the company. A prospectus was published, setting forth its objects, and offering part of the property for sale in allotments. A map was also issued symbolical of the directors' intentions for the projected city. In this map were drawn public squares, wharves, market places, churches, theatres, indeed all the concomitants of a large and flourishing city. Most attractive of all was the picture of a man, smoking a cigar while lying beneath a trellis of luxurious vines, and reaching above him to pluck a luscious bunch. "The name of Australind was awarded the city," writes Mr. M. W. Clifton, "from the connection it was expected it would possess with India." The company also purchased large areas from Sir James Stirling, part of the grant of Mr. James Henty in its vicinity, besides the rights of further grants, which Colonel Lautour stated he was entitled to on the value of stock and stores he introduced into the colony. Through some misapprehension on the Colonel's part this right was not registered, and an additional grant was never apportioned.
Of Colonel Lautour's grant 51,000 acres were thrown open to the public for selection in allotments of 100 acres each, with four sections of a quarter of an acre each in the intended town attached. A price of £101, or £l an acre, was asked for these allotments and sections, while £10 was fixed upon as the price of town sections without the rural allotment. It was stipulated that half of the purchase-money in the mixed allotments should be applied to convey passengers and emigrants to the settlement or upon improvements in it, and half of the sum obtained from the separate town allotments should be devoted to improvements and works of public utility in the town, which was to consist of 1,000 acres, or 4,000 allotments, exclusive of streets, reserves, &c.
To Mr. M. W. Clifton was entrusted the conduct of these sales. Mr. Clifton had filled positions of great trust and confidence in the Public Service. For nineteen years he served in the Admiralty, at Whitehall, and in 1821 was appointed, at £1,000 a year, with an official residence, secretary to the new Victualling Board, which was formed when the reorganisation of the Victualling Department took place after the discovery of certain abuses. At the same time Lord Melville promised him the position of second secretary to the Admiralty whenever Sir John Barrow retired. He was, therefore, admirably adapted so far as official experience was concerned, to his important position of Chief Commissioner of the Western Australian Company.
The objects and possibilities of the proposed settlement seized hold of the minds of people with money in England. So rapidly were the sales effected that between July and September, 1840, the whole of the land offered was disposed of. In other words, 400 mixed allotments, having 1,600 town sections, were sold, together with 1,500 separate town allotments, while the remaining 100 rural allotments, with 400 town allotments attached, and 500 separate town sections were placed in the names of trustees, to be subsequently sold to settlers only. Indeed, more allotments were applied for than the number to be sold, and every allotment subscribed for was paid up in full on the day appointed for the completion of the purchase.
These necessary preliminaries completed, the official staff was appointed. The salary already fixed on for Mr. M. W, Clifton was £800 per annum, with the promise of an increase when the affairs of the company would admit it. Mr. R. W. Clifton was to receive £200 a year as secretary to his father. Dr. A. F. Carpenter, M.D., was appointed medical officer at £150 a year. Mr. James Austin, chief surveyor, at £400 for the first year, £500 for the second, and £600 for the third; Messrs. H. Gaudin, Thos. Grensell, and T. W. Thompson, assistant surveyors, at £200 each; and Messrs. Treen, J. Harrison, H. R. Johnstone, Henry Smith, Robt. Austin, and F. Humphrey, junior assistants. All these officers were engaged for three years.
A splendidly-equipped yacht or schooner, the Island Queen, was chartered to convey to Western Australia the survey officers, who preceded Mr. Clifton and the main body of settlers in order to have part of the surveys completed for their reception. On the 2nd September, 1840, this party left England in charge of Mr. James Austin. The future of the settlement appeared so glorious that a brilliant fête was given by the directors on the eve of the departure of the Island Queen. Numerous invitations were issued and accepted, and a fashionable assemblage congregated at Blackwall. The future success of Australind was abundantly predicted, and all considered with delight its possibilities.
Next day Mr. Clifton advertised for a ship to convey himself, his family and establishment, together with settlers and emigrants, to the colony. The Parkfield, a fine barque of 600 tons, was chartered, and preparations were set in motion to embark. By the end of September Mr. Clifton arranged to fill the first ship with picked settlers and emigrants who were intended to form the nucleus of the settlement. A chaplain to the settlement was chosen in the person of the Rev. J. R. Wollaston, who had purchased land in the company. Preliminary measures were also taken to charter a second ship, which should convey a further body of settlers and emigrants to Australia under the Rev. Wollaston. On the 10th October the order of choice of allotments was decided on by lottery. The 20th October was named as the latest day on which the Parkfield would leave England.
A more auspicious beginning could not have been made. The objects of the company were received so eagerly and flatteringly, and the whole arrangements had been made with so little difficulty, that no one entertained the possibility of failure. The directors were determined to conduct the company on an efficient and elaborate scale, and their efforts were received with approbation on every side. But just as all concerned were satisfied with the successful development of their plans, an unforeseen circumstance arose which threatened to completely annihilate the very existence of the company.
On the 12th October intelligence reached London through Captain Grey, the young explorer, that Governor Hutt, in ignorance of the decision of Lord Glenelg, intended to resume Colonel Lautour's ground owing to the non-fulfilment of the improvement conditions within the ten years allowed by the second set of land regulations issued. The board was astounded, and the interested public who had purchased allotments feared that this announcement would mean the loss of their money. Moreover, it was rumoured that Captain Grey had declared that Colonel Lautour's grant was sterile. Thus consternation raged among those who a few days before were so hopeful of the glorious future of the Australind settlement. It appeared that Governor Hutt had not then received Lord Glenelg's instructions of 23rd November, 1839.
The position of the directors of the Western Australian Company was now decidedly awkward, and they became alarmed at what would follow on the unforeseen announcement. They had sold land to the value of £60,000, had engaged emigrants, and arranged for them and the settlers to proceed immediately to the colony. Marriages had been contracted on
