NEW SOUTH WALES, 421 



the store-ships as they arrived, a proper allow- 

 ance of time is made ; it proves that Gover- 

 nor Hunter effected the most with the compa- 

 ratively little labour he could induce the con- 

 victs to perform. 



Shortly after the departure of Governor 

 Hunter, it appeared on an investigation of the 

 registers of the terms of transportation of the 

 convicts, that the clerks, who had been suffered 

 to have access to them, had altered the senten- 

 ces of nearly two hundred prisoners, on receiving 

 a sum from each equal in value to ten or twelve 

 pounds. ; and proper steps to guard against so 

 truly serious an evil in future, were taken at the 

 colony, and proper information sent to England 

 on the subject. 



It now appeared the expenses attending the 

 erecting of the county gaol, had cost the sum 

 of 3.9541. the greater part of which had been 

 paid by public assessments. 



Every encouragement being given for the 

 purpose of promoting the growth of wool, for 

 manufacturing 300 yards of blanketing were 

 made from what the woof produced last sea- 

 son, from the flocks belonging to government 

 and individuals ; and in five month], 470 yards 

 of flax were made into linen. 



The never-resting spirit of Speculation which 

 continually manifested itself in the arrival of 

 ships, received a serious check by the Gover- 

 nor's sending back three vessels from Bengal, 

 on board which were fifty- four thousand gallons 

 of spirits and wine. 



