[Editor: This notice was published for the information of those intending to settle in the Swan River colony (Western Australia). It was published in The Cambrian, or General Weekly Advertiser for the Principality of Wales (Swansea, Wales), 30 May 1829.]
Information
For the use of those who may purpose to embark as Settlers for the new Settlement in Western Australia
[It will be observed, by our advertising columns, that the ship “Wanstead” will sail from London for that Settlement in June next.]
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1. His Majesty’s Government do not intend to incur any expense, in conveying Settlers to the New Colony on the Swan River; and will not feel bound to defray the cost of supplying them Provisions, or other necessaries, after their arrival there, nor to assist their removal to England, or to any other place, should they be desirous of quilting the Colony.
2. Such persons as may arrive in that Settlement, before the end of the year 1830, will receive, in the order of their arrival, Allotments of Land, free of Quit Rent, proportioned to the Capital which they may be prepared to invest in the improvement of the Land, and of which Capital they may be able to produce satisfactory proofs to the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the Colonial Government), or to any two Officers of the local Government appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for that purpose, at the rate of 40 acres for every sum of 3l. which they may be prepared so to invest.
3. Under the head of investment of Capital will be considered Stock of every description, all Implements of Husbandry, and other Articles which may be applicable to the purposes of productive industry, or which may be necessary, for the establishment of the Settler on the Land where he is to be located. The amount of any Half-pay or Pension which the applicant may receive from Government, and which he may be prepared to invest as before mentioned, will also be considered as so much Capital.
4. Those who may incur the expense of taking out labouring persons, will be entitled to an allotment of Land, at the rate of 15l., that is, of 200 Acres of Land, for the passage of every such labouring person, over and above any other investment of Capital. In the class of “labouring persons” are included Women, and Children above ten years old. With respect to the Children of labouring people under that age, it is proposed to allow 40 Acres for every such Child above three years old; 80 Acres for every such Child above six years old; and 120 for every such Child above nine, and under ten years old. Provision will be made, by Law, at the earliest opportunity, for rendering those Capitalists, who may be engaged in taking out labouring persons to this Settlement, liable for the future maintenance of those persons should they, from infirmity, or any other cause, become unable to maintain themselves there.
5. The Licence to Occupy will be given to the Settler, on satisfactory proof being exhibited to the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the local Government) of the amount of Property brought into the Colony, to be invested as above specified. The proofs required of this Property will be such satisfactory Vouchers of Expenses, as would be received in auditing Public Accounts. But the title to the Land will not be granted, in fee simple, until the Settler has proved, to the satisfaction of the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the local Government) that the sum required by Article 2 (viz. 1s. 6d. per Acre) has been actually expended in some investment of the nature specified in Article 3, or in the Cultivation of the Land, or in solid Improvements, — such as Buildings, Roads, or other Works of that kind.
6. Any Land, thus allotted, of which a fair proportion, at least one-fourth, shall not have been brought into cultivation, or otherwise improved, to the satisfaction of the local Government, within three years from the date of the Licence of Occupation, shall, at the end of three years, be liable to one further payment of 6d. per Acre for all the Land not so cultivated or improved, into the Public Chest of the Settlement; and, at the expiration of seven years more, so much of the whole Grant as shall still remain in an uncultivated or unimproved state, will revert absolutely to the Crown. And in every Grant will be contained a Condition, that, at any time, within ten years from the date thereof, the Government may resume, without compensation, any Land not then actually cultivated, or improved as before mentioned, which may be required for Roads, Canals, or Quays, or for the site of Public Buildings.
7. After the year 1830, Land will be disposed of, to those Settlers who may resort to the Colony, on such conditions as his Majesty’s Government shall determine.
8. It is not intended that any Convicts be transported to this new Settlement.
9. The Government will be administered by Captain Sterling of the Royal Navy, as Lieutenant Governor of the Settlement.
Source:
The Cambrian, or General Weekly Advertiser for the Principality of Wales (Swansea, Wales), 30 May 1829, p. 2 (column 2)
Also published in:
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), 2 July 1829, p. 2 (see section “No. II.”)
[Editor: Changed “appointed by the Lieutenant Government” to “appointed by the Lieutenant Governor” (whilst the term “Lieutenant Government” does appear in print, in rare instances, regarding the British Empire, it appears that, in this instance, the term was meant to be “Lieutenant Governor”, as an essentially-identical article published in the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 2 July 1829, p. 2, uses the term “Lieutenant Governor” in that sentence); “administering the local Goverment” to “administering the local Government” (in the first instance of that phrase).]
Editor’s notes:
Crown = the governing power of a land operating under a constitutional monarchy, which is said to govern on behalf of the Crown (i.e. on behalf of the ruling monarch);may refer to the government or elements acting on the behalf of government (e.g. a legal prosecuting service operating in the name of “the Crown”); monarchical, regal, or imperial power
d. = a reference to a penny, or pennies (pence); the “d” was an abbreviation of “denarii”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
fee simple = ownership of a piece of land without any time limit (i.e. ownership for life, freehold ownership, permanent tenure), the land being permanent held by the owner (or by the heirs, upon the death of the owner), the owner having the right to transfer the ownership, whether by gift, sale, or will (the term “fee” derives from Old English “feoh”, Old French “fieu”, and Anglo-French “fee”, regarding possessions, holdings, and feudal duties)
See: 1) “What is fee-simple?”, The Law Dictionary
2) “Fee simple”, Wikipedia
3) “fee (n.)”, Online Etymology Dictionary
l. = an abbreviation used to represent the “pound” monetary unit (i.e. the British-style currency denomination used in Australia, prior to the decimalisation of Australia’s currency on 14 February 1966); the abbreviation stems from the Latin “librae” (or “libra”, a basic unit of weight used in ancient Rome; from the Latin “libra” for “scales” or “balance”); pounds were commonly symbolized by a pound sign “£” (a stylized “L”) or by “L” (or “l”)
Public Chest = public coffers, public revenues, state treasury; the general fund to be used by the government for the benefit of the public, and for the general interests and operations of the government
Quit Rent = rent payable by freeholders, which acquits them of any liability to perform services for their lord in connection with their land ownership (can also refer to a nominal rent charged as an acknowledgment of tenure)
resort = go to (especially regarding large numbers of people), usually followed by “to”, e.g. “they resorted to their country” (can also mean: recourse, to have recourse to something, to turn to someone or something for aid, assistance, or strength, especially as an alternative, final choice, or “last resort”; a place where people go to have a holiday, a place of relaxation and rest)
resume = take back, reacquire, reclaim; reoccupy (can also mean: begin again, continue, or go on with, after an interruption or pause)
Royal Navy = the navy of the United Kingdom, i.e. the British navy (it was given the name/title “Royal Navy” by Charles II)
See: “Royal Navy: British naval force”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
s. = a reference to a shilling, or shillings; the “s” was an abbreviation of “solidi”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
viz. = (Latin) an abbreviation of “videlicet” (a contraction of the Latin phrase “videre licet”), meaning “it is permitted to see” (the “z” derives from the z-shaped Latin shorthand symbol for “et”, as used in the Tironian shorthand style); in actual practice, “viz.” is used as a synonym for “in other words”, “namely”, “that is to say”, “to wit”, or “which is” (used when giving further details about something, or giving a list of specific examples or items)
The Institute of Australian Culture
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