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THE COUNTRY POST.
Este es etre que palabras
Alone and under the influence of a real Havan-
nah, I sat some evenings ago ruminating on the
pleasing and rapid changes I had witnessed since I
left the land of my fathers, became settler in this
charming island, and began to improve, I mean to im
prove that which bad been left in so rude and un
finished a stale by the fair hand of nature.
I have always found that your real Havannah is a
rare promoter of thought and reflection, and having
drawn my chair to the fire, crossed my legs and taken
three whiffs, my eyes half closed, and I became un
conscious of every thing around me. The imagination
was however at work, and I entered on the most
pleasing train of reflections. The mind took flight and
without waiting to notice the excellent new cut at
St. Peter's Pass, placed me in the centre of Hobart-
town. I wandered through the streets and examined
every thing described by the country gentleman who
a few days ago kindly favoured us with so lively an
account of the improvements and the ball We unfor-
tunate wights who were not invited, are much in-
debted to him. The misfortune did not fall so heavily
on me, as might have been expected. A recent attack
of the gout had rendered me unfit for dancing, added
to which my tastes are somewhat changed of late. I
now prefer following the plough to dancing quadrilles
and would rather
" Stalk through the field with measured step,
"And liberal throw the grain into the
" Faithful bosom of the ground"
than wait at the bottom of twenty couple for my
turn to "trip it lightly" in hands four round and
round, right and left.
The country gentleman had not gone beyond the
truth, I felt highly gratified with the improvements
already accomplished, those in contemplation were
judiciously chosen and important.-And, if said I,
these things have been accomplishied by such means
in so short a time, what may we not expect after
a lapse of-fancy tapped me on the shoulder with
her wand, upset my hypothesis and withdrew the
veil from futurity. To describe all I saw would swell
my letter to a volume-noble vessels fitting out for
the sperm whale fishery, others taking in cargoes of
flour ground by steam flour mills on the 'Wharfs, im-
mense cooperages whose busy hammers made the
welkin ring, clocks, break-water, savings bank,
bridges, steam vessels to Kangaroo point and New
Norfolk, and sundry other things as Mr. Under-
wood says " too numerous to mention.''
At this moment I lighted another cigar, filled to the
brim with house brewed, reduced the measure one-
third at the first pull, and relaxed into my former
position. After a whiff or two I was contemplating
my own improvements (as we are wont to call them)
At home, I saw the fellows dropping the posts into
their places, the pannels followed each other in de-
lightful rapidity. I heard the ring of the axe in
driving home a rail into the mortice, to me the sweet
est music of the bush, and I have one or two fellows
who play with great taste on this instrument. Things
go on well said I, the stuff will be down from the
tier before I am ready for ploughing, the new pad
dock will be fenced in by the time the crop is out of
the ground and all will be secure, I'll have the Meri
nos put into an inclosure by themselves, my next clip
I'll ship on my own account, by September wheat
will be fifteen shillings a bushel, I'll settle Our ac-
count and buy the mare : surely this is a climate and
country in which a man may do well, I must write
to my friend G. to come out, he will succeed here;
and I'll certainly---I was interrupted in these
reflections by the entrance of a constable with a sum-
mons to attend an inquest on the body of an unfor-
tunate fellow who had been speared by the natives!
what! another!!! I exclaimed; the cup of joy was
dashed from my lips, my bright anticipations vanish-
ed. Are then the enjoyments of our fire sides to be
destroyed with impunity by beings who are become
the bane of the country ! Why it was but a few days a
ago I attended-but no matter, here then is another
immolated to the malice of these vindictive wretches,
another-
" Cut off in all the blossom of his sin,
" No reckoning made, but sent to his account,
" With all his imperfections on his head."
Another tenant for our church yard already filled with
those and those alone who have thus fallen ; what
dark and bloody deeds may not be expected from
beings whose hearts are filled with revenge, whose
delight is in murder, and who have now the audacity
to butcher our servants in sight of our windows! And
where said I is this to end? imagination was at
work and I again looked into futurity,-enough-
awake settlers, up and be doing,
"Shake off this downy sleep death's counterfeit,
" And look on death itself."
