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113 1838, was the inconsiderable sum of £150. A letter to Sydney by land cost fifteen pence, and a ship letter three pence. The overland mail to Sydney took three weeks ; and as the same conveyance brought the replies, six weeks formed the interval of correspondence. A fortnightly mail was established on January 1st, 1839, and a weekly run on April 1st. COMMERCE, TRADE AND SHIPPING. Messrs. Batman and Fawkner were the founders of our commerce. The Gem of the one, and the Enterprise of the other were the fore runners of our Black and White Ball Liners. Both gentlemen ordered goods from the little island, and retailed them to consumers. In those days the colony was often out of an article, and the settlement has been reduced to great straits for want of flour. The timely entrance of one of the petty schooners would then bring a small fortune to the consignee. Mr. Batman was the merchant of the day. His store was extensive and profitable. Mr. Batman conducted a large business, even in the period of his lengthened illness ; he was admirably assisted by the business tact of his eldest daughter Maria, the late Mrs. Fennell; his manager was Mr. Willoughby. He was squatter, merchant, shipping agent, bill discounter, money lender, broker, &c., &c. Messrs, Skene Craig, Hodgson, Bucker, Chisholm, Nodin and Welsh were also early merchants. Mr. Strachan of Hobart Town had an establishment. The Custom House is thus described by Arden ; “ A dirty-looking shed, inconveniently small and badly situated, dignified with the appellation of Custom House. The Customs from Oct. 10th, 1836 to January 5th, 1837, amounted to £329. During the next year it rose to £2357 ; in 1838 to 2239 ; in 1839 to £1450. The wool imported in 1838 was 715,603 lbs, valued at £53,670 ; in 1839, to 1,327,780 lbs., £99,583. The total Imports for the last three months of 1836 were £3,409 and exports £1,544. For 1837 they were £115,279, and the exports £8,994. For 1838 they were £86,797 and £23,737; and in 1839, £204,722 and £77,684. The revenue of the Colony in 1838 was £6,738 ; but even then the revenue of South Australia was only £1,445, and Western Australia £929. In 1836 the Colonial revenue was £329, and expenditure £2,165 ; in 1837 they were £2,979 and £5,879 ; in 1838, £6,734
