AN INDEPENDENT REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 34

AN INDEPENDENT REPORT.

The Rev. F. Hastings in his report on New Australia contributed to the South Australian Chronicle says : —

Bitterly by word and pen has William Lane satirised the title given to the old Australia as a "working man's paradise." He has tried to find a new Eden. Mateism is the password of entrance. All men and women are to be mates. They are to absolutely trust one another. They are to regard the degraded as deserving or only as the victims of circumstances. "None of us," he says, "can help anything. We are all poor devils, within whom the human desire to love one another struggles with the brute desire to survive one another." We are to " trust one another and be free." Mateism is the watchword of advance. Christian brotherhood is to take the form of Mateism. " Social injustice that breeds social wrongs and social conflicts " is to be stamped out by Mateism. The idea has taken shape. It has moved many hearts. It has opened purses. It has led men to give up homes, business, friends, life-long associations, even fortunes. It has led to the purchase of a ship. It has led to the founding of a new settlement in the heart of South America. What if it should effect the regeneration of this country, wasted by mismanagement and torn by incessant petty revolutions. How thankful one would be if this new idea and new movement should nob only teach lessons to capitalism in other lands but renew this land, swayed by decrepit races of mixed Latin and savage origin.

With these thoughts I step forth into the fresh air that breathes over the moutig and swamps of this heart of Paraguay. "Eveca," or the sheep-station, is the name of this first new colony. Another, several miles away, is to be founded by part of the second batch coming by the Royal Tar. But in this Eveca one sees first the long building which I have already described as library, storehouse, and home of several families. Over an open space, still cumbered by a huge felled tree, is the kitchen and common eating-place, the former of mud and thatch, the latter of open timbers covered in part with calico. A large oven stands also in the open. A tank stands filled with water brought up daily by bullocks. Beyond is the schoolhouse. To the right is the single men's sleeping-place — the most comfortable of all yet built. By the orango groves are several humpies, and away in the paddock several larger homes. One — that of a Mr Watson — was a picture of comfort. It had a quaint gabled porch outside, and within an arrangement for lowering the sides so as to get plenty of air. Drapery and a woman's touch made this the most attractive of all the homes. Mr Lane still lives in a doorless and undecorated hut. The garden is a large cleared space, where beans, sweet potatoes, and water-melons gave a week ago great promise. Now everything but the mandioca is suffering from the ravages of caterpillars, locusts, and various pests peculiar to the country and perplexing to the colonists. Weevils and insect life of every kind make it difficult to bring any plant to perfection. Hornets are a great trouble. " They always tackle a stranger," said one. When the men were clearing the garden a man would stand with a branch to beat off hornets from the one swinging the axe. Three or four stings of these lanky and large hornets may produce such inflammation as to seriously endanger a man's life. Unfortunately the blacksmith has broken down in health. He has worked too hard in the fierce sun. His place had nob shade enough. It looked dreary with the fires unlit and the worker away.

There is an estancia or station at two or three miles distance. From it young Sibbald brought each morning cans of milk. At the estancia are about 2500 head of cattle. They have increased about 100 since purchase. The community owns 170 horses and a number of foals i also 20 pigs and 100 fowls. Ib has put up about 1/9 miles pi wire fencing and enclosed a large garden with wood fencing, It

has burned over 50 acres for vegetables, maize, beans, &o. It has cleared 22 acres of wood, aod put up what would make, if all stood together, about a quarter of a mile of huts and temporary sheds. Great is the amount of work done, and it would have been greater if they could all have worked together.

There are now at the settlement about 50 men and 70 women and children. Three cattle a week bave to be killed for consumption. Seven will be needed when the second batch arrives. The hides are dried on frames in the sunshine and become a source of revenue. The bones make manure, and the horns knife handles. They have good orange groves, but all the orange trees need attention. There are splendid springs of water around the place.

Mr Blondel, formerly a baker of Albury, and one of the men who voluntarily left the settlement, said that as far as he knew there had been little or no immorality or drunkenness to complain of, but there was something worse, a complete absence of liberty. A man could not go outside the settlement without leave. If he attempted to go he had no money to pay for a horse, or to spend in the nearest town. Having given up everything to the cause, having himself paid even for his own employee to be one of the mates, having sacrificed everything at the suggestion of Mr Lane, having sworn allegiance to the idea of brotherhood, he tried hard to believe that he had not been mistaken. Still the suspiciousuesc, the mutual fear, the boycotting, and the utter tameness and isolation of existence in the New Australia compelled him to leave. He found that Mr Lane's idea was that people should be forced to obey. He did not lead people, but issued peremptory edicts. He ejected men who were opposed to him, and who only wanted some change in the internal management. He used threats, had police and even soldiers to enferce his will, posted notices that certain men would find carretas at 7 o'clock in the morning to take them to the nearest place outside the settlement. Mr Blondel said: " I could stand it no longer. I could not see brothers treated like that, and I volunteered to go also. We went to the Gonzalez colony, founded by the Paraguayan President. There are 15 families of us there now, and we have our own blocks. We have now no quarrelling and no suspicion one of the other. I am far happier ; but, oh, it is nothing like Australia. I would give anything to get back again, and so would nearly all those on the settlement, only they dare not all say so."

