40 , PROCEEDINGS THERE. 



the mainland and Stradbroke and Moreton Islands. 

 It is open to the northward; but sheltered on the 

 eastward by the two islands forming- that side, which 

 run nearly north and south. The Brisbane river 

 enters the bay about the middle of its western side, 

 and, having- been the means of opening- up an 

 immense extent of the finest pastoral country, it 

 has conferred a considerable deg-ree of importance 

 upon the place as a harbour, althoug-h beset with 

 numerous shoals and narrow winding- passag-es, 

 throug-h which the tides run with great force. The 

 entrance to the river has a depth of only 10 or 

 1 1 feet at hig-h water, consequentl}', is available for 

 small vessels only ; the best anchorag-e for larg-er 

 ones is five miles distant. The banks are con- 

 stantly shifting-, and the channel is intricate. When 

 to this is added that the settlement, — consisting- of 

 the townships of North and South Brisbane, and 

 Kang-aroo Point, is situated 14 miles from the river 

 mouth — it was not surprising- that a proposal had 

 been made to establish a trading- port elsewhere in 

 the bay, so that the wool and other produce of the 

 district, might be shipped direct for England. 



For this purpose, Cleveland Point (at the south- 

 east side of the bay) had been suggested, and the 

 Colonial Government requested Captain Stanley's 

 opinion on the subject : — which is as follows. 

 " This," says he, " is the worst possible place I ever 

 saw for such a purpose ; fi'om the proposed site of 

 the town, a low rocky point only a few feet above 



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