(10, p. 67.)

Many were the efforts of the colonists to raise something marketable, both to prevent the necessity of importing what we could make, so as to keep the cash in the colony, and to raise something of an export, to serve as an exchange for the necessaries we required. A little oil and a little wool, raised in the neighbouring districts, were the only articles of export then extant, but very limited. In order to increase such trade, one of the Provincial Papers pointed out the fact of the abundance of edible fish in the bay and round our shores, and advised that a company be formed to begin a fishing and curing establishment, and showing where a ready market could be found, &c. But in this case the spirit of enterprise was not to be found in the community. But still there were private endeavours made in other ways, and which endeavours, aiming at something good, deserve credit, but which, like the half-blown flower frost-bitten reaches not to full bloom, so they, blasted in their energies, could not complete what their intentions had begun. Some of our merchants made a praise-worthy exertion to do something by way of collecting different kinds of hard timber and what may be termed fancy woods, and different kinds of barks for tanning, dyeing, &c., to try and raise an export trade for such things homeward; but that was soon crushed, and with it many an ephemeral hope; and for a long time afterward could be seen many a log prepared “to order,” lying along the beach as a thing neither required nor looked after, which told its own tale of fruitless labour. A few individuals (a Mr. Sprat, and others) formed themselves into a party to commence a rope-making establishment, they themselves preparing the raw flax for their own use. They had fixed on the opposite side of the bay, near Olonggolong, as the scene of their operations to obtain a livelihood. But in crossing in a boat with their apparatus, through some accident the boat upset, and all perished. Others, and I myself among the rest,∗ have spent much time and expense in endeavouring to bring the flax into a marketable commodity. But the works, as they stood seemingly deserted, in themselves declared the disappointment, as if they cried, “Alas! alas!” I have seen a neatly built lime-kiln, on the face of the hill near Kai-warra, where some burning of shells had been accomplished; but that, too, was deserted. Other instances might be mentioned, would my space allow. In fact, every active man’s mind, through the exigencies of the time, seemed to be more or less unhinged; and instances are known of some, through a state of despondency, who have laid rash hands upon themselves, or wandered away, and were no more heard of, until, after the lapse of some time, their remains were found in the bush. In the country very little was doing in the shape of cultivation, unless it were merely a small patch for one’s own use, by any who had got as much bush cleared away. And whatever payments were made for labour by some employers, who tried to supply the market (and employers were few), were mostly in the shape of barter—such as in provisions reckoned at the highest rate.∗ Money was so scarce, and by those who happened to have it, it was held so sacred, that it could not be seen, as the chief money then in circulation were Government debentures from £1. to 5s., and dealers’ (so-called) “shin-plasters,” varying from 1s. to 1 ½d, so that by some even the size of a sixpence was almost forgot. The business of sawing timber, which brought at one time from 20s. to 25s. per 100 feet, was now reduced to 5s. or 6s. per 100 feet, and that to be delivered where a boat (as carts or drays were not in vogue) could get it, by rafting it down the rivers—for which only goods to the amount could be obtained from timber dealers, and even that was looked on as a kind of favour. The mind of every one who had seen better were put quite on the rack what to do for the best. Some, for lack of other employment whereby to earn a crust, betook to the cleaning of flax after the fashion of the natives, and sold it to the merchants at about 1 ½d. per lb., thereby earning from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per day. Such was the state of the times during the last eighteen months of Captain Fitzroy’s government.