SWAN RIVER.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 112, 7 November 1846, Page 4

SWAN RIVER.

Discovery of a New Harbour, and Steam Communication with England vrA. Batavia— We extract the followiug article Irom the Melbourne Herald : — After a lethargy of seven years the Colony of Western Australia appears to bestir itself. The energy of his Excellency Governor Clarke, the natural increase of pastoral wealth, and the industrious pursuit of the indigenous exports have conduced to this end ; but the most important circumstances to its prosperity which has yet occurred in this Colony's history is the recent discovery of a splendid harbour. The importance of this upon a coast, which for about two thousand miles bounds the Indian Ocean is palpable. That there was good anchorage in Cockburn Sound has long been known; but it is only recently that the Surveyor General has officially ascertained that Mangles Bay (at the head of tbe sound) is of easy approach, perfectly sheltered and commodious for a large number of ships of heavy burthen. Its distance from Perth is abont twenty-five miles. This valuable discovery has stimulated the Western Colonists to secure to Swan River the advantages of a communication with Britain by means of the Dutch steamer which conveys mails from Singapore to Batavia, which latter port is only ten days sail from Swan River. The Government has actually sent an Agent to endeavour to form the necessary arrangement. As this communication, should it be carried into effect, will unquestionably be prolonged by an extension to Adelaide, it will become of great moment to this piovince, which will, with Lieut. Waghorne's projected steam line to Sydney, have thus two modes of direct communication with the Mother Country. But a still greater advantage will accrue. The constant intercourse will lead to the establishment of an overland route; to the exploration of the intervening coast and country {to an outlet for our fast-increasing sheep and cattle; and to the foundation of a Settlement intermediate between Adelaide and King George's Sound. No inferences unfavourable to such a prospect can fairly be drawn from Mr. Eyre's unfortunate journey. It was performed at an unfavourable season of a dry year; and can give no more indication of the interior country than would a tour along the coast from the Port Phillip Heads to Cape Otway of the magnificent district in* land; and the numerous creeks Mr. Eyre pasted about 120- £~ doubtless drained a good country at the back of the sterile coast bluffs. Is it then so very improbable that behind those arid barriers there is another Australia Felix ? In reference to the mail transit from Great Britain to Singapore, and its extension to Western Australia and Australia via Java, a late number of the South Australian Register has tbe following remarks '.—■ It must be known to some of our commercial fellow-colonists that the Dutch government employs a national steamer for the conveyance of overland aud ordinary mails and passengers from Batavia, in the island of Java, to and from Singapore. This arrangement the government of Western Australia has resolved to attempt the rendering available to the purposes of a speedy transit between the Mother Country and that Colony. In furtherance of this determination, the Legislative Council has voted the expences, and the government schooner Champion has beau employed to carry a gentleman (Mr. Singleton) to Batavia, where he will endeavour to make suitable arrangements with the Dutch government, such arrangements being intended to include not only the conveyance of Perth or other Australian mails from Singapore to Batavia, the capital of Java, but to forward them to Angier Point, in that Island, where it is intended to land and to take on board the mails entrusted to such conveyance to and from Australia. Persons fully competent to give an opinion, have ptonouuced upon the possibility of English overland mails addressed to the capital of Western Australia being received there in fifty days, provided the Champion, or a fast sailing packet shall be (as intended) at Angier Point awaiting the arrival of the mails.