44 



British Seiilemeiit at 



ment; of which^ part is killed for the supply of tlie public store, 

 and the remainder is mad 3 use of to stock th ? mrms of new set- 

 tlers. It appears from the evidence,, that liie colony has for 

 some years, except when the crops have failed, from ioundatioos 

 or other acciden tal causes, been able wholly to sopply itself v/Ith 

 corn; but that it is s: ill necessary to continue, to a certain ex- 

 tent, the iffiporiation of salted provisions. The soil and climate 

 are described to be extremely finCj healthy, and productive i 

 diseases, with the exception of such as arise from intemperance 

 or accident, are little known ; and fresh fruits and vegetables 

 are produced from the beginning to the end of the year. The 

 river Hawkesbury is however occasionally subject to violent and 

 sudden floods, which have in some instances totally destroyed 

 the produce of the farms in its vicinity, upon which the colony 

 principally depends for its subsistence. Great difficulties have in 

 consequence at times occurred 3 and though precautions are now 

 taken to remove the crops as soon as possible from the low 

 grounds in the neighbourhood of the river, no perfect security is 

 yet obtained against the recurrence of these disasters. 1 he cut- 

 ' settlements of Port Dairy mple and Hobart's Town io Van 

 Diemen's Land, are represented as enjoying a purer climate and 

 more generally productive soil than Nevv' South Vv^ales, and to 

 be otherwise prosperous and thriving. Yet your committee 

 must concur in the opinion already expressed by his Majesty ''s 

 government, that more benefit to the colony WiW be derived from 

 the cultivation and improvement of the settienricnts that are 

 already formed, than from the formation of new and distant 

 establishments, whatever may be the encouragement that a fertile 

 soil or an advantageous situadon may appear to hold out. 



The currency of the colony consists principally of government 

 paper and copper rnooey, but from its scarcity, many of the 

 transactions which in other countries would be accomplished by 

 money, are here carried on by barter ; thus the labourer is not 

 paid in money but in kind : he demands from his employer 

 such articles as he is most in need ©f, and they are delivered to 

 him at the priccb which they bear in the market. At times in- 

 deed wheat and eattle have in the courts of justice been con- 

 sidered as legal tender in payment of debts. To remedy these 

 ineonveniencies, a supply of silver coin, to the amount of 10,000/. 

 has lately been sent to the colony 5 but whilst the necessity of 

 large importations continues, with the restraints upon exporta- 

 tion, it is not likely that this coin will long remain there in cir- 

 culation. The exportations from the colony have hitherto prin- 

 cipally consisted of oil, seal-skins, coals, and wool; the fisheries 

 appear to have been much neglected; and the iron ore, of which 

 there is abundance, and of very fine quality, has not yet been 

 ivorked. The trade in skins and coals is the most thriving, but 



