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As indicated earlier, after the "JAVA" had left London, that city's press had
carried an article in the "Weekly Dispatch" on November 3rd. 1839, which was
then reprinted by the "South Australian Register" on March 30th1840 in full with
two supplementary paragraphs. The article, "Rascally Conditions of Emigrant
Ships" was followed with this paragraph;
"The ship alluded to in the above extract was probably the "JAVA". which arrived
here safe after a short passage and has since sailed for Batavia. It is a
remarkable fact that all the emigrant ships bound to this Province, from its
establishment to the present time have arrived safe and landed their passengers
(now about 12,000), without casualty of any serious kind whatever. In the case
of the "JAVA", numerous complaints were made and certainly a very large
proportion of children on board died during the passage. An official
investigation into the matter took place, but it has not been thought proper to
publish either the evidence or the result. We can, therefore, only guess that
the latter has been favourable to the master of the ship, and that there were no
just causes of complaint on the part of the emigrants, from the circumstance
that the usual certificates were granted and no ulterior proceedings took place.
We regret much that the investigation in this affair has been kept secret, or
that it should be considered in any quarter that the public --- the party most
interested, has not the foremost right to be acquainted with the facts, or the
matter, involving life or death, can be satisfactorily, if secretly adjusted.
For instance, no one is ignorant of the report that the cause of the mortality
in question was to be traced to the stingy and illiberal screwing of the Captain
by the Colonization Commissioners with regard to the supply of medical comforts
and fresh provisions; nay, that the Captain proved that to be the fact. Now
surely if this is to be an unjust statement, it is of a character sufficiently
grave to merit contradiction; while if it is to be founded in truth, the
interests alike of the colony and of humanity require that the affair be
exposed, and some public means be taken to prevent the continuance of so
reprehensible a system.
---- Editors of Register"
The "Southern Australian" also carried the extract from the "Weekly Dispatch"
with similar editorial comment
" The "Dispatch" refers to a vessel which left St Catherine's Dock for South
Australia in October last, the sides of which were so rotten and decayed, that
the carpenters who were engaged in fitting her out, declared that the planks
would scarcely retain a screw or nail. The vessel alluded to was in all
probability the "JAVA", against the treatment on board of which a variety of
complaints were preferred, when she came into port. A sort of investigation was,
we believe gone into, but none of the particulars were suffered to transpire.
This we deeply regret inasmuch as the parties, whether truly or falsely accused,
must continue to lie under the imputation of guilt, until they are publicly and
honorably acquitted.
Were the case our own--- as it was that of the officers on board the "JAVA' ---
a case in which an unusual mortality of the children was alleged to have sprung
from the stingy and illiberal supply of medical comforts --- no considerations
on earth should have induced us to have remained satisfied with a "hole and
corner" investigation, or to have accepted the usual certificates, until we were
fully acquitted as we had been publicly accused. But there is we regret to say,
too much of a disposition in the colony to keep the public --- the party most
deeply interested--- in the dark, with respect to matters on which they ought to
be more fully informed. this however, must and will have an end. We have only to
add in conclusion, that we are heartily glad to see that the subject is being
taken up by the Governor."
Another statement from the paper followed, and gave additional facts.
Since writing the above, we have seen it stated that the result of the
investigation was not as we had supposed, "the granting of the usual
certificates" but that Mr. Martin, the Surgeon Superintendent was refused his
certificate as also the payment to which he would have been entitled, had his
conduct towards the emigrants been correct. As to the attempt to remove the
infatuation of secrecy which was attached to the investigation, --- whether
intentional on the part of the Governor or not --- we have only to add that,
that it was kept secret, and that even the publication of its result is owing to
the animadversions made in another quarter.
The interest of all parties requires that the details should be laid before the
public."
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