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72

for general information. It will
at all times afford great
pleasure both to myself and
my Government to promote by
all means in our power the
important objects of the Wool
Supply Association.

You are doubtless aware
that this Colony of Queensland,
which was separated from
New South Wales in December
1859, is in proportion to its
population, the largest producer
of wool of any country in
the world. On 31st December 1860,
the European inhabitants were
estimated at only 28,000 souls;
while, during 1860, there were
exported 5,007,167 lbs. of wool, of
the estimated value of £444,118:9.3.

By the Census Returns of April
1860, it appears that there
were then 3,449,350 sheep in
Queensland. We are receiving
weekly fresh accessions of
population, capital, and stock,
both from the neighbouring Australian
Colonies, and from the United
Kingdom.

The Colony of Queensland
embraces the whole north-eastern
portion of the Australian Continent.
It covers an area three times
greater than that of France,
and that of England and Wales. The
pastoral settlements already
extend over a territory more
extensive than that of the
British

73

H. W. Ripley Esq

President of the

Chamber of Commerce

Bradford, England

British Islands.

You are at liberty to make
any use of this letter which you
may think proper.

I have &c.

Signed / G. F. Bowen

No. 8

Government House,

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia,

27th September, 1861.

My Lord,

I have the honor to state that
I have been informed by the Duke of
Newcastle that it has been intimated
to your Lordship that Her Majesty's
Government are willing to sanction
the emigration of labourers from
British India to Queensland, under
Regulations similar to those adopted
at Mauritius. I have been further
authorised to communciate on
this business with your Lordship.

2. I now enclose a copy of a
letter from the Colonial Secretary of
Queensland transmitting drafts of
the Proclamation and Regulations which
it is proposed to issue here on the
subject of the introduction of Indian
labourers into this Colony.

3. I entirely concur with
the views of my Constitutional Advisers
and of the Queensland Legislature, as
explained in the enclosed statement
of the Colonial Secretary. And I unite
with them in expressing my hope
that