PROGRESS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 24 March 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

PROGRESS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

(From the Perth Inquirer, Dec. 30.) On the last day of the year it may not be altogether unfitting if we take a retrospective view of the past, and indulge in a few anticipations for the future. The record of events is not very lengthy, nor the events themselves very important, but they indicate progress rather than retrogression, and encourage the hope that the year 1863 will be more cheering than its predecessors. The first occurrence of note was the arrival of the present Governor — a change of much importance in a colony where the Governor is the government. Great things were expected, because it was known that the new comer came with much official experience in a department connected with the employment of convict labor. That labor had lons been misapplied in this colony, and it was fairly hoped that a better system would be adopted. Unfortunately, with every desire to set to work in real earnest, the new Governor found himself crippled at the outset by want of funds, every available shilling having either been disbursed or mortgaged previous to his arrival, with the prospect of a not inconsiderable debt at the termination of the year, or at the termination of current contracts. Notwithstanding that he was placed in this awkward position, he contrived to acquire and maintain popularity, the colonists being satisfied to take the will for the deed, and having confidence in his ability to execute that which we had expressed a desire to perform. Owing to the circumstances above related, there has been little of a political nature to record. There was but one meeting of the Legislative Council, and that was convened principally for the purpose of passing the estimates and adjusting the public accounts, disarranged in consequence of the overexpenditure of the previous year. The Governor's speech at the opening of the Council was considered satisfactory, and the settlers await the re-as-sembling of that body to learn authoritatively the final results of the proposed measures of Government, some of which had to be submitted to the Imperial authorities for approval. By the last mail, however, information was received that Her Majesty's Government sanctioned the increase of salaries, the classification of clerks, and the re-or-ganisation of the Survey department, all propositions submitted by His Excellency and referred to in his opening speech. Perhaps the next most important occurrence is that which affects the probable opening up of the new country discovered by Mr F. Gregory, with a view to its future settlement. The regulations submitted ior the consideration of the Imperial Government and finally approved by the Secretary of State, offer greater facilities than has

yet existed for the stocking of distant portions of our territory. According to the approved regulations, lands in the Northern and Eastern districts comprised within certain declared boundaries, will be leased upon the following terms :■ — First year, free without selection ; the succeeding three years also free for grants not exceeding one hundred thousand acres ; at the termination of the three years' leases for a further period of eight years will be issued at a rental of 5s per thousand acres for the first four years, and lOs per thousand acres for the second four years, together with an additional charge Of L 5 in the shape of a license fee. It is confidently anticipated that before the close of 1863 many settlers and much stock will have removed to this quarter, followed, as a matter of course, by constant commercial intercourse between the settled parts of the colony and the newly established country. From the South must for some years most of its supplies be derived, and a large coasting trade thereby created. The sad visitation during the past winter has necessarily had a depressing effect upon many of our settlers : the continued floods destroyed not only the crops, but carried away the surface soil of the fields of more than one unfortunate agriculturist. The floods, losses by disease among sheep, and cessation of public works, all combined to dispirit the rural population, and to tinge with a sombre hue the reports of the Agricultural Societies. Happily we have reason to suppose that all these saddening causes are exceptional, and that during the ensuing year, with a more favorable season, and with a prosperous revenue, we shall have nothing to bar the progross of this as well as other sections of the population. The sale of the Wheal Fortune Mine to an English Company will, it is fondly anticipated, be the prelude to the proper development of the mineral resources of the colony. With the perfect knowledge of our great riches, we have hitherto been unable to turn them to account for want of sufficient capital ; but now that ample means have been secured for the working of one mine, all interested in mining pursuits feel assured that, success being certain, the investment of foreign capital in other mines must follow as a matter of course. Asitis, working with our own means, and Under unfavorable circumstances, we exported, according to the Customs' returns, 783 tons of copper, and 9 tons of l^ad ore, and have now on board the Tartar and African (loading at Champion Bay) about 800 tons of ore. Our exports of colonial produce during the period corrprised within the 30th September, 1801, and Ist October, 18G2, amounted in value to L 107,080, against L9G.G4O in the preceding year. There was an increase of about L3OOO in wool, LIOOO in animals exported, upwards of L-1000 in minerals, and L3OOO in timber. The following items, which did not appear in previous returns, are also in addition : Provisions, L24;>o ; pearl shells, L 250 ; glue pieces, L3O. The decrease is in sandalwood, L' 200 0; leather, LSO ; whale oil, L3OO. As our timber trade will be resumed, we may hope for some export of the article during the ensuing year, but not to the extent of the shipments indicated in the Customs returns, which included the cargoes of the Perekop and Lincellps. In most other exports we may fairly anticipate a gradual improvement. On the whole we have no cause to complain. Under adverse circumstances the colony has progressed, and, humanly speaking, it has far better prospects during the ensuing year. We shall have a more ample supply of labor for employment on public works ; the state of our finances will be more satisfactory ; there will be an outlet for the dispersion of our flocks and herds by the establishment of the Nicol Bay district, and a market provided for colonial as well as of imported produce by its settlement; there will be increased activity in the timber trade, and far more extensive mining operations than heretofore ; finally, in almost every branch of colonial enterprise, we may expect increased vigor and largely augmented exports. Under these circumstances we may hopefully wish our readers a happy ew year.

another piece of land of much better soil, and a larger quantity of manure was put upon it, but it had no reservoir of water to keep the land moist, and the consequence was that they grew stunted throughout the season, and all the cauliflowers were mixed with short green leaves and did not fetch at the market a halfpenny each. You will by this perceive that my labor and the expense of manure were nearly lost ; and therefore, from what I have said, I hope you are satisfied that flooding land is necessary to secure a good and abundant crop. But £ will give yon one more proof of the advantage of moisture for the production of vegetables in this colony. About three years back I had about three acres of land trenched, three spades deep, being a strong loam inclining to clay, for an orchard. Thinking to improve the land, and better fit it for the reception of young fruit trees, I gave it a very large quantity of manure, about an acre of which, in the beginning of September, I planted with about ten thousand cabbage and savoy plants; the season turned out to be favorably moist, the «abbages and savoys grew as fine as any I ever saw of the same varieties in England, and were sold in the market from 2d to 4d each, which amounted to Ll5O. Being encouraged with so profitable a crop, the season following I again gave the same piece of land another coat of dung> and planted fruit trees at a regular distance; about fifteen feet, between the rows, and planted the intermediate spaces between the rows of trees with another crop of cabbage and savoy plants ; the season turned out to be very dry and unfavorable, and the crop produced scarcely paid for planting them.