WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 337, 22 October 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

(from the pertii jnqcibeb, seft. 26.)

The Legislative Council have met on three occasions since the date of our last summary. At the meeting on the 28th ult., His Excellency the Governor was asked whether any despatches had been received with regard to the management of convicts after the cessation of transportation to the colony, and received in reply several despatches between himself and the Secretary of State on the subject. The colonists generally are not quite at rest on the question, and have grave doubts as to a probability of their being saddled with a large police force on colonial expense. They are reasonably anxious to know more about, the intentions of the home Government. The remarks and recommendations by the- Governor to the Secretary of Stale on the subject are probably satisfactory to most of us, but the matter is of sufficient concern to the colony to arouse considerable uneasiness for the result. His Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary have both pledged themselves to support the memorial for distillation in the colony, and to urge it on the favorable consideration of the home Government. Notwithstanding a praiseworthy desire and a considerable expense incurred by the Government to render the promising country to the eastward of York available to the settlers, unfavorable accounts reached us on Monday last from Mr Hunt's exploring expedition. Mr Hunt is again required to abandon •his enterprising attempt to explore the country beyond the Hamilton Plains. The information was forwarded by Mr Turner, one of the party, through a native from Boordunkooping, about 250 miles from York. Mr Turner was expected to arrive in York yesterday. On his way it appears he met Messrs Belcher and Taylor's party, who started on au exploring expedition to the eastward from King George's Sound, about three months ago. The party have been as unfortunate as that of Mr Hunt. They had lost eight horses, and had but nine left. The Government works arc progressing favorably. The Perth Causeway and Helena Bridges arc making good progress, while the North Fremantle Bridge is so far completed that foot passengers may now cross it. The extension of the South Jetty, qt Fremantle, is well nigh finished. The jetty at Champion Bay is in course of erection. Little progress has been made in collecting exhibits for the Intercolonial Exhibition. We are glad to find, however, that Mr Samson, the^ representative of the Fortune Copper Miuing Company, has presented a fe*v splendid specimens of lead from their mine, which he intends forwarding to Melbourne by the next vessel. No doubt, now that wool is being sent from the country districts, a sample or two will be despatched by our central committee. The Odd Fellows of Freemantle have laid the foundation-stone of their new lodge-room. A very large quantity of ore is now awaiting shipment at Champion Bay. We are informed that there are some some 500 tons in one store alone. Arrangements have been made bj ? the Roebuck Bay Association for the transfer of their stock to Nickol Bay,, where the Government have allowed them to take up 400,000 acres in exchange for their land at Roebuck Bay. The Clarence Packet, on her return from Port Walcott, will again proceed to the north-west settlements. The very appropriate name of " Roebourne," in honor of our veteran sur-veyor-Geueral, Captain Roe, has been given to the new township at Port Walcott.

Pinjarrah has been visited by a fearful gale, which uprooted trees and scattered their branches over the fields, and destroyed many acres of corn.

Among the arrivals this month were — Dr Dickey, from England, to the charge of the Fremantle Pensioner Force ; Mr

Kennedy, for the purpose, we believe, of taking up land in the colony ; and Mr Anderson, of Messrs Wills and Co., Adelaide.

A Yoj-k correspondent says :—": — " The drop cf lambs will not replace the losses consequent upon the past summer's drought. A groat percentage of ewes did not breed."

The National Bunk's branch at Goraldton has commenced business with a very general desire on the part of the settlers fov its success.