WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 675, 21 January 1852, Page 4

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

[From the Hobart Town Advertiser, Dec. 9.] Our files extend to the 17th October. The most interesting news consisted in the, arrival of the convict ship Minden, with 301 ticket-ot-leave men, and a pensioner guard, with women and children, numbering 111 souls. One convict died on the passage. She had made a quick voyage of 86 days, having sailed on the 21st July. We believe this vessel will quickly be followed by other Government ships, as the local authorities have intelligence that 2 companies of Royal Sappers and Miners, numbering 200 men, and two officers of the Royal Engineers, were to be sent there, the first detachment of 70 Sanpers, and Lieut. Wray, Engineer officer, being expected to airive within a month. This was according to the report of Colonel Jebb, the Inspector of Prisons; but it was understood the Governor’s despatches from Earl Grey represented that one company of 100 men, with three subaltern officers, were to be sent a detachment of 50 by the first ship. A nephew of Sir John Burgoyne, late an officer in the East India Company’s Service, has been appointed Assistant Overseer under Mr. Dixon, and will, with bis wife and family, arrive in an early ship. A new Colonial Secretary, Mr. Falconer, had been appointed, and his salary had been raised by the Governor to £5OO. The Perth Gazette says ;— “We understand that the half-yearly reports of both the Governor and the Comp-troller-General had been received, and that Earl Grey, in the House of Lords, had given a glowing picture of the prosperity of Western Australia since the introduction of convicts, and from the large number of Sappers and Miners to be sent it is very evident that the Home Government have decided upon carrying on their operations here upon an extensive scale.”

The following information, extracted from the same paper, with respect to the steamers coaling at King George’s Sound, is important:—

‘•The Committee of the House of Commons on steam communication to Australia, recommended the line by the Cape of Good Hope, and we understand that Earl Grey in one of his despatches by the Minden, has intimated that this route would be adopted, the calling port for this colony being King George s Sound ; and that, in consequence, a party of convicts should be dispatched thither to construct jetties and render the harbour convenient for steamers.” The Pacific, Johnson, had left Dundee for Newcastle, to take in a cargo of coals for Western Australia.

Shark s Bay guano does not appear to be in very great favour, and prices are stated to be very low ; but this would probably alter when the sowing season commenced. Information had been received of the discovery of a lode of copper ore at the Geraldine Mine. The following is Captain James’s report to the Directors on the subject :—

“Gentlemen,—lt is with no small degree of pleasure I am enabled to afford you this acceptable and desirable information. I am happy to say I have succeeded in finding a lode of copper ore of first-rate quality, °he specimens I have broken are of a very rich quality, and they all come from within one foot of the surface. I have sunk on it about two feet, and it appears to be greatly improving.

The width of it, so far as I have opened, is between six and seven feet. This vein runs exactly through the heart of our section, and is situated on high ground wherein miners will be enabled to work all the year to advantage. I have thought it advisable to come to the bay with a barrel of fine specimens in readiness for any vessel, thinking it might make a difference in arrangements, as men might work as well in winter as summer. These specimens are composed of grey malachite and the red oxide of copper. I hope you will receive them safe. They are of excellent quality. I broke, with the assistance of two others in one afternoon, one bullock drayload of just the same quality I now send. I feel sanguine that your copper and lead ores already found will answer your procuring men thoroughly conversant with blasting. I consider ten men would be quite sufficient to open the vein for a short time, when I have no doubt you will be able to engage any number of hands.”

Much satisfaction was expressed by the countiy settlers at the orderly conduct of the ticket-of-leave men, which had gone far to allay any feeling of alarm which existed as io their propriety of conduct. The crops were looking most promising.