John Beaglehole
That the impost of Thirty Shillings a Month is unjust because the successful and unsuccessful Digger are assessed in the same ratio
For these reasons and others which could be enumerated Your Petitioners pray Your Excellency to Grant the following Petition
* First. To direct that the Licence Fee be reduced to Ten Shillings a Month
* Secondly To direct that Monthly or Quarterly Licenses be issued at the option of the Applicants
* Thirdly To direct that new arrivals or invalids be allowed on registering their names at the Commissioners Office fifteen clear days residence on the Gold Fields before the License be enforced
* Fourthly To afford greater facility to Diggers and others resident on the Gold Fields who wish to engage in Agricultural Pursuits for investing their earnings in small allotments of land
* Fifthly To direct that the Penalty of Five Pounds for non-possession of License be reduced to One Pound
* Sixthly To direct that (as the Diggers and other residents on the Gold Fields of the Colony have uniformly developed a love of law and order) the sending of an Armed Force to enforce the License Tax be discontinued.
Your Petitioners would respectfully submit to Your Excellency's consideration in favour of the reduction of the License Fee that many Diggers and other residents on the Gold-fields who are debarred from taking a License under the present System would if the Tax were reduced to Ten Shillings a Month cheerfully comply with the Law so that the License Fund instead of being diminished would be increased
Your Petitioners would also remind your Excellency that a Petition is the only mode by which they can submit their wants to your Excellency's consideration as although they contribute more to the Exchequer that half the Revenue of the Colony they are the largest class of Her Majesty's Subjects in the Colony unrepresented
And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray etc.
Contents
Background
Goldfields Involvement, 1853-1854
Signed the 1853 Bendigo Goldfields Petition. Agitation of the Victorian goldfields started with the Forest Creek Monster Meeting in 1851, but what became known as the Red Ribbon Movement was centred around the Bendigo goldfields in 1853. The Anti-Gold License Association was formed at Bendigo in June 1853, led by George Thomson, Dr D.G. Jones and 'Captain' Edward Browne. The association focused its attention on the 30 shillings monthly licence fee miners were required to pay to the government. They drew up a petition outlining digger grievances and called for a reduced licence fee, improved law and order, the right to vote and the right to buy land. The petition was signed by diggers at Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, McIvor (Heathcote), Mount Alexander (Harcourt) and other diggings. The 13 metre long petition was presented to Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe in Melbourne on the 01 August 1853, but their call for a reduction in monthly licence fees and land reform for diggers was rejected. The diggers dissatisfaction erupted into the Red Ribbon Rebellion where agitators wore red ribbons on their hats symbolising their defiance of the law and prohibitive licence fees.
Post 1854 Experiences
Obituary
- The Late Mr John Beaglehole
- On Saturday evening one of the most familiar figures and best loved citizens of Moonta, in the person of Mr John Beagle hole, of Ryan-street, passed over to the great majority at the age of 78 years. The deceased gentleman, who arrived in South Australia by the ship Prince Regent in 1849, first settled at the Burra, where he engaged in the building trade for few years before taking up hia residence at Moonta. He assisted in the erection of the first engine.house at Moonta Mines In 1866 he relinquished the building trade and commenced business as an ironmonger, oornfactor and seedsman in Ryan-street, which he ad successfully conducted ever since. A man of kindly, lovable disposition and unblemished integrity his name became a household word and latterly he was regarded as the Grand Old Man of Moonta. His demise will be severely felht by the Methodist Church, of which he was one of its oldest members and best workers, For very many years he had been the treasurer of the Church Trust and a class leader. He also took a deep interest in the Sunday School and was one of its past superintendents, an office he held for many years until failing health and partial deafness precluded his carrying out the duties to bis own satisfaction. He also represented East Ward in the Town Council for two years (1881-1883) and gavel he utmost satisfaction to the rate-payers. He was one of the original trustees of the Moonta Cemetery and also of the Moonta Institute, which offices lite held up to the time of his death. He leaves two sons — Messrs John and William Beaglehole of Moonta—-and three daughters —Mrs James Southcott of Adelaide, and the Misses Annie and Elizabeth Beaglehole, of Moonta — alse one brother — Mr W.H. Beaglehole, managing director Lion Brewery, Adelaide. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon amid many manifestations of sincere sorrow. Several flags were flown at half-mast. The Town Council officially attended, and Mr S. R. Page and Mr John Symons represented the trustees of the cemetery. A very large number of business-men and other leading representatives, of the town, the mines, and the outlying farming district were present to pay their last tribute ef respect to a valued and highly-respected member of the community. About thirty vehicles followed the hearse, whilst the cortege was preceded by the Moonta Methodist Choir and many members of the Sunday School. Several hundreds of people had congregated at tbe cemetery gates awaiting the arrival of the funeral. The coffin was of polished oak with massive silver mountings. The Rev W. Shaw conducted the graveside service and delivered a touching and impressive eulogy on the deceased gentlemen's life and character, the ceremony concluding by the choir's feeling rendition of the hymn," Farewell." The funeral arrangements were efficiently carried out by Mr W. Cowling.[1]
See also
William Beaglehole, brother
Ballarat Reform League Inc. Monuments Project
Further Reading
References
- ↑ Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser, 04 February 1910.
External links
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