- 03 Nov 2005 10:39
#748493
Another document analysis. This is of an extract of a letter from the Governor of Victoria, Latrobe, to the Secretary of State, Grey, discussing the crisis facing Melbourne in regards to population movement to the Gold Fields in central Victoria. (Probably a lot less interesting than the Poor Harmless Natives post 
)
Crisis in Melbourne
"Within the last three weeks the towns of Melbourne and Geelong and their large suburbs have been in appearance almost emptied of many classes of their male inhabitants; the streets which for a week of ten days were crowded by drays loading with the outfit for the workings are now seemingly deserted…
Cottages are deserted, houses to let, business is at a stand-still, and even schools are closed. In some of the suburbs not a man is left, and the women are known for self to forget neighbours jars, and to group together to keep house. The ships in the harbour are, in a great measure, deserted; and we hear of instances, where not only farmers and respectable agriculturists have found that the only way, as those employed by them deserted, was to leave their farms, join them and form a band, and go shares, but even masters of vessels, foreseeing the impossibility of maintaining any control over their men otherwise, have made up parties among them to do the same."
- extract from a letter from Governor Latrobe to Lord Grey, the Secretary of State, 10 October 1851
Governor Latrobe’s letter to the British Empire’s Secretary of State Grey on the 10th of October, 1951 depicted a scene of desperation in metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong. The discovery of gold near Bathurst in New South Wales by Hargraves in February of that year had in July led the new Victorian state government to enact a promise of rewards to those people who discovered gold within 200 miles of Melbourne. With the subsequent findings in Victoria came new tribulations for the cities in terms of population movement. Latrobe detailed an accurate description of the situation at the time as gold fever had completely taken over the hearts and mind of the population.
Latrobe exclaimed that the towns of Melbourne and Geelong were “emptied of many classes of their male inhabitants.†In the case of Melbourne, The Argus – a leading paper at the time – proclaimed that “multitudes pass[ed] of all classes of society†to the diggings, from the “humblest menial or respectable artisan†to the “prosperous and busy merchant.†On October 1st, reporters from the paper supported Latrobe’s observations of Melbourne streets “crowded by drays†who noted “no less than a dozen… loading for the diggings.â€
By October 4th, one week before Latrobe wrote his letter, The Argus reported from eyewitness accounts that within 10 miles of Melbourne were seen “134 horsemen, 17 horse drays†and “20 camped drays†all headed in the direction of the goldfields near Ballarat. The paper declared itself that “the entire population [of Melbourne] appear[ed] to be on the move†and warned that within weeks the city would find itself “fairly depopulated.â€
As early as August 15th, the Victorian Colonist and Western District Advertiser stated the paper had “serious apprehensions to the scarcity of labour†in the towns that would result from the rush. Ironically on October 4th, the Geelong Advertiser stated that the Colonist had “suspended publication†due to its “compositors and pressmen†leaving for the diggings. From mid-August to the end of the month, the population of the diggings at Buninyong grew from “80 persons†to what seemed a large part of the male population of Geelong. The Advertiser claimed “the inhabitants of Geelong [were] becoming nomadic†which resulted in negative effects for the city.
Latrobe’s comments of business being at a stand still and schools closing were supported by colonial media reports stating that “services [were] lost†and that gold fever was “deranging the functions of social life.†Trade and labour was dropping due to the exodus from Geelong and Melbourne and Latrobe’s words of “farmers and respectable agriculturists†leaving for the diggings at a critical time in the farming year were supported by the Advertiser which stated that “shepherds, stockmen and farm servants… [were] absconding from all quarters.†Gold fever had even affected the crews of ships. Latrobe’s comments of the ships in the harbour being deserted were strengthened also by the words of the Advertiser which stated that “seamen [were] deserting their vessels.â€
The reasoning behind Governor Latrobe’s letter to Grey was centred primarily around two issues. Economic growth and wealth accruement in the cities of Melbourne and Geelong had dropped in the months during the initial rush for gold as workers and labourers were leaving the towns. This drop in production needed to be explained by the Governor, and Latrobe’s letter primary is used as an insurance policy to show his superiors that he knew what was occurring and could not be blamed. The second issues within the letter focused on the prospect and necessity of Government funds. Money was needed to level to demands of diggers for official protection in the form of a police force on the gold fields, as well as the necessity of the creation of new infrastructure in Victoria due to the massive population increase. While Melbourne and Geelong at the time of writing were emptied of workers, population levels were expanding massively in the state. By the end of 1851, 75,000 people called Melbourne home as opposed to 29,000 that did so at the start of the year and this would cause a major stress on the capabilities of infrastructure in place to deal with the growth.
At first glance, one could be assumed to believe that Latrobe was guilty of exaggeration in attempts to gain funds and alibi himself from the crisis, but these thoughts are quickly dispelled by the media reports of the time. Latrobe was precise in both his tone and observations of the situation and in his letter to Grey, clearly reflected the feeling within Melbourne and Geelong at the time, detailing with accuracy the events that occurred.
