150 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



stern desire to keep the country free of any convict taint. The 

 only blot in the administration of affairs which the official eye 

 detected was that tobacco and spirits were being smuggled into 

 the country by the traders from Van Diemen's Land to such an 

 extent as to warrant the establishment of a branch custom house. 

 It seems rather like beginning Government supervision at the 

 wrong end, but coupled with the disclosure of the substantial pro- 

 gress of the community, and their strongly expressed desire for 

 official recognition and protection, it was impossible for Sir Eichard 

 Bourke to continue to ignore their existence. On the very day that 

 Mr. Stewart arrived on the Yarra, an impromptu Parliament of the 

 principal inhabitants was assembled to formulate a provisional 

 government and to arrange for their future protection. The account 

 of the proceedings is published by Mr. Bonwick from a manuscript 

 in his possession, and is confirmed by another copy published by 

 Mr. Henry Creswick in the Australasian of 20th December, 1873. 

 It is certainly of sufficient interest to justify its reproduction in 

 full, and the names of those present indicate that in matters 

 affecting the general weal, the strife and jealousies that had 

 animated the rival claimants to the soil were kept entirely out 

 of sight. 



" At a meeting of the residents at Port Phillip, held on the 1st 

 of June, 1836, present, John Batman, John H. Wedge, John P. 

 Fawkner, Jas. C. Darke, John Wood, Fred. Taylor, David R. 

 Pitcairn, Wm. Diprose, Thos. Eoadknight, W. G. G. James, John 

 Aitken, Alex. Thomson, Joseph Sutherland, Wm. Eoadknight, 

 James Simpson and G. Mackillop. 



" Mr. Simpson having been elected chairman, it was proposed 

 by John Fawkner, seconded by John Wood, and carried un- 

 animously, that Mr. James Simpson be appointed to arbitrate 

 between individuals disputing on all questions, excepting those 

 relative to land, with power to him to name two assistants whom 

 he may deem fit. 



" It was proposed by J. C. Darke, seconded by J. H. Wedge, 

 and carried unanimously, that the arbitrator or arbitrators be 

 empowered to impose any fine that he or they may think just 

 and proportional to the injury complained of, 





