300 AVERAGE RATES OF LABOUR. 



soon earn the means of commencing on their own 

 account ; but the idle and dissipated contrive to 

 follow the bent of their inclinations, without engag- 

 ing in any regular employment. An attempt has 

 recently been made to establish a " Society," for the 

 purpose of encouraging, by every means, the intro- 

 duction of working hands from the United King- 

 dom to this district. The subject of emigration has 

 of late much engrossed the attention of the British 

 Parliament, in the course of which this Colony has 

 been entirely overlooked. This can arise from no 

 other cause than the strong prejudice excited by the 

 general currency which has been given to wilful 

 misrepresentations of its capabilities to absorb and 

 comfortably maintain a very considerable number of 

 the working classes. Such, however, is the fact, 

 and it may also be affirmed, that there is no country 

 where a new settler, on his first arrival, has less in- 

 convenience to endure, where labour is more in re- 

 quest, or where, in proportion to the cheapness of the 

 necessaries of life, the moderate exercise of industry 

 claims so high a remuneration. 



The following will show the average rates paid for 

 labour in this district : — 



£ s. d. ' 



Mechanics . . .05 per diem) Without food 



Labourers (European) . 3 9 ditto > or c i ot w 



Ditto (free coloured) .016 ditto I 



l 



and lodging. 



House Servant (European) . 2 5 r per ann. J w - , „ , 

 Ditto, or waggon driver (free 



coloured) . . . 15 ditto 



