NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 41, 28 February 1852, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES.

THE SIXTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE COLONY.

(From the S. M. Herald, January 27. J

The colony of New South Wales yesterday commenced the 64th year of its existence as a British colony ; and as usual, the day was observed as a holiday by all classes of the inhabitants, and the event was commemorated by customary festivities.

In crises of peculiar importance, any event which may lead individuals to ponder over the circumstances in which they are placed, to pause and deliberate on the course which it is their duty to adopt for the preservation of their interests, their dignity, and their moral rectitude, ought to be regarded as 'fortunate, and should be duly taken advantage of; i - ■

More particularly is it the province of those whose duty and profession it is to chronicle the events of which the future history of this new world must be comprised, to seize on such opportunities, and to contemplate our present realities and prospective probabilities. Such an opportunity is afforded by the event of yesterday, an event which in the unexampled position in which this colony has been suddenly placed, cannot fail to find " food for meditation" for every reflective mind.

On the 26th January, 1788, the British ensign was hoisted on the then silent and verdant shores of Sydney Cove. The dense and tangled brush clothed those banks of our beautiful harbour which are now rich with wharves, warehouses, and stores, and all the means and appliances of commerce. The hoary forest waved where Sydney amidst her busy streets, her shops and marts of trade, her city mansions, and her suburban villas, now proudly stands. Just 63 years ago Governor Phillip, with his little fleet, anchored in our harbour, and the patriarchal colonists of these great dependencies of the Empire, set foot upon our wild and silent shores.

And who were these patriarchs ? They consisted of a band of 565 male and 192 female convicts, with a military guard, numbering (inclusive of a few women and children) 248 souls. This was the insignificant, some may think the degrading origin, of all the progress and wealth which Australia has since attained, and of all the greatness, which it is impossible not to believe it is her destiny to achieve. So far as we have yet gone, the origin, humble as it was, has not been degrading to us ; there is nothing in it of which we need to feel ashamed. Perilous as the attempt might seem to found a great remote community out of such materials, it has been eminently successful. Casting from it the scum which gathered on the surface of society, the better principles, the bolder energies, the honest vigour of the race from which we sprang were evoked, and asserted that position of independence for themselves, that claim to the respect of others, which seems to be the destined heritage of the Anglo-Saxons wherever they may roam. Year by year the solitude and the wild gave a\ ny before the sturdy stride of the convict colonist. Year by year, as the field for adventure opened, did the free and untainted join in the great work of colonization. The institutions of a great civilised community sprung up with unprecedented rapidity — within one year the first harvest of grain was reaped 10 miles inland, where Parramatta now stands. Six years after the first church was built, and even now, in its decay, is dear and venerable to the colonists. Within 16 years the first Australian newspaper was printed. Within 30 years ships were built, tolls, markets, banks, free schools, and a supreme court were established. Within 50 years steamboats were plying on our colonial waters, a savings' bank and school of arts -were instituted, and land sold in Sydney at £20,000 an acre. Nor while this progress in material opulence Avas going on, was the moral intelligence of the country less rapidly maturing. It was in the intellectual activity of the people that these great works were accomplished, and with them came, gradually, but with steps that shewed they came at the call of the deepening voice of a community growing into matuz'ity, the rights and privileges of a free people. The freedom of the press, trial by jury, the cessation of transportation, municipal institutions, and representative legislation, all were long and earnestly battled for, all were eventually, though tardily surrendered. The population of the colony in 1788 was, as we have shewn, 1030; in 1810, it was 8293; in 1821, 27,983; in 1828,36,598; in 1833, 60,861; in 1836, 77,096; in 1841, 114,800; in 184G, 154,534; in 1851, 187,243; the three last dates being exclusive of the population of Port Phillip. Coincident -with this rapid growth of population has been the increase in commerce and production. In the yeal- 1803, samples of wool were exhibited at home, and were so highly appreciated that pastoral pursuits soon engaged the first attention of the colonists, until at length England is dependent on the Australian Colonies for by far the largest portion of the finest qualities of the staple of her leading branch of manufactures. Periods of distress, of trial, and of endurance, there have been ; some inflicted by the hand of Providence, some arising out of the errors and imprudence to which human nature is subject; but they have all been met with vigorous and determined resolution, have all been overcome by calm and persevering effort, and the lessons which such sad experience teaches, is all the memory that remains of them.

