Loughrea – 1840

South Australian 2nd April, 1840 p.6

In the Dublin Monitor of the 26th of October last, a long Report is contained of the proceedings of a recent meeting held at Loughrea, in the county of Galway, with the view of promoting emigration to South Australia. The meeting was attended by all the influential landed proprietors in and about that town.
Mr. Torrens delivered a very long and able speech, developing the Wakefield principle of colonisation; describing its successful operation in South Australia, and explaining the reasons of failure in attempts to colonise on the principle of distributing settlers by grants of land over a large territory. Appearing as the especial advocate of South Australia, Mr. Torrens, with considerable skill, brought into strong light the disadvantages of other colonies – especially the evils attending the convict system in New South Wales and Van Dieman’s Land.
The main object of the meeting was to set on foot a scheme of “depauperising” the Union of Loughrea, which is about to fall under the operation of the Irish Poor Law; and relieving the owners of land from the burden of supporting a numerous population by removing a portion to land in South Australia purchased by the Union.