NEW SOUTH WALES. 159 



One forged note for 10 guineas, was passed at 

 the shop, but discovered before the recollection 

 of the persons who offered it was effaced, 

 though not in time to recover the property. 

 The whole party was apprehended. 



In one hot dav in this month, the shrubs' and 

 brushwood about the Cove caught fire? and 

 burnt within a few yards of the magazine. On 

 its being extinguished, the powder was removed, 

 on board the Supply, till security against any 

 future accident of that kind could be erected 

 round the building. 



On the 5th of March, the Reliance returned 

 from Norfolk Island. The harvest proved very 

 bad this season. The corn in general was much 

 mixed with a weed called drake ; this aross 

 from an over-eagerness to reap a golden harvest, 

 and like most cunning people, the settlers were 

 too cunning for themselves. Had they properly 

 manured the land, the produce would have been 

 prodigious. Spirits, in defiance of all orders, 

 found their way to the neighbourhood of 

 Hawkesbury, where the settlers were continu- 

 ally intoxicated. In the course of March, 

 Capt. Patterson's store-room was entered, by a 

 hole being made in the wall, and robbed to a 

 great amount ; and Capt. Townson's house^as 

 robbed of 60l. in dollars, and his watch ; and a 

 woman was robbed in the street of a piece of 

 callico, for which a convict was taken up, but 

 as she could not swear to his person, the fellow 

 escaped that punishment he most undoubtedly 

 deserved. The supply sailed for Norfolk Island 



4 



