The following letter was published by the Sydney Herald on Thursday 7 January 1836.
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THE PATERSON'S PLAINS POLICE To the Editors of the Sydney Herald. GENTLEMEN. - Two letters have recently appeared in your Journal, from inhabitants of this district, complaining of the inefficiency of the Police, and the want of a Resident Magistrate to superintend their movements. Through the publicity of the Press much good has been effected - it is the channel of information, not only to the Government, but to the Public at large. Permit me to lay before you other information on the subject. The Police of this district consist of a conductor, watch-house keeper, five or six sub-constables, and a scourger, who are stationed in the township of Paterson, where a small court house and prison rooms have recently been erected by the Government. The Court is held sometimes once a fortnight, sometimes once a month, nor is it even positively known when a Court will be held; consequently the settlers are compelled to put up with the ill conduct of their assigned servants or to take them to Maitland, a distance of thirty miles. The conductor in charge of this Police is a ticket-of-leave holder, and well known to the respectable settlers of the district as a man not qualified to hold a charge of that description. Two Unpaid Magistrates reside in the district, gentlemen who have large property, and who cannot give their time to the Public. The Police Magistrate at Maitland cannot attend regularly, he having so much employment in his own district. The distance is also great, fifteen miles, for him to ride, hold a Court, and return the same day. Previous to the Court being moved to its present situation, and the distance some miles shorter, Mr. Campbell did regularly attend, and the reform in the conduct of the assigned servants was acknowledged by all. The constabulary was then more under his immediate inspection, but now they are under no control whatever. They have several huts near the Police Office, where they reside. Fishing rods are seen standing about their doors; smoking, lounging on the green award under the shade of the trees; fishing and idleness is their sole employment; bushrangers, both men and women, prowl about the district, and prey upon the property of the settlers; they harbour and assist in their plundering excursions by outstation stock-keepers, and by Convict servants, close to their master's residence; robberies are committed with impunity under the noses of the Police; sly grog shops are numerous; the settlers must forward their bad conducted servants to Maitland by their own farm constables, while the paid constables enjoy themselves in the various amusements. Such I assure you, Gentlemen, is the present state of this extensive agricultural and populous district.
Yours, |
The following letter was published by the Sydney Herald on Thursday 9 May 1836.
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TICKET-OF-LEAVE SHOPKEEPER To the Editors of the Sydney Herald. GENTLEMEN. - There is a law at the Cape of Good Hope, requiring all persons keeping a Winkel or Retail Shop to take out a license. Of course this would be going too far in a purely English Settlement like New South Wales; but it would be good regulation, that holders of Tickets-of-leave for the district of Sydney, keeping a retail shop should be compelled to have a board over their door with these words "Licensed to keep a Retail Shop," and then we should know whom to trust, but at present there are so many of this class of persons riding and driving about Sydney , that it is impossible to suspect that such well dressed individuals, carrying on a brisk and profitable trade; are merely prisoners of the Crown holding a Ticket-of-leave! If Colonel Wilson would only instruct the Merchants of Sydney in the mystery of how to discern a Ticket-of-leave man, I for one should feel much obliged to him,
Yours obedient servant, |
The following letter was also published by the Sydney Herald on Thursday 9 May 1836.
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NOT THE NUT-BROWNS, BUT THE LILLIES OF THE VALLEY To the Editors of the Sydney Herald. GENTLEMEN. - Who are those elegantly dressed women? asked my friend the other day as we were walking through George-street. Don't you know them? No - why the one a short time since arrived here a Convict by what ship I cannot tell; soon after her arrival she marries a man in comfortable or easy circumstances, this made her mistress of a good house, and of Convict servants; the other, her sister, follows in the ship Henry Wellesley, and is assigned immediately to the husband of the first; consequently you now behold mistress and maid elegantly attired, living in luxury and ease, with servants to attend them. This instance may be added to thousands of others, to prove the severity &c. of the present Transportation System.
GRIZZLE. |
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