STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH CHEAT BRITAIN. - The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848) - 29 Aug 1846 (original) (raw)
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Sat 29 Aug 1846 - The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848)
Page 3 - STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH CHEAT BRITAIN.
Ox 1 hursday a Meeting was held in Mr. Lyons'
Rooms, for the purpose of adopting an Address
to. his Excellency the Governor, and a Memorial
to tbo Leiri.slnti-ve- Council, nrnvinir their- iu
uircnuu in sujjporiiug me csiuousimiuuc oi oieaxn
Communication between .Australia, and Great
Britain. Tlie Meeting wus numerously attended,
and many of our leading mercantile men were
present,' The Chair was taken by William
Walker, Esq., who adverted to the advantages
sought to be obtained by the coloni-st*, und
which, it appeared, her Miijesly*s Government
was, to a certain extent, disposed tt grant. He
win not prepared to say whether his Excellency
viowed the matter with a favorable eye, but lie
felt assured that it would receive the uttoutive
consideration of the Colonial Secretary, Mr. E.
Deas Thomson ; aud, he believe. I most of the
?numbers of the Legislative Council would
support the views of the colonists, with reference
to this important subject.
Tho following resolutions were carried ; —
1st — -That Steam Communication with tho
Mother Country is eminently calculated to pro
mote the permanent prosperity of New South
2nd. — That junction by steam with the great
mail steam lines already established via Singa
pore, offers the most obvious und advantageous
opportunity of effecting this object.
3rd. — That the Address now agreed to, to his
Excellency the Governor, together with tlie
Memorial to the Legislative Council, be adopted
by this Meeting, and signed and presented to
his Excellency the Governor, and to tho Legis
lative Council, accompanied by the resolutions.
The following gentlemen were appointed to
form u deputation from the Meeting, to wait, on
his Excellency with the Address, viz., William
Walker, Julin Thaukcr, U. Campbell, junior, C.
O'Connoll, M. C, and S. A. Donaldson, Esijs.
Captain O'Connoll was also requested to present
tho Memorial to the Legislative Council. Here
follow the Address and Memorial : —
To his Excellency Sir, Charles Augustus Fitz
Hot/, Cuptain-Geiicral and Governorin
Cliief in and ouir t\e Territory of New South
May it Pi.i:asi; vouit ExcKr.i,uNcv, — ^Vo, the
undersigned, Merchants, Bankers, Tradors, and
other inhabitants of New South Wales, beg leave
to approach your Excellency with feelings of
profound respect for your' Excellency, and of
loyal attachment to her Majesty's person and
Having recently learned that steps have boon
taken by parties in Knglaud, interested in the
welfare of these colonies, to bring before tho
notice of her Majesty's Government, the great
importance of Steam Communication with the
Mother Country, and being persuaded as we are
that tho completion of a line of mail anil pas
senger steam boats between Sydney and Great
Britain, in connexion with one of the existing
steam mail lines, would tend in a remarkable
degree to thoir prosperity, bog leave particu
larly to urge upon your Lxcelloncy's attention
this most important subject, and to pray for your
Excellency's co-operation in favor of the same,
and for your recommendation of it both to her
Majesty's Secretary of State for tho Colonies,
and to the Legislative Council of Now South
Wo will not urge upon your Excellency all
the strong reasons for our deep interest in tho
successful prosecution of a scheme for Steam
Communication with Ivngland, but we will name
the obvious advantage to the Mother Country of
regular intercourse with Australia, New Zealand,
and her Mujesty's possessions in thoso seas, and
tbo almost incalculable benefits to these colonies,
both political and social, which must result from
a speedy and regular postal communication with
Praying, therefore, that your Excellency will
be pleased to bring this subject before lh« Home
Government, and also before the Legislative
We arc your ? Excellency's faithful and
To the Honorable the Legislative Council of
Tho Memorial of the undersigned Merchants,.
Bankers, Traders, and other inhabitants of
the Colony of New South Wales
That your memorialists — having recently
learned that steps have been taken by parties
in England, interested in the welfare ot these
colonies, to bring before the notice of her
Majesty's Government, the great importance of
Steam Communication with the Mother Country,
and being persuaded as they are that tho com-;
pletion of a line of mail und passenger steam
boats between Sydney and Great Britain, in
connexion with one of tho existing steam mail
lines, would tend in a remarkable degree to their
prosperity — beg leave particularly to urge upon
your honorable Council's attention this most
important subject, and to pray that your honor
able Council will take such steps as in your
wisdom may be deemed most expedient, to bring
this important subject in tho most favorable
light before her .Majesty's Government at home ;
and your Memorialists will ever pray, &c.
A vote of thanks having been carried to W.
Walker, Exq., for his able and impartial conduct
in the Chair, the Meeting separated.
