The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-27 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

lUDDRESS OF THE GOVERNOR, JOHN HUTT,
ESQ , TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Council Office, May 4, 1840.
Tire Counc:l havin,c..met pursuant to summons, his
Excellency the Goveruor took the chair. His Ex-

cellency. Chen read, the following address :
GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGrESLATIVE COUNCIL-I
am happy, in meetiag you at the beginning of another
Session for the despatch of business, to be able to an-
nounce that the progress of our affairs during the last
twelve months his been, on the whole, most satisfac-
tory. The total receipts of the revenue for the financial
year just concluded amount to 9,3361. 95., showing an
increase over the revenue of the, preceding year of
3,424/. 2s. 11d. ; items of expenditure which, even with
the prospect of new and considerably increased duties,
I almost hesitated to place on the estimates laid before
the Council at the first Session of last year, have been
Provided for, and there remains a balance in the public
favour in the treasurer's hands of 3,9121. 6s. Id. I
hall not enter into further details at present, because
a better opportunity for doing so will present itself when
the estimates arc brought forward for discussion.
With increased resources, we shall more confidently
pursue our task of endeavouring to supply the demands
of the public service. In this, as in all newly-settled
countries, the great want is that of labour. Hitherto
the colonists have had the means of employing and pay-
ing without being able to procure labourers. The
voyage from the colony to England is a long and ex-
pensive one. Labourers can be found willing to come,
but they may require to be assisted hither. We have
now the money is our hands to render them that as-
sistance, and thus to command their services ; for of
the amount I have named as remaining in the treasury
to the public credit, the sum of 1,4871. 14s. 7d., or
nearly 1,5001., has been derived from the land sales and
fines, and is therefore at liberty to be devoted to the
supply of labour. The next subject, most closely con-
aected with the public interest, is the progress
of the surveys. The attention of the Surveyor-
General has been directed first and principally to
fixing the boundaries of such lands as have been
already assigned to settlers ; in the prosecution of which
work one of the assistant-surveyors has nearly com-
pleted the duty of marking off the lands assigned
in the Vasse district, besides effecting an ex-
tensive survey connecting the Vasse and Leschenault
countries both by a line along the sea coast and by a
more inland road. This will greatly facilitate future
operations, and immediately after the ensuing winter
the assistant-surveyor will be directed to settle in the
same manner the boundaries of the lands granted
in the Leschenault district ; whereby fresh lands will
be more readily accesssible to the claimants for selec-
tion in that quarter. The other assistant-surveyor was
employed in the early part of the year in the district
of Plantagenet, fixing the limits of the assigned lands
at, or in the vicinity of, Albany, and on the Kalgan
river. Latterly he has been engaged in a survey
of the Kojenup country, having received instructions to
measure off along the high road leading from Kojenup
town site to Morlup, the central station on the Kalgan
river, blocks of land, consisting of two square miles
each, for selection and purchase. In the tour I lately
made through the province, when I passed over eight
hundred miles of country, and visited, with few excep-
tions, every spot where a settler was located, it was
most encouraging to find my earnest inquiries all led
to the same conclusions. I heard, as regarded the pri-
vate circumstances of individuals, no complaints.
Every one appeared thriving and prosperous, and I sa-
tisfied myself that there is, even in the comparatively
narrow range here specified, a sufficiency of occupied
and unoccupied land of a nature amply to reward the
sober and industrious toils of a large population, both
of capitalists and labourers. Notwithstanding that the
general deficiency of labour presses most particularly
on persons engaged in farm work, a greater number of
acres has been brought into cultivation during the
past year.
We have been blessed by Providence with an abun-
dant harvest ; the increase in the quantity of farming
stock has been fully sufficient to satisfy reasonable ex-
pectation, and I am given to understand that the flocks
of sheep were never in a more healthy condition than at
the present moment. A great advance has taken place
in' the amount of our imports and exports, and a consi-
derable augmentation has occurred in the amount re-
ceived for duties, especially upon wines, spirits, and to-
bacco. The amount of shipping iss our harbours has
materially increased, the returns for 1838-9 showing an
amount of 12,892 tons, while those for 1839-40 reach
to 21,712, showing an increase of 8,820 tons. I have
touched very briefly, Gentlemen, on these interesting
topics, but sufficiently to show that the cares of those
who have watched over and laboured for the inte-
rests of the colony are producing the fruits of an abun-
dant success, and that Western Australia is steadily
advancing towards that prosperity to which its capa-
bilities and its situation entitle it. This desirable end
is, however, only rising to your view, and there
is still a long road and a wide field of exertion be-
fore us : the real capabilities of the country have yet to
be developed. With the acquisition of labour many
wants would be supplied, steam-vessels would be found
in your estuaries and harbours, and, by the completion
of the lines of internal communication already marked
nut, and of new ones to be hereafter determined on, a
great beneit would be conferred on the internal com-
merce, and at the same time a more perfect knowledge
otutained of the capabilities of the country. One subject
yet remains—l refer to the conduct and treatment of
the aborigines. The superintending and controlling power
of the Government has been materially strengthened
since the Council last met, by the partial foundation of
a police force, and the appointment, from England, of
two protectors of the aborigines. I have perfect confi-
dence that both these institutions, which are yet in their
infancy, as they gain strength and maturity, will prove
most admirable preventives of aboriginal aggression and
outrage.
Jo still further explanation, however, of the measures
adopted for restraining, and, in some degree, reforming,
these people, I am enabled to state, from having recently,
visited the island of Rollnest, that the arrangement en-
tered into about 18 months ago, for converting that
Island into a place of confinement for native offenders,
appears to be working extremely well. The directions
issued to the superintendent of the establishment for his
guidance pointed out that his charge was one of disci-
pline and education, nether than of severe punishment.
The loss of their wild freedom, ar.d being subjected to
regular labour, by which they may be coerced into ac-
quiring some of the elements of civilized life, may be
considered with them, the aborigines of this country,
quite sufficient terrors, tsithout any other pains and
penalties. This object has been steadily kept in view by
the superintendent, on whose skill and manageetent too
great praise can hartlly be bestowed.
The pr.suners are taught to till the ground and cul-
tivate gardens. Many of the necessary buildings have
aircady been constructed by them, and the rest are in
progress. Tney will gradually be introduced into the
prectice of other arts ; and we may confidently indulge
the expectation that much good must eventually arise
from the training to which very many of them will be
thus submitted.

