By Brian Yatman
A new colony in the north
"We are informed that letters have been received stating that Lieutenant-Colonel Barney, R.E., had been appointed Superintendent of the new colony to be established to the northward (in N.E. Queensland) and that the salary has been increased to £1500 a year. Colonel Barney was not to leave England until the end of May and consequently is not expected to reach the colony until about two months hence."
Exhibit A was delicious
A spoof Supreme Court notice appeared, placed by F. Kosten of Pitt Street, for a case to be tried by "His Honour, Public Opinion" and comparing the qualities of Australian bacon with those of the English variety. "The Jury are most respectfully invited to examine the living evidence, as being about to breathe its last this evening," the notice ran. On the weekend, the public could sample the subject's "gastronomic capabilities".
The ship with no pudding
A group of recent arrivals from London placed an open letter to Captain Taylor, of the Anna Maria: "We refer to the provisioning of the cabin, which we felt was inferior and scanty; to the low quality of your wine, beer, etc; to the almost total absence of any dessert; and to your repulsive manners, which we regarded as out of place on your part to these who were your guests in one sense, and your customers in another."