A VISIT TO NORFOLK ISLAND.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 238, 31 January 1860, Page 4

A VISIT TO NORFOLK ISLAND.

{From the Hobart Town Daily-Mercury, December 12.) We have been favored lately with a perusal of several extremely interesting, letters written by the descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, Every thing connected, with the progress of this remarkable people must possess a charm for those who are acquainted with their history ; and we make no excuse, therefore, for publishing a few particulars concerning them. We do this the more readily because, through some mis-understanding, they seem to consider themselves very much aggrieved sit the coarse pursued towards them by the Governor-General of Sydney—Sir William Denison. Those, however, who know Sir William's kindness of heart, and the deep interest he has taken in the welfare of the Pit cairn Islanders, will at: once exonerate him from having been actuated in wlnu he has done; by any other motive than a sincere desire to st-cure the happiness of this interesting people. It is clear, however, from the tone of their letters, as well as from their conversation with those who have called at the island, that there has been a great misapprehension as to the terms upon which they were to occupy their present home. This is much to be regretted : because it must lower the character of England in the estimation of a race so morally pine as this if they are permitted to think that we have acted unfairly towards them. That such is their impression at the present, moment is certain ! hut that that impression is a correct one, cr that it iias been justified by the conduct of Sir William Deuisou, no one, as we have said, who knows the character of the Governor-General will believe. That Sir William has somewhat over estimated their simplicity—that he has perhaps treated them as a father would treat b s children, rather than as a people possessing considerable shrewdness and a remarkable aptitude for business —is very likely ; and this is borne out by the extract from a letter received from one of the principal men amongst them which we have given below :—" The proceeds of the wool, hidta, and tallow we sent up to Sydney he has appropriated, telling us if we want it we must apply to him, and if he thinks it i, proper for us to have it he will send it, if not no will refuse." No one doubts but that Sir William Denison has acted in this matter from a deep solicitude for their welfare : but unfor* tunately, they do not see it in this light. The captain of a vessel which called at ■Norfo'k Island in September last thus describes his visit— In liiti mouth of September, 1559, I visited Norfolk Island, the present home of the Pitcairn Minders to recruit my vessel. It was their Sabbath and I well knew that they would transact, no business on that day. I went on shore, however, in the morning. On approaching the beach I found several of my forme 1 acquaintances assembled to give me a hearty welcome. No sooner did the boat touch the ground than she was carried clear of danger by mv own crew and the parties on the beach. The kind and affectionate manner in which these t ustimr people welcomed me cannot be expressed in words. After placing our boat in safety we were escorted by them from Cascades (a north part of the isiandj to the settlement where every hospitality was shown both to myself and men.

It being ilie Sabbath, as I have already said, I did not encroach im their religious liberty ; but on the following day the Pitcairn Islanders of both sexes, children included, came t>> give us a hourly English welcome, and to minister to our immediate, wants ; nor did their kindness and attention cease until I left. It coining on to blow, my vessel was compelled to get. under weigh and stated out to sea, leaving me on the island, arid I was ihus enabled to learn from them their innoediate wants, their form of government, and such like. Their mode of government is extremely simple, and as effective as it is simple. A magistrate and two councillors are elected annually. If any dispute arises it, is inferred to these, and their decision is presumed to be binding. If, however, thiit decision is not satisfactory it is refered to the first British man-of-war touching at the island, and from hh decision there is no appeal. These disputes, however, never create any angry feeling between the parties; they live on as friendly as ever. . The magistrates have very little difficulty, however, in rectifying all differences as they arise.

During mysiay I conversed with (he greatest part, of the community ami was much struck with the total absence of anything approaching to. what wo understand by the word sin. Crime of any kind, their, swearing, falsehood, immorality, is unknown, on the Island. Although devout in iheir religious services and observances, they are at the same time cheerful and buoyant in spirits, neither knowing wrong themselves, nor dreading wrong from others, Siich a tiling as a married couple without family is unknown. Their great friend, and the one for whom they entertain more esteem than from any other living person is Bishop Selwyn. It is impossible to picture the delight they manifct at a visit from him.

