THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AND TRANSPORTATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 83, 7 August 1852, Page 9

THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AND TRANSPORTATION.

A large deputation of Mercantile and other gentlemen, connected with the Australian colonies, had an interview with Sir J. Palrington on the 17th March, at the Colonial office, on the subject of transportation. There were present Sir W. Molesworth, M.P., Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M.P., and Mr. Chrishohn Anstey, M.P.; and several gentlemen, representing the four colonies of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, Victoria, and South Australia. f '-Sir W. Molesworth, after introducing the gentlemen present, observed that they sought this interview in consequence of having heard that several ships containing convicts were about to sail for Hobart Town, and they would entreat Sir J. Pakington to stop the sailing of these vessels, and not to transport any more convicts to Van Diemen's Land, in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants of that and the other Australian colonies, and in violation of the promise of the British Government that transportation to Van Diemen's Land should be abolished. Messrs. Ewart, Adderley, Anstey, Michie, J. A. Jackson, G. Morphett, and King, having spoken at some length, expressing the individual and united feelings of the whole southern colonies against transportation, Sir J. Pakington, in reply, expressed his gratification.at listening to the statements of so many gentlemen so well qualified to express their opinions on the very important subject of transportation, and with which there was no person better acquainted than the hon. baronet Sir William Molesworth. He had himself devoted much attention, as a member of Parliament, to the general subject of punishments, though not, he confessed, to transportation i» particular. With respect to the report of five convict vessels being ordered for Van Diemen's Laud, there was a mistake in this; four only were under orders, and this, he believed, was from an inadvertence on the part of the noble lord, his predecessor. He (Sir John) had already arranged for diverting one of those vessels in another direction, and he hoped to do so with another. As regarded the alleged breach of faith, it was clear he (Sir John) was not responsible on this head. He could assure the gentlemen present that the importance of the subject of transportation was duly appreciated by him, and would receive his utmost consideration. He would, however, state a few facts, as he found them on his accession to office. Western Australia petitioned for convicts, and the settlers in Moreton Bay petitioned for them, and sought separation from New South Wales for 'the purpose of receiving convicts. A petition had been lately received from 144 landholders in Van Diemen's Land, praying the continuance of a modified system of transportation. He merely stated these as facts, not denying that there was undoubtedly a very great feeling of opposition to the continuance' of transportation. Then, he would ask whether the objection to transportation did not rather apply to the system as it existed formerly— to the "gang system?" As regarded at once meeting the wishes of the gentlemen present, he thought they would see, so recent was his accession to office, that it would be impossible at present to do more than assure them that the subject should engage his early attention, and that he was much indebted to the gentlemen present for expressing their views respecting it. Sir W. Molesworth thanked the right hon.

gentleman, on behalf of the deputation, for the courtesy of his reception, and for having at least arrested the sailing of two of the convict ships destined for Van Diemen's Land. The deputation then retired, favourably impressed with the manner of their reception.