cellency the governor, family, and suite, arrived at the Green Hills, to which beautiful situation it has since been his Excellency's pleasure to give the name of Windsor, and was expected in Paramatta this day, after his very extensive tour throughout the various settlements.

· December 15th

GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS.

Government House, Sydney, Saturday, Dec. 15, 1810. His Excellency the governor being now returned from his late extensive tour of inspection through the various districts of this colony, where agriculture and the breeding of cattle have occupied the attention of the numerous settlers, deems it expedient to express freely his sentiments thereon. His Excellency has been much gratified by the natural fertility and beauty of the country in general; and having paid very minute attention to the progress of husbandry in this widely extended colony, feels that he has much to commend in the general industry of the settlers, and in the progress they have made in the clearing of their lands, and the preparing them for the growth of grain. His Excellency is also happy in observing, that the very increased extent of land at present under grain, providentially favoured by the fineness of the season, and the redundance of the crops, give full promise of a most plentiful harvest, to crown the best wishes of the industrious husbandman.- - The banks of the rivers Hawkesbury and Nepean, in particular, hold forth the prospect of a most luxuriant harvest.

His Excellency, however, cannot forbear expressing his regret, that the settlers in general have not paid that attention to domestic comfort which they ought to do, by erecting commodious residences for themselves, and suitable housing for the

reception of their grain and cattle; nor can he refrain from observing on the miserable clothing of many of the people, whose means of providing decent apparel, at least, are sufficiently obvious to leave them without any excuse for that neglect. -His Excellency, therefore, earnestly recommends and trusts, that they will pay more attention to those very important objects; and, by a strict regard to economy and temperance, that they will, on his next annual tour, enable him to give a more unqualified approbation to their exertions.

His Excellency has been sorry to find, that the landholders of the lower class are in general very inadequately supplied with horned cattle, sheep, or goats; and being anxious to render them every facility in his power towards their possessing the advantages of live stock, is pleased to make known to them, that such persons as do not already possess those comforts and advantages, may be supplied from the government herds with one cow each, on the following terms, namely, payment to be made for the same in grain or money, as may be most convenient to the purchaser, in eighteen months after receiving her; but none need apply for such indulgence, except those who can bring unquestionable vouchers for their honesty and industry, and are ready to give good security for their retaining such cow and her offspring in their own possession for the course of three years from the time of receiving her.-They may be further accommodated with a proportion of sheep from the government flocks, under the same restrictions. -With such assistance from government, and the steady exertion of industry on the part of the settlers themselves, the governor is fully convinced that they may very shortly become as happy, thriving, and prosperous a people as any other throughout His Majesty's extensive dominions.

The frequent inundations of the

rivers Hawkesbury and Nepean having been hitherto attended with the most calamitous effects with regard to the crops growing in their vicinity, and of consequence of most serious injury to the necessary subsistence of the colony, the governor has deemed it expedient (in order to guard as far as human foresight can extend against the recurrence of such calamities), to erect certain townships on the most convenient and eligible high grounds in the several districts subject to those inundations, for the purpose of rendering every possible accommodation and security to the settlers, whose farms are exposed to the floods. In pursuance of this plan, and with a view to the prosperity of the country, he has already fixed on the most eligible situations within the several districts bordering on those rivers, and has marked out upon the commons or unoccupied crown lands, the situations where the townships are to be established, and each settler will be assigned an allotment of ground for a dwelling house, offices, garden, corn-yard, and stock-yard, proportioned to the extent of the farm he holds within the influence of the floods; but it is to be clearly understood, that the allotments so given being intended as places of security for the produce of the lands on the banks of the Hawkesbury and Nepean, cannot be sold or alienated in any manner whatever, but with the farms to which they are from the commencement to be annexed, and they are to be always considered as forming an inseparable part of the said farms.

