WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

No. 1.

Encl. in No. 1.

Despatches from Governor Fitzgerald.

No. 1.

EXTRACT of a DESPATCH from Governor FITZGERALD to the
Right Hon. Sir GEORGE GREY, Bart.

(No. 108.)

Government House, Perth, Sept. 18, 1854. (Received December 3, 1854.)

"I have the honour to forward duplicate copies of the Ordinances, numbered from 1 to 19, of the 17th of Victoria, passed at the last session of the Legislative Council of this colony, with the following remarks :—

"No. 17. An Ordinance to provide for the preservation of order in case of any discovery of gold in Western Australia,

"Was passed as a precautionary measure with reference to any future discovery of gold in this colony, which was then thought not improbable, so as to enable the Government to make such regulations as might from time to time be considered necessary."

Enclosure in No. 1.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Anno decimo septimo Victoriæ Reginæ.
No. 17.

An Ordinance to provide for the preservation of order in case of any discovery of gold in Western Australia.

WHEREAS it is not improbable that gold and other precious metals may exist in some part of the colony, and may, unexpectedly be discovered, and it is expedient to make some provision for the collection of Her Majesty's dues and royalties, the preservation of order and peace at the places of digging, and the general security of life and property : Be it enacted, by his Excellency the Governor of Western Australia and its Dependencies, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, that it shall be lawful for his Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice of the Executive Council, to make from time to time such regulations concerning gold fields, licences, and all matters of police connected therewith, directly and indirectly, also to issue such orders from time to time as may seem to their discretion to be required, and that such orders and regulations shall be legal and binding with all the force of a Legislative Ordinance for and during the term of three calendar months after the publication thereof, unless sooner rescinded by legislative enactment; provided, nevertheless, that such regulations and orders shall not authorize the granting licences as aforesaid, extending over any lands granted in fee simple, to other than the proprietor thereof, without the previous consent in writing of the said proprietor or his agent in his behalf, if such proprietor or agent can be found in the colony; but if such proprietor or agent cannot be found in the colony, it shall be lawful for the Governor to issue licences extending over the land of any such last-mentioned proprietor, at the full fee or price charged for licences to dig on Crown lands, reserving in all such cases one half of such fee or price for the use or benefit of such proprietor when found.

II. And it shall be lawful for the Governor, by and with such advice and consent as aforesaid, to name and define what shall be a gold field within the meaning of this Ordinance, the prices and forms of licences, the terms and conditions of mining auriferous lands, to cancel, wholly or in part, any pastoral leases over gold fields, provided reasonable compensation be made to the lessee thereof for loss, if any, sustained by him; the amount of royalty, and all other matters incidental to the discovery of auriferous lands; also to appoint Commissioners and other officers to enforce and carry out such regulations as aforesaid.

CHARLES FITZGERALD, Governor and Commander-in-Chief.

Passed the Council the 6th day of June 1854.

True copy.

A. O'GRADY LEFROY,
Clerk of the Council.

A. O'GRADY LEFROY,
Clerk of the Council.
CHARLES FITZGERALD,

Governor, &c.

FURTHER PAPERS

RELATIVE TO THE

STATE OF THE KAFFIR TRIBES.

(In continuation of Papers presented May 31, 1853.)

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty, July 1855.

PRINTED BY GEORGE EDWARD EYRE AND WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

1855.

1

2

April 14, 1853 (2.) Accomplishment of the restoration of peace in all parts of
the British South African dominions. In British Kaf-
fraria, however, military support is indispensable. De-
scription of the state of affairs in the districts of
Albert, North Victoria, Kat River Settlement, South
Victoria, Fort Beaufort, and Albany. Favourable state
of feeling among the Kafir nations towards the frontier
of Natal. Abrogation of martial law in the districts
of Graaf Reinet, Cradock, Somerset, Uitenhage, and Port
Elizabeth

March 15, 1853 (59) Repetition of a conviction as to the only effectual way of pre-
venting the return of expelled South African aborigines;
i.e., the establishment of villages on the forfeited lands,
to be occupied by comparatively poor but industrious
and profitable tenants. A pernicious system of land
jobbing prevents the acquisition of small farms or
gardens, and, consequently, the settlement of an indus-
trious rural population

7

Oct. 15, 1853 (47) Progress of agriculture among the aborigines. Occupation
of the troops in opening roads and constructing dams.
Projected tour of inspection through the Amatolas to
Queen's Town, and return viâ King William's Town
to Graham's Town

2

9

11

12

14

17

23

Sir G Cathcart.