Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/380

 362 a new edition of mine upon "Sales of Lands." I find I have to steer clear of Scylla and Charybdis, i.e., the desire of some to get the Government price reduced or abolished, in order to tempt fresh immigrants, and the desire of others (early struggling settlers) to keep up the price of land that they may sell theirs. So too with the introduction of labour some are for convicts, others against, as I am.

Friday.—"Wonders will never cease." The Clarinda arrived on Tuesday, bringing here Mr. Grey, the explorer. I wish he had come here first, and so does he now. He is quite surprised to find how far advanced we are, after the reports he heard on all sides about us. He has greatly surprised us by giving a most favourable account of the land he saw at lat 16°. He says his reports to the Colonial Office have been most favourable, and that he has no doubt that some settlement will be made there, as his instructions were to look for a spot suited to the growth of sugar and cotton, which that place is suited for in a most remarkable degree. It was well watered, and the land rich beyond anything which he had ever seen before, with rivers running (sluggishly), though it was at the end of summer.

Oct. 11th.—I have been so occupied with one thing or another for some time past that I have not been able to write anything in the shape of a journal. The Governor having gone to York, I took the opportunity of getting my flock washed at this place, there being no one to manage it but two boys; so I set about it myself, and, with a little contrivance, managed to get the entire business over without any fuss, and, what is more, without any drinking.

The Governor returned on Tuesday. I went down yesterday, and returned this night. Mr. Grey (the explorer) is to sleep here to-night. He has got so far as Irwin's, and I now expect him. After much confusion, I have at last got out of my hands the report of the committee of which I was chairman. We intend to print it here, if possible, and if so, we