But the Pitcairn Islanders are not without their troubles. They told me that when they left Pitcairn Island they understood that Norfolk Island and all upon it had heen given to them by the British Government. They dwell now with regret upon the home they have left—the home of their birth, where nature yielded them almost without cultivation all the necessaries of life. They talk of the laws made for their guidance by John Adams, and which 1-iws they had strictly obeyed, and under which crime was unknown and love and feeling existed. Those laws, they say, are now being abolished one by one; the land which i.hey considered their, own they are now told is not. theirs : and their sheep and cattle are taken from them ; and their houses even are not to be theirs until they have resided in them for a certain number of years. They feel the difference in their .position very bitterly; although they submit to it with a resignation worthy of themselves, and of the religion they profess.' ISo man could visit these pure and simple-minded people without feeling chastened by their presence, without manifesting the deepest sympathy for their welfare, and without having obtained a glimpse of what this world would have been but for the havoc which vice and immorality-have everywhere made.

Having given this brief sketch of the Pitcairn Islanders by one who has lately visited Norfolk Island, we will now give an extract from a letter receutly received by. a party residing in Hobarfc Town:— .V. ■ "'Norfolk Island, September 9th, 1859. "Deaii ,—Having received your kiud answer and present by Captain Ma&irtbur, I agiun take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you. I wrote in December, and not re-

ceiving an answer • up -- to the present: date, I began to think you had not received it. : , ;,Sinco I wrote the last, the Governor of Sydney has been down here, and it; is the consequence of his visit that has induced me again to apply to you for assistance in our present troubles, relying on your known kindness and geuerosity to us in particular. In a general meeting he has given us to understand the following, viz.—■ that we are to consider all the cattle except those with our private mark on as belonging to Government; the sheep lie has taken altogether. The houses we live in, he tells U3, we can use them, but are not to consider them as our own. The fifty acres he has apportioned out to us he tells us he will give us a grant from the Crown for, but not to consider it as our own till we have been residing on the island for three years. The proceeds of the wool, hides, and tallow, we sent up to Sydney, he has appropriated, telling us that if we want it we must apply to him, and if he thinks it is proper for us to have it he will send it, if not he will refuse. So you see, my dear , alt we have left is our fishery to depend upon. We have sent two tuns of humpback oil up to Sydney for sale. -I have given you a brief outline of the way the Governor has served us."

Our readers will, of course, attribute this sore feeling to some misapprehension. . .Sir William Denison is incapable of acting harshly, much less unjustly, towards these interesting people. We have no doubt as soon as lie is aware of the feeling now existing he will remove the erroneous impression from their minds. The merchants of England would smile at the remaining portion of the letter of which the above is an extract. The writer speaks of the purchase of a vessel:—her tonnage, her cost, the mode of payment, the "deposit," the " interest upon amount remaining Ndue." He inquires what are the " terms ?" refers to " remittances/ and promises to write further on receipt of " advices from Sydney." What a strange chapter in the history of the world will yet bo furnished by the descendants of John Adams and the other mutineers of the Bounty.

Amongst the visitors to the Great Eastern lately was a --well-known Liverpool pickpocket named Wm. Sarauelson. Dressed after the latest fashion—peg-top trousers and a turndown collar, a mock diamond ring on his finger, and round his ueck a real gold chain, to which, by the way, uo watch was attached—he presented himself at the gangway' —having gone to considerable expense to procure the privilege of doing so, Wednesday being a first-class day— when to his astonishment, ut>d uo doubt very much to his chagrin, he found there, on the look-out for such visitors, that vigilant Liverpool detective, Charley Carlisle, who, at once recognizing him, politely requested him to step iuto one of tiie cabins for a few moments. He there searched him, and found in his possession a purse containing a railway excursion ticket, available for a month, £2 in gold, about 30s. in silver, and a receipt for making mushroom ketchup. He also found upon him ,£4 or ,£5 in loose silver, six empty portemonnaies and several cambric pocket handkerchiefs. Upon making inquiry he ascertained that the purse containing the railway ticket, &c, belonged to a Mrs. Purdie, of Shaw-street, Liverpool, who was one of Samuelson's fellow-passengers in the steamer which hud brought him alorigside. The unfortunate swell was taken before a magistrate, who, after hearing the evidence, committed him for trial at the Beaumaris sessions.

