paltry forsooth!!! What is Fernando Po, with its £29,000 per annum?! If we had the Honourable Gentleman here, we are satisfied he would soon be convinced that the extent of Territory we command, comprising every earthly capability, attached to great Britain is not so paltry a consideration as he pleases to imagine—When it is allowed the reason for founding this Colony was purely political, lest another power, as was expected should send Colonists hither; we think it is too bad to murmur at the trifling pittance we enjoy, or give vent to snarling reflections, or narrowminded paltry sarcasms. The day we trust is not far distant when through the representations of Captain James Stirling our late highly esteemed Governor, the tide of Emigration will again set in upon our shores, and will ensure to Emigrants to this Settlement equal privileges to those extended to other Colonies. But when this consumation arrives, it is our earnest wish, that we may not be inundated with the tide of profligacy, which has overflown our eastern neighbours who are now strenuously urging the introduction of "respectable and virtuous members of society, to neutralize the anomalous constitution of their present community.
The Rules and regulations of a "Benefit Society" recently established at Perth have been placed in our hands. It is gratifying to see Institutions of this nature, rising up amongst us. This society from the judgment exercised in framing the resolutions, is founded on a basis which will secure to it every encouragement. It has our hearty wishes for its success. The subscribers we believe are already very numerous. We could wish to see a "Saving Bank" set on foot in this Colony. We observe an Act was passed at Sydney in March last "to establish a Saving Bank in New South Wales, to provide for the management thereof, and for the security of deposits therein." As it is desirable to afford an opportunity for the exercise of frugality to those who are possessed of small sums of money beyond what they immediately require, we feel anxious that a Society of this description should be formed. We regret however our present space will not admit of our giving a Copy of the Act alluded to; but we shall be most happy to lend every assistance in the promotion of so important an object.
Fire—On Saturday night last, the house known by the name of "Richmond House" in the neighbourhood of Fremantle, the property of Captain Bamber, was burnt to the ground; it is supposed by some incendiary. From what we can learn, not a vestige of the building is left, but the fence, outhouses, and brushwood, within a few yards of the house have not received any injury, consequently there could have been little or no wind. Many conjectures are hazarded as to the origin of this fire, but we refrain from giving publicity to them, trusting the reward liberally offered by the Government, will lead to the conviction of the offender, and the disclosure of the real facts.
The highly blameable practice of setting fire to the bush, has this week been productive of loss to two individuals, on Mr. Shentons Farm near Guildford, the hedge round six Acres of land, and about 3 tons of hay were consumed; the cottage was saved by the neighbours, with great difficulty.
SATURDAY EVENING—We have just received from our Fremantle Correspondent too late for insertion, a Report of the examination of Paul Lockyer on suspicion of having set fire to Richmond House; there not being any Evidence against him, he was discharged.
Investigation relative to the Discovery of the body of Halliday at Mongers Lake.
Mr. Walters having given information that he had accidentally discovered the body of a man, on the North East side of the large Lake, near Monger's Lake, W. H. Mackie, and J. Morgan Esquires J. P. proceeded to the spot, accompanied by the Colonial Surgeon, and after a minute investigation were jointly of opinion that the deceased met his death by violence, but by whose hands, or in what manner, they had no grounds for hazarding an opinion.
In consequence of a report having been circulated, that the deceased met his death, by some violence from a white man (suspicion having previously rested on the Natives) the following investigation took place on Saturday last before the Rev. J. B. Wittenoom, and J. Morgan Esq. Justices of the Peace.
J. H. Monger, stated that about the time Halliday was missing, he (Monger) came into Perth, and happened to meet Gordon, who asked him if the Natives had molested him in any way; he replied they had not. Gordon said it was of serious importance to know if the Natives had been about there, because Ellis the sawyer had told him the day before, that he was out near the Lake, and had shot at them, and had instantly ran home under Mount Eliza as he was much afraid of them. On Thursday last (Monger continued) he saw the Natives near his house, and as it was his custom to converse with them, (he understood a few of their words, and the rest were made intelligible to him by signs,) they distinctly communicated to him that "white man, kill white man."—The impression on his own mind was, that they had not thrown the blame upon a white man in order to secure themselves.
The Magistrates both concurred in the opinion that it would be dangerous to rely too implicitly upon the mere signs of a Native, they therefore proceeded to the examination of,
Gordon,—A day or two after Christmas day, he was at Mrs. Hokins's public house, conversing with others, about a man who was missing when Ellis said he had been out towards Mr. Monger's Lake, where he met a party of Natives, and two or three approached him within about 30 yards, he then fired towards them, and ran away.
Mr. Monger here stated that he remembered the Natives being in his neighbourhood about the time mentioned.
Although the Magistrates admitted there was no evidence against Ellis, still they considered it of importance to have him brought before them in order to instruct him that fireing at the Natives without any apparent provocation was an act not to be tolerated; a summons was consequently made out for his appearance on Monday, which was subsequently postponed until this day.
