Star.
London, England, 1830-08-20 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20, 1830.

SWAN RIPER.

The following is an extract of a despatch from bleutenarit.Gover-
nor Stirling to the Right Hon. Sir George Murray, dated Perth,
Western Australia, 20th Jan. 18:10; containing Information rela-
tive to the progress of the Settlement at Swan River :
On the 9th of September I had the honour to announce to you my
arrival here. and the commencement of this Settlement: I now beg
leave to lay before you the following information relative to its pro-
gress sines that period, its present condition, and future prospects.
As moon as the difficulty attendant on landing and housing the
establishment was surmounted. I caused an exploration of the
country immediately in the neighbourhood of the port to be made,
and two towns to be laid out; one, named Preemantle, at the en.
trance of Swan River ; the other, Perth, about nine miles higher
up, on its right re northern hank. Allotments In these towns were
speedily occupied by the first settlers, who arrived in August. and
the more diligent among them commenced the erection of temporary
buildings. On the Ist Oct. I found it necessary to open a district
of country for location. In the first Instance 1 selected for that
purpose the banks of the Swan River; and, being urged by further
applications for land, on the 2d of Nov. I threw open the country
extending between the sea and the mountains, fifty miles south Ward
from Perth, including the district originally reserved for Mr.
Thomas Peel. In these districts the first comers found suitable
locations; and acting under the impulse of novelty, there were many
who at once established themselves on their linds,regardleas of danger
from the natives, and of the difficulty they encountered in removing
their goods from the coast. This adventurous and laudable spirit,
which it was politic to encourage, I am happy to say met with no
cheek ; and single individuals have traversed the country freely, at
great distances from the towns, hitherto without interruption or
Injury.

In the course of October, November, and December, some ships
and many settlers came in. Their arrival before the country could
he properly surveyed occasioned great inconvenience. Viewing no
evil so great to the settler as delay in assigning to him his land, I
was accordingly forced to grant locations on unsurveyed lands, and
to determine on the sites of towns without experience of their merits.
An evil still greater than these arose from the number of early ar-
rivals on the coast, hitherto unsurveyed ; in consequence, one mer.
chant ship, the Marquis of Angleoes, by anchoring in an exposed
situation, got on shore • and latterly, his Majesty's ship Success, in
coming in without a pilot, struck on the rocks, and ha. received der.
mage, not irreparable, I believe, but serious.
The survey of Cockburn Sound is now, however, complete ; and
having made arrangements for buoying the Channel, and establish-
ing proper pilots, I hope we shall have no more accidents of that de-
scription.

Among the settlers who arrived, there are many indentured ser-
vants, who had been recommended to their employers by Parish
Officers, and whose habits were of the loosest description. To
controul these, and to protect their masters in their just rights, u
well as to secure the safety of persons and property, I Was obliged,
before the conclusion of the year, to appoint a Magistracy and a
body of constables; the first, from amongst the most wealthy and
prudent of the settlers; the latter, including the steady and most
respectable part of the working class. To render the decisions of the
magisorates more formel,l selected a gentleman bred to the law, and
of moderate temper, to act as their Chairman and os Adviser to the
Government in matters of law. Sines these appointments I am
I happy in saying there hare been fewer irregularities; and. as the
population of the Settlement is now generally diffused over a large
surface, and as part have commenced agricultural labour, drunken-
ness, and similar evils, will be less frerent than whet:the people
were congregated in one or two towns, with little to do.
The erection of a decent place of worship, the regular perform.
once of Divine Service, and the administration of the Sacrament on
Christmas day, were the last events of the year deserving of notice.
To the seal and energy of the venerable Archdeacon Scott, who is
still here, on his passage to Rngland, I owe the furtherance of these
great objects. As a conclusion to this summary of the of
the Settlement, I submit, for your consideration, the foliP:WirnrAb-
stract from the Returns, showing at one view the point It has at.
tamed. For the detail, I beg to refer to the accompanying docu-
ments.