RIOT AT TALBOT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 311, 18 December 1862, Page 6

RIOT AT TALBOT.

What threatened at one time to prove a very serious riot arose on Rocky Flat, on Tuesday evening, about seven o'clock. On the Sunday previous a row had taken place in a shanty kept by a man named Fenton, who had thrown a glass bottle at some person, which struck a man named Roberts, depriving him for ever of the use of his eyes, and also striking a man named Rees so sevei-ely as to cut his upper lip in a frightful manner. Rees obtained summonses for assault against Fenton on Monday, and served them upon him, whereupon Fenton the following day took out cross summonses against Rees and a man named Matthews, who was in the shanty when the row began. In the evening, about seven o'clock, Constable Mo Hoy, accompanied by Fenton, went to Rees' tent to serve the summons. Here Fenton was favored with shouts from a number of diggers, accompanied by unmistakable signs of disapproval of the business upon which he and the constable were-bent. Having served the summons, Molloy and Fenton retired, the latter going to his shanty, near the fence, on the flat, and the former going in the direction of Talbot. About a quarter of an hour afterwards some 400 miners assembled in front of Mr Robert Boll's store, near the lead, and after indulging in some angry expressions relative to Fentan's [savage attack upon Roberts and Rees, on Sunday last, they proceeded across the lead .to Fenton's shanty, around which they they threw a rope, and then accompanied by the nautical song "Cheerily, men," dragged the whole building—partly of wood and partly of canvas—to the ground. As the building fell, Fenton was seen to run across the hill in the direction of the fence, towards which the men, increased to about 500, chased him. Finding no means of escape in that di'ection, as a number of diggers blocked the way, Fenton turned sharp off, and bolted in the direction of the Big Waterhole. followed by the whole crowd. Arriving at the hotel bearing that name, Fenton ian inside, and secreted himself in the cellar beneath the bar. The mob soon arrived, and rushed the house, searching every nook and corner until they found him. A number of them raised the trapdoor outside the building, and with sticks tried to goad Fenton to come out, but he—not altogether seeing the advisability of such a movement — remained where he was, and several diggers then descended and dragged him from the cellar to the waterhole above roerred to, in which they ducked him three or four times, and then left him insensible on the ground. About this time information was received by the police at Talbot of what was going on, and, with the exception of one man, who was left behind to look after the camp, the whole body hastened to the spot, where they found Fenton lyiug upon a sofa in the hotel, quite insensible, l)r Dow arrived soon atterwards, and administered the necessary remedies in such a case, which proved so successful as to enable Fenton to get up and walk about. When the police arrived there Were but ten or a dozen men in the vicinity of the hotel, the mob having returned to Rocky Flat as soon as they had well ducked Fenton. Meanwhile others had set fire to the debris of the building, and completely destroyed it, besides £15 in cash, which a dress hangincr up in the building contained, and every article of furniture, wearing apparel, &c, in it.— Talbot Leader, Dec. 5.

A Remedy for Sea-Sickness.—A Mr Hastings sends the following receipt for seasickness to the Daily Telegraph;—" Let the voyager provide himself with about a dozen yards of a common calico bandagr, and, directly he goes oa board, bandage his abdomen, beginning low down, over the haunches, and bandaging up over the pit of the stomach, not too t'ghi" and then'let him lie down and go to sleep—as I think he is almost certain to do, unless kept awake by the noise and. the tossing of thv vessel."

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION.

The following was the report on Immigration/ and 'the Home Agency laid byfore the House on Tuesday last, and with one amendment adopted .r— Your Committee, in the exercise o" the duties devolving upon' them, fitter mature deliberation, and after having had the necessary evidence before them, including that of His Honor the Supsrmtendent, now present the folio win °- Eeport:— ° 1. The Agency.— The first point taken up by the Committee was the necessity that now exists to establish a branch agency in London, similar to that in Scotland. Your Committee are agreed that such agency should be established, but at the same time are of opinion tliat the management of the establishment should i blunder the supervision of the Agents for the Province—Jas. Crawford, Jun., John Auld, W.S., Edinburgh; and W. W. Car? gill, Esqrs., London, Your Committee are strongly of opinion that it is very undesirable—in fact, thatit would be injurious to the best interests of the Province to have a divided responsibility in the British Agency ; that instead of facilitating the business transactions of the Province by the complicated machinery of two distinct and independent agencies, it would, undoubtedly, have an opposite effect. Taking this view of the matter, your Committee would suggest that Messrs. Crawford and ( Auld and, W. W. Cargill be respectfully requested'-'by..; this. Council to consult together with the view of appointing a commercial house in London to transact the commercial business of the Province, and take such other steps as will be advantageous for the establishment of an Immigration Department there, conducted on similar principles to those so ably and so efficiently acted upon for many years in the Otago Emigration Office, Edinburgh. The above paragraph was struck out in Committee of the House, and the follow-