Ellis we are informed acknowledges having been near the spot at the time, and that he fired off his gun, and ran away to Butlers, the bush Inn on the Fremantle road. The whole affair is still involved in the greatest mistery. Ellis is represented to be a timid man, and unlikely to have wandered so great a distance, and to such a desolate spot, as the place where the Body was found, is represented to be. It is also singular that the Decease had such a dread of the Natives, that he refused a few days previously to his death, to take charge of Serjeant Barrons Cattle, even if he would give him two guineas a day. Halliday was employed by Serjeant Barron, cutting rushes at the back of his house, and as he represents had no necessity to have gone out of sight. We think it but Justice to the character of Ellis, to correct any erroneous reports, to state, that nothing has transpired further than his own acknowledgements to implicate him in this melancholly affair.
The Auctions held at Perth of late, have been very indifferently attended, arising in some measure, we conceive, from the short notice which has been given, and from a practice which destroys the object of a public sale, namely an acknowledgment from the Auctioneer that, to save time, it may be as well to state he has a limited price fixed upon the Articles. We presume when a party incurs the expense of submitting Wares or Merchandize to public Auction, he has some desire to dispose of his articles. What however will be said when we state that at this moment with 10 or 12 months consumption of flour in the market, the reserve price publicly avowed is 6d. We do not question the justice of any fair Trader making the most of his commodity, but the speculator in flour, or Corn, must not expect much indulgence; as the public will look with a jealous eye, upon capitilists who exercise their power of raising the price of provisions at their own discretion. The following hint may not be ill-timed, "even spreading rumours of the scarcity of an article, with the view of enhancing the price is an indictable offence, Rex v Waddington, I E. R. 143. So is the total engrossing of a commodity, with intent to sell it at an unreasonable price." The punishment is, fine and imprisonment.
THE KING GEORGES SOUND NATIVES
On Thursday last Mr. Dale proceeded to Monger's Lake, in company with Mr. Smythe and the two Natives of King George s Sound, Manyat and Gyallepert, in consequence of a wish to see the latter understood to have been expressed by Yegan and others of his tribe. Shortly after arriving at the Lake, Yegan and about ten of his tribe, made their appearance well armed, and welcomed their visitors in an apparently cordial manner. A Corobbary was danced; followed by an interchange of names and spears—the Dialects of either party was perfectly unintelligible to the others, and they seemed to apprehend each others meaning in some few instances rather from gestures than language: however their mutual attempts at conversation were persevered in throught the interview. Something like a trial of skill in throwing the spear took place between Galleypert and Yegan; the latter struck down a walking stick, vertically placed at a distance of about 25 yards. No mistrust or sheyness (except what might be inferred from the state of armed preparation in which Yegan arrived) was shewn by either side. No woman was visible on this occasion. The interview continued for about four hours, and on departing, Manyat and Gyallepert received an invitation from Yegan to meet him again in the same spot on the following morning; which however circumstances prevented. The purport of their conversation, if so it may be termed, is understood to have been (chiefly on the side of Manyat and his companion,) a description of their native District, & detail of the kind treatment and benefit they had received from the "White people," and an exhortation to Yegan and his followers to conduct themselves in a peaceable and friendly manner towards their white neighbours. (On the side of Yegan) a seeming adoption of his visitors into his own tribe, by exchange of names, &c. &c. A description of his late imprisonment and escape, and the nature of their connection with their white associates.
Sir Edward Codrington, in the absence of the Duke of Sussex, took the chair at the distribution of rewards by the Society of Arts. The gold Ceres medal was presented to Dr. Walkin, of Calcutta, for a collection of woods; and the gold Lis medal to A. Riley Esq., for importing to New South Wales a flock of Angola Cashmere goats.
COLONEL HANSON'S PAMPHLET.
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(Continued)
The projected road of communication with the Swan River, which I mentioned in a former part of this letter, has already made very considerable progress—part of the detatchment of Soldiers have been employed upon it, since the arrival of Dr. Collie, and they have already penetrated upwards of twenty miles. I had some conversation with one of the men, and he described many portions of the country, through which he had passed, as being exceedingly beautiful. He moreover told me, that water on the track was abundant, and that the greatest distance they had yet passed, without a stream, was little more than three miles.
The Native Chief Nakainah, was dressed up in a most splendid uniform, to be given to him as a present, after he had accompanied the Governor into the interior, upon a journey he was then contemplating. It was a mottley dress no doubt. Maude, the first Lieutenant, of the Sulphur, furnished a Black Coat, I furnished a Red one, with which the Black Coat was trimmed—Collar, Cuffs, Pockets, &c, &c. The shoulders were then surmounted, by a pair of my largest embroidered epaulettes, and
