WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [From the Hobart Town Courier, October 30.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 248, 15 December 1847, Page 3

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [From the Hobart Town Courier, October 30.]

Complete files of journals from this thriving province have reached us, embracing the period from the beginning of April to the latter end of September. The following particulars have been gleaned therefrom: — The Legislative Council commenced their .session in the month of July. On the 23rd ultimo, the order of the day having been read for the second reading of a Bill for iraposkig an export duty on sandal wood, his Excellency Governor Irwin observed, that the Executive Government, in consequence of the strong public opinion which had been expressed against the Bill, had come to a determination to withdraw it. Another Bill, however, was introduced lor the collection of atoll upon the same article; the proceeds to be appropriated to the express purpose of making and repairing the roads of the colony, the amount to be distributed to each district respectively from which the wood should be produced. The original Bill was very unpopular, and in the opinion of the colonists a very unwise and impolitic measure. The attempt to introduce it had agitated the colony from one end to the other. Public meetings had been held at Bunbury, Australind, &c.; and at- a meeting at. the Couifc.Hoooe, Perth, * series of resolution*

were passed, framed in strong expressions, condemnatory of the policy which prompted the measure. The most singular feature of this agitation was, that the Executive Members of Council appeared at the meeting, and urged their good intentions in palliation of the obnoxious measure. The falling value of sandal wood in the principal market, China, is mentioned as a particular reason why no export duty should be laid on — in proof of which it may be shown that about twenty years ago the price at Canton was £50 per ton ; in 1832 (vide M'Culloch) £43; a cargo by Mr. Henty about 1840 sold at £35 ; that by the Paul Jones, from Western Australia, although the finest samples ever seen there, realized only £31 10s. in 1846 ; and by recent information from Singapore, the price can only be qutftpd at from £28 to £29 per ton. Several other Bills of merely local interest had been forwarded and the Council stood adjourned to the 7th of October. The coal formation of Western Australia had been traced nearly fifty miles nearer the settled portions of the colony, ,«nd IXr. Yon Summer, who had been engaged in the investigation, considered it probable that it extends southward as far as Cape Riche. This farther knowledge of coal is uot only the result of the expedition, but large tracts of rich grassy land had also been passed over, and remain to be fully explored. It was regarded as a new era in the affairs of Western Australia, that a vessel, the Arpenteur, from Mauritius, had arrived for the purchase of stock. On the 23rd of July a committee of the Council was formed to inquire into and report upon the best means available to procure a steady supply of labour, and to.prepare an address to her Majesty's Government on the subject of opening a ship canal from the sea into the Swan at Rocky Bay, by means of convict labour, and to express the opinions of the Council in favour of obtaining gangs of convicts to execute such public works as are disproportionate to the means of the colony, but necessary to the development of its re"sources ; the basis of the measure to be — that all such convicts be removed from the colony as their respective terms expire, and that the funds for their maintenance and management be furnished wholly, or in part, from the British Treasury. The Governor was altogether opposed to the motion, considering it improbable that the assistance of the Home Government would be afforded. The result of the labours of the committee have not yet been published. The question, however, excited much interest, and is discussed at great length in the journals. A correspondence had taken place between Major Bush, of the 96th regiment, and the Governor respecting the right of the former to the office of commandant ; copies of which have been transmittsd to the Conbmander-in-Chief and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. £4 10s. and £5 per ton freight was demanded by the William Wise for the conveyance of sandal wood. A report in the highest degree favourable to the facilitation of German Immigration wos laid on the table of the Council on the 13th July. The ways and means were brought forward on the Bth July. The estimates of the past year were £7,930 lOs., and the expenditure £7,966 ss. Id.; the estimate of the revenue was £8,070, and the amount actually received £8,423 ss. 4d. The increase had been under the heads of regular duties ; and although a steady increase was anticipated, the estimates for the ensuing year had been framed rather under than over the last year's receipts; the probable revenue for the ensuing year being estimated at £9,221 18s. 2d.