The journeymen bakers of the metropolis held a meeting on the 22nd of October, and carried resolutions protesting against the severity of then hours of labour. They say that they are compelled to work " 18 and 20 hours out of every 24, and sometimes 30 hours at a stretch." Their resolutions pledge them to use every means it\ their power to reduce those hours to 12. A strike is meditated, if all the journeymen bakers of London will join the movement.

More Buffoonery at Niagara.—The crowd gathered at the Falls yesterday to witness another of Blondin's performances upon the rope, although large and numbering many thousands, was somewhat the smallest, we should say, that has yet been collected, and hardly more thau two—thirds as great as that of the last occasion. Blondin's performance would have been accounted in the outset of these exhibitions a marvellous one, but after the great overshadowing, and unsurpassable feat of last week, it could not seem very astonishing, nor produce any very thrilling degree of interest in the minds of the spectators. It was more of a curious and laughable spectacle than an exciting one, and might be by many preferred to the terrible great performance of last Wednesday. Blondin first crossed from the American to the Canadian shore in manacles; a collar about his neck, a chain pendant to his arms', and two others from his wrists to his ankles. The fetters were not very weighty, and could not. have materially interfered with his performances or added very greatly to the fatiguo of the journey. During the passnge he wont through the foifs before exhibited, —standing upon his head, hanging beneath the rope, swinging his body under it, backwards, sustained by the arms with ilie elbows bent, &c, all difficult and daring in the extreme, but by'Blondin himself made commonplace and simple. The return performance was the most interesting. Alter a stay of 15 or 20 minutes upon the Canadian shore, lie I started with a cooking-stove swung on his back, the culinary appertenances thereto Consisting of saucepan, ladle, sundry dishes and a pair of bellows, securely fastened upon the stove. It" must not be imagined that the stove he bore upon his back was a- full sized cast iron li Victor," neither must it be balanced a miniature affair — a: disguised spirit lamp-chafing dish. It was a goodly-sized, properly-fashioned cooking stove made of Russia sheet iron, and boasting of a smoke pipe about two feet in height. Arrived at the centre of the rope, Blondin secured his pule and preceded with nonchalance to make preparations for " camping." Unslinging his stove he placed it upon the rope before him. sat down, and with some pitchy combustible material built his fire, exciting it with the bellows and raising a smoke which shewed the preparations for cooking. When a proper degree of heat had been attained, he produced his _ eggs, broke them into his dish, aud threw the shells into the river. The omelet .was prepared with all the skill of a chef de cuisitw, and when it was completed he lowered it to the Maid of the Mist, where we doubt not, it was divided into the smallest possible shares, and eagerly treasured by the passengers.1 Gathering up his " hotel*' Blondin readjusted it upon his back, aud quickly landed himself and it upon the American; shore, amid the loud cheers of the t.liropg.-rif*jf«to Enprw, August 25.

