33054-001586

[top of left margin] 31/9834 - 5th Dec'r 1831.

Commandant's Office Port Macquarie 24th November 1831

No. 25/31

Sir

[square bracket added] [I am induced to bring do your notice for the information of His Excellency the Acting Governor the Circumstance of a number of the Natives to the Amount of not less than thirty who have arrived at this Settlement infected with (to every appearance) the Small Pox in all its character and Stages and on very many instances one mass of pustule they are from Trial Bay and Point Plomer and universally impressed with the conviction that they have imbibed the disease from

[on right] a

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The Honorable

The Colonial Secretary.

[written in left margin]

[diagonally, in pencil]

Let me have the Papers on the subject of the Disease as it appeared at Bathurst.

Mr El'yd [in another hand, on right] Enclosed.

a Runaway, from Moreton Bay, whom they captured in the early part of October of the name of Scarm and who I observed when brought to the Settlement on the 7th October although in a recovered State bore evident marks of the Small Pox disease.

- I have prevailed on them to recross the river to the North. I have with a promise to afford them some little assistance and as there are a great number of Pease in Store approaching to decay, I have ordered an issue of a Peck per diem and it is my intention occassionally to draw the Same for them. I beg here to remark that I have made much enquiry among them regarding this disease and it appears they are not unacquainted with it many among

[on right] them

them not now infected declare they have had it a long time since [square bracket added] ].

These Blacks have brought me the pleasing intelligence that the Cattle party are returning with some of the Cattle and two Horses. I had felt some degree of alarm for the safety of these Men they having been absent with only one Months [sic] provision since the 15th September last

2 ..... Mr Ralfe the Surveyor reports in a private communication to me having discovered an extensive Stratum of Lime Stone of a very superior quality - its situation is about Six miles from the Navigation of the head of Pipers Creek, a branch of the Maria bearing about West, a small specimen

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Mr Ass't Surveyor Dixon reports on 31/9937 falling in with Cattle at Liverpool Plains & securing two Bullocks for his party; -- supposed to ^ [added above] (be) the animals here alluded to

Capt Smyth inf'd

[on right] 9 Dec'r 1831

Mr Jas Smith ... 9 --- d'o ---

accom[panies [writing obscured by piece of paper] - Mr Ralph intimates his intention to forward a larger Specimen to the Head of his Department, with his next Monthly Report, this discovery I have hope will raise - Port Macquarie in estimation and give encouragement to Emigrants to select in this direction.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

[signed] H'y Smyth

Capt'n 39th Reg't

Commandant

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Extract to D. Bowman

[in another hand]

Mr J ... 9th December 1831

Capt Smyth receipt acknowl'd

9 Dec'r 1831