WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume VIII, Issue 764, 5 February 1853, Page 4

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

We ( Mritlnnd Merciiry) have received Perth papew to tho 16ih Nuveinber.

The colony appears to bo steadily progressing, and the prospects of good crops and good prices increased the feelings of contentment. Still complaints are made that many of the colonists had left and wore leaving for the Victoria gold fields, and endeavours were being made to discover gold in the colony as a preveu-

Mr Assistant Surveyor A. C. Gregory had returned from an expedition to the northward, having grot fifty miles north of any previous explorations, or about four hundred miles from Perth. He found tho country north of tho Gerakline mines (300 miles from Perth) to be of a sterile character generally, and water so scarce th>U on ono occasion his horses were seventy hours without water. This result had caused some disappointment, as previous northern expeditions had led to a hopo of l'urlher discoveries of good country in that direction. . Agricultural.—On a late visit totlie Toodvuy, Northnm, and York districts, we were much gratified in noticing the evident proofs of prosperity among the settlers, as well as their determination to take ad van Inge of the present high prices of all kinds of their produce, by adding largely to the amount of land in cultivation. One and all appenred to 1>« moved by the same spirit and energy, and from the preparations we observed and heard spoken of, we have no doubt the breadth of land under tho plough the next season, even by the present cultivators, will exceed the present by an average of 25 per oein. The crops of the present season present prolmhly a more healthy wnd vigorous appearance than for mnnv years past, and ourtainlv may -now be considered as promising a most plenteous harvest. The crop of wool, so far as has yet not reached Perth, also ive-un-derstauu, exceeds by one fourth that of last year, and our farmers may fairly congratulate themselves' upon the present times of, to £hem, almost unexampled prosperity.— Perth Gazette, Nov. 12. Ta-E Wreck of the Bakque "Eai.iNTON. —An investigation into ihe circumstances attending the loss of tbn. Eglintim, took place at Freemantle, on Monday last, before a bench of magistrates,! and terminated on the following day. The result was that the master of the vessel was committed to take his trial for negligence in navigating the vessel into port, under the Mercantile Marine Act. The trial took place before a special sessions, and. tho master was cob

victed , and fined ioO. This sura-was raised for him by public subscriptions, so strong was the feeling entertained that he had done his duty, although unfortunate. ] ;