Well then might the people of New South Wales assemble in glad festival, when year after year brought round "with it the anniversary of their establishment as a British community on these shores. Well might they exult in glad rejoicing as they gazed around them on the evidences of their own worthiness of the

race from which they sprang. Well might their hearts glow with honest pride, when gathered together on the waters of their harbour, in loveliness surpassing almost any other spot in the known world, they saw their majestic city rise upon its shores, while the flags of all nations waved from tall ships that lay along their quays and wharves. Well might they feel that they were no degenerate scions of an ancient race, but that they, like their forefathers, had battled with dangers and difficulties, and had conquered in the fight. Little strange is it that the sons of the soil, in the fulness of their self-gratulation, sometimes exaggerated their own merits, and in the consciousness of their own achievement mistook the measure of their own abilities. What wonder, though in the great Armada of nations, the little bark Australia was the smallest and the weakest, that the crew who manned it, sailor-like, should love it still the best ? Long may such a feeling prevail ; long may the pride arising from desert be the spring of Australian patriotism, be the bulwark of Australian honour and Australian honesty.

Such have been the sentiments which we believe have often animated the hearty rejoicings, the graceful festivities, with which the colonists annually welcome the anniversary of their establishment on these shores. The year which has just passed over us has been the most critical, the most important, that New South Wales has hitherto known. Early in its commencement wider political privileges, more extended political rights, were granted to the colonists than they had hitherto possessed. A new constitution was in fact conferred on the colony ; a new division of its limits was established, and a legislature newly constituted and newly elected assembled and sat. Later in the year the intelligence which created such unmistakeable joy through the length and breadth of the land was received ; — that the penal cloud, which had hung over the colony for the last few years had passed away, and that after many years of struggling anxiety the signs and symbols of our first origin were obliterated for ever. We say for ever, and we say so in all the assurance of a fervent and trusting hope. But we must remember, that associated with these grateful rumours of the past year another mighty event hns taken place: an event pregnant with great evil or great good to the future of this colony. An event which has already called up the warning voice of Europe— a voice which, reasoning from tho experience of the past of other nations, and the perils which environ the future of our*, has predicted woe, and rapine, and crime, and has called forth from us the indignant reply of the monarch to the melancholy fore'ollings of the prophet as to his future misdoings, " Is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing ?" But we must remember the prediction of the prophet was verified. The monarch in the pride of his indignant nature fell; and we, amidst the temptations and dangers with which our gold discovery will surround us, have a terrible ordeal to pass through. All that experience of the past has predicted in respect to us will be inevitably verified, excepting that, which only future experience can prove — the measure of our strength to bear up against temptation — we shall be the resort of strangers and adventurers of the worst description from all countries. The licentious passions of bad men, both here and elsewhere, will be excited by talus of our glittering treasures, and the desire to possess them. The elements of lawlessness and violence, the allurements to honest industry to quit its peaceful occupation for gambling speculation will abound here ; what wonder, when these temptations have triumphed in every other country, that experience should foretel that they will prevail in ours ? May our security be in that generous love of our country which has been nurtured through the earlier years of its existence. May we still determine with stern and stedfast resolution to maintain its character and preserve its fame. Let us proclaim aloud, the country is ours, and we will not surrender it and the reputation we have earned for it, to a band of licentious robbers and spoilers, who would desecrate heaven itself, could .they reach it, to pilfer its golden stars. That we, the settled inhabitants of the country, will do justice to that spirit of gallant enterprise and honourable industry which our fathers exhibited, and by upholding the laws, and maintaining order, at the risk of our lives, and at the sacrifice of our fortunes, will preserve the good name of our adopted country. Let us believe that the gift of gold is only one oLher addition to the abundant blessings which God and nature have bestowed upon this land, and which shall not be perverted to the shame and dishonour of him who gave them. Let us determine that gold, which in other lands has been the precursor of ruin, the fruitful parent of crime, shall be to this the apostle of civilization, and all the blessings attendant in its train. That it shall go forth and gather together for us population for

our desert places. That it shall bid industry and science hasten hither to cover the land with the blessings they command — to bid the hissing engine speed along the rail through blooming fields, where no one shall recognise the parched and arid wilderness that erst reigned; to draw from the dull earth its mighty treasures, and fashion them for our use and comfort; to diffuse education, enlightenment, and religion through every region, and amongst every class. To adorn the country we love with monuments of art, and to give to literature a living and abiding name amongst us. To start us fair in the generous race of civilization, till the continental East shall glow in graceful rivalry with her fair but elder sister of the West. Then, and then only, as the years roll on in their resistless course, will Australians celebrate with patriotic hearts, with feelings of solemn thankfulness and honest pride the birthday of their nation. Years will but enhance these feelings ; for years will but increase her glories — till her destiny is accomplished, her greatness sealed, and time has stamped upon her fair and ample forehead the impress of imperial majesty and imperial dominion.

Then, while the historian's pen shall trace out the origin of the great empire of the Pacific and narrate the sufferings of the forlorn band who landed on these shores on the 20th January, in 1788 ; the moralist, musing on the blessings of refinement, enlightenment, and religion, which civilization has spread over the world, shall point the silent, finger of wisdom and experience to Australia, and contrast the Beginning with the End.