WEND NEWSPAPER ITEMS
News Items in the Wendish newspaper 'Tydzenske Nowiny' in Saxony
relating to the Migration to Australia
1. Tydsenske Nowiny 23.7.1842
News from those who migrated from Brandenburg to Australia has so far been favourable. They have established two villages, Klemzig and Hahndorf not far from Adelaide, developed them and grown good crops of wheat and barley. A shepherd out there receives 270 Taler annually, in addition to a free dwelling and free food. Landowners or settlers who are obliged to pay that amount must accordingly have the resources to do so.
2. In the issue of the same newspaper, dated 21.4.1849, the following item appears:
An association of migrants numbering 60 has been established. Further interested persons are urged to apply for membership so they can help with the planning. Among the important questions still to be resolved are the following: the securing of a pastor and teacher, also the most necessary tradesmen and servants.
3. In the issue of 7.7.1849 it was reported that Pastor Andreas Pench of Bautzen and Johann Zimmer of Weissig had been secured. The voyage is to begin at the end of the month. The fare is 76 Taler (children under 8 years 40 Taler, and infants free.
4. In the issue of 4.8.1849 Andreas Pench addresses words of farewell, being about to commence his term of service as spiritual leader of the migrants to Melbourne in that richly blessed land of Australia.
5. Tydzenske Nowiny 20.11.1852 (no 47): Bautzen
Quite some time ago the Tydzenske Nowiny published some letters written by a certain Hoehne formerly of Steindorfel, who had migrated to Australia. In these letters which he wrote from Australia he indicated that he intended to return to his homeland. Many were not ready to believe this statement, since coming back involves taking great risks. Hoehne, however, carried out his intentions as mentioned to return and during the past week he, together with his wife arrived to be with his fellow Wends again. He will now set to work describing his voyage and stay in Australia and publish his experiences in book form. We will keep our readers informed of developments in this matter.
6. Tydsenske Nowiny (11.12.) 397.
An Englishman reports from Australia that everything there is very dear: a pair of boots cost 30 Taler (1 Taler = 3 shillings), a pair of socks 15 Taler, a shovel 40 Taler, a pair of pistols 5,000 Taler. Accommodation is very dear, a single room costing 32 Taler weekly.
7. Tyd Now. 29.1.1853 No 4.
A man digging for gold in Australia writes to a Dresden German language paper and among other things reports:
The cost of living is terribly dear out here. Board and lodging costs 10 Taler weekly. To have a shirt laundered costs seven and a half new silver groschen. During the past 6 months I have had to pay approximately 70 Taler to keep myself in shoes. A pair of trousers cost 16 Taler, .. a cigar two and a half new silver groschen, a pound of tobacco 2 Taler and 20 new silver groschen. He who brings 100 Taler with him will find that it lasts about a fortnight if he is careful. It is almost like a lottery. If you strike it lucky you may become rich. Ships arrive daily with migrants from many different countries. Everyone is waiting anxiously for the arrival of more police from England as cheating , robbery and murder occur here in broad daylight and no one ventures out unless well armed.
8. Tyd Now. 20.8.53. No 33.
An English language paper writes from Australia:
Melbourne today presents a unique appearance. The city itself is surrounded on every side by suburbs, consisting of wooden buildings or tents. Very few houses have of late been built of stone or brick. There are now 70,000 people in Melbourne and adjacent areas, with houses sufficient for only half the population. No wonder that sickness is rife. In addition, Melbourne is one of the dirtiest and muddiest of cities, so that as can be imagined, it can not be classed as one of the more pleasant resorts. Mail services are very poorly organised. Long term residents may sometimes receive their letters, but new arrivals rarely do so, unless their mail is addressed to well-known business houses.
9. TN. 21.1.1854. No 24. Advertisement
"Sea Voyage to South Australia, undertaken in the year 1848, including the Return Voyage, compiled from diary entries and reports from South Australia and the city of Adelaide", published by Ernst Kaulvers.
10. TN. 1853/4 (29.1.) No 26. Australia:
An English paper reports that up until now much gold is still being found here, but also says that everything is so very dear, so that despite the large quantities of gold being found there, people are not much better off.
11. TN. 1853/4 (29.1.) No 30.
Because there is a great shortage of women in Australia, an Englishman by the name of Lindsay this year plans to bring out about 900 on his ship, hoping that in a short time each one will have found her man.
12. TN 1853/13 (2.4.) No 102
A fortnight ago four ships between them brought 354,648 oz of gold from Australia to London. Such a large quantity of gold had never previously been transported and even larger amounts are expected.
13. TN. 1853/16 (23.4.) No 125
London newspapers write that there is a great lack of women in Australia. All unmarried women who are brought there secure a man on the spot. A clergyman in one week solemnised the marriages of 200 couples.
14. TN. 1853/31 (6.8) No 242.
Reports come to hand from America and also from Australia that each year many letters are burnt there because the mail sorters can't read the addresses. Only the latin alphabet is known there with the result that when a letter arrives with the address in the German script it is usually laid to one side. So everyone who sends mail to America or Australia is advised to write the address using latin letters.
15. Luzica 1928 Cislo 1. (Lusatia 1928, No 1)
During 1855 the Herrnhut (Moravian) Brother Schondorf of Light Pass in South Australia preached both in the Wend and the Aboriginal languages. A number of Wend families had settled in that district, among them the former Rachlau teacher Peter Bryl who had gone there in 1847. There among the local Aborigines a Wend congregation had established itself.
16. Luzica z leta 1928 Cislo 4 (Lusatia in the year 1928, No 4)
The following returned from Australia to their homeland Lusatia in the year 1866; Jacob Prochno of Rackel and his wife Agnes, nee Pruske of Bloesa; also George Bobak of Dauben together with his wife Magdalena, nee Stephan of Rascha with their two children. By dint of 14 years of hard work in Australia they had earned sufficient to enable them to return as men of substance. It was their intention to purchase a property near Bautzen. Who knows anything about them?
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Note:
(The above newspaper items were translated from the Wendish into German by Siegfried Albert in Saxony, and both Wend and German copies were sent to Kevin P Zwar in Australia in September 1979. The above translations to English from the German are by R. J. Burger).