Cross posted at > http://08081986.blogspot.com/
)
Crisis in Melbourne
"Within the last three weeks the towns of Melbourne and Geelong and their large suburbs have been in appearance almost emptied of many classes of their male inhabitants; the streets which for a week of ten days were crowded by drays loading with the outfit for the workings are now seemingly deserted…
Cottages are deserted, houses to let, business is at a stand-still, and even schools are closed. In some of the suburbs not a man is left, and the women are known for self to forget neighbours jars, and to group together to keep house. The ships in the harbour are, in a great measure, deserted; and we hear of instances, where not only farmers and respectable agriculturists have found that the only way, as those employed by them deserted, was to leave their farms, join them and form a band, and go shares, but even masters of vessels, foreseeing the impossibility of maintaining any control over their men otherwise, have made up parties among them to do the same."
- extract from a letter from Governor Latrobe to Lord Grey, the Secretary of State, 10 October 1851
Governor Latrobe’s letter to the British Empire’s Secretary of State Grey on the 10th of October, 1951 depicted a scene of desperation in metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong. The discovery of gold near Bathurst in New South Wales by Hargraves in February of that year had in July led the new Victorian state government to enact a promise of rewards to those people who discovered gold within 200 miles of Melbourne. With the subsequent findings in Victoria came new tribulations for the cities in terms of population movement. Latrobe detailed an accurate description of the situation at the time as gold fever had completely taken over the hearts and mind of the population.
Latrobe exclaimed that the towns of Melbourne and Geelong were “emptied of many classes of their male inhabitants.†In the case of Melbourne, The Argus – a leading paper at the time – proclaimed that “multitudes pass[ed] of all classes of society†to the diggings, from the “humblest menial or respectable artisan†to the “prosperous and busy merchant.†On October 1st, reporters from the paper supported Latrobe’s observations of Melbourne streets “crowded by drays†who noted “no less than a dozen… loading for the diggings.â€
By October 4th, one week before Latrobe wrote his letter, The Argus reported from eyewitness accounts that within 10 miles of Melbourne were seen “134 horsemen, 17 horse drays†and “20 camped drays†all headed in the direction of the goldfields near Ballarat. The paper declared itself that “the entire population [of Melbourne] appear[ed] to be on the move†and warned that within weeks the city would find itself “fairly depopulated.â€
As early as August 15th, the Victorian Colonist and Western District Advertiser stated the paper had “serious apprehensions to the scarcity of labour†in the towns that would result from the rush. Ironically on October 4th, the Geelong Advertiser stated that the Colonist had “suspended publication†due to its “compositors and pressmen†leaving for the diggings. From mid-August to the end of the month, the population of the diggings at Buninyong grew from “80 persons†to what seemed a large part of the male population of Geelong. The Advertiser claimed “the inhabitants of Geelong [were] becoming nomadic†which resulted in negative effects for the city.
Latrobe’s comments of business being at a stand still and schools closing were supported by colonial media reports stating that “services [were] lost†and that gold fever was “deranging the functions of social life.†Trade and labour was dropping due to the exodus from Geelong and Melbourne and Latrobe’s words of “farmers and respectable agriculturists†leaving for the diggings at a critical time in the farming year were supported by the Advertiser which stated that “shepherds, stockmen and farm servants… [were] absconding from all quarters.†Gold fever had even affected the crews of ships. Latrobe’s comments of the ships in the harbour being deserted were strengthened also by the words of the Advertiser which stated that “seamen [were] deserting their vessels.â€
The reasoning behind Governor Latrobe’s letter to Grey was centred primarily around two issues. Economic growth and wealth accruement in the cities of Melbourne and Geelong had dropped in the months during the initial rush for gold as workers and labourers were leaving the towns. This drop in production needed to be explained by the Governor, and Latrobe’s letter primary is used as an insurance policy to show his superiors that he knew what was occurring and could not be blamed. The second issues within the letter focused on the prospect and necessity of Government funds. Money was needed to level to demands of diggers for official protection in the form of a police force on the gold fields, as well as the necessity of the creation of new infrastructure in Victoria due to the massive population increase. While Melbourne and Geelong at the time of writing were emptied of workers, population levels were expanding massively in the state. By the end of 1851, 75,000 people called Melbourne home as opposed to 29,000 that did so at the start of the year and this would cause a major stress on the capabilities of infrastructure in place to deal with the growth.
At first glance, one could be assumed to believe that Latrobe was guilty of exaggeration in attempts to gain funds and alibi himself from the crisis, but these thoughts are quickly dispelled by the media reports of the time. Latrobe was precise in both his tone and observations of the situation and in his letter to Grey, clearly reflected the feeling within Melbourne and Geelong at the time, detailing with accuracy the events that occurred.
Cross posted at > http://08081986.blogspot.com/
- By Rich
- By ingliz
- By Skynet