As I went freely among the people in the New Australia I found this witness true. Several were arranging to get away from the •• Paradise." My friend Mr Sibbald would not speak of his feelings or do anything that might be disloyal to Mr Lane. I heard how he, the most intelligent man in the settlement, had been in great measure ignored, but he was true still to the idea for which he also had given up so much. He is the last man to relinquish a position once taken. He was all kindness, but in his face and tone of voice I read a change. I missed the old brightness and jubilance, the spring and vigour I had seen so often in him in Adelaide. I don't think he can find it a paradise. The only thing that seemed sprightly was when he said ; " I have no money to spend, I cannot get into debt, and therefore I can have no dread of bills, especially Christmas bills." Probably most people would like to risk haviDg bills, and purchasing some things to suit their own tastes.

When clothes wear out ib must be very peculiar to have to take such things as will only be serviceable. A dull level of taste must come. This forcible mixing of people of Buch ■very different tastes must be a very trying experiment. It will come hardest on the women, who only consented to follow their husbands, or daughters who went because parents went to Paraguay. In this communal settlement, of course, no one can trade with the natives, as they have no money. None might use communal property for purposes of barter. There was a great ferment over a couple of fowls which a Mrs Jones had somehow acquired. Of course they had to be fed from communal stores, and the eggs used for individual gratification. Such a thing could not be allowed. Great discussion followed. The order was issued that the fowls should be killed. Mrs Jones said she would kill the man who touched her fowls. As I looked at her she did not appear to be so desperate a character, but some said " She is a terror." The fowls, however, disappeared. Probably they were quietly killed, and cooked, and eaten. It it to be hoped that the scent of the cooking did not betray the desperate sequel to such a crime. Human nature does not at once like to give up its tastes for an idea. Socialism, however, demands this, and Socialism can bring interior pressure bo to bear that in so small a matter as keeping fowls there must be submission.

One man who entered the commune gave up instruments that were worth altogether about £300. He has been the trainer of the choir for Saturday night concerts. He was feeble and could not work. Some complained that they had to work while the old fellow rested. His duty was to keep time, to sound the horn for meals and meetings. He became unhappy, and wished to get away. The rest have considerately granted him leave. He is to have his instruments back, and is going to Africa to try to still live as a bandmaster. He will be a loss to the settlement. Half the first batch have retired. The rest feel gloomy at such losses, and wonder whether, when the new batch comes, there will not ba constant and considerable defections.

Dampness is a great trouble at the settlement. You always feel in a tort of steamy bath in summer. It will be cool enough from March to October. Those who have been accustomed to the climate of Queensland are more at home here than those who came from the more dry and healthy heat of South Australia. At eventide the flitting to and fro of the fireflies or beetles was to me most interesting. It was said by some that it is possible to read by the light they give when stationary. The railway bug I did not see. It was described to me. It is a caterpillar in form, having a red light at the head always shining, and seven or eight brilliant intermittent lights on each side. It is frequently found here, but I was not fortunate enough to see one. There is much, that makes this land an attraction to those dissatisfied with other places. The scenery is oftimes really enchanting. The country is not large, but it is as big as Great Britain. It has rivers all round it. It is 1000 miles from the ocean. It is shut in from the outer world. You can get away from daily posts and hourly telegrams, and even from the stimulating daily press. The trade is chiefly with Buenos Ayres. The Paraguayans cannot export much to advantage, as it costs more to send things to Buenos Ayres than from there to England. Moreover, the Argentines can impose heavy duties. They can keep Paraguay from having any outlet. It is completely at the mercy of its strong neighbours. This must be taken into account by those who here seek a paradise. Then they will probably have to bear some part of the burden of taxation, if not at present, in the near future, as it appears that the debt is such that if they paid the interest it would take all the revenue, leaving nothing for expen-

diture. But the expenditure during the last two years has been double the income. If the Australians succeed can they expect that their paradise will be exempt from some financial squeezing ?

