CENTENARY OF PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 11

CENTENARY OF PERIL.

GOVERNOR UNVEILS TABLET.

LORD MAYORALTY CONFERRED

PERTH, Aug. 13. The centenary celebrations of the foundation of Perth were held yesterday, when the city was beflaggcd. Hie Governor of Western Australia, Sir William Campion, in the presence of a large crowd, unveiled a commemorative tablet ou the wall of the Town Hall. The Governor read a letter from the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Lord Passfield, in which he said the King had conferred the dignity of a Lord Mayoralty on the city. Tho first Lord Mayor is Mr. J. T. Frankling, a member of the Legislative Council.

Tn the rliaiv of Captain (later Sir) Charles Fremantle, who in 1828 was sent out in the Challenger to the Swan River, to take possession for the Crown "of all that part of New Holland not included in the territory of New South Wales," the following rcfeis to the laying of the foundation-stone of what is now the city of Pert h : . "The Lieutenant-Governor having made up his mind to establish a town up the Swan Iliver to be called Perth, and to lay the first stone of it on the King's Birthday, the 12th of August, 1829, I offered to render him any assistance with boats and to convey him up. We proceeded a large party on the 9th, but could not pass the bar. therefore hauled the boats over the neck of land and then proceeded up. Examined the country about the islands on the 10th, and went about five miles up the Swan above them, when we ' came to good flats of country and very rich grass; good grazing lands. Saw several swans and wild duck. On the 12th our party increased, and there being no stone contiguous for our purpose, to celebrate the commencement of the new town, Mrs. Dance cut down a tree; fired volleys, made speeches and gave several cheers; named the town Perth according to the wishes of Sir George Murray. I think the situation of Perth well adapted for a town, certainly preferable to any other spot I have yet seen." In 1832 Captain Fremantle wrote that Perth had not kept pace with Fremantle, which "has many tolerable houses and several arc in progress, and, in spite of its smdy and unpromising appearance at landing. I have no doubt, if the colony continues, of its being in time a place of consequence."