Life and Progress in Australasia
Published on 29. December 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
504 pages
978-1-108-03940-6 (ISBN)
Description
Michael Davitt (1846-1906) was a prominent and influential figure in Irish politics in the nineteenth century. A fervent supporter of Irish independence, he was imprisoned more than once in England, but later became a Member of Parliament for Irish constituencies. In this book, first published in 1898, Davitt records a journey of seven months through the Australasian colonies, noting his impressions of the areas he passed through and discussing the political and social norms across the different regions. He examines land laws in many of the areas and describes the different industries then emerging. He also reports on the treatment of aborigines, ranging from 'exterminating the aborigines' in Tasmania to the 'efforts to protect them' in Western Australia, and finally focuses on prisons and prisoner welfare across the colonies he visited. This book offers a wealth of information on many aspects of nineteenth-century Australasia.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
2 Maps
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
704 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-108-03940-6 (9781108039406)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican activist, renowned for his work advocating for Home Rule and land reform in Ireland. Born on March 25, 1846, in Strade, Ireland, Davitt's early life was marked by hardship, including a traumatic eviction at the age of four, which led his family to migrate to England. His personal experiences with injustice fueled his lifelong commitment to social and political causes. Davitt became a significant figure in the Irish nationalist movement, particularly known for founding the Irish National Land League in 1879, which sought to address land ownership issues and improve the living conditions of Irish tenants. His activism extended beyond Ireland, and he worked to gain international attention for the plight of the Irish people. Davitt was also a vocal advocate for the rights of workers and was involved in various social reform movements. His contributions to Irish political life were pivotal, and he left behind a legacy as a passionate champion of justice, equality, and national sovereignty. Davitt passed away on May 30, 1906, in Dublin, leaving a lasting impact on Irish history.
Content
Preface; Part I. Western Australia: 1. Throwing the wrong man into the Suez Canal, and a moral; 2. En route for Coolgardie; 3. Opposing views on the Coolgardie goldfield; 4. Visit to the 'Londonderry' and 'Bayley's Reward'; 5. Coolgardie politics; 6. Impressions of Perth; 7. The Western Australian legislature; 8. The Aborigines; Part II. South Australia: 9. From Albany to Adelaide; 10. Impressions of Adelaide; 11. The constitution of South Australia; 12. Land taxation; 13. Impressions of the country on a journey from Adelaide to Broken Hill; 14. Broken Hill and its silver mines; 15. Other industries; Part III. The Murray River Labour Settlements: 16. Origin of the labour settlements; 17. Lyrup; 18. Pyap; 19. New residence camp; 20. Review of 'the big experiment'; Part IV. Victoria: 21. From Adelaide to Melbourne; 22. Australians at home; 23. Culture and education; 24. Colonial federation; 25. Some anecdotes; 26. The Victorian constitution; 27. The leading Protectionist colony; 28. Victorian land legislation; 29. A trip through the centre of Victoria; 30. The Bendigo Benevolent Asylum; 31. Echuca; Part V. New South Wales: 32. From Melbourne to Sydney; 33. Some talks with shearers; 34. Approaches to Sydney; 35. Sydney's racial mixtures; 36. Sydney's sensitiveness about its founders; 37. Ireland and the infant colony; 38. The evolution of self-government in Australia; 39. The Sydney legislature; 40. New South Wales legislation; 41. The rise of the New South Wales Labour party; 42. Over the Blue Mountains; 43. A squatter's home and opinions; 44. From Sydney to the border of Queensland; Part VI. Queensland: 45. Voyage from Sydney to Brisbane; 46. The Queensland legislature; 47. Country and goldfields; 48. Voyage to Rockhampton; 49. Mount Morgan; 50. Kanaka labour; 51. Australian scenery like Australian hospitality; 52. Charters Towers, its goldmines and prospects; 53. Queensland land laws; 54. Queensland's resources and industries; 55. South Queensland; Part VII. Tasmania: 56. From Melbourne to Tasmania; 57. The John Mitchel legend; 58. The country between the cities; 59. Population; 60. 'Van Diemen's Land'; Part VIII. New Zealand: 61. A voyage with Mark Twain; 62. From Tasmania to New Zealand; 63. Dunedin; 64. A drive to Westland; 65. The people of Westland; 66. New Zealand's capital; 67. New Zealand school system; 68. The labour laws of New Zealand; 69. The story of the colonization of New Zealand; 70. New Zealand land laws; 71. Among the Maoris; 72. Summary of impressions of New Zealand; 73. Australasia and new homes; Part IX. Australasian Prisons: 74. Compared with British prisons - New Zealand; 75. Tasmania; 76. Queensland; 77-78. New South Wales; 79-80. Victoria; 81. South Australia; 82. Western Australia; 83. The romantic escape of John Boyle O'Reilly; 84. The rescue of the Fenian military prisoners from Fremantle.