977 



VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. 



VANCOUVER ISLAND. 



878 



The watershed of the eastern districts of Van Diemen's Land north 

 of 41 50' S. lat. lies close to the Pacific. The mountains which 

 extend along the shores of the Pacific, and connect the northern part 

 of the Eastern Tier with the range of the Ben Lomond, constitute a 

 high range, overtopped by several summits. Ben Lomond is estimated 

 to rise 4200 feet high. The valleys of the North Esk and South Esk 

 are fruitful portions of this district North of the upper valley of 

 the South Esk extends a region, the whole of which is probably 

 occupied by mountains ; but the interior of it has not been explored. 

 The gorge through which the South Eak flows above Launceston 

 separates the valley of the Tamar, which lies north of it, from the 

 Basin of Lincoln, which extends south of it. The Tamar is only a 

 deep inlet of the sea, which runs up to the town of Launceston, where 

 the two Esks fall into it The tide flows no higher than Launceston. 

 The Basin of Lincoln is the most fertile portion of Van Diemen's 

 Land. It extends from south-east to north-west about 25 miles, and 

 as much from north-east to south-west ; it is watered by several large 

 rivers, which unite, and ultimately fall into the South Esk. The 

 riven are, ranging from east to west Elizabeth River, Macquarrie 

 River, Lake River, Pennyroyal River, and Maoander or Western 

 Hirer. Westward of this basin is the Western Tier, or Western 

 Mountain*. 



Proceeding westward from the banks of the Mersey, two high and 

 steep mountain ridges mast be passed before that region is reached 

 which is called the Surrey Hills, and which constitutes one of the 

 most remarkable features of Van Diemen's Land. It seems to be of 

 somewhat a square form, and each side is about 40 miles long. It 

 gives origin to a great number of rivers, which run off in all 

 direction*. The region ia elevated, cold, dry, and covered with good 

 herbage. Between the valley of the Mnander and the Surrey Hills 

 on the south, and Bass's Strait on the north, is the hilly region of 

 Devonshire. West of the Emu River begins the Great Plain. It 

 occupies the north-western portion of the island, extending along the 

 northern coast from the Emu to Cape Grim, and along the western 

 coast to the Arthur River. It consists of an alternation of plains, 

 swamps, and forests, and contains only a few spot* fitted for culti- 

 vation. The river Arthur, whose mouth is near 41 10' S. lat, is a 

 river of considerable size, and brings down a large volume of water. 

 The Emu river is navigable for boats for a few miles. 



Climate and Production*. There is a considerable difference between 

 the climate of Hobart Town on the southern and that of Launceston 

 on the northern coast At Hobart Town, heat, cold, rain, and sun- 

 shine succeed each other with great rapidity; in winter, the same 

 alternations, with the addition of hail and snow, follow each other 

 in quick succession. Thunder storms are leu frequent than in 

 Australia, but violent gusts of wind sometime* occur, which cause 

 great destruction in the forest*. Along the western coast strong 

 south-western wind* prevail nearly all the year round, and render 

 this tract almost inaccessible on account of the want of harbour*. 

 The climate U very healthy ; no epidemic or contagious diifrcsm have 

 been observed, and acute diseases are generally mild and of abort 

 duration, and yield more easily to the usual remedies than in any 

 other country. 



The mineral* of Van Diemen's Land include copper, iron, lead, zinc, 

 manganese, coal, slate, salt, and sandstone. Gold i* said to have been 

 found, but as yet the quantity produced U small. 



All grains cultivated in England succeed well in Van Diemen's 

 Land. Wheat is of excellent quality. The vegetables and fruits of 

 Europe are cultivated by the colonists in great abundance. The native 

 forcstrtrre* and shrubs are all evergreens. The most useful trees are 

 the utringy-bark tree, which is used for building and fencing ; and 

 the blue gum tree, of which most of the boat* in the colony are 

 built 



The domestic animal* of Europe thrive very well here. Sheep 

 an moat numerous. Wool and live stock are exported. Black cattle 

 are numerous, and many head are annually exported. Some horse* 

 are alto exported. 



The spermaceti-whale i* very abundant in Base's Strait, and many 

 of them are annually taken, but more by the inhabitants of Australia 

 than by those of Van Diemen's Land. Black whales abound in all 

 the neat round the island, and a very lucrative fishery is carried on 

 along the southern coast Whalebone and train-oil are important 

 articles of export Most of the land animals are similar to those of 

 the neighbouring continent [AUSTRALIA.] 



Colonualion. In 1803 Lieutenant Bowen, commissioned by the 

 government of New South Wales, landed on the east bank of the 

 Derwent, and formally took possession of Van Diemen's Land as a 

 place of settlement In the following year Colonel Collins, the first 

 lieutenant-governor, arrived, and established the seat of government 

 on the west bank of the Derwent : he gave to the spot the name of 

 Hobart Town, in compliment to Lord Hobart, then secretary of state 

 for the colonies. In 1819 the immigration of free settler* from 

 England commenced, the colony having been previously exclusively 

 formed of criminals sent from New South Wales for crimes com- 

 1 there, and of the civil and military officers charged with their 

 superintendence. Till the year 1824 the government was subject to 

 that of New South Wales; but it was then made independent of 

 that colony. (Jreat progress was made by the colony between the 



erou. DIV. VOL. iv. 



years 1824 and 1836, during the administration of Colonel Arthur. 