Let no vain hope cheat ye into a belief that the help-
lessness of women or the innocence of children will be
a protection, take warning and be on your guard for
murder is abroad. AMONESTADUR.
MACQUARIE RIVER- Mr. Gilies's hut was attack-
ed yesterday by the natives, and the two men fled for
protection, and fortunately escaped without being
wounded. But I regret to add, that news of the
death of a man in the employment of Mr. Cotterell has
just reached me, killed at the hut.
UPPER CLYDE - My servant on horseback was
surrounded by two mobs of natives, near the lagoon of
islands, last week, going and returning from seeing
my sheep and had but just time to get away before
they closed. They are in great numbers on and about
St. Patrick's plains just now, from one to three hun-
dred in a tribe.
BENLOMOND. - On Wednesday last the natives
chased Mr. Batman's shepherd to his house on the
Benlomond rivulet. Mr. Batman with four of his
men, immediately went in pursuit of them, but found
no trace of them that evening. Next day Mr. Batman
was joined by two soldiers, and three of the field
police, who with himself and two of his men made in
the whole eight. About noon Mr. Batman divided
his party three with himself, giving the other four di-
rections to meet him at a certain place. Sometime
after they at last discovered smoke, to which Mr.
Batman hastened, creeping on his hands and feet
within 20 yards of the place, before the blacks dis-
covered him. He then endeavoured to make them
stop, but to no purpose; one of them was in the act
of throwing a spear at him, when he fired at him in his
own defence. The man fell, but got up again and ran
off. Mr. Batman then pursued them, and at last
overtook a boy about 16 years of age, whom he took
prisoner. He then returned with his party to the
fires which the blacks had just left, where he found
20 blankets, 24 knives, 2 muskets loaded, about 4
pounds of buckshot, a canister of gunpowder, a
bayonet, 2 pair of sheep shears, spears, waddies, &c.
One of the muskets was the same that they had stolen
from Mr. Robertson's, at the Elizabeth river, a few
days before, when they murdered his man, and the
boy described the manner in which they murdered
him. Next day the boy conducted them on the tract
of the blacks who had fled, and led Mr. Batman and
his party to where they had been that day; they then
followed their course until sunset, when Mr. Batman
proceeded to Mr Pitcairn's farm, Mill's plains, and
during the night the boy made his escape, by groping
his way up the chimney of a room in which he was
confined.
Next morning (Saturday), Mr. Cottrell
arrived at Mr. Pitcairn's informing them that the
blacks had robbed his hut the night before, and
that one of his men was missing. The very di-
rection in which the black boy was tracing them, was
in a straight line to Mr. Cottrell's hut, when night
and heavy rain prevented him tracing them farther.
Mr. Batman, Mr. Crawley, and Mr. Cottrell, were
out the whole of Saturday, making three parties, and
going in different directions, but did not find any
traces of them whatever, They think when the boy
joined them that they would make to the sea coast.
Mr. Bateman states that the soldiers and field police
constables acted extremely well on this occasion,
Ibid. - If something is not done speedily I think
we shall not be able to keep either shepherds or
stock-keepers. The men here will not go a mile from
the house unless two or three together, and some of
the shepherds refuse to look after their flocks on ac-
count of the blacks. The black boy above alluded to
could trace the blacks through the bush, equal to the
blacks of New South Wales. I think that by getting
one of them and threatening him, he would trace them
through the island, and would be a sure means of
taking or driving them back.
JERICHO. - You have been furnished from other
quarters with accounts of the natives. I think the
notions you have lately expressed on that subject
are quite correct.
CAMPBELL TOWN. - Your plan of tracing the
black natives by means of Sydney blacks, is, in the
opinion of the most intelligent here, the only effectual
method yet suggested of getting at the black murder-
ers, compared to whom bushrangers were innocent
beings. They have acquired such a fondness for our
blankets, dampers, flour, sugar, knives etc. that for the
sake of them they will continue to rob and murder,
until we exterminate them or they us, unless for the
sake of humanity they are sent off the island.
RICHMOND. April, 7, 1828. Last Saturday pur-
suant to an advertisement in the Courier of the former
week, I attended a meeting ol the Richmond Mar-
ket Association. About eleven o'clock I found the
secretary and some half dozen gentlemen assembled.