THE THEATRE. Our notices of the
"doings" at the Victoria have latterly been of
necessity, "like angels' visits, few and far between,"
because whilst we are ready to bear
testimony to the efforts of the management to
do all they can with "the means and appliances"
they have at command, we feel the invidionsuess
of the task which would necessarily devolve upon
us in remarking upon the impersonations of certain
characters by parties who cannot but feel
themselves incompetent to the undertaking, but
who are thrust, as it were, into the task, because
there are none others to whom they can be
assigned. Wo are assured that Mrs. Stirling,
for instance, or rather Mrs. Guerin (by which
latter name she is now known), must have lately
often found herself very uncomfortably circumstanced
in being compelled to sustain parts for
which she was unqualified ; for whilst we admit
her to possess many qualifications as an actress,
it must be apparent to every one who has visited
tho Theatre since Mrs. O'Flaherty's departure,
that she has frequently had calls upon her talent,
which all her study, industry, and determination
have failed to enable her to answer with perfect
satisfaction, either to herself or the audience ;
still it must be acknowledged that even under
all disadvantages, she has invariably by dint
of exertion acquitted herself in a very creditable
manner. On Thursday night, in the part of
Henriette, in Buckstone's Drama of that name,
she was very successful, and played the char
acter with much feeling. We wish she could
divest herself of an unnatural volubility of utterance,
in certain speeches, which from their nature,
demand a more deliberate and measured
delivery; a little attention in tins particular,
would tend to remove a very great drawback to
her general success. There could not be a
greater proof of the inconvenience, so to call it,
arising from the present inefficiency of the Corps
Dramatique of tho Victoria, (which we admit is,
under existing circumstances, almost irremedia
ble), than the fact, that on Tuesday evening
last, the Drama of ' Richard Plantagunet ' was
obliged to be put off in consequence of tho indis
position of a singlu member (Mr. Elrington), (he
result of which was. that tho audience, many of
whom came expressly to witness tbo represen
tation of that piece, which was announced for the
conclusion of the evening's amusement, became
so uproarious, that ' His First Champagne,'
which was, with ' La Polka,' substituted in lieu
thereof, was walked through without a singli*
word boing hoard. All was ' inexplicable dumb,
show and ih'imi' ;'' nnd many left the house in
disgust, at having paid their money to bo disap
pointed. We learn that the Propriet'or.-i of the
Victoria havo taken measures to remedy us soon
as possible, the defect .to which wp have alluded,
by obtaining a roiiiforcpnipnt. Tho opera of
'The ISolu'iiiiun C1U-1,' which lias proved the
most attractive piucc'ol' tin- sensun, lias been
withdrawn ibis wci-k to :illu» 11C th*- introduction
of two new pieops — ' IttigaM'nui ' aud ' Hon
rictto' — butli of which wore well received. The
performances for this evening »fc '? Henrietto
tho Forsaki-ii ;' and the Tr.-igiu- Play of tho
' Bridal ;' a Dance by Mr. Fitzgerald intervening.
MR. RAVAC'S CONCERT— On Wednesday
day .ovoiiiug last, Air. liavac was hniuncil by tho
presence of Sir Charles anil Lady Mary Fil'a.
Roy and Suite i Tlie Colonial Secretary 'and
Lady, Mr. Justice Dickinson, Mr. .In.stica i'herry
and their Ladies; the Colonial Treusurer, tho.
Commander und Officers of II. M. S. Carysfort,.
and 11 numerous and fashionable assemblage.
The Band of tho i)9th Rogiiuoul was in attend
ance, nnd openotl- the Concert willi Anber's ex
cellent overture ' Fra Diavolo;1' .Mr. Ravie
then performed a Concertino of Buriot's which
elicited rapturous applause, tl»« peculiarities of
that celebrated composer being executed in a
style nt' excellence which at once delighted and
jtstonishid; his innlicuice. Mailnme Carandini
sung l'aciai's ' Scent tli Sappho' aud a Ballad
with great taste. This lady bids fair lo become
an excellent Ciintatrice, but die must not consi
der she has already attained perfection. Study
and practice will vnt further prove her naturally
good talents. Mr. Ellnrtl, Junior, accompanied.
Mr. Kuvuu in a Duett. This young gentleman.
iilao gives promise oi' becoming a first-rate per
former, and possesses that best oi guarantees for
success — enthusiasm for his profession. Mr.
Marsh, also, on tho Harp, accompanied Mr.
Ravac on his. Violin, in a l-uott — and we wore
much grutilied with tho performance. These,
two instruments, harmonise much better than
the Violin and Piano-forte ; the latter, if kept
sufficiently under to permit the full richness of
the Violin to predominate, lo.ses its effect,
whereas the llarp a -ls volume and richness to
the tones of the Violin. Wo have not time to
particularise the whole of the evening's enter
tainment, but wo could not help being highly
amused at tho vivid recollections of our earlv
days, evoked by tlie masterspirit of Ravac in his.
performance of Punch and Judy, in 'I.e. Car
naval do Venise.' Tho Military Band also
heightened the gftsto of the evening's amuse-.'
meut.hy their inimitable performance of tho
'Railnuy Gallop,' ami we could not help fan
cying that the shareholders expectant of tho
' Goulbtirn Direct,** were more than over con
vinced of the' practicability of their scheme, from
tho vehemence with which they applauded, tho
Mr. Marsh's Farewkli. Concert. —
Since the arrival of His Excellency Sir Chillies
Augustus Fjtz Roy, ' a new era,' as our fiumit
Thomas Stubbs has it in 0110 of his advertise
inents, seems to have dawned upon us. At alt
events, Apollo appears to ho in the ascendant ;
and His Excellency is evidently anxious to'
patronise the Muses, it will bo seen, on re
ference to our advertising columns, that Mr.
