226 HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, ETC., 



inapplicable to the circumstances of the colony and the wants of the 

 inhabitants. 



It was made lawful for the colonial legislature to enact any laws or 

 ordinances, subject to the provisions of the statute, for the better 

 administration of justice, and to define the constitution of the courts 

 of law, equity, and juries. This conclusively proves that great diffi- 

 culty is experienced in governing these rising colonies, and in giving 

 that attention to their wants that they demand ; yet Great Britain still 

 manifests a strong desire to retain her control over these subjects, and 

 does not see the necessity of letting them stand alone, and being 

 allowed to feel that they are able to take care of themselves.* 



Petitions have been sent home to Parliament and to the Queen 

 praying for the formation of a new constitution, such as they could 

 place confidence in, and in which the people of the colony might be 

 represented. The model of the constitution that they desire is that 

 of the Canadas, and the expectation is that by the great influx of free 

 emigrants, the day will soon arrive when it will be vouchsafed to them. 



From the reports of a committee of the Legislative Council of this 

 colony, it is shown that by offering bounties, immigration may be more 

 economically conducted than by the government system. The report 

 states, that during the year 1838 there arrived in the colony seven 

 thousand one hundred and eighty individuals, (exclusive of convicts,) 

 of whom one thousand six hundred and sixty-two made a claim for 

 bounty. In the latter six months of the year 1839, six thousand 

 arrived. The total arrivals from January, 1837, to the end of Sep- 

 tember, 1839, were sixteen thousand four hundred: by government 

 ships, eight thousand four hundred and eighty-five ; by the aid of 

 bounty, four thousand two hundred and sixty-six ; unassisted, three 

 thousand six hundred and forty-nine. The amount of bounty to the 

 four thousand two hundred and sixty-six who were introduced by 

 private enterprise, was sixty-five thousand five hundred and eighty-six 

 pounds, — at the rate of fifteen pounds six shillings each ; while the cost 

 of introducing eight thousand seven hundred and twenty-one persons 

 by the government system, was one hundred and sixty-eight thousand 

 seven hundred and seventy-five pounds, showing an increase of cost 

 of thirty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty pounds to the colony 

 by the government system/)* This subject engrosses the attention of 



* The Legislative Council has agreed to take upon the colony the charge of defraying 

 the expenses of the police and jail out of the revenue. This has also caused much dis- 

 satisfaction. , 



t Many curious developements have taken place relative to the colony of South Australia, 

 which was established upon the principles of self-support, having been carried out ; no colony 



