Page:History of West Australia.djvu/125

Rh the assistance of convicts. The document concluded by declaring that "it is the unanimous opinion of your petitioners that should this settlement ever advance under the present system, it can only be at the sacrifice of the first settlers and their entire capital." They therefore humbly trusted that His Majesty's Government would take the case into consideration, and afford them that assistance of convicts which the circumstances of the colony required.

The petition was signed by George Cheyne, R. S. Mundil, J. W. Lee, T. B. Sherrart, S. Jackson, D. S. Geake, Charles Lee, H. D. Wall, G. M. Cheyne, Patrick Taylor, J. P. Lyttleton, Joseph Sinclair, Andrew Gordon, R. W. Maddocks, Richard Earl, and H. Townsend. The people of Western Australia did not agree with the prayers of their fellow-colonists at King George's Sound. They had strong objections to their pioneer population being contaminated with convicts, and wished to work out their redemption by their own labour and that of free men. No more signatures were obtained, and the memorial was not looked upon in a serious light.

Notwithstanding the increased area of land cultivated, a scarcity of provisions continued to harass settlers in 1834, and the old requirements of ready money and specie as a circulating medium still confronted them.

So attenuated had specie become as a medium of exchange, that the Government, on January 10, decided to issue one-pound notes from the commissariat office. These notes were signed by Deputy-Assistant-Commissary-General Lewis, and countersigned by two members of the Executive Council, and were made payable on demand either in specie or Treasury bill. The commissariat store was at this time found to be too small for the rush of work, and it was decided to erect a new building. A tender of £2,930 was accepted, and in April Captain Daniel laid the foundation-stone. Large settlers also issued notes.

For some months people waited patiently for the arrival of vessels containing wheat and other provisions, and prices rose in consequence of the delay. There was little visible stock on hand, and for some singular reason the Government was not at first able to cope with the position. Finally the Government schooner Ellen was despatched across the ocean for a cargo, and the authorities also requested shipmasters to bring provisions to Fremantle. For some unrecorded cause none of these ships arrived within the expected period, and the position of the colony was rendered most dangerous. Quantities of the previous year's crop had been used for seed, while most of the remainder had been consumed.

Each week the position became more critical, and anxiety was general. On September 13, 1834, the Government found it expedient to adopt some system of economy in the daily consumption of the wheat foods the colony possessed, whether in the Government store or in the possession of private individuals. On that date Governor Stirling issued a notice stating that the daily allowance to labourers indentured to settlers must be reduced to half a pound of meal or flour, and increased to 1½ lbs. of meat. All labourers in the employ of the Government were similarly affected, and persons able to purchase flour were allowed to obtain, on application to the Colonial Secretary, a weekly quantity of flour from the public store not exceeding for each adult 3½ lbs. The prices to be charged were—flour, 1s. per lb. wheat, 8d.; and barley, 4d. All holders of these commodities were requested to place them at the disposal of the Government at the same prices. His Excellency earnestly enjoined families in possession of supplies to exercise in their consumption that scrupulous frugality which private interest and public duty so imperatively demanded.

This precaution was as a good omen, for a few days afterwards vessels providentially arrived which, according to the Perth Gazette, saved the colony from early impending starvation. The Mary brought from the Cape 438 bags of flour, and the Government schooner Ellen landed 25 tons from Mauritius. Early in the following month the Jolly Rambler, from Java, and the Jessie, from Mauritius, arrived with cargoes of flour, sugar, and rum. The captain of the Jessie refused to break his cargo unless he received £40 a ton for flour, and 6s. a gallon for rum.

A second time Western Australia narrowly escaped the throes of starvation. In January, 1835, flour was sold at 6d. per lb., notwithstanding that the harvest had replenished the granaries. In June similar prices ruled, but in December a plentiful harvest reduced rates, and wheat was sold as low as 8s. a bushel, and fresh meat at 1s. 2d. and 1s. 3d. per lb.

The year 1835 was devoid of any startling incidents; some progress was made in agriculture, and an increase took place in the number of live stock scattered over the colony. It was estimated that 1,579 acres of land were under crop, and that the number of sheep had increased to 5,138. From one return it is gathered that between 1829 and 1835 one hundred and sixty three ships came to the colony, the total tonnage of which was 32,000, with imports valued at £394,095, and passengers numbering 2,281.

Some large areas of land were sold in 1834-35 by private individuals at 4½d. and 6d. an acre. The sales of Crown lands were small.

Slight efforts were made in exploration within the same period, and attention was centred on the country beyond the "mountains." Sir James Stirling made several tours through the settled districts, and a Government expedition examined new country. The minds of settlers looked towards the interior. The reports of great pastoral stretches opened up more attractive vistas for colonial careers than did the laborious tilling of the soil, and though people were now obtaining some practical results from their years of severe labour, they became anxious to combine with agriculture what they deemed the easier and safer pursuit of stock breeding. The Governor himself strove, late in 1834, to induce people to take up land between Swan River and King George's Sound. He wished to settle that country upon which Captain Bannister had made such flattering reports. With a better regulated administration he felt less fear in opening up new country and scattering his people over large areas. Moreover, the presence of an increased number of military led him to believe that they could be the more efficiently protected.

In November, 1834, Sir James, accompanied by Captain Blackwood, visited York in order to observe what advance had been made in that settlement. He was so well pleased that upon his return he appointed a Government Resident at York, and encouraged people to more enterprise in stocking their pastoral stations. Early in 1835 he journeyed to the south-west settlements to learn how they had progressed during his absence.

It had previously been ascertained by Mr. Moore that the Swan and Avon Rivers were joined. In December, 1834, a party left Perth under Surveyor Hillman to explore the land on the banks of a river which had previously been observed, and was named the Hotham. The explorers returned to Perth early