 Roads were formed and bridges constructed in different parts of the 

 island ; wholesome laws were introduced, and the fruits of enterprise 

 and industry were secured by an improved police system. 



Trade and Commerce. The efforts of the local government are 

 rapidly extending improvements over the island. Among the greatest 

 works is a bridge over the Derwent, on the high road from Hobart 

 Town to Launceston ; it U of wood, and has 20 bays, or arches, of 

 32 feet span each. 



The exports to Great Britain in 1853 included 5,514,756 Ibs. of 

 wool (the average quantity for four years, 1849-52, had been upwards 

 of 5,000,000 Ibs.); 9599 hides (the average number for the previous 

 four years had been about 300,000) ; 778 cwt tallow ; 4762 cwt. bark ; 

 and 405 tuns spermaceti-oil. The declared valua of the imports of 

 British produce and manufactures from Great Britain in 1853 was 

 1,408,9271., the average for the preceding four years being ouly about 

 420,0002. Of foreign and colonial produce, chiefly spirit?, wine, and 

 tobacco, imported from Great Britain, the declared value for 1853 

 was 694,790?. The number of sailing vessels entered as belonging to 

 Van Diemen's Land on December 31st, 1854, was, Hobart Town 219, 

 tonnage 21,473; Launceston 62, tonnage 6389. Of steam-vessels 6, 

 of 510 tons aggregate burden, were entered at Hobart Town, and 2 

 of 356 tons at Launceston. 



I/ulart Town, the capital of the colony, is built upon an undulating 

 surface, on tho left bank of the river Derwent. The streets are of 

 good width, and laid out on a regular plan, and contain many good 

 dwelling-houses and shops. Some improvements have been made of 

 late yean, particularly in the construction of a new market-place iu 

 the town, and of docks and wharves at the river-side. Several of 

 the public buildings are handsome. A small rivulet which runs 

 through the town, affords a supply of fresh-water. The population 

 on December 31st, 1347, was 21,467, of whom 33 were aborigines. 



Launcttton, the second town of the colony, is situated at the con- 

 fluence of the North Esk and South Esk, which there form the 

 Tamar, 45 miles from its outfall in Bass's Strait It is 124 miles N. 

 by W. from Hobart Town. Launceston contains a government house, 

 a court house, jail, barracks, and other public buildings, and several 

 places of public worship. Convenient wharfs have been constructed. 

 The population in 1847 was 10,100. The shipping trade is import- 

 ant. A good highway extends from Hobart Town to Lauuceston, and 

 there are inns along it at short distances from each other. 



Richmond i* situated on the Coal River, about 12 miles N.E. from 

 Hobart Town, and contains a population of 8300. Lungfurd has a 

 population of 3,690. Aroca it a small town in the rural deanery of 

 Longford, with a population of 963. 



Van Diemen's Land i* divided into 19 police districts, and each of 

 the districte generally contains a town or village of the same name. 

 Lincoln, Perth, and George Town at Port Dalrymple, are places of 

 some importance. They are seated on the Tamar, or the Macquarrio, 

 as it U called in the upper part of its course. 



Government, Van Diemen's Land is administered, under the 13 & 

 14 Viet., cap. 59, by a Lieutenant-Governor, who is assisted by an 

 Executive Council and a Legislative Council, of whom two-thirds aro 

 elected and one-third nominated. The judicature consists of a 

 supreme court, courts of quarter sessions, and courts of requests. 



A bishop of Tasmania was appointed in 18(2, whose diocese includes 

 the whole island and its dependencies, and is divided into the arch- 

 deaconry of Hobart Town, containing 3 \ places of worship, and tho 

 rural deanery of Longford, containing 19 places of worship. There 

 are also 13 places of worship of the Church of Scotland, 3 for Roman 

 Catholic*, 21 for Wesleyan Methodists, 15 for Independents, 3 for 

 Baptista, and 2 for Jews. Of these bodies all except the Independ- 

 ents and Jews receive government aid. There are numerous private 

 school* in Hobart Town and Lauuceston, besides schools supported 

 by the Government 



VANCOUVER ISLAND (or Quadra and Vancouver Itland) lies 

 off the western coast of North America in the North Pacific. It ia 

 long and narrow, extending in a direction from south-east 48 24' to 

 north-west 50 3' N. lat, and between 122 and 129 W. long., the 

 length being about 250 miles, the average width 50 mile*. It is over- 

 lapped at its southern end by the continental headland of Cape Flattery, 

 and between i* the strait of Juan de Fuca, five league* wide at it* 

 entrance, and running in an east-south-etist direction for about 1 00 

 miles, widening in several parts, extending southward into Piigut'n 

 Sound, and forming several bays on the continental shore, then, sud- 

 denly narrowing, turning northward through an archipelago of small 

 islands, called the Arro Archipelago, thence widening into the Gulf 

 of Georgia, and re-entering the ocean amidst another archipelago, 

 through Johnstone's Strait into Queen Charlotte's Sound. Vancouver 

 first discovered this passage in 1792. There are many bays and harboura 

 all round the island. Three islands of the Arro group are separated 

 from the coast of Vancouver Island by a passage called the Arro 

 Canal, which is narrow at both extremities, but expands to a consi- 

 derable width in the middle. At Wentuhuysen Inlet, which is at the 

 north end of the Arro Canal, several extensive beds of coal have been 

 recently discovered, the site of which has been named Newcastle. 

 Coal exists also in the northern part of Vancouver Island. At the 

 southern end the settlement of Victoria has been formed, on a harbour 



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