the heat and burden of colonial life. These men possessed considerable knowledge of farming, were ready to toil and suffer themselves, and with the help of suitable labour could as quickly as Nature would allow render Australian wilds productive. They carefully reflected on what was before them, and did not come to a decision in ignorance or by haphazard. There were, too, experienced, hard working agriculturists from the best farming counties of Great Britain, men of practice as well as theory. By them the real foundations of Western Australian productive industries were laid, and only fortuitous, and therefore unforeseen, circumstances prevented their inaugurating an immediate era of great and wide-reaching agricultural prosperity. Substantially, Western Australia had for its pioneers more highly educated men of good society than perhaps any other British dependency. It would certainly have been better had the first arrivals been all simpler-minded men, inbred to constant labour, and possessing in their determined minds and strong bodies the essentials of a character which will not be daunted, which will reduce the waste to beneficent productiveness, which will penetrate to the ends of the earth to serve its purposes.
At first the Home Secretary debated whether the colony should be managed by a Civil Superintendent or a Lieutenant-Governor. The latter course was decided on, and Captain Stirling was appointed to the office. He was exceedingly concerned about the welfare of the settlers and the colony which he was to establish. He gave advice to all these he met as to what was required, and took a personal interest in the result of this experiment in colonisation. He had the honour of being the first governor of a colony in Australia that was untainted by the convict element. A Scotchman by birth, he had passed most of his life in the navy, and had visited nearly every part of the world. He had done excellent colonising and exploration work on the east coast of Australia, was in fact a member of exploring parties in the then immense colony of New South Wales, and had been to some extent connected with her settlements north and south. With the trained abilities of a naval officer he combined certain statesmanlike qualities, and a laudable enthusiasm for colonisation. Sincere, generous, and hard-working, he was well chosen to found Western Australia. He had considerable trouble in organising the first band of pioneers—the officers and artificers who were to accompany him to the colony. The English Government secured a hired transport—the Parmelia—to convey him and his establishment to the Swan River, and provided him with a consort in H.M.S. Sulphur, which carried the military establishment—a detachment of the 63rd regiment of light infantry.
While all these preparations were going forward in England, Commodore Schomberg, of the Indian squadron, despatched one of his vessels, H.M.S. Challenger, in command of Captain Fremantle, to the Swan River. The designed object was to hoist the British flag at the intended site of the new colony, and then to protect it until the arrival of the civil and military establishments. In April, 1829, Captain Fremantle anchored off the Swan River, and immediately landed on the north side of the mouth, where he hoisted the British flag. In the name of His Majesty King George IV. he took formal possession of "all that part of New Holland which is not included within the territory of New South Wales." During ensuing months the officers of the Challenger made surveys in Cockburn Sound, and organised parties which landed in the bay and the river and inspected surrounding country.
Slight advance was made during this period at King George's Sound. The number of people had increased but little, and what efforts were made at cultivation were generally disappointing. A few choice patches gave good returns in vegetables. Military discipline prevailed, and New South Wales still had control of the settlement, but devoted little attention to it. Those disconnected with its administration gained a livelihood among the whalers and sealers, who had somewhat increased in number. Several exploring parties went into the surrounding country, while Dr. Scott Nind, who appears to have been the surgeon to the band, closely studied the language, habits, and customs of the aborigines. His vocabulary of the native language was highly useful, and was the first compiled on the aborigines of this part of the world published in London. In 1829, Major Lockyer was relieved of the command by Captain Barker, who sedulously applied himself to improve the conditions of the settlement. Greatly through his influence a peaceful intercourse was inaugurated and maintained for many years between the white and black men. Military and naval officers visited King George's Sound, and made excursions into the country. Captain Barker was an explorer of some importance, and paid the penalty of death for his hardihood and sincerity in this direction. While seeking to ascertain whether any connection existed between St. Vincent Gulf and Lake Alexandrina in South Australia, he was, on the 30th April, 1831, murdered by natives. His brother officers erected to his memory a monument and tablet in St. James' Church, London.
In the 1829 session of Parliament the English Government submitted to the House of Commons a measure providing for the constitution of Western Australia. This was entitled "an Act to provide, until 31st December, 1834, for the government of His Majesty's settlement in Western Australia, on the western side of New Holland." Its principal clause ran:—
"That it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His heirs and successors, by any order or orders to be by Him or them made with the advice of His or their Privy Council, to make, ordain, and (subject to such conditions and restrictions as to Him or them shall seem meet) to authorise and empower any three or more persons resident and being within the said settlement to make, ordain, and establish all such laws, institutions, and ordinances, and to constitute such courts and officers as may be necessary for the peace, order, and good government of His Majesty's subjects and others within the said settlement."
This was the only Act of Parliament specifically relating to Western Australia for many years, and though it received the Royal Assent as early as 14th May, 1829, no charter, or order in council in the nature of a charter, was promulgated until the 1st November, 1830.
But before the introduction of this measure to the House of Commons, Captain Stirling with his band of pioneers left England. After the circular was issued by the Colonial Office, in December, 1828, he was required to immediately make arrangements to repair to the colony. By working at fever point he was able to sail about two months later. Within that period his staff was organised. These officials were not allowed much time in which to consider the question of joining the new colonists. Captain Stirling's judgement led him to obtain the services of excellent men. He chose for his Colonial Secretary Mr. P. Brown, a gentleman who had already some experience in official work, and who rendered splendid service in the administration of Western Australian affairs for many years. Perhaps the most important post of all was that of Surveyor-General. The coast had to be charted, and the country surveyed and allotted to the settlers, and to prevent disagreement and litigation, and to organise a useful land department a man of the best recommendations must be had. No better choice could have been made than that of Lieutenant John Septimus Roe, who had gained so much knowledge of the coasts of Western Australia while attached to Lieutenant King's expeditions. Lieutenant Roe entered the naval service as a midshipman on the 11th June, 1813,