Marsh, who has for soino time past everted him
self to introduce umungst us a taste for thu
science of music, not only by bis lectures and -
delightful performances on tho harp, but by hU
instructions to the fairer sex, on that instrument
and tho pianoforte, has been induced to an
nounce his 'Farewell Concert,' intending to
proceed to England via India, on a tour with ?
Air. Ruvnc. We regret that a gentleman of
Mr. Marsh's urbane manners should have arrived
in the Colony during its hour of adversity, and.
then be induced to quit our shores for a field
where musical talent is more likely to be appre
ciated and rewarded, We say we regret thin,
because we feel convinced that our suutiments
ivill bo echoed by all tl)ose who have had tho
advantage nf Mr. Marsb's instruction, aud
because wo are satislied that there is a1 tasto
or tho delightful science of music growing
jp in this Colony, which only requires thu
?eturn of prosperous days, to enable the
Colonists to avail themselves of the services or
gentlemen of. talent. We aro sure that 110
:hing that we can say will add to the esteem
which all those who havo been ucqualnted with
Nir. Marsh, cither as pupils, parents of pupils, or
Viends, entertain for him. To those who have
lot known him, we need only say, that it may be
loveral years before they will have another op
portunity of hearing so accomplished a performer
-n the instrument on ' which he more especially
jxcels — the Harp. Moreover, wo aro credibly, '
nformed, that it will bo the last time the Colonists
will have the opportunity of hearing Mr. Havatf,
is we understand tliut both these gentlemen havo
Aken their passnge in the F.tnerald Isle for Cal
cutta, which vessel s.tils early next week.
'Ciiarok! Chester, Charge !'-^- Yes-,
terday afternoon, as a guard was proceeding
uown Gnorgc-streot from tho Treasury in
charge nf somo coin, a cabman, whose horses,
bud evidently managed lo get an extra feed,
sharped tho whole body, nnd completely put the
ndvu'nue-guard hors de cowb-tt — the right-hand
man being turned over by tho wheel and very
much hurt, and his firelock broken. The officer
of the guard very proper y handed over the' son
of Nimshi— horsPH, cab, and nil, to the custody
of n constable, and the guard, with their treasure,
went on to their destination. . ;
Fon. TllK FKRUSM. OK THE RlGIir
Woiisiiiri-eb tiik Mavoii, A'mieiimen, ani-
Councii.i.opis, ok Tin: Citt of SviisBV, — Health
is tho working man's fortune, and be ought -o
watch over it more than the capitalist over his
large investments. Health lightens the efforts'
of body and mind ; it enables a man to crowd
touch work into a narrow uompass. Wero tho
mass of thu community more enlightened on
lliese points, they would apply thuir knowledge ^
not only to their private habits, but insist oil '
municipal regulations favouring general health,
mid for prohibiting the erection or the letting
of such buildings us must generate ilitoase.
With what face win the great cities of Europe
and America boast ol their civilisation, when
within thtiir limits tlimisunds and tens of thousands
perish fop want if God's freest and most lavish
[jifts t We forbid uy law the selling of putrid
meat in tho market; why do wo not forbid the
renting of rooms in which putrid, damp and '
noisome vapours are working as suro destruction
as tho worst food » If the people understand ?
that they urc truly poisoned in such dens as by
tainted melit ami decaying vegetables, would
they not appoint commissioners fur houses, as
truly ns commissioners for markets ? — Dr,
Tiik New Niokr E.vi'kdjtion, — It will
be remembered, that about two years sinco
Captain Bucrofi and Dr. King ioft Liverpool in tho \
steamer Kthiope, on another oxporjmentnl trial,
lo open commerce with Central Africa. Letters,
havo been received from thoso gentlemen by a
Dutch ship which nriived in tho Channel, dated
Fernando Po, Nov. 9, announcing their return
to that island from the Niger six days previously
The vessel had been upon that river for a period
of three months and a half. Unhappily in con-.
sequence of deaths, feuds, and wars amongst tho
r.-hirlH. the aspect ol' matters in the interior had
bi'cn found materially altered, nnd Rabbah, tho
largest and most flourishing town on the rivor in
the year 1840, is now deserted and in ruins.
Owing to this disordered state of thuigs the
mission had not been so successful commercially
UK was expected, though not lets so than -Dr,
Kiti£ had anticipated under such circuuistanccj,.