A NEW YORK PACKET SHIP AT
TACKED IN THE CHANNEL!.

-
Oa Friday last, at noon, as the New York packet-
ship South America, Captain Bailey, which sailed from
Ft,:w York on the 3d instant, and arrived at this port
yesterday, was entering the Channel, she was suddenly
tired into by a small vessel, resembling an English yacht.
Captain Bailey had, in the eourse of the forenoon,
passed a number of li:3l3i:lg-boats and other small ves-
sels. About twelve o'clock, when abreast of the 0:d
Head of Kinsale, he saw what he deemed to be a yacht
standing across his bows. She tacked and hove to,
and the South America passed her within hail. Cap-
tain Bailey called same of his passengers to look at her,
as one of them, an American gentleman, who had nevc r
been in this country, had never seen an English yacht.
it was immediately a subject of remark, that she carried
an unusual number of hands, her crew consisting of
about 28 men. The South America having passed
her, she made sail in pursuit, and, in a few moments, fired
shot, which dropped about half the ship's length a-head
of the South America, on the starboard side. • T
other shots followed in quick succession, the first of
which passed, as near as could be ascertained,over
the fore yardarm
; the second struck the ship on the
starboard quarter. Captain Bailey, astonished at the
suddenness of the attack, having on his deck 123
steerage and several cabin
passengers
ex-
posed, thought it best to heave the ship to. This was
completely
immediately done ; but, even then,
two more shots were
fired, one of which struck the water about ten feet from
the rudder. Captain Bailey, who was
shot
standing on the
aslotfrtikheea therd
taffrail at the time, distinctly saw
this
rater. One of the men who was employed
a shot whistle close past him. In trepidation he seised
the first rope that came to hand and descended to the
deck. The strange craft, when she came up, hailed the
South America as follows :—" Ship a hoy " Hone!'
was the reply. .. Where are you from '%' inquired the
man who bailed from the yacht. " New York:,
Wheat and flour," responded
' What's your cargo e" "
Captain Bailey, who added, '' Who and what are you
.% you hoist
The only reply received was, ``don
your colours ?" The strange craft immediately hauled
her wind and went orf. The South America made sail
and cams up to this port.
Captain Bailey describes the vessel as being built
much after the model of such yachts as he has een in
the habit of seeing in England. She was paintedb black
outside, and oak colour within. She had what ap-
peared to be a long glass skylight in the centre of her
deck, two quarter boats, and an immense square-sail
yard athwart ships At her mizen peak she had a small
English flag (1 • *
hailed ws, flying, P
but no ennant• The man that
not in uniform, but was dressed like the
rest of the sailors,
contre, Captain Bal Not' expecting any such rcn-
ey had not his colours flying. Im-
mediately the vessel
America, she caused
full'
alluded to had quitted the South ,
held her in parley a ahlnglish brig to heave to, and
and
; after which the brig
was seen to make sail, and proceed on her course.—
.Liverpool Albion.