Genesb Falls Crossed on a--Wel;-Cord by M. Dela-VB.—The great feat of crossing the Geneaee River and falls, upon.a rope, was successfully accomplished yesterday afternoon, in the presence of 20,000 spectators. The time designated for crossing was from 2 to 4 o'clock, a large margin being given for. contingencies, the weather being the most important one.. While the crowd was pouring to Fall's Field, clouds began to gather and a storm was threatened. There was no shelter at hatid'for such a vast multitude, ;but all were so eager to witness the feat tiiey remained until the rain came down in torrents, and then all did not leave. As the storm came on there was a- desire that Delavc should perform the feat by anticipating the time, and disappointing those yet to come rather than those, already there. This course would, "we think, have been the best, under the circumstances, and M. Delave was disposed to do so ; but others, who had something to say about it, urged delay, alleging that the shower would be light, aud that the feat could be performed afterwards. A few left the grounds, thinking that the walking would be postponed, as the rope was wet, and thus made unsafe. Indeed, many who had croaked before yesterday, and who went to the ground to find fault and belie Delave, said that he had not courage to walk over the rope, wet or dry. They were mistaken in the mettle-.of the.'-.man. He had determined to walk the rope, and would have" done so just as the/rain came on, but by some singular omission, no resin was at hand, to apply to his! shoes. At ten minutes past four, Delave appeared, dressed in his circus uniform, and went straightway to the end of the rope, upon the Fall's Field. With his appearance there was a general rush to the bank, aud considerable confusion, but when it became evident that he had determined to cross the river the multitude became quiet, and soon breathlessly silent, as he took his position, and made ready for the journey. Deluve made his bow to the audience, took up his pole,-and walked boldly, but cau tiously forward. He had not gone far before it was apparent that he labored under disadvantages. The rope was imperfectly stayed, not drawn as tight as it should have been, and his balancing pole was so limber that it frequently caught in the guys; and what is more the rope was wet. But Delave moved on, balancing himself against the swaying of the rope with so much skill as to satisfy all that he had confidence in himself. As he approached the sheet of the falling water, over which the iope passes at the west end, it was thought by many that he would falter, but he did not, and'passed safely the roof of the saw-mill. His arrival on the west side was greeted with cheer-3 that rent the air, and echoed along the chasm of the river below. After remaining, about four minutes on the west side, Delave again took up his pole for the return. He walked steadily forward, to the centre of the river, and there seated himself, throwing his pole across the guys. He then laid himself ou the rope lengthwise, first backward and then forward. After proceeding a little further he stopped, and, resting first on one foot and then upon another, bowed very low to the audience in Fall's Field. He nest walked rapidly to the place of starting making long strides as he ascended to the east bank of the river. His lauding was the signal for immense cheering, and the successful adventurer was seized,by his friends and.borne away in triumph. The rope was wet and not properly . stayed. Those who have seen Bloudin walk at Niagara all agree that this feat of Delave was more perilous. Blondiu's rope is firm, and does not yield beneath his step ; neither is there a side motion. The guys are so arranged that his weight tends to make them tighter. But the reverse was the case yesterday with Delave. Some of his guys were slackened by the depression, and the rope had a great deal of side sway, far more than it would have if the stays had been properly adjusted.— New York Herald.

Garibaldi's Wife.—"l one day cast a casual glance at a house in Buna (the eastern part of the etilivmce part of the Jayun, South America), and there observed a young female whose appearance struck me as beinjj something very extraordinary. So powerful was the impression made upon me at the moment, though from some cause which I was not abe fully to ascertain, that I gave orders and was transported towards the house. But then I'knew of ,no one to whom I could apply for an introduction. I soon, however, met with a person, an inhabitant of the town, whom [had been acquainted with from the time of arrival. I soon received an invitation to take coffee with his family, and the person who entered was the lady whose appearance had so mysteriously but irresistibly drawn me to the place. I saluted her; we were soon acquainted ; and I found that the hiddeu treasure which I had discovered was of rare and inestimable worth. But I have since reproached myself for removing her from her peaceful native retirement to scenes of danger, toil, and suffering. I felt most deeply self-re-proach on that day at the mouth of the.Fo, having landed, in-our retreat from an Austrian squadron, while still hoping to restore her to life, on taking her pulse I found her a corpse, and aang the hymn of despair. I prayed for forgiveness, for I thought of the sin of taking her from her home." The rest of the lady's story is soon told. She accompanied her husband in his dangerous adventures, fought by his side on sea and land, receiving a ball through her. hut which cut off a tress of her hair, and travelled alone from Caritabrui to Laget, sixty wild miles:—" Anua passed that dangerous way by night; and such was her. boldness that the assassins fled at the Sight of her, declaring that they had been pursued by an extraordinary being. And, indeed, thdy spoke the truth; for that courageous woman mounted on a h'ery horse, which she had asked for and obtained at a house on the way, where it would have been difficult for a traveller to hire one, she galloped in a tempestous night among; broken, rocky ground, by the flashes of lightning. Four of the enemy's cavalry, who,were posted ou guardat the river Canvas, when they saw; her approaching, were overwhelmed with fear, supposing it to be a vision, and- fled. When she reached the bank of that stream, Which was swollen by the rains to a dangerous mountain torrent, she did.not stop or attempt to croS3 it in a canoe, as she had done a few days /before in my company, but, dismounting she seized fast hold of her horse, and encouraging him with her voice, lie dashed into the water and swam, strugging through the foaming waves, dragging her with him. The distance which she had thus to pass was not less than five .hundred paces, but they reached the opposite shore in safety." Four days'hard riding; and only a cup of coffee. Flying with her husband from the Austrian army, after the great. French treason of 1849, she landed with him at Meoda,; and died exhausted on the ; beach.— Life of GfefterQl Garibaldi.

