Excursion to Port Arthur. 
283 
serjeant and 12 privates of the 96tli regiment. They are 
as yet domiciled in hark huts; but slab ones are pre¬ 
paring, as also cottages for the Superintendent, Mr. 
Kilgour the surgeon, Mr. Dove the catechist, and the 
several assistants. It may save repetition if I here 
remark, that a complete probation station is governed by 
a superintendent, three assistant-superintendents, a com¬ 
petent number of overseers (all free men), a surgeon, a 
catechist, and a military detachment: in addition, a 
visiting magistrate is placed in such a part of the country 
that two or more stations may come within his inspection. 
The men are employed in the erection of all the requisite 
buildings, forming roads and bridges, grubbing, fencing, 
and cultivating land, which in an improved condition 
will, it is presumed, at some future day be sold for the 
public behoof. As their probationary terms expire, the 
convicts are removed to Slopen Island, a station whence 
they are subsequently otherwise disposed of. Flinders’ 
Bay party is yet in the earliest of these stages, being 
employed in felling, burning off, and clearing land, and 
providing themselves with the necessary quarters. It is a 
magnificent-looking location, with an ample supply (even 
at this dry season) of water. 
The land seems poor and exceedingly stony, but, after 
the soil I have seen reclaimed and made productive, it 
Would be extremely rash to pronounce Flinders impracti¬ 
cable. Advantageous position frequently compensates for 
inferiority of land ; and certainly this position is one of 
very great advantage. Having made the tour of inspec¬ 
tion, we set sail for Eagle Hawk Neck, a hummocky, 
sandy isthmus, situated at the extreme of a deep bight, 
fhis isthmus is about a quarter of a mile in length, and 
300 yards in breadth. Sentries arc posted night and day ; 
and, as a yet more infallible security, a chain of 13 
ferocious dogs is placed at intervals across its breadth ; 
