Page:The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal 1(6).djvu/2



Perth, and Fremantle, Jan. 24th, 1833 Cogniac Brandy Jamaica Rum, Hollands, Cape Wine, Dunbars Bottled Stout. Ale in hogsheads, Beef, Irish Prime Mess Pork, Candles, Arrack, Hops, Raisins, Dried Fruits, Apples, Pears, Apricots, Peaches. Prime Butter, Snuff in Canisters, Window Glass, Brass Cocks, Spades, Pick Axes, Sickles, Nails, Steel Mills, Colonial Flour Wheat Barley Oats Men's Strong Shoes Cart and Waggon Wheels, Corks, Cigars, Crockery, Cloves, Nutmegs, Pepper, Shot, Iron and Steel in Bars, London Mustard, Tin Mugs, Pickles, Pitch and Tar, White, Black, and Green Paint, Mauritius Sugar, Fine and Common Black and Green Teas, London Soap, Seeds, Stationery and Account Books, Slops, Jackets, Sadlery, Tobacco.

G LEAKE

. The Cornwallis, Captain Henderson, for the Cape of Good Hope: Passengers, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Wm. Samson, and Mr. P. H. Dod.

.-The Cygnet, -The Thistle, and Jolly Rambler.

Expected to sail in a few days -The Thistle for Hobart Town, and the Jolly Rambler for Sydney.

We direct the attention of our Correspondents, to the interesting inquiry suggested by the following letter, and shall feel a satisfaction in being the medium of communicating any information, properly authenticated, which may advance the objects of the "lover of Natural History"

Dear Sir,

Being a lover of Natural History, and knowing that your residence in the wide and little explored regions of Australia, enables you to do good service in the cause of science; I beg to trouble you with a few hints. The point to which I would direct your attention is one which naturalists have hitherto been anable to decide, and from its peculiar singularity is a thing of great interest and moment. There are two genera of animals i.e. quadrupeds, which are found only in New Holland, and Van Diemen's Land, and are remarkably like birds in many curious respects, both in their anatomical form and habits. They are called the Ornithorynchus or duck-billed animal (so named from the shape of the bill or jaws) and the echidna. They both have the

bones of the head much like a bird with a kind of bill and no teeth. They also resemble birds in having the "side bones" and "merry-thought" bone, and the sternum or breast bone like them. They are  said to live on insects and worms. The Ornithorynchus is a water animal, has short legs and large webbed feet, and swims, and dives well. There are four or five distinct species of it, and two of the Echidna which is a land animal. Your Uncle has seen preserved specimens in the university Museum, and will be able to recognise them. Their mode of generation is the point I would offer for your investigation Unlike other quadrupeds these possess no womb and it has been asserted that they lay and hatch eggs, and indeed eggs have reached this country, stated to be the bonafide eggs of those creatures. I have seen one which was all white and about as big as a pigeons. If some of the moments of your leisure, and the casual opportunities thrown in your  way during your wanderings, or by the chase were taken advantage of, and devoted to this subject, I think the discovery would be gratifying and perhaps; useful. The following hints may serve to guide you in the process. The date and circumstances under which the discovery was made together with every important fact should be narrated. The form (i the recent state) and locality of the nest if there be one, and the number of eggs &c, should be told. And as the mere sending of eggs is insufficient, it would be well to send every thing that may throw certainty over the relation in the best possible state of preservation to this country. If the fact should prove to be that they really do lay eggs, it would be well if a number of fresh ones fall in your way to place some of them under a hen, and preserve the young ones, embryos in spirit Their natural habits are little known, so if you could procure one alive it might be advisable to keep it for some time. The skins and skeletons are valuable here from the rarity of good Museum specimens, and the following is a good way of anatomizing. Skin and remove the fleshy parts as far as can be safely done, put together a few boards for a case and bore it all over with holes, nail the animal in it and place it a few weeks in an ant hill.

It is a gratifying thought that the accounts received by your friends have been so prosperous, allow me to say that in some measure I have participated in their pleasure arising from this source, and shall continue to wish you every comfort and enjoyment which your peculiar situation and circumstances will afford you. With sincere regard

Yours truly G.H. London 16 August 1832.

