NEW SOUTH WALES, 305 



CHAP. IX. 



Koir the interesting voyage of discovery, 

 performed by Mr. Bass and Lieut Flinders, we 

 must return to the proceedings at the colony. 



In the night of the 24th of January, 1 799, the 

 commissary's house was robbed to a considerable 

 amount, as they effected an entrance into the 

 store-room. 



The governor this month visited Paramatta, 

 and had the misfortune to find the pasture so 

 universally burnt up, that the cattle were in 

 want of grass ; and, as the drought continued, 

 the maize, it was feared, would fall very short of 

 the quantity expected ; his Excellency, therefore, 

 ordered a return to be made of the stock of 

 grain, that he might see on what he had to de- 

 pend. 



By the arrival of the Diana, information was 

 brought from Norfolk Island, that the produce 

 of wheat had been greater this harvest than it 

 had ever been before ; but the maize, for want of 

 rain, was by no means so prolific ; and the ex- 

 travagant price paid for wages, had obliged the 

 settlers to advance the price of wheat to fifteen 

 shillings a bushel. 



The number of causes for the recovery of 

 debts, which came before the magistrates, reri- 



R R 



