Among The Passengers On Board The Buffalo Were
Mrs. Elizabeth Paterson The Wife Of The Lieutenant-Governor, Mr.
Williams, Acting Surveyor-General, And Ann Williams, Possibly A Relative
Of His.
With the Norfolk Island settlers was William Lee, to whom this
volume is dedicated, then a lad ten years of age, who afterwards became
one of the first pioneers in the Bathurst district.
The story of the Buffalo's arrival at Port Dalrymple is told in a letter
written to Earl Camden by Colonel Paterson from Yorktown as follows: -
"On the 4th April H.M.S. Buffalo arrived from Port Jackson by which
conveyance I received a proportion of such stores and provisions as could
be spared, 120 ewes, 2 rams, 6 cows, 2 bulls, 1 mare, and 1 horse: 50
prisoners were also sent.
"Five settlers arrived at the same time from Norfolk Island with the
Acting Surveyor-General to measure out the allotments necessary for them.
Soon after their arrival I accompanied them to different situations as
far as Supply River, which is about 10 miles from Headquarters. After
examining the ground they chose their allotments on the banks of a run, 2
miles to the south-east of this place. Mr. Riley, Acting
Deputy-Commissary, recommended also to have the advantages of free
settlers, chose his ground also in this situation. They proceeded to
clear the ground and to cultivate. Everyone exerted themselves as much as
possible, but those who cultivated on the sides of the hills were
deceived in their choice and too much disappointed in the first
appearance of their crops, the low ground being also found subject to
temporary floods. AS THEY WERE THE FIRST SETTLERS, I have recommended
them to his Excellency, as a remuneration of their losses, to have grants
of land on the north side of the main river Tamar extending up the river
South Esk. My motive for recommending this situation is that they cannot
fail in success as it is a part of the country the colony must look to
for grain. The first twelve months being now past I have every reason to
believe the greatest of our difficulties have been surmounted...It is not
for me to presume to be acquainted with the particular causes which
rendered it necessary this colony should be established, but if its
desirable situation in the important passage of Bass Streights was one of
the objects, it appears to me necessary that a large establishment should
ever remain here while the interests of Great Britain are to be effected
in this part of the world, and I can assure your Lordship I have seen no
country yet that offers such inducements to be retained.*
I have, etc.,
W. PATERSON."
(* The remaining Norfolk Island Settlers were later on removed to
Tasmania in different ships, the Lady Nelson conveying many of them to
their new home. Historical Records of New South Wales volume 5 page 732.)
INDEX.
Abbott, Captain E.
Abercrombie, Charles.
Albany Otway, Cape.
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