In the early spring the crops showed well above ground, and after a few weeks of congenial weather made quite a phenomenal growth. Those who had planted wisely and well, were delighted to observe waving cornfields of five or more feet in height. Taking the farms as a whole they looked remarkably flourishing in November, and when the brighter sun began to ripen the grain, it was seen that the hopes of farmers had not been misplaced. The long, plump heads bent with their own weight, and at harvest-time some fields returned as high as 40 bushels per acre, but the average yield was not half that number. The crop of hay was also large, and brought about the same rate of prices as ruled in the previous year. New season's wheat was sold to bakers and others at about £1 per bushel. A rush was made for the article, and then for some time no famine was possible so far as flour was concerned. But those who had tilled only small patches were still compelled to purchase at high prices.
Taken substantially, the wants of stock and well-plied labour were the most important obstacles to progression. The troubles between masters and their servants in no way diminished in 1832. The feeling between them remained as bitter as before, and employers were often moved to great anger by what they conceived to be the careless, improvident, and lazy habits of the employed. While they were paying much higher wages than ruled in Great Britain, they secured far smaller results from their labourers. Moreover, the expense of providing for them was much greater, and they could not brook what they termed "their drunken, impudent demeanour." The indentured servants, so one writer says, became the masters, for when they asked for any articles provided for in the regulations, they persisted in their request though it were not just, until they were satisfied. Failing the master's acquiescence, they laid their complaint before a magistrate. While these quarrels were proceeding, work was at a standstill, and to prevent such an unfortunate circumstance, masters repeatedly gave way to the unjust claims of their servants. Towards the end of 1832, there were numbers of servants out of employment, but they asked for as high wages as before. In a judicial sense masters were too apt to blame servants for their own non-success, instead of owning to personal inability. What was required was an independent, well-chosen class of labourers, and a spirit of self-help dominating master and man.
To obtain more stock for labouring purposes, and sheep and cattle to stock their pastoral stretches, settlers proposed to Captain Stirling in March that the Local Government should import the animals, pledging a guarantee against loss. The Lieutenant-Governor was favourably inclined to meet the request; indeed, was as convinced of its necessity as they were. Insufficient funds prevented his taking any steps. He repeatedly mentioned in despatches to the Home Government the necessity existing for Imperial assistance, but in accordance with their original intentions the authorities did not heed his representations. The Legislative Council of Western Australia held its first sittings in January and, with the question of providing efficient protection for settlers against the depredations of the natives, this onerous requirement of the colony was among councillors' pioneer debates. They did not come to any definite decision until some months later. A meeting of settlers was held on 2nd July, when much discussion took place concerning proposals made for their relief. Finally it was agreed to request the Lieutenant-Governor to proceed to England and viva voce lay the conditions of the colony before the Imperial Government, and advocate its general needs. His Excellency was well enough pleased with the wisdom of their proposal, and after consulting his Executive Council decided to accede. The memorial drafted in 1831 was augmented from the wider experience of 1832, and after being signed by settlers was placed in the hands of Captain Stirling. In the second week of August the ambassador set out on his important mission, and all were satisfied that he would do his utmost for the colony which had been his peculiar charge and sincere interest since its inauguration. He proceeded to England in H.M.S. Sulphur. Captain Irwin was sworn in as Lieutenant-Governor.
The prices paid for stock in 1832, although not so high as some quoted in other years, were altogether out of proportion to those existing in neighbouring settlements. In the first half of the year bullocks were sold at £25 each and sheep at 33s. In the latter half figures were published which showed the disproportion between prices at the Cape of Good Hope and the Swan River. At the Cape goats were 10s. each, and Perth £3 to £5; mares, £6 to £7 at the former, and £50 to £70 at the latter. The flocks of settlers had not been materially increased, The most notable of them was perhaps that of Mr. Trimmer, who ran 500 sheep over the hills.
In July the system of land grants was finally abolished, and the new regulations came into force. Settlers were not altogether pleased at five shillings an acre being placed as the minimum charge. They considered that to an infant colony such a price was too great and heavy a burden. Without extraneous assistance they thought that the colony had made comparatively good progress. In 1832 the fee simple of several grants was confirmed where the necessary expenditure as provided by the original regulations was carried out. The effects of the new system were not immediately apparent, although political economists afterwards unadvisedly announced that the evils encompassing the colony slowly diminished from that day. Altogether 1,349,209 acres of Western Australian land were alienated under the Land Grant system. Some impoverished settlers were already compelled to sell their grants while others who had selected for speculative purposes also cleared theirs. In this way new arrivals were able to obtain properties which they considered suitable to their enterprise. A regulation proposed by Lord Glenelg was established in the new system which was designed to favourably assist those who had taken up land under the Grant system. These settlers were permitted to surrender so much of their land as they considered unprofitable to them, and when purchasing more suitable Crown lands a remission was allowed on the price to the extent of one shilling and sixpence for every acre surrendered.
The alteration of the system under which Crown lands were alienated and the continued, untrue and injurious reports levelled against Western Australia were probably answerable for the falling-off in the number of arrivals in 1832. The influx of people now ended. One writer states that only thirteen ships arrived during the year, carrying but fourteen passengers and cargo to the value of £23,481. Although untoward rumours were circulated with as much vigour as before they did not deter certain people from leaving Tasmania and New South Wales to take up land in Western Australia. Those who had visited the colony on the way to the other settlements often returned preferring to stake their capital on the potentialities of local soils to those of elsewhere. But the same could be said in favour of the other colonies, for dissatisfied people continued to leave Western Australia greatly disappointed with their local experiences. Governor Stirling was compelled to use his utmost influence to interest some experienced farmers to remain in the colony, and to those whose experience and enterprise were worth having he even gave up portions of his own grants to induce them to stay. One or two men whose families are now well-known throughout the colony were thus influenced by
