6 
WELLINGTON VALLEY. 
In his description of Wellington Valley, Mr. Oxley has 
not done it more than justice. It is certainly a beautiful 
and fertile spot, and it was now abundant in pasturage, 
notwith standing the unfavourable season that had passed 
over it. 
The settlement stands upon the right bank of the Bell, 
about two miles above the junction of that stream with 
the Macquarie. Its whitewashed buildings bore outward 
testimony to the cleanliness and regularity of the inha- 
bitants ; and the respectful conduct of the prisoners under 
his charge, shewed that Mr. Maxwell had maintained 
that discipline by which alone he could have secured 
I’espect to himself and success to his exertions, at such a 
distance from the seat of government. 
The weather was so exceedingly hot, during our stay, 
that it was impossible to take exercise at noon ; but in the 
evening, or at an early hour in the morning, we were ena- 
bled to make short excursions in the neighbourhood. 
Mr. Maxwell informed me that there were three stations 
below the settlement, the first of which, called Gobawlin, 
belonging to Mr. Wylde, was not more than five miles from 
it ; the other two, occupied by Mr. Palmer, were at a 
greater distance, one being nineteen, the other thirty-four 
miles below the junction of the Bell. He was good enough 
to send for the stockman (or chief herdsman), in charge of 
the last, to give me such information of the nature of the 
country below him, as he could furnish from personal know- 
ledge or from the accounts of the natives. 
