WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [From the Perth Gazette, March 22.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 510, 22 June 1850, Page 3

WESTERN AUSTRALIA . [From the Perth Gazette, March 22.]

We find that public rumour with regard to the result of the Pelsart'i voyage was not so erroneous as usual. We have been favoured by Captain Scott with some few particulars, together with the master of the vessel's report, which we subjoin. Captain Scott has in this instance acted with his usual praiseworthy energy in endeavouring to open up new fields for the enterprise of the settlers, and with unusual generosity has made public the result. Had an expedition been sent out by the Government to explore these coasts, more attention could not possibly bave been given, or more concise instructions been furnished to the parties in charge, than those of Captain Scott, with the view of ascertaining what resources our shores possessed. It might naturally have been expected that selfinterest would have iuduced some concealment as to the precise localities where the different articles of commerce discovered were to be looked for by succeeding adventurers; but to Captain Scott's great honour, everything will be made public, so far as he is able to do so. To this end he has intimated to us his intention of giving us such information as shall make the discoveries of heretofore hidden

wealth within our grasp, available to all his fellow-colonists. To use his own words, " there is fishing ground enough for the whole colony, and a mine of wealth in the pearl banks, equal to any copper mine we shall discover." The chief proceeds of the PelsarVs trip are three tons pearl shell, six tons of salted fish, sharks' fins and oil, seal oil, and seal-skins, specimens of sandalwood, ebony, and guano. Of the fishing grounds, the best, and that where the principal quantity was taken, is at Dirk Hartog's Islands and the adjacent banks. Of the pearl shell, it appears that an unfortunate mistake happened, ihe oysters being the true pearl, and before this was discovered many thousands had been cleaned, but out of theremainder a few pearls were obtained. The principal discovery of guano was on a small rock, where a deposit of it was found 360 feet long, 130 feet broad, and 25 feet thick, estimated at about 1800 tons ; in shape similar to an egg cut in half; the quality, Captain Scott informs us is very far superior to any heretofore found upon these coasts, and, in fact, equal to Peruvian, in colour yellow. Of the specimens of sandal-wood, what we before stated was perfectly correct ; some of the specimens of wood have been pronounced by good judges to be ebony. Captain Scott, in order to satisfy the curiosity of the public, has promised to transmit to us in the ensuing week, specimens of the shells, guano, sandal- wood, and ebony, and we need scarcely intimate that as soon as we receive them they w ill be open to public inspection. Some good land was found in Shark's Bay, not exactly close to the beach, but separated from it by two distinct ranges of hills. No natives were seen, but their huts were found, differing materially from the frail structures in these districts, but more resembling those in the neighbourhood of Champion Bay ; they were placed in a circle upon an artificially raised platform of ground, one hut larger than the others being in the centre. It is impossible for us to eulogise too highly the enterprise of Mr. Scott, which has conferred such important benefits upon the colony. Both his instructions to Mr. Gillman, and the manner in which they were carried out, reflect the greatest credit ; both parties evinced an earnest desire to do their utmost towards discovery, and the colonists may well congratulate themselves on the result. Mr. Gillman evidently did his best to carry out his employer's wishes, and - Mr. Scott in seeking to benefit himself, did not lose sight of the opportunity of benefiting the whole community ; we are confident there is not an individual who has the pleasure of his acquaintance, who will not feel gratified at his success, and a certain degree of pride that one of the most enterprising men in * the colony is also one of the least selfish.