•' The -Duties-of - Volunteer-Rifle Corps —The fallowing letter has been -addressed to Lord Vivian by the, Right flou. Sidney Herbert, Secretary at War:—" Dear Lord Vivian; —The words ' insurrection' or ; rebellion' are the words of the Act of Parliament, and they are not held to include riot. It has been thought necessary in Acts of Parlhment to use further words if the power is sought'to ball men ouVin aid of the civil power. Your friends, tliere'fore, need be under no apprehension of being called away from their ordinary pursuits to put down riots. Ag regards the eight days in every four months, or twenty-four days in the year, they may be taken together .or separately, as the convenience of the volunteers may require, provided the term of twentyfour days is reached. As regards 'days,' the Government are most anxious in this, as in alt things, to give every fair latitude which will suit the convenience and facilitate the operations of the volunteers, who can in very few instances devote .the mornings to their practice and instruction. Xhfl evenings may, therefore, be counted as days, and your artillerymen will find that two or three hours work with the great guns constitute a very fair day's work."

Laughable Incident.—We have heard of a^ very laughable incident which recently occurred in Limerick.. A gentleman, who belongs to the society of Freemasons, had for a long period 'been ■pestereii by a friend to communicate to him the secret by which members of that oonfraternily recognise each other. For a long time he resisted ; but at length he informed his tormentor that the sign of recognition was made by placing the thumb of the right hand to the nose, and moving the fingers up and down as if playing on an imaginary cornopean. The latler's prurient curiosity was satisfied, and a few days after as ho was standing with a lady in the Limerick terminus, he was pointed out a gentleman, who, he was I old, was a Freemason. Determined to utilise his knowledge of the mysterious art, he placed himself in the gentleman's way, and, as he passed him by, he made the sigu of recognition, .as explained by his friend. The individual so saluted stood for a momeut, and conceiving that the amateur's object in placing his^tjmtnb to his nose was to insult him, raised; ]l'iis cane and was about to thrash him, when the object of his hostility apologised, and saying that he took him for a Freemason, walked away amidst shouts of laughter.— Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterjord Examiner. A Monster Steam Hammer.—An enormous steam hammer, for the Victorian Railway Company of Australia, has just been made by the Kirkstall Forge Company, of Leeds, for manufacturing large forgiugs. The hammer is upon the double and single action principle, that is, it is not only lifted by the pressure of steam from below, but the natural effect of gravity of the falling hammer is assisted by the .pressure of steam from above. By this means additional momentum is acquired, aud a blow, of most extraordinary force and rapidity is produced, which is advantageous in the manipulation of iron forgiugs of magnitude requiring a great number of bl>ws. The work is thus finished at one heat, saving both the fuel and time of second heata, also consequent deterioration and waste of iro<i. The t-ffeot of the blow-from this immense hammer wilt be equal to the momentum acquired by sixteen tons making forty blows per minute. The hammer can be made to work double or single, acting simultaneously ; and by the adjusting valve gearing, the length of stroke ■,md force of blow can be changed a so instantly. In all gravity hammers the effect of the blow is dependant on the weight of the hammer, multiplied by the height of its fall, and consequently the greater the distance it falls the greater the force of the blow,.and the slowt-r is the speed of working. In the double-action hammer thrice the force of the blov/ cau be given at double the speed. The principle dimensions and weights are—timber foundation, 26 ft. by 24 ft. 6. iij, depth 13 ft.; cast iron anvil block, base 11 ft. 6 in. by 9 ft. 6 in.,, 30 tons weight; base p!av,e to receive standards, 19 ft. 5 in. by 16 ft. 6 in., 14 tons weight; standards'lo ft 6 in. apart, weight 15 tons; height.from ground to top of steam cylinder, 21 ft. 0 in.; weight of all about 75 tons. Steam to work this hammer is generated from the furnace in which the work to be operated upon is heated, tha boiler, upon " Balmfoith's patent vertical piuciple," Conning the chimney, and the heat passing- up four flues in the same, thus economising fuel and avoiding the expense of a brick chimney. The boiler it, 6 ft. 6 in. diaiuetei, and 30 feet long—weight 15 tons. Tun weight of the whole apparatus, including boiler and mountings, is about 100 tons.