ing substituted:— "The first point taken up by the Committee was the necessity that exists to establish an agency in London, similar to that in Scotland. Your Committee are of opinion that such an agency should be established, but that at the same time the management should be under the supervision of the agents for the Province, Messrs James Crawford, jun , W.S., John Auld W.S., Edinburgh, and t) W. W. Cargill, Esq.^ London. Your Committee are also of opinion that it would be most expedient to entrust to a London house accustomed to monetary transactions, the sale of Otago debentures. Your Committee would therefore suggest that Messrs Crawford and Auld and W. W. Cargill, should be authorised to engage the services of a London house of good standing to conduct the monetary and commercial business of the Province ; and that_ they also be requested to establish an Emigration Department in London, to be condncted opt principles similar to those so ably and efficiently acted upon for many years in the Ota"-o Emigration Office, Edinburgh." Your Committee feel it to be their duty to express in the most emphatic terms their unbounded confidence in the British Agents—their sense of the deep debt of gratitude due to them from this Colony for the deep interest they have all alongtaken in its affairs. In all their transactions they have evinced a singleness of purpose to promote what would ultimately be most beneficial to the Colony. The evidence before your Committee shows that the establishment under their supervision has been conducted with efficiency and economy; and your Committee,, in corroboration of the latter, submit a statement of the expenses of management for the six months ending* 30th June, 1862, from which it appears that the whole amount, including- salaries, advertising-, printing-, stationery, stamps, rent, &c, is £675 9s. lid. With regard to the | matter of chartering ships by the Ag-ents, respecting- which a correspondence was published in the newspapers some weeks ago, in which it was alleged that the Ag-ents were exercising favoritism in the selection of ships, your Committee have taken the evidence of His Honor the Superintendent who has had the best means of knowing the whole particulars. The following questions by the Committee, and answers by His Honor, are submitted:— i Question. Do you consider that the Agents acted rightly in continuing the contract with Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co. during the current year ? Answer. Thoroughly so. I believe that when tenders were called for, Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co.'s tender was the lowest received. Subsequently freights became very low, owing to the American difficulties. Another firm then stepped in, offering to contract at £2 per adult lower than Messrs. P. Henderson and Co., and in my opinion the Agents would have acted both ungenerously, unjustly, and unwisely, had they accepted the offer, the more especially, as Messrs. P. H. -& Co. reduced the freights by £1. Had the decision been otherwise, the Province might have suffered by P. H. & Co. beingthrown out of the market after having made their arrangements. Q. Would you limit the Agents to the acceptance of the lowest tender ? A. By no means. In all matters connected with Emigration I consider the character of the contracting firm of the utmost importance. Q. What is your opinion as to the general management of the Agency at home?

A. I have no hesitation in affirming $iat the conduct of Messrs. Crawford and Auld has been deserving* of the hearty approbation of the Provincial Authorities; and that their Agency has been conducted in a manner equally creditable to the Government and themselves, and that I hope, whatever the future arrangements may be, that the immigrants may experience as kind and judicious treatment as they have experienced while the Agency has been in Messrs. Crawford and Auld's hands.

Your Committee believe that this evidence by His Honor the Superintendent emphatically' disproves the charge of favoritism on "the part of the Agents in chartering ships, and in the general management of the whole Agency. Their high sense of honor, and their whole previous conduct in transacting' business for this Province, are a sufficient guarantee to warrant your Committee in alleging that they could not be guilty of anything unjust or dishonourable. Your Committee called for a return of the Debentures issued from November, 1805, to December, 1861, A tabulated

statement containing the following, particulars, viz.: Date of issue, when issued, when due, premium received, interest payable. Amount is now submitted to the House.

With reference to the question sis to what extent should Government encourage immigration, your Committee, after taking the evidence of the Immigration Agent,- are agreed that the system of guaranteed passages by settlers in the Province should be encouraged, and every facility afforded to such applicants, consistent with a due regard to the fulfilment of the obligations entered into for the payment of the passage money. Your Committee believe that this Province offers sufficient inducements for a regular stream of paying passengers from the Home Country without the interference of the Government, in The way of assistance. Regarding the Immigration of females, the Immigration Agent is of opinion that the number specified by the Government in their instructions to the Agents, viz.: 1200 per annum is too great for the Province to absorb, especially as the emigration from Britain is confined to a few months in the year, which necessitates their arrival in large numbers at short intervals. He believes that 800 females per annum would in the meantime amply meet the demand, and in respect to this number still greater care should be exercised in the selection, the great desideratum being the introduction of experienced servants of good character. Hitherto, each female immigrant, either paid the whole of the half passage money before leaving, or gave an acceptance for the un paid balance, to be recoverable in the colony. Later instructions to the Agents were more liberal still. °

