An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales Volume I Part 49

When the settlers were informed that payment for the maize lodged in the stores in January 1794 could not be made until orders were received from England, and that no more grain could be received, but that the purchase of fresh pork would be continued, the course of their industry became changed, though raising grain still continued necessary for rearing their stock.

On most part of the nine thousand four hundred and seventy-two acres not cleared of timber the trees and underwood were covered with succulent herbage, which, with the fern and other soft roots, afford the best food for swine. Several individuals had taken advantage of this convenience, by inclosing from ten to one hundred acres of the uncleared parts, into which they turned their swine, whereof many had from twenty to one hundred and fifty, that required nothing more than a sufficiency of maize to accustom them to their owner's call.

Another resource of animal food was on Phillip Island, which abounded with the best feed for swine. On it were at least three hundred and seventeen swine belonging to government, which were unconfined, and required no other attendance than the being called together occasionally by a man who resided there with his family. But those which were first sent, and their progeny, were so wild, that it was not thought an easy matter to take them. Several large hogs and boars had been brought from thence which had weighed, when fattened, from one hundred and eighty to three hundred and six pounds.

Salting pork in the cool months had been successfully tried; but it would not answer in the summer. It was intended that the swine belonging to government which could be killed during the winter should be salted down, as a sufficiency of salt was making to answer that purpose.

From these resources it might fairly be presumed, that if no unforeseen mortality should attack the stock, the settlers and other individuals would be able to continue supplying the stores with half the ration of animal food, and that government in the course of twelve months might furnish the other half. And farther, that if the industry of the settlers and other individuals were encouraged by their overplus grain and animal food being purchased at a fair price, the produce of the grounds cleared would be more than sufficient for the maintenance of the present inhabitants, three hundred and thirty-seven of whom supported themselves without any expense to the crown: and this might be further secured, if cattle and sheep could be sent there, as the former were much wanted for labour, and the latter for a change of food; for it is certain that sheep breed there as well as in any part of the world, and have not as yet been subject to the distempers common to that kind of stock. The Bengal ewes yean twice in the thirteen months, and have commonly two, often three, and sometimes four lambs at a yeaning; and these have increased so much, by being crossed with the Cape ram, that a lamb six weeks old is now as large as one of the old ewes.

The goats too are extremely prolific, and generally breed thrice in the year, having commonly from two to four kids at a time.

Any number of sheep and goats, and a large quant.i.ty of cattle might be bred here, as the cleared ground affords the best of pasture for those species of stock. But it will be a long time before the present stock will be of much use, unless more are sent thither.

The want of artificers of all descriptions, and the scarcity of labourers at public work, much r.e.t.a.r.ded the construction of a number of necessary buildings. The island possessed the best of stone, lime, and timber; but, unfortunately, there never had been but one mason (a marine settler) on the island.

At Cascade Bay a great advantage had been obtained in the construction of a very strong wharf, one hundred and twenty-six feet long, which connects the sh.o.r.e with the landing rock. At the end of it is a swinging crane and capstern, by which boats are loaded and unloaded with the heaviest articles; and in bad weather are hoisted up with perfect safety.

Near this wharf, a large storehouse, and barracks for the guard, are built. One of the great advantages attending this work is, that no risk need be run by ships keeping in Sydney Bay, as the landing is generally good at Cascade Bay, when it becomes in the least degree hazardous at the former place. And here it may be noticed, that no casualty by boats had happened since the lieutenant-governor's arrival in 1791.

The utility of a well-constructed water-mill is sufficiently obvious.

From an addition of three feet to the height of the dam, it ground twenty bushels of wheat daily; which had removed the great inconvenience of every man being obliged to grind his own ration before it could be dressed. The abundance of mill-stones, and the quant.i.ty of wood fit for millwrights' work, with the convenient situation of the different streams, will admit of any number of water-mills being erected.

Two well-finished wind-mills had also been erected by settlers, which answered extremely well.

Not more than ten settlers had been able to erect dwellings better than log-huts, which are neither warm nor durable. Better, indeed, could hardly be expected, when it was considered how much their labour and attention must have been employed in raising food for their families, and in procuring such articles of accommodation as they needed. Many, however, of this as well as of other descriptions were building comfortable framed and weather-boarded habitations at their own expense.

Of schools there were two, viz one for young children, who were instructed by a woman of good character; and the other kept by a man, who taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, for which he was well qualified, and was very attentive. A third inst.i.tution on a permanent footing was added, for the reception of such orphan female children as had lost or been deserted by their parents. Most of these were of such an age as to require a strict hand and careful eye over them. Unfortunately they, as well as the other children, were dest.i.tute of every article of clothing, except such as the store afforded, which was by no means calculated for children in that warm climate. By the application of fines imposed for breaches of the peace, etc. and a subscription raised among the officers, the orphan children had for some time past been clothed, and about twenty-eight pounds remained to be applied in the same manner.

