ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 364, 27 October 1932, Page 2

ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS

WlNbJAIvff^ER DAYS GEMS FORM AN INTERESTING MANUAL OF 1833. blO WAfER FOR WASHING. In an old manual published in 1852 si given an assortment of Kints, advice and facts to prospective emigrants fpom England to the "gold colony of Australia." It is an exhaustive work, and must have proved very useful to the_ thousands who, eighty years ago, "took part in" the great §old rush to Australia. The hook was apparerifly populai*, as it contains an , announeemen that 30,000 popies had beeri sold. The most interesting seetion is that which gives "practical advice to temigrarits as to the bes rriethod of getting to the Australian colonies." A verbose warning is given against booking passage through any but a reputable shipping company, The food and cooking conditions on- the better ship's are mentioned. It must have been most reassuring to.the voyager to learn' that all . Australian-bound ships carried provision 'and water for six months, but that the voyage, "if the captain knows his business, rarely exceeds four months,. so that there is no danger of starving by the way." Fbre-eabiri passerigers had provisions rationed on three days a week, and had to cook for. themselves — ' the ship finding the requisite fuel and coppers." The traveller bad to provide his own cutlery and dishes. The cabin passengers were more forturiate, | as their food was coolced for them — I "as at ari hotel." These emigrants j were advised to obtain a printed copy J of the bill of fare before paying their passage . money. . The b'ill of fare, which is referred to as "the scale," ( gave particulars of the quality and ■ variety of food to which they were entitled during the voyage. The fear , was, apparently, that the captain j might serve "short commons." ■ As fresh water was scarce the qmigrant was instructed to take enough clothes and linen to last for four months. His only chance to obtain water for washing was to 'catch th'e water in rainy weather as it drips from thc sails." Advice is given about the outfit which emigrants should take. The minimum list suggested for men was — One dozen shirts, tivo Guernsey shirts, a dozeri pairs of cotton socks, a pair of good fustian trousers, fustian jacket and waistcoat, pea jacket, cloth cap, Sunday-going coat, waistcoat and tfousers, a pair of blankets, three or four pairs of cotton shests, towels, ets., two pairs of strong shoes, and a pair of light ones.

Passengers Cautioncd. The minimum list sugestffi for women wa::: "Not less than one dozen calico chemises, four petticoats, two flannel ditto, four flannel waistcoats, two pairs of shoas, one pair of boots, three cotton dresses, two bonnets, and a supply of bed linen, etc." T.he author eautions emigrants against buying large quantities of tools and equipment in England, sta-t-ing. There is, in fact, nothing which he cairn ot purchase in Australia as well as in England, and many things which he can purchase more advantageon sly there than at home." A short description is given of thb comparative merits of the .New South vvales was the danger of floods, which penodically swept over many districts. in Vietoria, on the other hand, it was the absence of water in the gold minmg areas which was the prihcipal di-awback. (.1. C?7mmenting' on the conditions in the Victorian golfields, the author ends his remarks with a prophetic observa- , °"" k of water on diggings had thrown many miners into idleness, and had resulted in a series of lawless outrages. ^ The perturbed Government, with an madequate police force, had the transfer ^ Vietoria of Biitish troops stationed in China The ^vnter states: "It would not be'suramonf Iri S°me ^emPoraiY outbreak among the unruly and w;ell-armed lllners shopld be the ..consequence"