POST AT MOORUNDE. 
461 
expense and inconvenience of occasionally sending 
large parties of military and police, to coerce or 
punish transgressors that they can rarely meet 
with, would be altogether dispensed with. 
Unfortunately, the system I propose has been so 
little tried in Australia, that but few instances of 
its practical results can be adduced. There is one 
instance, however, which, from its coming nearer 
to it than any other, may serve to exemplify the 
success that might be expected. The case I allude 
to, is that of the establishment of the Government 
post at Moorunde, upon the Murray, in October 
1841, by His Excellency Governor Grey. The 
circumstances which led to the formation of this 
post, arose from the disturbed and dangerous state 
the river route from New South Wales was in 
at the time, from the fearful losses that had occurred 
both of life and property, and the dread entertained 
by many, that the out -stations, which were formed 
along the line of hills fronting the Murray, would 
be subject to irruptions from the natives. 
Between the 16th of April, and 27tli of August, or 
in about four months, four several affrays had taken 
place between the Aborigines and Europeans, in which 
many of the latter had been killed, and stock, drays, 
and other property, had been taken to a great 
value, (in one instance alone amounting to 5,000 
sheep, besides drays and stores) ; on the other hand 
the sacrifice of native life had been very great, and 
was admitted in one case, to have amounted to 
