19th Century News

PUBLIC MEETING AT BOTHWELL.
(24 Jul 1855)

A highly respectable meeting was held, pursuant to notice, at the Crown Hotel, Bothwell, on Thursday, the 19th instant, to consider the subject of the alarming state of the country, and the recent murders and outrages on life and property. Amongst those present were, George Nicholas, Esq., Frederick Teush, Esq., J.P., Edward Nicholas, Esq., Frederick Synnot, Esq., J.P., Thomas Axford, Esq., Rev. Messrs. Robertson and Hesketh, Archibald McDowall, Esq., Thomas Howells, Charles Octavius Parsons, Esq., and others. Dr. Teush having been voted into the chair. The chairman read the published requisition summoning the meeting, and stated that before he called upon the first speaker to move a resolution, he wished to express his strong belief that the Governor would do everything in his power to meet the evils which were obvious, not alone to the meeting then present, but to all the colonists throughout the island. He had no doubt that in any observations which might now be made, moderation and good order would be maintained. Frederick Synnot, Esq., rose to move the first resolution, which was to the following effect -
"That the inhabitants of this district view with horror and alarm the insecurity of life and property throughout the interior of the colony, and desire to express their conviction that the recent murders and assaults upon the highway have mainly been perpetrated by Norfolk Island criminals."
It would be quite needless for him to go into any statement of facts which would prove the trail of the assertions contained in the resolution then before the meeting. Many outrageous crimes had been of late committed, and a strong general sense of insecurity had gained ground among the community. It was high time that an united effort should be made to put down those enormities, and he had no doubt but that such unity would be shown by the colonists. He cordially hoped that the districts would cooperate with each other in this work, and begged to recommend the resolution he held in his hand to their support. Thomas Axford, Esq., then seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Archibald McDowall, Esq., would gladly move "that the following Petition to His Excellency the Governor be adopted." In the unwilling absence of Mr. Alexander Reid he had been requested to lay the petition before the meeting. They all could have but one object - namely, to put a stop to the fearful crimes of murder and violence which were constantly occurring, and of which so melancholy on example had been brought home to the hearts of the residents in this neighbourhood in particular. It was quite certain that these atrocious villains had been, in almost every case, committed by Norfolk Island probation passholders. He was far from wishing to use intemperate language with respect to all these persons, but he would say, that if any good could be made to result from the use of terms, no possible language could be deemed intemperate. He saw great probable advantage in the multiplication of meetings like these throughout the colony. When all moved in the same manner, and petitioned to the same effect, it was likely that the Government would feel strengthened in taking certain steps by the multiplied addresses coming from the people. It was a most desirable point in the Petition which he held in his hand, that these wretched criminals should be sent away either into a remotely distant part of the Australian continent, or into some other penal settlement where they could be separated and away from old evil associates, and thus have one chance of reformation open to them which could not exist here. He felt very strongly upon this important and pressing subject of public interest. He had a large family dependent upon his exertions, and in the event of any possible evil happening to him, he should dread the consequences. Others, no doubt, under like circumstances, felt similarly. He would beg to move the following Petition -
To His Excellency SIR HENRY EDWARD FOX YOUNG, Knight, Governor-in-Chief and Captain-General of the Island of Van Diemen's Land and its Dependencies.
The humble Petition of the Undersigned Inhabitants of Bothwell, in Public Meeting assembled,
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH - That your Petitioners contemplate with extreme apprehension and alarm the present state of the country - the insecurity of life and property, which the recent atrocious murders and multiplied assaults and robberies have so painfully forced upon their notice. That your Petitioners have the firmest conviction that these dreadful evils have, mainly if not entirely, arisen from the dispersion throughout the colony, as passholders, or under other designations, of so many desperate characters lately introduced from Norfolk Island - wretches, generally speaking, trained and habituated to every crime and infamy, and affording little hope of any such reformation as, under any discipline, could render them safe members of society. That your Petitioners are aware that there is now at Port Arthur a large body of this most dangerous class of persons, and that, under the ordinary convict regulations, they will soon be removed thence to the various districts of the colony as passholders. That your Petitioners believe that in the event of such removal the existing disorders in the interior districts must be greatly increased, there being nothing to prevent these men, if so inclined, from absconding and betaking themselves to their accustomed courses of crime and violence; while, owing to the nature of the country, even with a police better organised and more zealous and intelligent than that of the colony can be affirmed or even expected to be, the chances of the recapture of such absconders (as repeated experience has shown), till after the infliction, long-continued, of the most horrible outrages and injuries upon the persons and properties of the peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants, are at best extremely uncertain. Your Petitioners therefore pray that Your Excellency will be pleased to direct that no more passes be granted to Norfolk Island convicts at Port Arthur, that such of them as were sent to Norfolk Island from New South Wales may be returned to that colony, and the remainder transferred to some other settlement, where more efficient means may exist for coercing their evil propensities, and where their opportunities for mischief may be less.
And, Your Petitioners will ever pray &c.
George Nicholas, Esq., seconded the resolution.
Some discussion ensued relative to certain clauses of the Petition; after which the resolution was put to the vote and carried.
It was then moved by Charles O. Parsons, Esq. and seconded by Edward Nicholas, Esq., "That the Petition now adopted by this Meeting be presented to His Excellency the Governor by a deputation consisting of William S. Sharland, Esq., M.L.C., Captain William Langdon, M.L.C. and Frederick Synnot, Esq., J.P." Carried.
It was then moved by Thomas Axford, Esq., seconded by Edward Nicholas, Esq., and carried unanimously, "That the cordial thanks of this Meeting are due and are hereby given to Frederick Teush, Esq., J.P., for his efficient conduct in the chair."
The Meeting then dispersed.

“The Courier” (Hobart, TAS : 1840-1859), TROVE
Public Meeting at Bothwell, 24 Jul 1855, p2, c4 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2487520)