WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 613, 22 September 1858, Page 3

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

, Our news from Swan River, via South Australia, is merely up to the end of June. The principal item of, interest is the refusal of the British Government to supply additional population to the Colony in the shape of disbanded Sepoys,'and female convicts from England,, as had been desired by a portion of the community. Thev 'Perth Enquirer' publishes the following particulars on the subject, received from Mr. Labouchere, late Secretary for the colonies :— " The late Secretary for the colonies decides for the present, at all events, against sending them female convicts, because, in the first place, there is so much difference of opinion on the subject, as evidenced by the executive being evenly divided, by the legislative council being four to five, by the non-agreements of the public meetings, and by the receipt of the, protests, numerously signed, forwarded to the Governor by Mr. Shenton. Mr. Labouchere judges the question on its own merits, and arrives at the conclusion above stated. Because her Majesty's Government had declared that if work could bo provided for them free emigrants could be sent, it was therefore incumbent upon them to send free women instead of bond, as the former would raise the moral standard of convicts, and help to

reclaim them. If there was no work for free ' women, there would be no work for female convicts, who would only be a burden on the public, and have to be maintained in an institution in the colony instead of an institution at home. Besides if convict women were sent a less number of free women could be sent, and the Government be thus prevented from performing its engagement to send out as many of the latter as possible. There was a difficulty in sending out women who were really reformed ; mistakes might occur, and it was well known that depraved women- do not turn men from the most degrading crimes, even those which the presence of. females is supposed to avert. Because there were no buildings or superintending officers, and everything would have to be created afresh. Because the number sent out would be insufficient to relieve the mother country, and if the plan was' unsuccessful, it would provoke an amount of resistance and annoyance, and place in jeopardy the usefulness of the field remaining for the reception for male convicts. Therefore, Mr. Labouchere dismisses for the present the question of sending female convicts. Another despatch from Mr. Labouchere, dated 24th February, states that a letter had been received from Mr. J. Hutt, as chairman of a committee of persons interested in the colony, respecting the advisability of sending Sepoy mutineers to Western Australia, and that he had come to the conclusion that such transportation of mutineers should not take place. The next is a circular dispatch from' Lord Stanley, the present secretary for the colonies, enclosing a despatch from ; the Lords "of the Treasury, having reference to ! the mail service, which they propose to amend by having a change of vessels at Point de Galle, and by rigid exaction'of penalties. They do not intend to cancel the present agreements, but prefer to trust to more perfect arrangements rather than depend upon a new contract. The despatch upon the female convict question ought to be printed in full, as it is a composition creditable alike to the intelligence and honesty of the late colonial secretary.