33054-006929

13

Crown Lands Office

Darling Downs, 27th March

1851

Sir

In transmitting the accompanying letter signed by certain of the occupiers of Crown Lands in the neighbourhood of Calandoon [Callandoon] praying for the extension of postal communication, from that place to Drayton ... I do myself the honor to observe in support of the arguments made use of by them

that

[bottom of left margin]

James Raymond Esq're

Postmaster General

..... &c ..... &c ..... &c.

[marginalia]

----------211--------

that Calandoon [sic] is situated on the Lower Macintyre River, at the South Western extremity of this District, that it is the Head quarters of the Native Police force, and that from the west of a direct line of Post, great public inconvenience is often caused, of which I will bring forward an instance -

On the 1st Ultimo ... (February)

I posted at Drayton a large packet of Census Returns, to meet me at Calandoon [sic] by the 1st March

for

for the purpose of Meeting the Census in that neighbourhood

I left Calandoon [sic] on the 5th of March and the packet had not then arrived, and had it not been that the Returns were supplied by the "Warialda" Bench the Census could not have been collected -

I am certain that necessity [?] is shewing cause why a direct-line should be established - the communication between the headquarters of the Native Police, and the Out Stations on

the

the Lower Condamine and in the Burnett District is also a matter of some importance - moreover the connexion of the Western line of Posts with the Eastern line at Drayton (the most central spot in the Northern District, and the main outlet to Moreton Bay) is most important to the Western Squatters - the distance by the high road up the Severn River, and Macintyre Brook and thence over to Canal Creek, and

so

17

And so to Drayton is about a hundred and fifty miles, there are several Squatters on the line of route, and at Canal Creek (about 40 miles from Drayton) a Township is fixed which already possesses a Store, two Inns and other habitations - a Post Office might be established here, and there is a respectable Storekeeper who would gladly accept the Office of Postmaster -

By taking the line down the Camden or Maranoa Creeks

instead

[note in left margin]

________________

Mr Martin Boulton.

________________