Volume II Part 22 (2/2)
Magnetical Island
Halifax Bay
Astonish a Native
Description of country
Correct chart
Restoration Island
Picturesque arrival
Intervieith the Natives from Torres Strait
Their weapons
Shoal near Endeavour River
Discover good passage through Endeavour Strait
booby Island
New birds
The Painted Quail
LAND SALES
No improvement had taken place in colonial affairs, and the sales of land, in consequence of the high price, were very liulations that had recently been ave very little satisfaction By these the minimum price was fixed at one pound per acre; in consequence of which many predicted that es to coe could e the natural grasses of the country will only support one sheep to four acres The inevitable consequence was to prevent an augration fund, which inflicted a serious evil on the colony, though by reat boon, as it enabled thee, immense back runs, as safe froranted by the Crown in perpetuity It is est sum of money by the sale of the smallest nuement to small capitalists, ish to occupy the land for theive the land away, to a certain extent, in order to encourage people to go there It h calculation the pound per acre syste the whole continent were sold, the sum of about 1,679,616,000 pounds
UNSETTLED BOUNDARIES
The most curious circumstance connected with the division of land in New South Wales, is the uncertainty that prevails respecting the boundary line of estates, which ation a the colonists The whole arises fronetic north instead of by the true This is in itself no easyto the local attraction and the difficulty of finding needles that agree But the chief cause of endless change is the variation, which has progressively increased at Sydney since the colony was first forrant of land of one square mile in ten
I will suppose a case in order to illustrateIn the early days of the colony a piece of land is obtained by a person whoto his estate until the present tioes to occupy it When the land was purchased the direction of the boundary line was, by corees East; but the proprietor finds that in consequence of the increase of variation during the interval, a North 20 degrees East line by compass at this time would differ from what it hen his title deeds were e has at Sydney been progressive, and rants of lands depending on it will vary accordingly, and afford endless food for the lawyers A scientific friend ofto remedy the evil in a particular instance, was entreated by one of that profession not to interfere, for by so doing he would be taking the bread out of the mouths of himself and his brethren
NEW ZEALAND
Since our last visit to Sydney the colonisation of New Zealand had taken place, but from what I heard of the loose syste lands from the natives, I could not but forht lots of theht to sell these lands at all was at the ti the case, the difficulty any Governor must have to contend with, who should attempt to solve the intricate problem involved in the land-question, was apparent, and it will be evident also that those who pretend to forment on the conduct of Captain R Fitzroy, must take into consideration the character of the people, both white and coloured, hom he had to deal, and various other circu our long stay at Sydney I visited thethe position of Newcastle The courthouse, according to rees 55 rees 34 minutes 45 seconds East of Sydney This is the district froht, and a good harbour is therefore of i a breakwater, connecting a cliffy island at the entrance with the south point of the river, for the purpose of deepening the mouth, but I much question whether it will answer, as the silt that is washed down by the strea the sea for the valley of the Hunter I saw sufficient to convince me that a railroad could easily be carried up from Newcastle to Maitland, and thence to Patrick's Plains
(Footnote It appears that a co for its object the realization of this idea has just been formed)
MIDNIGHT ALARM
I cannot at this place resist the teh it is not exactly connected with the subject ofby the reader I was one night sleeping at a friend's house; all the family had retired to rest, and I have no doubt that a perfect stillness prevailed around Suddenly, a noise like thunder startled me from my sluhts, I distinctly heard a series of violent blows against a door at the foot of the staircase leading up to ht have been that the disturbance was caused by thieves breaking into the house, it appeared improbable that such characters should make their approach with so much clamour I instantly leaped out of bed, and arrived in tiet
LUDICROUS SCENE
The owner of the house, who slept on the ground floor, equally astonished withhio, when he reappears upon the stage after stabbing Cassio and Rodorigo, towards the door against which the ular intervals It now appeared that the cause of his alarm was on the inside; and my host who believed that a party of robbers had introduced themselves into his pre that if they did not cease their ha, and surrender, he would put theestion the thumps increased in rapidity and violence, and he had scarcely time to put himself in a defensive position when the door burst open and out rushed his assailants--a s, or arht was that the supernatural existences of New South Wales had now for the first time revealed theenii of this country in which everything runs into leg were then it appeared all body! Such were the fancies that flashed through hisfoe, one of whom he transfixed from breast to back, whilst the rest in an instant overthrew and trampled him under foot, if I hter from myself and the others who had witnessed this ht's repose were no other than a nue pumpkins, which had been placed in a heap upon a press on the landing, and froiven way, and rolled, one by one, downstairs, accuht they forced it open!
CHANGES ON BOARD THE BEAGLE