QUEENSLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 92, 3 March 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

QUEENSLAND.

THEATIIF.NT OP IJIMIGItANTS AT QUEENSLAND. Remarking upon the treatment of the lately arrived immigrants,'the Courier says:—There is a saying that, give a man nothing to do, and he will do it badly; and certainly the public have now not far to go to seek for an illustration. Sir Jordan's success is a misfortune io the Immigration department, and interferes considerably with"*its shining talent for doing nothing. Mr Jordan is sending- too many people out ; ■he must be told that Or Kemball and his superiors < ant stand it, aud that ha must moderate his tone and restrain his efforts, or he will knock up these gentlemen by making them earn their money. Three vessels drop anchor in the bay, having on board a total of one thousand and ninety-seven souls. The river steamers arc instantly engaged, and bring up to Brisbane eight hundred and two persons, who are shot out, some at Kangaroo Point, some at South Brisbane, under circumstances we can hardly bring ourselves to describe. The miserable and disgusting details have excited an amount of attention and sympathy, which, as faithful journalists, we are bound to notice. The people by the Saldanha were brought up first, aud the steamer discharged them iv tlie dark, at a rickety tumble-down wharf at Kangaroo Point, along which it requires caution to walk even at daylight, Everything landed, away the steamer goes, aiid the poor' creatures grope their way into an immense shed, reeking with the noisome smell of bones and hides. Old aiid young, single men and single women, married couples, young children—some at the breast —find themselves in total darkness in this shed ; no beds, no separate quarters, no light burning. There was a pile of loaves and a pile of raw beef, by whom placed there we knew not, but there was no water, no fire, no convenience for cooking, and many of the poor fellows actually ata the meat raw. A good Samaritan or two managed to supply them with tea and other requisites," nnd the immigrants certainly made themselves as happy aud contented as cu-cums'tances would allow. This is the way matters are managed in Queensland. The morning brought daylight—the only thing it did bring—b"ecai!«o'iio Dr. Kemball was required to look after this item, or, to a certainty, even daylight, would not have been supplied. Ths contractor on the previous evening : bad sought information about tho rations, so that they might ho ready as the proper time, but could get none. The Immigration Agent—probably in , the attitude of Ajax defying the lightning-—waves his hand, and "Get about your business" is the snswer, The day is advancing to noon before meat and bread, kc, are distributed, enabling the immigrants .to break a fast of about eighteen hours' duration. Raw meat and other things requiring cooking are handed about, but there are no cooking places, so that the whole scene is one of awkwardness and : waste, and compelling hearty denunciations of the i selfishness and the official neglect which had given rise to it.