The advanced state of this Colony, mainly attributable to individual exertion, far beyond the expectations of the settlers, who have recently arrived here, has been the general theme of panegyric, it is sincerely to be lamented therefore, that our circumscribed resources, prevent our affording to the new settler the facilities of communication with the interior, by means of roads, bridges, &c, which he hears at home, are allowed to other Colonies, and naturally concludes extend to this The roads we have at present, pass through a very circumscribed tract of country, namely, from Fremantle to Guildford, and again from Fremantle to the Canning, each a distance of about 20 miles; as the country on this side of the Darling range, is principally occupied, the attention of the new comer, will of necessity be directed to the locations in the neighbourhood of York, where abundance of excellent land awaits him, and every requisite for immediate and permanent settlement. But the difficulty and expense of conveying indispensable implements of husbandry and stores, over what are termed the Mountains, will we are apprehensive prove a barrier, to the extensive population of that district for the present, by persons merely provided with moderate means. To defer the improvement of the York road until the arrivals we have every reason to anticipate, pour in upon us, would we feel convinced retard the future prospects of the Colony, and impose a difficulty upon the Emigrant, where it is the policy, and evidently the disposition, at the present day, of the home Government to afford every relief. We have been credibly informed by those who have frequently passed over the line marked for the road, that four or five hundred pounds bestowed in labour, upon this essential object, would complete the task; surely then, when such positive advantages to the settler are manifest, and our interests are so closely involved in it this trifling expenditure would not be denied us. We admit there is still a considerable portion of the land on this side of the hills, untilled, and available; but we believe we are correct in advancing, that there are many objects, which the new settler cannot carry into effect, to any extent, unless some better means of communication with the other side is afforded him. The distance to York does not exceed 60 miles, one third of which, is relieved by water carriage. We regard the formation of this road, as an object of the deepest importance, and its necessity is so generally admitted, that we take shame to ourselves for not having noticed the subject at an earlier period.

A question of some importance to the Mercantile interest, as well as the Colonists at large, has been the subject of warm discussion, within the past week at Fremantle, and has given rise we are informed, to some delay in landing a portion of the cargo of the Cygnet. The question alluded to, as far as we can collect, is, whether a Captain is bound to land goods above high water mark, which according to the usual tenor of a bill of lading, are to be delivered at the Port, and it so, whether he is borne out in placing the goods upon a private Jetty at the risk and expense of the consignee. We believe we are correct in stating that the common acceptation of the term "delivered at the Port," is, the place of anchorage; still we have our doubts whether the Captain would be justified in taking his vessel into Cockburn Sound and insisting up- on that being the port of delivery. It might be attempted, by way of annoyance, we would suggest therefore that some measure be adopted, to protect the public from the caprice of individuals, and to establish a point which has been mooted on the occasion of every fresh arrival. With respect to the question of the Jetty, which has arisen out of this dispute, we must allow it is a serious evil, that a private individual should have it in his power by agreement with the Captain, provided he is compelled to land goods, to insure the Jetty dues on the whole of the cargo. We do not mean to infer, far from it, that Mr. Scott has taken any undue advantage in this instance, or any other, but the public ought to be secured from any possibility of combination to their prejudice.

We are open to confess, we are astonished any objection should be made to goods being placed on the Jetty, the charges are by no means immoderate, and it this is an obstacle, we have heard Mr. Scott repeatedly assert that he would submit to any prices, which might be established at a public meeting. The advantages of a Jetty are considerable, and previously to the erection of the one we refer to, there was a constant outcry against the government for not affording the public the accommodation, strange to say, now the relief is at hand, there is a fresh bone of contention, and the absurd and frivoulous objection raised, that it is a private Jetty. An unaccountable jealousy seems to have existed respecting this Jetty for some time, which, we have noticed with regret; it is painful to witness the envy and detraction which attend the successful efforts, of any of our neighbours, where it should rather be a subject of congratulation, and a stimulous to the interchange of kind offices. We do hope to see more cordiallity of sentiment, and an absence of the acrimony, and ill feeling, which is but too often displayed. To return to the original question we are of opinion, it must be fraught with unpleasant reflections to both parties, to argue the point at issue, either on the Jetty, or the beach; it is to be regretted therefore, that the question is not set at rest. It may be as well to remark, that the insertion of the words in the bill of lading, "to be landed at Swan River" would obviate the difficulty: our friends purposing to embark for this Colony, will do well to bear this in mind, it has been adopted in some instances, and proved an infallible nostrum against dissension.

His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, will embark on board the Ellen, Government Schooner, on Monday next, accompanied by the Colonial Aid de Camp, Ensign Dale, and G. F. Moore Esq. when the Schooner will proceed to Augusta, and King Georges Sound. This annual trip, is taken by His Honor, for the purpose of inspecting the different out-ports.