Page:The Present State and Prospects of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales.djvu/35

 The export of the wool is not entirely confined to the sheep reared on these stations, for already the squatters have pushed across the Glenelg, and formed numerous stations in a fine country to the north of a place called Port Rivoli, in the district of South Australia, and on the disputed territory between the boundaries of South Australia and Port Phillip; for even here the absurdity of bounding territories by an imaginary line has led to a dispute, probably not so grave as that of the Maine or Oregon boundary question, but quite enough to beget confusion. These men, though out of the jurisdiction of the Port Phillip Commissioners of Crown Lands, and obtaining their licenses, if any where, from Adelaide, ship their wool at Portland Bay, and draw their stores from thence.

The revenue of the district for the years ending 31st December, 1842, 1843, and the estimated revenue for 1844, are respectively as follows:—

The falling off in the revenue in 1843 proceeded principally from the reaction occasioned by the market having been glutted in the former years by the over-importation of English goods; this will be evident from the fact that the decrease on the duty on the importation of spirits alone amounted to £5,974 8s. 8d. and on that on other foreign goods to £2,368 19s. 4½d.—these two items making up more than half the deficiency.

It is interesting, as illustrating the progress of Port Phillip, to compare the foregoing statement with one