When Saturday came the pioneers ceased work at dinner time. Then they lounged, cleaned up, mended clothes, and amused themselves as they liked. Some had a game of cricket. All seemed, however, to look forward to the evening concert. At the close they sang their anthem with vigour. These are the words—

Shoulder to shoulder matesShoulders together. Hands clasped in hands, my mates ; Fair and fine weather. v Hearts beating close, my mates ; Bach man a brother. Building a home, my matc3 ; All for each other. My mind went towards the men whose money and work had helped the association, but who had been imperatively expelled. They had sung it and meant it ; but they sing ib no more.

At bhe conclusion of the concert the audience quietly separated after an announcement had been made that a service would be held on the morrow morning in the same place. This was a new thing. I had been asked by some to hold it. I wai told that religion was not inhibited, but that ib was lawful bo have a service. None, however, had been held as yeb. I had unexpectedly the honour of conducting the very first religious service in the settlement.

The Sunday morning broke cloudily. A slight drizzle fell ; still the horn was sounded, and a few were seen wending their way to the orange grove. Several hymn books were raked up, and We had a good sing. "All hail the power of Jesu's name " went best of all. I tried to get them to join in the Lord's Prayer, but in vain. As I was reading the Scriptures the parrob of the camp flew across from the kitchen and perched himself on my shoulder. I think the singing attracted " Joey." I read on quietly for a time, but when he tried to get my glasses off I had to shake him from my shoulder. He is certainly a mischievous bird, and possibly rather religious. After an address on the forgiveness and love of Christ we had another hearty sing. Prayer closed the service. What thanks I had from many of those present for the reminder of old times. Some said with tears, " Our Sundays have been the most miserable days ; we have had nothing to break the monotony of life or remind us that there is a future life." We had about 60 persons present, but those who are most in sympathy with Mr Lane and his views were conspicuous by their absence. It is hoped that Harry Taylor, who has the reputation of being a devout man, will do something to try and maintain some outward recognition of God. He is coming out with the second batch. One man at dinner table evidently did not care for the innovation of a religious service on Sunday. He was one of the central committee, and said very bluntly, " New Australia is religion enough for me." In those words he embodied what meaning? I said to him, "New Australia means plenty of beef and bread, bub bhe soul cannob be satisfied with these things alone." There I left that discussion.

At the close of bhe morning service a number of parents asked me bo baptise their children. I readily consented to do this, explaining to them that I did it only as representing their desire bo dedicate bheir children to God.

One laughingly said, " Ib won't do to have a collection at the service as there is no money in any pocket in the camp." I assured him that 1 wanted no collection and that a service really could be complete without one. It was, however, strange to look round on an assembly without probably a shilling or paper dollar in any pocket, and to realise that I was in a socialistic community that does without money for internal uses and only needs it when dealing with the outside world. It is a community without a drinking place, without temptation to gamble, without private property, without pressure of want or apparently need for thrift. It is without fear for the future or restraint of any pressure. Here they claim to live a rational life without competing with each other for money or work. Here they have no need to fear being out of work. Each one has to do what he can, and ib is probable that a loafer would find the sneers of the rest as hard to bear as pressure of want. Yes, it is a new experiment, and will it succeed? It may be the germ of a new life for this continent and the world, or ib may end in a disastrous collapse. The experiment is one bhat had better be tried by young, unmarried men who have been accustomed to rough it in mining or in bush life, and not by thone who have settled tastes and habits that cannot easily be quashed. Such men only hamper bhe experiment. Their money may help, bat their presence is a difficulty. There is a rough plenty in the camp. I bad meals always at the common table. I missed the tea and coffee, and did not take kindly to tha thin-boiled mate and molasses. Mate is best taken through a silver bambillio and from a gourd as the natives drink it. The melons, however, so large and luscious, I shall not easily forget. Nor shall I forget how amused I was vhen bhe head gardener asked someone to "pass bhe chloride of sodium," meaning bhe salt. "That comes of his attending bhe chemistry class," said another. There are evening classes for learning Spanish, English, and chemistry. They are held in the schoolroom, where by day Mr Lane's brother teaches the children of the settlement. . There have been thus far in the settlement three births, three deaths, three marriages, and three exiled. How much farther will the number "3" go P

I soon find life monotonous in the settlement. A day or two is enough. Let us retrace. Good-bye, friends ! ■ Work on, and if you oan teach us good lessons eventually we will try and learn them. You will have to alter some things, however. You will have to leave less to one man ; you will have to ignore the majority votes of those who have not yet started, Pioneers must decide things for themselves and not be hampered by the supposed interests of those who are some day to follow. Goodrbye, and may the second batoh be a strength. Keep them together. Lead them, but suffer none to be gagged, driven, boycotted, or crushed.