HOURS OF LABOUR

To explain this article, it will be necessary to state the different descriptions that compose the inhabitants; to do which in a perspicuous form the following cla.s.sification has been adopted:

Cla.s.s Description Numbers By whom supported --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Civil and military 83 government

2nd Settlers, by grant or lease, and freemen who are under-tenants to the settler 104 labour Freemen who are hired by the year, etc or who hire themselves out daily 138 ditto Convicts who are taken off the stores by officers, etc 5 ditto 3rd Ditto a.s.signed to officers, etc 67 government 4th Ditto employed as overseers, artificers, watchmen, etc for the public benefit, many of whom are invalids 106 ditto Ditto cultivating ground for the public use, and other incidental work 30 ditto

Total males 533

5th Women belonging to civil and military, and at public labour 40 ditto Ditto, who belong to the second cla.s.s of men 125 labour 6th Children belonging to the first and fourth cla.s.ses 116 government Ditto to the second and third cla.s.ses 73 labour

Total females and children 354

From the foregoing statement it appears, that not more than one hundred and thirty-six men, composing the fourth cla.s.s, are employed in carrying on public work, of which number only twenty-eight can be employed (when other works of public necessity do not intervene) in raising grain, etc.

without expense to the crown, for the first, third, fourth, and a part of the fifth and sixth cla.s.ses; making together four hundred and forty-two persons.

Those of the fourth cla.s.s who labour as carpenters, sawyers, blacksmiths, etc. work from daylight till eight o'clock; from nine till noon; and from two in the afternoon till sun-set; and as long as they do their work properly, they have Fridays and Sat.u.r.days to themselves, which they employ in working at their grounds, or in building, etc. for settlers and others who can employ them. As those works are in fact of a private nature, although in the end they become more or less of public utility, the artificers are indulged with the use of government-tools and such materials as can be spared.

Those employed in cultivation, and other incidental labour, for the public benefit, work at all seasons from daylight until one o'clock, which is found much more advisable than dispersing them at the hours for meals, and collecting them again to resume their labour. As very few of this description have any persons to dress their meal, or grind their maize, they have by this management a great part of the day at their own disposal; and from the 21st of September to the 21st of February no public work is done on Sat.u.r.days. Those of this description who are industrious employ a great part of their leisure time in cultivating pieces of ground for their own use, or labouring for others.

The second and a part of the fifth and sixth cla.s.ses, making together three hundred and thirty-one persons, support themselves by the produce of their labour without expense to the crown; as the clothing with which they and the settlers are occasionally furnished from the stores is paid for in grain or stock.

ORDINARY PRICE OF LABOUR

To a convict taken off the stores by an officer or settler, from 5 to 5 per annurn

To a freeman hired by the year, victualled and clothed, from 10 to 12 per annum.

A day's work for a labourer, with victuals, is 3s; without, 5s

Cutting down and burning off an acre of wood, 2

Cutting down and burning off an acre of weeds, 1 10s

Threshing one bushel of wheat, 10lbs.; equal to 1s 8d.

Other works are in proportion. The mode of payment for labour is various, and depends entirely on the employer's circ.u.mstances; but it is in general made by what arises from the grain or fresh pork put into the stores by settlers, etc.; sometimes (but very rarely) in cash; and often by equal labour, or by produce, which is rated as underneath.

And, in order to prevent disputes respecting the payment, these agreements, as well as all others, are entered in a book kept by a person for that purpose, and properly witnessed.

AVERAGE PRICES OF PROVISIONS RAISED ON THE ISLAND, EITHER FOR SALE, FOR BARTER, OR IN PAYMENT FOR LABOUR.

Plentiful Articles.

Fresh pork 6d per lb Pickled ditto 8d Wheat from 7s 6d to 10s per bushel Maize from 1s 6d to 5s Potatoes from 1s to 3s 6d per cwt Full-grown fowls from 6d to 1s each Ditto ducks 10d to 1s 3d each Ditto turkeys 7s 6d each

Scarce Articles.

Geese 10s each Female goats 8 each Goats' flesh or mutton to government 9d per lb Ditto to individuals 1s 6d ditto

NB When the latter is taken into the stores for the sick, it is issued as five pounds of mutton for seven pounds of salt beef stopped in the stores; by which method government does not pay more than six-pence per pound as for fresh pork.

ACCOUNT OF GRAIN RAISED BY THOSE EMPLOYED IN CULTIVATING GROUND FOR THE PUBLIC USE; AND THAT RAISED BY OFFICERS, SETTLERS, AND OTHERS, ON NORFOLK ISLAND, FROM THE 6TH OF MARCH 1788 (WHEN IT WAS FIRST SETTLED) TO OCTOBER 1796.

Year By whom Quant.i.ty Bushels of maize raised of maize and wheat purchased and wheat from individuals in bushels for the public use

From March 1788 to May 1789 government 46 individuals 10 May 1789 to May 1790 government 450 individuals 50 The lieutenant-governor was absent this year From May 1791 to May 1792 government 1688 individuals 391 40 May 1792 to May 1793 government 4549 individuals 6900 3610 May 1793 to May 1794 government 6000 individuals 28,676 11,688 May 1794 to May 1795 government 3300 individuals 14,000 none.

May 1795 to May 1796 government 1803 individuals 11,500 389

ACCOUNT OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS FROM NOVEMBER 12TH, 1791, TO SEPTEMBER 31st, 1796.

Births ======

Civil 10 Military 3 Convicts 178 Total 191

Civil 1 Military 4 Convicts 94 Children 38 Total 137

From 1 month to 2 years 38 have died 2 years to 18 2 18 to 30 36 30 to 45 30 45 to 65 31 --- Total 137