between Liverpool and Australia, were Messrs Yianna, Jones, and Chappie ; but, finding that -they would have the powerful competition of the Cunard Company, as well as the proprietors of the Great Britain against them, they have abandoned the idea. With no other steam-ships in opposition, their proposed line would no doubt have been a good speculation to themselves, while it would have been of considerable accommodation to persons wishing for the advantages of a rapid communication with the Australian ports ; but with largeer steam-ships in competition, at comparatively small rates of passage, the matter assumed a different aspect. Messrs. Vianna and Co., may, however, congratulate themselves in having precipitated the establishment of a direct steam communication between Liverpool and the Australian ports, and in having, consequently, laid the public under no slight obligation to them. Besides these lines of steamers, there is a large number of sailing vessels periodically leaving this port, all of them carrying their fuL complement of passengers. On Wednesday the Maria, 2000 tons burthen, and the Hibernia, 1500 tons, went into the river, the former with about 350 emigrants, and the latter with 337. The Jane Pratt, 1500 tons, sailed on Tuesday, with about the same number of passengers. In addition to these, between thirty and forty vessels will be despatched before the end of August, for Australia. There are already advertised, the City of Lincoln, 1160 tons ; Serampore, 1400 tons ; Delta, 1500 tons ; Condor, 1500 tons; Sea Bird (new clipper), 1000 tons; Tippo Saib, 1800 ; Cambridge, 1900 ; John Bunyan, 1800 tons; Archer, 600 tons; Julia (Aberdeen clipper), 1000 tons ; Kalmia, 1000 tons ; Ellen, 1800 tons ; Earl of Derby, 2000 tons ; Phoenix, 1800 tons ; Dundonald, 2100 tons ; Bhurtpoore, 2000 tons ; Blanch, 2000 tons ; Gambia, 1000 tons ; Eliza, 1700 tons ; James Carson, 1400 tons ; Ottilia, 1400 tons ; Thorwaldsen, 1450 tons ; Flora, 1300 tons; Birmingham, 2000 tons ; Lock woods, 1600 tons ; El Dorado, 2000 tons; Eflfingham, 1500 tons; Cl opara, 1500 tons ; Northumberland, 1500 tons ; Argo, 2000 tons; Beejapore, 2500 tons; Rip Van Winkle, 2000 tons ; (temporarily withdrawn from the New York Packet Service for one voyage only) Mobile, 1600 tons ; John Leach, 900 tons ; Aberfoyle, 1500 tons ; Ann Bridson, 703 tons; and the first-class ship Progress. Irrespective of these, the Government vessels take out large numbers of emigrants. The Europa, a first-class vessel, of about 1000 tons burthen, sailed on Thursday, taking 384 adult passengers from the Emigration Depot at Birkenhead, two-thirds of whom were Highland shepherds and agricultural labourers. The Araminta cleared oxit on Saturday, having on board 320 adult emigrants, equal t0'405 souls. As illustrative of tho despatch with which they arc shipped, we may state that all the passengers entered tht depot on Wednesday, and before noon on • Friday they and their luggage were safe on board. The greeter proportion were from the Isle of Skye. The Medina is expected to leave the Great Float at Birkonhcad, opposite the depot, on Thursday next, with about the same numbe* of emigrants. The establishment now presents an animated and interesting appearance jn consequence of the continual arrival of emigrants, at least threefourths of whom are Highlanders. There are very few Irish and English, and no Welsh. Since the depot has been opened there have not been more than six Welsh people sent to Au3-

tralia by Government aid, while the tide of Scotch emigrants has rapidly increased. The appearance of these people who are leaving the land of their birfh is squalled and comfortless enough; while others are decently clad, and the hue of health upon their cheeks, and the beaming expression of tneir countenances would rather suggest the idea that they are anticipating the pleasures of a summer excursion, than that they are tearing themselves away from their fatherland. The scene during the time the emigrants are seated at one of their meals is pregnant with the liveliest interest. Mingled with the clatter of knives and forks, or cups and saucers, there is a continual buz and chatter in the Highland dialect; while little boys and girls adding their shriller notes to the din, aid the production of a peculiarity of sound strongly suggestive of the confusion which overtook the builders of the Tower of Babel. The duties of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the superintendent and matron, daring the last six weeks, have, as may bo readily supposed, been exceedingly laborious. Opposite the Great Float there is an open space, which is used as a promenade. While looking at a group on Friday, we perceived a stout, healthylooking, well clad Scotchmen, with a smiling young wife, in respectable attire, and an aged father, whose wrinkled brow and grey hair seemed ill-suited to the harrassing voyage before him. He and his son were " crofters," that is, they had formerly rented a few acres of ground in the Highlands for the purpose of tillage ; but being unable to make all ends meet to their satisfaction, the son had obtained an order for himself and his wife to be sent to Australia at the Government expense ; and not wishing $o leave the head of tl c house to the tender mercies of the Poor-law Union, they had raised the full amount of passage money, £15, to enable them to take him along with them.