FIRST NEWS FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Intelligence of an interesting and important nature has reached England from the Colony of South Australia in the course of the present week. Of fifteen vessels, which have sailed since April last year, fives have arrived safely at their place of destination, Nepean Bay, in Kangaroo Island ; and letters have been re- ceived from their different officers by the South Australian Commissioners, and by the South Australian Company. The extracts from these letters, which We subjoin, give very favourable accounts of the nature of the soil, the appear- ance of the country-, and the excellence of the harbours. The first two extracts are from the despatches of Colonel William Light, the Surveyor-General.
The Rapid brig, which conveyed Colonel Light and the surveying party. anchored in Nepean Bay after a passage of 104 days from the Lizard Point. In the Bay. Colonel Light says. in his despatch of August 231, there is excellent anchorage in three mei four, and five fathoms water, and saM in every wiet1—" I feel convinced that labour, and a little resolution, at ill do much here, and that even 'mu tints place a god settlement may be formed; and this is one or the worst in the island There are several English sailors a Ito have run from ships; and they, without agricultural implements, awl without the least knoa ledge En farming, have procured a heat, melons, cabbage, turnips, fine potatoes, and have reared pigs and poultry. What may not be done by an emigration of proper men ?" After waiting some days at Kangaroo Island for the ,erivall of the Cygnet, the as- sisting survey ing vessel. Colonel light proceeded to the MIlill1:111(1; where he came to anchor in the Bay to the eastward ante point called by Captain Flinders, It N., High Bluff; and he adds—" 1 was delighted to Mal the valley a here we lattult•tl exceed all my expectations. I am happy to report mted highly of this place. There are three countrymen with me, one a gardener, and thejother two also good judges of land : they have been digging tip a good portion, and nronounce it most excellent soil. The, water In the river is very goal ; and I niUt told there is no nom uf it all the year round. Looking up the Gulf irom the highest hill, we saw a must beautiful country. 'there is much moss on the hills. sunlit, Ille vale geranium,. w ild paisley, mallows, buttercups, daisies, he.; and thistles and inuttnierable other plants abound. 'Ilie air at this season is cold. In tine weather the thermometer in the tent at 11,011 is up It 6.4; anti at night down to 50, tonal onee to 40. The aailors tell me they consider September the most blowing month in the year : we have not experienced any thing more than corm moo gales."
The following is part of a letter from the Storekeeper to the Secretary of the Coummissiontrs.
" Fresh Water River. Nevem Bay, 2411, Septeml er. a We have been little more than a week actually on sli,ue; mill you auuld be delighted to see %chat we have dune in so short a time. Twelve tents, at g-ard. sized storeliouse. although not large enough for all we intend to land, of sufficient stability to protect the goods trim any injury ; and me yesterday gave older,: nut to land any mere mail another wits completed, upon the same plan. Attic ol hair cot. niers. of 12 feet square each, are to .night finished or the mai tied a orktuen ; teetheg two in each until nate are erected. In addition to this. several huts are Linder stay tor the officers and gentlemen. Captain Lipson has all his family on shore, aud coin. fort al y teemed."
" I have t penis' an account a ith two settlers for the supply of segetables and tie wallaby. The latter is most excellent eating. and at a mason:dile price; the part eaten, about three or four pounds. ls. Gd. ; and turnips led. a dozen. l take all t hey bring. awl pay them at our prices inn beef. pork, te.e. '1 heir supply is still, bill it enables Iln• lo afford a little to each. in relief from the long period upon attic', they base b..1-11 npon salt provisions. Had they known of our ennin itt., tli • s,:pply aculd Pave beet, abundant. My position does not allow me to move Isom the slut; but from wit ,t I bear and the little 1 have seen. l ant led to think kghiy or the capabi- lities nit),' Wand ; although all outer that it is inferior to the main Iamb I %VOA reconnized by one of these settlers, he having fortnetly corresponded with our house : he has iu his is,,sessiun Bre, ster's Optics ; and at, discussed its merits over a glass of grog in my tent."
We conclude with extracts of a letter from Captain George Martin, (born and brought up in Vall Dietneu'a Land,) of the John Pitie ; dated Hobart Town, 29th October 186— '''lint' Rapid arrived on the 20th August ; and Colonel Light set to work surveying the follow ing lit v. M here the anehorage, is there is room Mr plenty of vessels to lie in perfect safety Ii I'm all a inds, its Pare mint in any part of the riser Thames. • • • " After hosing been at tiepean Bay, looking in satin on the island for any thing like a better spot for a settlement. I lett the vessel ill charge of m offieers; hired IL Wil:tie. 11)04 manned it with the islanders, (English sailors, alto settle I there,) and proceeded on to Cape Jeri is, where Colonel Light soon joined no, itt the Vapid. Ile is a very ob.iging, and gentlemanly man, isr0Oilhed to gist' Me every tolurtnat luil In his power of his discoveries. I landed fl at fine bay ratan' the cape about eight miles tip Gulf '41. Vincent. in one (tithe loveliest slots I ever beheld, with a tine run of water through the middle ot a level plain% and Colonel Light at once pronounced it to be (Me of the hest sit mat nolaN 1mo.aii,le fur a man. The bay is well sit, tiered from 4,11 winds, except the wit, s from down the Golf, and from the west. lion Muest %OWN; but It does uot appear the winds blow home, and Iron: the appearance or the beach anti tho shore I bh011111 say there never is any sea running. The anchorage is guest hold. Ing-groutal ; and I should not hesitate to ride there all the year mewl iu from ten to
• The John Pirie, Duke of York, Cygnet, Lady Mary l'elliam, and 'timid.
three fathoms water. Colonel Light pitched Ids tents on (re. n a le it ear-tin, sha put RCM itt, and his plata.. The country all clout It -re is delightful, and mot watered. I proceeded up the Gulf on the East side abinit 75 or 00 miles, tilt I got into a river (the Sturt Riser) sufficient for tbe John Pirie (('aptain Martin's. ship) to enter at high water ; and when in, there is plenty of ater. I went tip this river about twelve miles: it runs close up to Mount Lofty ; the banks are very low, and composed of smell islets, with low mangrove trees gtowing in the water. A little way inland, we came to a beautiful open country. fine plains as far as your eye can reach, very moderately wooded. as are also the hills—of! fine, rich dark-brown !mil, with a yellow clay of from twoto four feet tinder It; ruins of 84 antler in all directions. From this part to the cape is a continuation of fine land, plenty of grass for feed for cattle or sheep, line shady hills moderately wooded. The principal wood is the oak mid mimosa (or ant lie.) The greatest difficulty I see is the ward of fine t i mber Mr sawing : there are some guncarees, bit far inland. I have not seen mi„, shitigy bark tree in all my journey, either on the math' or in the island. There is abundance of kangaroos and emus on the main, but none OD Kangaroo I sleuth altliongh plenty of a allabies.(it small sort of kangaroo.) There is one large plain of due land betaeen this river and the cape, alien- there are three line rivers running through. Front this to Lake Alexandrine is the finest country eyes ever beheld."