Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), Saturday 26 April 1834, page 274


THE

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN

JOURNAL.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1834.

BY the Quebec Trader we have intelligence from England up to the 8th of November last, and from

the Cape of Good Hope to the 27th of February.

Our European and Cape news adds but little to our previous information.

We rejoice that the anxiety generally expressed for the arrival of our Governor Sir JAMES STIRLING, will soon be set at rest, and that we may now

confidently look for him, accompanied by his amiable Lady and family, in the course of the

ensuing month, provided no untoward accident should befall them ; which, may Providence avert !

It appears, as far as we can collect from private communications, no Despatches having reached the Local Government, that His Majesty s Minis-ters have recommended and will pursue the strict-est economy towards this as well as other Colonies ; it will therefore remain for us to unite heart and hand to advance our mutual interests, and to force ourselves into that notice, which we have deserved, but it appears too evident, we have not gained. The current of emigration, at present, must be expected to flow but slowly : we are not dismayed by it, neither do we regret it : let us but keep pace with our previous exertions, and

let our progress be fairly represented, then may we with surety rely upon extended encouragement from the Home Government, and the torrent of Emigrants as it is predicted by many of our friends at home, will then pour upon our coast. We can alone estimate the good Sir James Stirling has effected for us in visiting England, by taking fully into consideration the difficulties he had to encounter. He had to oppose the public mind, strongly prejudiced by jaundiced statements—he had to contend with Ministers, influenced against us, but from what earthly cause still remains a mystery,—all these he has combatted, he has raised our name—directed attention to our wants, at a time when England was involved in the con-sideration of topics, from which our interests must have shrunk into the merest insignificance ; and above all, he will soon again be with us, to share our toils, and stimulate us to renewed enterprise. Soon will our Colony re-echo to the cry,

Welcome !— Stirling ! !

WE believe a communication has been received from the War Office, since the departure of the Merope, sanctioning the discharge of the non-com-missioned a officers and privates of the 63rd Regt. who were permitted to remain here conditionally. One colour serjeant, one serjeant, one corporal, & eight privates, with eleven women, and nineteen children, will be added as settlers to our Colonial

list.

THE two deserters, Flack, and Gradey, from the detachment of the 63rd, who escaped from the Merope have surrendered themselves, and are now in the guard-house at Perth.

Mr. Duffield, of Fremantle, has exported per Merope, half a ton of salted herrings, in prime order, for the Indian market. The price paid him is 3d. per lb., which is a fair remumeration. Mr. Duffield states that immense shoals of herrings are now off the coast and in the river,—and if atten-

tion is paid to this fishing, there is no doubt of complete success.

ERRATUM.—In the general heads of "An Act to provide a summary remedy for Trespasses com-mitted by Cattle and other live Stock," published in the Gazette No. 67, 12th of April, 1834, and in the 5th paragraph for "This Act to extend " read " this Act not to extend to trespasses, &c. &c."

THE reply of His Honor the Lieutenant Gover-nor in Council to a Petition, numerously signed by the settlers, on the subject of the Revenue of the

Colony, we have not been able to procure for this week's publication, we hope however to receive it

with a copy of the Petition in time for our next. An Abstract of the Revenue for the Quarter end-ing the 31st March of this year, will be found in

another column.

Mr. Trimmer's remarks at the Meeting of the Agriculturist's, held at Guildford, (which we re-ported in our last,) relative to the improvements on the Guildford road terminating at the branch road leading to the residence of the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, we are informed, are quite erroneous, one of the most important and desira-ble alterations, which must be obvious to every person who has passed along the road, being some distance beyond the branch road alluded to. It is true there is a gully on this side of Dodds' Inn both inconvenient and dangerous, which it is most desirable should be attended to before the winter rains set in ; but if Mr. W. Trimmer had been a member of the Agricultural Society at the time he wishes to insinuate the Guildford road was discon-tinued because the objects of certain parties were attained, he would have known that the workmen were taken off the road at the express recom-mendation of the Agriculturists, to enable them to procure labourers during the harvest-time. That the road has not since then been continued may be accounted for by the subsequent arrangements made regarding the Flats; which are now rapidly progressing; and we may expect to see them com-pleted in about six weeks. ==================================================

NATIVE FLOGGED AT PERTH.—About three weeks back, a native having been caught in the act of stealing wheat from the house of a settler at Guildford, he was brought down to Perth by Captain Pegus, assistant superintendent of the native tribes, and confined in the Jail. As there was no question as to the fact of the native having committed the depredation, and his friends, amongst whom was Weeip, the chief of the tribe, recommending that he should be punished by a "little beating all the same as black man," he was brought in front of the guard house and fastened to a stake, when he received a dozen-severe lashes, but without whincing or uttering the slightest exclamation. About twenty natives were present, and no disposition was evinced to offer any oppo-sition to what they allowed to be the course of justice. This chastisement has operated beneficial-ly, and we hope whenever they can be caught in the fact of stealing, to find the punishment inflicted with increased severity—a threat which was held

out to them.

Robbery committed by the Murray River Na-tives at the wind-mill opposite Mount Eliza.—On Thursday last between 9 and ten o'clock in the morning, about twenty or thirty natives attacked Mr. Shenton's mill. Mr. G. Shenton, who was in charge of the mill, closed the doors immediately on their approach, and succeeded in keeping them at bay for nearly two hours, during which time their operations were observed by persons in Perth but most unaccountably without their taking any steps to prevent their design. The natives, when they had broken the door open, seized Mr. Shenton and thrust him out of the mill, and forcibly held him down on the ground, threatening to "gidgel" (spear) him if he resisted. Whilst some were left to hold and guard him, others emptied the sacks on the floor, and proceed-ed to divide the booty, each, as he received his

share, making off into the adjoining wood. When Mr. S. considered them out of hearing, he ran to the point, and called for assistance, which was immediately answered by several parties who put off in their boats to his relief. A detachment of the 11th Regt, proceeded instantly from the Jetty to the opposite side of the river, directed by Capt. Beete, and another detachment under Lieutenant Armstrong crossed at Mount Eliza, but, after scouring the bush for some time, they all returned without having met with any of the offenders. It was communicated by our Swan River Natives to

Mr. F. Armstrong (who has been our chief inter-preter with the natives) that the Murray River men had the intention of robbing the mill,—not-withstanding this warning nothing was done to avert the evil. Those men who wished to put us on our guard have volunteered, to become our allies, and several of them (the names of the principal depredators being known) have this morning accompanied Capt. Ellis, the superin-tendent of natives, with a detachment of the 21st, consisting of six men, to the Murray, to secure and bring the ring leaders to punishment. Our

only security consists in a firm and determined line of conduct;—let the punishment be severe— anything short of taking a life.

The quantity of flour destroyed and stolen, it has been ascertained, is about 980 lbs. weight. ====================================================