Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/123

105 but in the meantime our markets must be liable to great fluctuations. We daily look out for the Sulphur, Cornwallis, Nimrod, and the Jolly Rambler; most of these may be here in one or two months, and then we shall have abundance.

I have been so occupied for some time, that I have been unable to keep up my journal, even irregularly. I shall try to recal some of the events that have occurred. My sitting days in the court have been Tuesdays and Fridays in each week—there were many arrangements to be made. I generally come up here on Saturday, and return on Monday; and I have to walk the distance, which is nearly sixteen miles: the hours of sitting in the court are from ten to five. I have already sat four times: the average number of cases has been about fifteen each day; some of them trifling, and some important and complicated; the pleadings are oral; the case is heard in a week after its commencement; judgment is given immediately; the costs of court in each case are very trifling; and a man may have his case tried, judgment given, and execution and sale within a fortnight. No jury is empannelled in any case under £100, and then only if the parties choose to pay for it.

I have been this day busy getting trees burned, and ground prepared for a wheat crop. I shall have almost three acres broken up and under crop; but I have not yet procured horses or oxen for my plough. We have been proposing to the Governor to import cattle, and we would guarantee him; he is well inclined to assist us, but the means allowed him are very limited.

21st.—I was setting fire to some stumps of trees to-day, when a spark communicating with the grass, in a few minutes the whole scene appeared one sheet of living fire. It was in the heat of the day, and my exertions to extinguish it and to prevent its progress to the dry grass near the house were quite exhausting.

The vessel which has come from Van Diemen's Land has