Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/539

 PENAL 8KTrLl^:MENTS. FORT MACQUARIE. .-»11 Murriimbidge he (ankiiowing that it was the Hume) called it the Murray, and Sturt'B nomenclature was followed. The new country thus discovered could not be occupied at once* The nearer interior could absorb all and more than all the multiplyiug flocks and herds of the colony. Some extension was needed, however. A strictly penal settlement was required. In 1821 Port Macquarie was temporarily occupied as the home of the doubly convicted or re-trans- ported; and in 18*23 Surveyor- General Oxley sailed in the cutter 'Mermaid' to survey Port Curtis and Moreton Bay, with a view to the formation of convict establishments, in pm'suance of Mr. Bigge's recommendations, which had been approved in England.^ On the way he landed at Port Macquarie, where Captain Allman (48th Eegt.), an old Peninsular oflicer, was commandant. The natives were well treated by Allman. Strict discipline and neatness character- ized the little settlement. Mr. I'niacke, who described Oxley's journey, reported that— *' whenever (as frequently happens) any of the prisoners attempt to escape into the woods they are instantly pursued ]}y some of the (natives employed as) black police, ^vho possess a wonderful facility in tracing them, and being furnished with arms they seldom fail to bring them back alive or dead." Oxley examined the country at Port Curtis and thought it unfit for a penal settlement. The expedition (sent in pursuance of Bigge's recommenda- tion) resulted in the formation of a penal settlement at Moreton Bay, where Lt. Miller w^as the first Commandant for a brief period. His successor, Captain Bishop, remained but a short time. The third Commandant, Captain Logan, had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian. He '■' About the M.me period Newcastle at the Hunter river was abaotloiied as a penul e^efctlelllent m accordance with Mr. Bigge^a advice (P.P. 19th June S'2r2, ix 16o). The convicts were ecot in the firat instance to Port MacquariCp Dili eventually were removed further from the free sefctlenienta to Moreton liay, it being ji. portion of Bigj^'e's plan that they should be remote from the free population^ but t>n the coast where supplies could be landed easily and whence escape was difficult. Brisbane threw the Hunter river port open to trade. The Austriilian Agricultural Company obtained the privilege of worJting the coahmines cloae to the shore, and free settlers spread rapidly over the district. But though it ceased to he a pena! settlement, convicts were employed in ironed gangs there aa in many other places. I 4 I