GIPPSLAND UNDER THE LAW.
As soon as it was known at the Old Port that a Commissioner of Crown
Lands had arrived, Davy, the pilot, hoisted a flag on his signal
staff, and welcomed the representative of law and order with one
discharge from the nine-pounder. He wanted to be patriotic, as
became a free-born Briton. But he was very sorry afterwards; he said
he had made a mistake. The proper course would have been to hoist
the flag at half-mast, and to fire minute guns, in token of the grief
of the pioneers for the death of freedom.
Mr. Tyers rode away with a guide, found his troopers at the head of
the Glengarry, and returned with them over Tom's Cap. He camped on
the Tarra, near the present Brewery Bridge, and his black men at
night caught a number of blackfish, which were found to be most
excellent.
Next day the commissioner entered on his official duties, and began
to put down irregularities. He rode to the Old Port, and halted his
men in front of the company's store. All the inhabitants soon
gathered around him. He said to the storekeeper:
"My name is Tyers. I am the Commissioner of Crown Lands. I want to
see your license for this store."
"This store belongs to the Port Albert Company," replied John
Campbell. "We have no license, and never knew one was required in
such a place as this.
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