[Editor: This column was published in Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), 16 September 1839. It includes a reference to the appointment of Charles Joseph La Trobe to oversee the Port Phillip District (Victoria).]
Contents of last week’s Government Gazette.
Descriptions of various promised grants of land, published in order that all parties concerned may have an opportunity of correcting errors, furnishing requisite particulars, &c., within three months from the 7th September.
Charles Joseph La Trobe, Esq., was formally appointed Superintendent of the Settlement and District of Port Phillip, on the 10th instant, before the Governor and Executive Council. The district will comprise that portion of New South Wales which lies to the southward of lat. 36° south, and between long. 141° and 146° east. At the same time, his Excellency expresses the sense he entertains of the ability, zeal, and services with which Captain Lonsdale performed his duties as the principal organ of the Government, and states that he will continue as Police Magistrate for the town of Melbourne.
Robert Saunders Webb, Esq., is appointed Sub-treasurer for Port Phillip, with power to grant Auctioneers’ and Publicans’ Licenses.
In future all payments of salaries of public officers, and all claims on account of Contracts at Port Phillip, will be paid by the Sub-treasurer of that district.
PORT ESSINGTON. — Notice is given, that Persons of respectability resorting to Port Essington for the purposes of trade, will be permitted to occupy, for a period not exceeding seven years, Town Allotments, containing each about half an acre, within one mile of the Pier at Victoria, and Suburban Allotments of five acres each, within five miles of the same. Parties desirous of availing themselves of this permission are requested to transmit written applications to that effect, addressed to Sir J. C. Gordon Bremer, Commander of Her Majesty’s Settlement at Port Essington, at the Office of the Harbour Master, Sydney, specifying the Allotment they wish to obtain, and the time within which they will be prepared bonâ fide to enter upon the land, if approved. The conditions — that the Lease continue for a period not exceeding seven years, renewable or not at the discretion of the Commandant, or of Her Majesty’s Government. The payment of an Annual Rent at Five Shillings per half acre. The Lease to be determinable at any time by the Commandant on giving twelve months’ notice. All improvements to be effected at the expense and risk of the Lessee. The Lessee not to destroy or injure timber, &c., without previous permission.
A list of 250 persons who have obtained certificates of freedom.
A list of seven tickets-of-leave cancelled.
Major Thomas Ryan and Capt. George Macleod Tew, of the 50th regiment, are appointed to be Magistrates of the territory.
A site has been fixed upon for a village to be called Violet Creek, on a stream of that name on the road to Port Phillip.
A List of Letters detained in the General Post office in consequence of the sea postage not having been paid.
A sale of unclaimed property will take place at the Penrith Police-office, on Friday 4th October.
A sale of cattle, farm implements, &c., forfeited in consequence of two tickets-of-leave having been cancelled, will take place at the Queanbeyan Police-office, on Monday 7th October.
A public Pound will be established at Hartley on the 2nd of October, James M‘Coy has been appointed keeper.
IN EQUITY. — T. Hyndes, plaintiff, W. Bucknell defendant. The defendant is required to appear within eight days from the 11th inst.
Tenders will be received at the Commissariat Office, this day, at noon, for Bills on Her Majesty’s Treasury, to the extent of £30,000.
A sale of 256 bushels barley, 2600 bushels maize, 15 bales wool and 330 casks from Norfolk Island and Moreton Bay; also, a sale of the surplus stores of the Parkfield, will take place at the Commissariat Stores, on Wednesday the 18th.
A list of Claims to Grants of Land and Town Allotments, which will be ready for examination two months after date (7th Sept).
Courts of general Quarter Sessions will be held at Sydney on Monday, the 7th October; at Campbell-town, 4th November; at Parramatta, 11th November, and at Windsor, 14th Nov.
Source:
Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), 16 September 1839, p. 2
Editor’s notes:
&c. = an alternative form of “etc.”; an abbreviation of “et cetera” (also spelt “etcetera”), a Latin term (“et” meaning “and”, “cetera” meaning “the rest”) which is translated as “and the rest (of such things)”, used in English to mean “and other similar things”, “other unspecified things of the same class”, or “and so forth”
bonâ fide = “in good faith”, often used regarding offers that are made sincerely and in good faith (without fraud or deceit), or in relation to items that are genuine (i.e. not counterfeit or specious)
Capt. = an abbreviation of “Captain”
Charles Joseph La Trobe = Sir Charles Joseph La Trobe (1801-1875), Superintendent of the Port Phillip District (September 1839 to January 1851), then Lieutenant-Governor (January 1851 to May 1854) of Victoria (the Port Phillip District separated from New South Wales on 1 July 1851, and became known as Victoria); he was born in London (England) in 1801, arrived in Australia in 1839, returned to England in 1854, and died in Litlington (Sussex, England) in 1875
See: 1) Jill Eastwood, “Charles Joseph La Trobe (1801–1875)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Charles La Trobe”, Wikipedia
3) “Charles Joseph La Trobe – Later Life”, The C J La Trobe Society
Esq. = an abbreviation of “Esquire” (a formal but unofficial title of respect, usually abbreviated as “Esq.” and placed after a man’s surname); a squire (a landed proprietor); a member of the English gentry who ranks below a knight
inst. = instant; in this month; a shortened form of the Latin phrase “instante mense”, meaning “this month”; pertaining to, or occurring in, the current month
lat. = an abbreviation of “latitude”
long. = an abbreviation of “longitude”
Port Essington = an inlet on the Cobourg Peninsula (Northern Territory); a settlement was established there by the British (the Victoria Settlement, often referred to as Port Essington); it was named after Vice-Admiral Sir William Essington
See: 1) “Port Essington, NT”, Aussie Towns
2) “Port Essington”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2004
3) “Port Essington: inlet, Northern Territory, Australia”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
4) “Port Essington”, Wikipedia
5) “William Essington”, Wikipedia
resort = go to (especially regarding large numbers of people), usually followed by “to”, e.g. “they resorted to their country” (can also mean: recourse, to have recourse to something, to turn to someone or something for aid, assistance, or strength, especially as an alternative, final choice, or “last resort”; a place where people go to have a holiday, a place of relaxation and rest)
tickets-of-leave = plural of “ticket-of-leave”: a permit, pass, or certificate (a ticket) allowing a convict leave from prison (or other government custody), allowing the bearer to live a non-custodial life, albeit under certain conditions or restrictions; a certificate of parole
Victoria = the Victoria Settlement at Port Essington (Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory); the settlement existed from 1838 to 1849
See: 1) Dave Lindner, “Victoria Settlement 1838 – 1849: Port Essington NT: ‘The Fearful Solitude’”, PastMasters
2) Valerie McPherson, “The History of Victoria Settlement, Port Essington”, Venture North, 29 March, 2016
3) “Victoria Settlement: Port Essington: 1838-49”, Derek Pugh, October 2020
4) “Port Essington: inlet, Northern Territory, Australia”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
5) “Port Essington”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “within which which” to “within which”.]
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