304 FLOURISHING STATE OF ALBANY. 



been worked are situated between Bathurst and the 

 Great Fish River, but the quantity prepared for sale 

 is much less than formerly when, on the first esta- 

 blishment of the district and for several years after- 

 wards, every kind of building material was in great 

 demand. Stone for building purposes is found in 

 every part of the district, and numerous quarries 

 have been opened, particularly one near Bathurst, of 

 an indurated lime-stone, much resembling in ap- 

 pearance free-stone, of a whitish yellow colour. It 

 is easily worked when first quarried, and is readily 

 cut into square blocks for building, but hardens on 

 being exposed to the atmosphere. 



fC On a full consideration of the present state of this 

 district, it may be safely asserted, that the inhabit- 

 ants are making rapid strides, in every point which 

 is calculated under Providence, to establish them as 

 a respectable and thriving people. The intercourse 

 existing between the Colonist and the Native Tribes 

 beyond the borders, presents an unlimited field for 

 commercial enterprise and research, which will not 

 be lost sight of, while, as it has been shown, the 

 prospects of the farmer, if he act with common pru- 

 dence, are far from discouraging. At the close, then, 

 of another year, we have again to congratulate the 

 British settlers of Albany on their present situation. 

 Greatly to their credit, as people, they have never 

 lost sight of those fundamental principles, without 