In conducting this scheme, the Immigration Agent suggests that where practicable the Br/tish Agents should be instructed to charter ships expressly to carry females, and none else, that the females be divided into companies of 50, over each company of which a matron should be appointed, who would be responsible for her charge, and who would be paid at this end on receiving a certificate f:om the Captain and Surgeon that she had performed her duties satisfactorily. The greatest care should be exercised in selecting a ship, having a Commander of undoubted good moral character, who maintains a high position in regard to his certificate as a shipmaster. The Immigration Agent also reports that the arrangements of the passenger ships that lately arrived with Government Immigrants have been satisfactory, and no complaints were made to him of any infringement of the Passengers' Act. The provisions were good and abundant. The ship Sevilla carried a condensing apparatus which supplied the passengers with abundance of pure fresh water. Immigrants' Bills. The large amount of money due by immigrants is a question which your Committee have had under consideration, and as a comprehensive scheme of immigration c.mnot be carried on without money, it appears to your Committee that this House should give no uncertain sound on the matter. There has been always an unwillingness on the part of the great majority of assisted immigrants to fulfil the obligations under which they came— on what grounds it is difficult to imagine. The debt is due—it is a just one—an honourable debt, the majority of the defaulters are well able to pay, and it is now i for this House to strengthen the hands of the Immigration Ag-ent in his disagreeable duty, by expressing a decided opinion as to the necessity of taking legal steps to recover the debt; and as many of the defaulters are in the Province of Southland, your Committee suggest that all defaulters in that Province be sued to appear in Duriedin, as the debt was contracted in this Province. Your Committee are of opinion that no further leniency should be extended to immigrants of some standing, as it has been proved from former experience that the longer time they are allowed, the more unwilling do they seem to pa}'. The amount of debt due by Immigrants which cannot be recovered, owing to the effluxion of time, amouts to £517 2s. 6d. ; and a further sum of about £600 is irrecoverable, from death or the insanity of the parties indebted. I

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, Chairman.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Provincial Counail, convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the wliole subject of Immigration, including the British Agency. Present—Messrs. Reynolds, Cargill, Walker, Oswin, and Todd. Mr. Reynolds in the chair. His Honor the Superintendent was present by particular request. The following questions asked by the Committee were answered hj his Honor; Q. Do you consider it advisable to establish a London agency ? A. I consider it desirable to establish a London agency. Q. Would you consider it desirable to establish a distinct agency in London to act concurrently with that in Edinburgh, or to have one chief agency to which the other would be subordinate ?

A. Were we starting de novo } I should prefer to have a head agency in London, but as matters stand, I think two con- ! current agencies more advisable. Q. Do you consider the agency in London particularly desirable for the promotion of Emigration or for other purposes connected with the business of the Province? A. I consider an agency in London necessary to the proper development of Emigration to this Province, as also for the advantageous transaction of the business. Q. Would you recommend the appoint- , merit of a special agent, whose entire attention should be given to the business of the Province, or the appointment of a house of business to. act as agents ? A. I would have die agency entrusted to a house of business, with an emigration officer specially appointed by the Provincial Government. Q. Do you think that the appointment of a distinct agency in London would interfere with:the agency in Scotland? A. I think not, provided the instructions from this end be distinct and definite. - Q. Do you consider it desirable to continue or extend the system of assisted pas-

sages to male and female emigrants from the home country ? A. With reference to males I would offer every facility for the immigration of farm servants and others of similar pursuits, on the assured guarantee of residents of some continuance having a visible stake in the country. With reference to females I would continue the existing system of free passages. Q. Have you reason to be satisfied with the character generally of the immiq Ta nts who have arrived during the past Tmonths ? r

A. Most decidedly. Q. Have you any reason to suppose that tne system of sending out bodies o free female passengers not in families wil prove dangerous in its operation 1 A. I have no reason to suppose so. Q. Are you of opinion that you will o- ( »t as good a class by the present svstem\s in families ?

A. Perhaps not, but the supply will be extreme^ limited. Q. Do you consider that the Government have reason to be satisfied with the manner in which ships have been chartered for emigrants 1

A. Thoroughly so ? Q. Do you consider that tke agents acted rightly in continuing- the contract with Messrs Patrick Henderson & Co during the current year ? A Thoroughly so. T believe that when tenders were called for, Messrs. Patrick Henderson & Co. was the lowest tender received. Subsequently freights became low owing to the American difficulties Another firm then stepped in, offerino- to contract at two pounds lower than Messr* Patrick Henderson & Co., and in my opinion the agents would have acted both ungenerously, unjustly, and unwisely had they accepted the offer, the more especially as Patrick Henderson & Co. had reduced their freights by one pound. Had the decision been otherwise, the Province mi«-ht have suffered by Patrick Henderson & Co. being thrown out of the market after having made their arrangements. Q. Would you limit the Agents to the acceptance of the lowest tender ?

