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85 him in Western Port. His geographical ignorance led him into the mistake of the contiguity of the two places, and he sent his vessel straight to Western Port, with orders to drive the sheep across to the Yarra. This overland trip through that thirsty, rugged country, re duced the flock from 1000 to 75. Legal proceedings are said to have cost the owner of the vessel .£1000. As to the distribution of flockmasters, we find that in the primitive days the country over the Yarra was not much regarded. The favorite spots were Indented Head, the Exe or Werribee, and the Salt Water Ri ver. Messrs. Simpson and Wedge had their flocks together by the Exe ; so had Richard Wedge and John Woods of Snake Banks, each having his own brand, hut uniting for mutual protection. Capt. Lonsdale pur chased 200 lambs of Mr. Batman at two guineas each, and ran them over Emerald Hill. Poor Franks of Greenponds was at the foot of Mt. Cotterell. Solomon, the nephew of Judah Solomon, Esq., of the Temple, Hobart Town, managed for his brother-in-law Mr. Cotterell, at the Salt Water, near Melbourne. Batman’s head station was on a fine hill west of Flemington. John Aitkin, a managing partner for Mr. Bryant, went up to the country called after his name. Michael Connolly became his neighbour. Mr. Malcolm was then agent for Mr. John Sinclair, of near Launceston. Roadknight was on the Barrabool Hills ; Fisher, for the Derwent Company, was on the Barwon, near where Dr. Thomson after wards had his station; and Prout and Norman McLeod were on Indented Head. Hugh Murray, Morris, Carter and Lloyd Brothers joined together with their flocks, and went up to the wild country of Lake Colac, where they had enough to do to maintain their position, from constant disturbances with the natives. Thorneloe managed for the flock of Colonel Arthur and Mr. Colonial Secretary Montague ; Russell for the Clyde Company of Tasmania; Dr. Clarke for Mr. Gellibrand. Messrs. Cowie, Steiglitz, Austin and Stead were early settlers west ward. Mr. James Smith was managing partner of a grazing concern, of which Mr. McKillop of Van Diemen’s Land was principal. Mr. John Gardiner, formerly of the Van Diemen’s Land Bank, was the first settler with stock beyond the Yarra. The adventurous Hawdon first opened the route to Dandenong, and squatted there. McIntyre pitched upon the flats of Western Port; being so far out of the world, as to be three months without seeing an individual. The crossing of the Yarra at the Melbourne Falls was always dangerous,
