South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Wednesday 30 October 1844, page 3


PROGRESS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

By late arrivals from South Australia, we have accounts to the beginning of September last. It is satisfactory to know, that these accounts do not rest on newspaper authority

only, but that they have been confirmed, in all their main points, by the most unexceptionable testimony. . -Jacob Montefiore, Esq., one of the original Commissioners for South Australia, and who, for several years, most meritoriously, and at the same time gratuitously, discharged the duties of that office, lately visited that country and the neighbouring Colonies. He attended a meeting of tbe South Australian Society, held the other day, and detailed, at considerable length, what he had seen with his own eyes, ac the result of the industry and perseverance of tbe Colonists of South Australia. He says: " I never witnessed a greater spirit of industry pervading all classes than in tliat Colony;" and, as tbe summary of bis visit, he etated : " I considered it my duty to visit most of the settled districts, and to make a searching inquiry into the character, wants, and capabilities of the Colony; and it is with the highest satisfaction that I do most confidently 6tate, that I know no Colony offering a wider field, or more encouraging prospects to the enterprising emigrant of small capital, and tbe industrious and persevering labourer, than South Australia. Its climate it excellent, its soil rich, and asks but tbe cultivation of man." A few years ago, that

country was an unknown waste—the liabitution of kangaroos, and of a few aboriginal inhabitants, in a most abject state of destitution, morally, intellectually and physically. What a change lias British enterprise and British perseverence effected ? An immigrant population of 16,000 or 17,000 souls have been introduced, and the comforts of English society and English living are enjoyed. Provisions are much cheaper thsm in England ; numerous farms i have been formed, and the rich waving cornfields gladden the eve in every direction. The produce of grain fur exceeds the consumption of the inhabitants. Thousands of cuttle, and hundreds of thousands of sheep, depasture on the plains. Copper and lead mines have been discovered, the latter of which, Mr Montcfiore snys, " I visited, tatisfied myself of their richness and value by a most careful inspection, and dug out with my own hands the specimens which you see on the table." Proof positive has been afforded of the possibility of making good pig iron in the Province by means of their own charcoal, unassisted by any other fuel. Slate quarries are in the course of being worked, and several small cargoes have beert exported to the sister Colonies, where, hitherto, the houses have generally been covered with shingles, which may be termed wooden slates. These slate-slabs arc sometimes taken out so large as to form table tops, and other articles of furniture. The whale fisheries are prosecuted more extensively, and successfully than formerly. The manufacturies of the Colony are increased in number and importance. Starch, candles, soap, leather, and a variety of other articles of doily consumption, are now produced in the Colony. A considerable quantity of barilla ha<s been manufactured and forwarded to Sydney. The quality of the barley grown in South Australia, as exhibited in Mark-lane, is surpassed by none; and the operations of malting and brewing have begun with spirit, and very sanguine hopes of success. More than a dozen of concerns in these lines have been farmed, and reached various ares of advancement. The principles of civil and religious liberty intermixed with the foundations of South Australia, and members of the differ-ent religious denominations enjoy in Ade-laide the opportunity of worshipping God according to the dictates of their consciences. Public worship is conducted by ministers of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Secession, Wesleyan Methodists, Congregationalism, and Baptists. The Primitive Methodists and the New Connexion Methodists are supplied by lay preachers. The Bible Christians, the Society of Friends, Jews, and Roman Catholics, have meetings, and the German Lutherans have two congregations supplied by Pastor Kavel. Thereareseveral out-stations for public worship, so that the sacrifice in respect to religious privileges made by emigrants who remove to South Australia, is really comparatively small. Id that Colony there are no convicts or bushrangers, and the Colonists are secured by the provisions of the Acts of Parliament passed as to this Colony, from being ever infested with convicts. They are also secure from the domination of any religious sect; and were the British Government to afford the means of free emigration, as they ought to do in good faith, to the purchasers of land there, many of our countrymen would seek and find in South Australia, a happy asylum.

The South Australian news reflects the pleasing object of a young community— not free from the cares and annoyances incidental to humanity—but quietly and steadily progressing in well-being. On this account we have been liberal in our extracts from the journals of this Colony, and add the following satisfactory extract from a letter dated 31st of August, 1843, from a high authority in South Australia to a gentleman in London: " Affairs here are now progressing steadily ; the revenue continues to improve, and the expenditure to diminish. We hope soon to have a surplus, and be able to dispense with some of the most obnoxious impositions. I am lmppy to say that we shall have about 20,000 acres under wheat, and a proportional increase in the other crops. We bave every promise of a bountiful harvest, and, if we can obtain a market for our surplus, we shall do well; indeed our progress continues to be so regular, so sure, and, to all appearance, so healthy, that my own mind is now perfectly at ease, and the anxiety which for so long a time weighed me down, has quite passed away."

There are reporl? of modification in the French Ministry, M. Villemain, Minister of the Public instruction, to be replaced by M. Hossi, a Peer of France, or by M. Si Marc Girardin, a Member of (he Chamber of Deputies, both friends of M. Guizot. It is suggested that au under-secretary to the War Department should be created, by which arrangement Marshal Soult would be relieved of some of tbe cares of his office. Marshal Soult addressed an order of the day to the Army, on the occasion of the attempt made by the Legitimists to seduce from their duty the Sappsrs of the Corps of Royal Engineers stationed at Isay. The Ministers of War reminded the officers, sub-officers and soldiers, of the oath of allegiance they had taken to the King and their drapc?U.

Hostilities have commenced between France and Morocco. From Lalla Marguia, June 16, the Governor-General of Algeria reports to the Ministers of War: " Yesterday, during a confereuce with the Commander of the Moroccian army, his troops to the amount of 5,000 cavalry fired upon ours, and wounded an officer and two soldiers whilst we did not return their fire. The conference was broken up, and Generals Lamariciere and Bedeau have been attacked by the troops of the Emperor of Morocco. J arrived, and assumed the of. fensive and killed of the enemy from 300 to 400 men, whose bodies remained on the field. I captured some horses and from 300 to 400 stand of arms. Never was any chastisement better merited. We had six killed and about twenty Wounded."