A. I consider that in all matters connected with immigration the character of the contracting- fi rm to be of the utmost importance, and should be a material element in the consideration.

Q. In view of a large influx of a population of an unsettled character connected with mining-, would you consider it desirable to give special encouragement to emi gration from the home country 1 A. Yes, if your funds will permit it, but j rou have the means by altering the waste land regulations of converting the migratory hords into settled population. Without such change you have no inducement to offer to an immigrant. Q. What is your opinion as to the general management oi the Agency at home. J

A. I have no hesitation in affirming that the conduct of Messrs. Crawford and Auld has been deserving of the hearty approbation of the Provincial authorities, and that their Agency has been conducted in a manner equally creditable to the Government and themselves, and that I hope, whatever the future arrangements may be, that the immigrants may experience as kind and judicious treatment as they have experienced while the Agency has been in Messrs. Crawford and Auld's hands. « _ debentures issued by provincial government. Date of Where Is- When g"£> g Issue. sued. Due. '3 * a £ a *h Pi u £ Nov 1855 Melbourne Dec 18f>8 .. 1000 „ London „ 1850 .. 150 Apl 185S ' „ „ „ .. 700 £ u * » » » '» •• 50 V o,* „•' » » » 100 July 1857 „ „ 1807 .. 600 £ug „ ~ „ „ .. 400 Nov ~ Home Agents ~ „ .. 100 Ocfc „ „ Jun 1860 .. 2500 „ „ „ 1861 .. 2,500 Jan 1808 „ „ 1862 .. 2500 June „ „ „ 1863 .. 600 Sept „ „ „ „ 1400 JulytoOct Melbourne Dec 1868 2| IOOOU May „ Dunediu Nov 1858 ... 1500 ,) „ „ May 1859 ... 2000 j. „ „ Nov 1858 ... 9UO >, » „ bee 1868 ... 30') June „ „ Jun 18nO ... 100 July i. T » July 1863 1 S'JO Sep 1859 Home A gents Jun 1861 a 251)0 « ~ „ „ 1865 9 1001 Wov 1860 „ „ „ io 2.503 July 1861 „ „ 1866 ... 3700 „ •„ „ „ | j 503 WALTER DAY, SubTreasurer~ The amount of £9500 issued by the Home Agents in 1857-1858 was paid to Messrs Gladstone and Co. and Mr Reynolds, on account of Immigration Contract. <+. EXPENSES OF THE BRITISH AGENCY FOR THfi nALP-YEAR FROM 30XH DECEMBER, 1861, TO 30rH JUNE, 18G2. Salaries. Agents, allowance for half-year from 2nd August, 1861, to 2nd February, 1832 .. ... .„ Mr Crawford .. ... £100 0 Mr Auld.. ... ... 100 0 0 Mr Thomas D. Currie's salary from 7th . November, 1861, to 7th May, 1862 ... 100 0 0 Expenses of Management. Note,—The following sum for advertising was incurred for the Emigration for the year 1861: — Paid for advertising for emigrants in 52 newspapers, almanacs, Ac.; posting bills from 2nd January to 17th March, 1862 .. ... ... 144 14 10 Paid for advertising, printing, stationery, posting bills, stamps for emigrants' bills, from Ist April to 30tli June .. .. .. IG7 7 5 MISOELLANEOOS. Paid expenses incurred in inspecting ships, making arrangements for their despatch, including bill stamp for £1,000 and gratuity, including outlay to Mr Ross Pinscarden, Elgin, for his services in meeting with and procuring emigrants ... .. 25 0 5 Rent, &c. For half-year to November last of office, including proportion of house-keeping, poor's rates, water duty ... ... 14 0 7 Postages, carriages, and petty expenses, as per petty cash book ... ... 21 6 1 £675 9 11 ♦ . * LIST OF AMOUNTS DtJE BY IMMIGRANTS WHICH CANNOT BE RECOVERED OWING TO THE EPFLTJXION' OF TIME. Per Ship Wyclifie ... 1848 ... £57 3 0 „ Larkins ... 1849 ... 85 33, ~ Cornwall .. 1849 ... 18 18 0 „ Mooltan ... 1819 .. 28 7 0 „ Coiumbos ... 1852 .. '53 18 0 „ Stately ... 1852 ... 41 1 0 .» Royal Albert... 1853 .. 74 0 0 Gil Bias, from Melb. 1853 .. 4 0 0 „ Gil Bias, „ 1853 . 8 0 0 Gil Bias, „ 1850 ... ,101 0.0 „ Challenger „ 1856 ... 43 0 0 „ Sir Edward Paget 1850 .. 212 3 "iiiV 2 q