At twelve the secretary was about to proceed to bu-
siness, when he discovered he could not muster a
quorum of the Committee of management. After
waiting for two or three hours, the greater part of
.the assembly began to disperse, but others continued
to arrive until four o'clock, when the Secretary hav-
ing caught a quorum of the committee formed a meet-
ing. As I do not think there was any order made lo
publish an official account of the proceedings, I will
as far as my recollection serves me furnish you with
a report.
About four o'clock, the meeting being formed, and
nitmeiotis apologies sent for the absence o( members
and proxies for others being duly received and ad<t
«'milted, John Hunt Bulcbei, llsq was called i«i Hie
chair, mid the 1 «solutions ol' the Immer general and
committee meetings being lead mid continued, the
ineeliug in pursuance of the recommendation of the
commutée proceeded lo the election of a President,
whe" .laities Gordon, Esq. of Foi cell, was unanimous-
ly chosen to 1.11 that otlice. ' The meeting then re-
sulted to adjourn for the piesenl (on account of the
.illili attendance of meinbeis) the discussion ol' various
important Matters for the consideintion of, which thK
meeting had been convened. After a good deal of
discussion on the conduct of those ireinbe'is who
failed lo attend, the seci eiaty « as directed to call a
meeting ol' the committees of the Association on Mon-
day the ül<l instant, hv circuais iiddiessed to each
meiiibe-, audio »t.ike off the lists of bo: li committees
any member who Iniled in attending that meeting, and
did not send sullicient written excuse for his absence;
he was ulso directed to futni->li the treasurer willi a
list of the memheis, that he might collect the amount
of I heir subscription« bclbic the ne vt meeting ot the
eonimiltee, and lo info m Mr Guidon of his -being
elected lo the ollice of President,
At this peii<)d Messrs.Conlon and 'I'ade, who had
been detained all day at the Ielry, arrived from Ho-
bart town, und accotintrd tor, the absence of many
iiieiiihuis who bud been in the sime predicament uutd
ibey thought it tv«.s too late fur' the meeting. The
report ol those gentlemen who had so recently receit ed
a practical ¡.lustration ol thediiiigeis and delays of the
terry at K ingitruo point, pre,i.ued fie meinbeis pre-
sent fortbl'-favourable recepli <n of a proposal dor
erecting a Joint S.oçk Company to , ply a Steam
Boat and Punt at the Feiry. Ninety shares out of
two bundled were instantly taken, copies ni* th» pre-
liminary conditions were oulered lo remain with the
Piesident, Tiensurer, Secretary and Clerk of the As-
sociation, mid with Allred Stephen, Esq. who was
nominated Solicitor to the pioposed company. Such
is ihe demand fur shines that h.id not a few been
resorted lor (he Ilubirt-town people, I believe the
list would luve been hied up this morning. Indeed
the secretary has just informed me that, he has re-
fused A hiibspriber and the deposit on twelve- .shares.
-You will probably favour us willi your opinion about
the steam boat concern, for it would he well that the
subject should undergo some public discussion before
the money is «eut oil' lor Ihe purchase of die boat,' Sec.
I understand the punt is to he built immediately, as
are the necessary jetties as soon as the requisite ar-
rangement* cm he completed with the Government,
to secure the interests of the company fora ceilain
period. ; v *" - "
OATLANDS -It is with real concern I inform you
of a very distressing accident which has happened to
Mr. Ansley' two sons, George and Arthur, (14 and
8 years of age.) The were both in the fields
shooting and by accident some gunpowder falling on
a piece of rag that happened to be ignited, communi
cated itself lo the flask, which instantly exploded
The right hand of the elder young gentleman was so
much injured the it was feared tbat the wholewould
require lo be amputated, but it is now hoped that he
will retain the use of it, with the lost of the thumb
and forefinger. The case of the younger was still
more perilous. The struck him, as we learn, on
the forehead, and splintered the skull. We may con-
ceive the distress of the parents on this anxious occa-
sion, but we rejoice to learn that by incessant atten-
tion and the fortunate presence of Drs. Desailly and
tiii'lspeth, they nre both likely to recover, and the
«¡gilt of both is providentially uninjured.
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