A PAGE OF HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 6

A PAGE OF HISTORY

ITALIAN SETTLEMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES

. HOW DELUDED - EMIG^^TS ■c •-■•. PROSPERED......

(IROH OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, ,24th' October.

The deaths of two Italian patriarchs on the' Richmond River, which flo,ws through the fertile north-west of New South Wales, have" recalled one of the most interesting incidents in the settlement of the State. • New Italy, where' Mr. Antonio "orendi and Mr. AntonioFelicietti have died, is a- remarkable demonstration of how grit and determination can overcome the "greatest hardships and. disappointments that can afflict those who have abandoned their homes and crossed the world in search of -livelihood and independence. • Of all the brave little group p,f settlers who founded it none has left more honoured memory than Mr. Morendi, who was one of- the few-' surviving original settlers; nor Mr. , Felicietti,- who joined them within, a few years of the original settlement. For the most circumstantial account of how New Itely came to he founded one must turn to '-New Italy,"l by Clifford—a work of 1888. /Therein'it is described how, in January, 1879, Carles dv Breil, Marquis de Ray, founded a, scheme for the- colonisation of

"j.\r-ew France, the iree colony of Port Breton, in Oceania," to settle upon New Ireland, : an island about 35.0----miles north-east of "New Guinea. The' cljmale and fertility of the soil were pictured in glowing colours.- Houses and land, were offered to the Italian emigrants on very favourable terms, the India -was chartered, and in July, 1880, nearly three hundred -left for the paradise that was offered. On the voyage, partly owing to the severity of the climate, but. more especially to the wretch-: edly bad condition of the provisions shipped, forty-eight deaths "took place. On arrival at Port Breton in October, 1880, it was found that' no preparation had been made'in the way'-of-dwellings,-and the heat was frightful. . Food ran short, and the utmost maladministration prevailed. The India was used as a boarding-house for four months, when at length the disgusted and " unhappy people prevailed upon the- captain to laud them in New South Wales. The India left Port Breton in Februarys 1881, but through stress of weather and want of provisions had to put into Noumea, New Caledonia, where ' >he French condemned her as unseaworthy, and ordered her to be: sold. The immigrants refused to stay in New. Caledonia, stat-ing-that there were only criminals there and the French Government provided them with passages to Sydney at s. cost of £3 each, taking- a bill of sale over the condemned vessel and, cargo us seourlty. In April, 1881, they were received very kindly, by the . Government and people of New South Wales, and liberal subscriptions and offers of- assistance wera-received.- One of- the" party proceded to Woodbuni; on the then little'knowu Richmond River, and,selected 4° acres of what, was regarded as waste scrub land. Others selected, about Raymond terrace and elsewhere. r>ut the from Boeea— Gomminitti from Woodburn-wece. so encouraging that a number- fallowed him, and soon the whole of tiie. ..original party established themselves in the 'colony, ever ■ since krfownois .^ey: Italy, Mind by 1885 they had become an industrious and thrivin""communal colony with their own priest and doctor. In their.skill in yine-^row-ing- and'other forms of agriculture 2-and in then- example of self-helpful contentment they have since continued to be an object lesson often quoted throughout that part of the State,- and to-day the few survivors of the original party are levered as patriarchs, and honoured with-almost Old Testament regard by their descendants. '