The governor has accordingly marked out five separate townships, namely, one for the district of the Green Hills, which he has called Windsor; one for Richmond Hill district, to be called Richmond; one for the Nelson district, to be called Pitt Town; one for the Phillip district, to be called Wilberforce; and one for the Nepean, or Evan district, to be called Castlereagh.-Directions are already given to the

several constables within those districts, immediately to ascertain and to make a return of the names of all those settlers whose farms are subject to be flooded, together with the number of their respective families, extent of their farms, and number of their flocks and herds: - Said report or return is in the first instance to be made to William Cox, Esq. principal magistrate at the Hawkesbury, and agreeably to a form already prescribed; from whom it is to be transmitted to his Excellency, who will thereupon instruct the acting surveyor to mark out the several allotments, so as to enable the settlers to commence with the least possible delay the business of erecting houses, and removing thi ther. The dwelling houses are to be either made of brick, or weatherboarded; to have brick chimnies, and shingled roofs; and no dwelling house is to be less than nine feet high.-A plan of a dwelling-house and offices will be left with each district constable, to which each settler must conform in the erecting his buildings.

His Excellency having extended his views also to the situation of the settlers on George's River, has deemed it expedient to mark out the situation for a township on the west side (or left bank) of that river, in the district of Minto, to which he has given the name of Liverpool. The situation of this town is admirably calculated for trade and navigation, being immediately on the bank of the river where the depth of water is sufficient to float vessels of very considerable burthen. At this town it is intended very soon to erect a church, a school-house, a gaol, a guard-house, &c. Leases of commodious and adequate allotments for houses and gardens will be given to such free mechanics and tradesmen as may feel disposed to form a permanent residence there, on their giving regular and due security for their building comfortable and sub.. stantial houses, conformably to a

plan that will be shewn them on application to Thomas Moore, Esq. the chief magistrate in that district. Good tradesmen and mechanics settling at Liverpool will have the liberty of a large and contiguous common for grazing cattle, which is assigned for the benefit of the township; and those persons who have not milch cows will be supplied with one cow to each such person, from the government herds, for payment, on advantageous conditions. applications on these heads are to be made to Thomas Moore, Esq. who will explain the terms on which allotments may be obtained.

- All

Many applications for small grants of land having been made to the governor previous to his proceeding on his late tour by various free persons, his Excellency has been at much pains during his tour to seek out and select a suitable tract of good land for their accommodation. His Excellency has it now in his power to say, that he has discovered and examined a very rich tract of land, situated between the Bunbury Curian Creek and George's River, abounding in excellent pasturage, a good soil for cultivation, and well supplied with water. This tract of land his Excellency means to form into a distinct district, which is in future to be called Airds. Such free persons as are anxious to procure small grants in that district are directed to make their applications in writing to the secretary at Sydney, either on or before the 15th day of January next. These applications are to describe the applicants' present place of residence, together with their trade, or the employment they follow; and they are also to produce a certificate of good conduct, signed by the magistrate or chief constable of the districts wherein they reside. Such persons as cannot procure unquestionable

vouchers for their honesty, industry, and sobriety, need not make any application, as it is his Excellency's determination to extend such indulgences only to the deserving and industrious part of the community. By command of his Excellency the Governor,

J. T. CAMPBELL, Sec.

His Excellency the governor returned to Sydney on Thursday last, having been absent thirty-seven days, after having completed an extensive tour through every part of this settlement; in the progress of which he visited George's River, Northern Boundary, Field of Mars, Concord, Liberty Plains, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Prospect, Nepean, Cow Pastures, South Creek, Richmond Hill, the Hawkesbury, and the different districts in the neighbourhood of those places.-His Excellency also explored the recently discovered river called by the natives Warragonbie, which falls into the Nepean near Mulgoa, and which he traced in a boat for three miles and a half from its confluence with the latter river, at which distance his further progress was arrested by the first fall. The banks of this river are beautifully picturesque, finely clothed with wood, and in most places above four hundred feet high from the level of the water.

December 22nd.

Government House, Sydney, Saturday, Dec. 22, 1810. On Tuesday next, the 25th instant, being Christmas Day, by divine permission it is intended that the Church of St. Philip, at Sydney, shall be consecrated by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, principal chaplain,