ndition, half filled with sand. Joe Wilson went for it afterwards,
and brought it back to Port Fairy. He was a native of Sydney, and
nephew of Raibey of Launceston, and was murdered not long afterwards
at the White Hills. He was sent by Raibey on horseback to Hobarton
to buy the revenue cutter 'Charlotte', which had been advertised for
sale. He was shot by a man who was waiting for him behind a tree.
He fell from his horse, and although he begged hard for his life, the
man beat out his brains with the gun. The murderer took all the
money Wilson had, which was only one five-pound note, the number of
which Raibey knew. A woman tried to pass it in Launceston, and her
statements led to the discovery and conviction of the murderer, who
was hanged in chains at the White Hills, and the gibbet remained
there for many years.

WHALING.

"I wish I were in Portland Bay,
Oh, yes, Oh!
Harpooning whales on a thirtieth lay,
A hundred years ago."

In the year 1837, J. B. Mills had charge of the Portland Fishery, and
Davy went with him in the 'Thistle' schooner as mate and navigator,
and they were over a month on the passage. Charles Mills was second
in command at the station at Portland, and Peter Coakley, an
Irishman, was third; the remainder of the crew required for whaling
was on board the 'Thistle'. Among them was one named McCann, a
Sydney native, a stonemason by trade, and father of the McCann who
was afterwards member of Parliament for Geelong. During a westerly
gale the schooner ran to Western Port for shelter. In sailing
through the Rip, McCann, who was acting as steward, while going aft
to the cabin, had to cross over a colonial sofa which was lashed on
deck. Instead of stepping over it gently, he made a jump, and the
vessel lurching at the same time, he went clean overboard. Davy, who
was standing by the man at the helm, told him to put the helm down
and let the vessel come to. He then ran forward and got a steer-oar
from underneath the boots, and threw it overboard. McCann, being an
expert swimmer, swam to the oar, a boat was launched, four men got
into it, picked him up, and brought him aboard again none the worse.
There was too much sea on to hoist in the boat, as there were no
davits, and while she was being towed in she ran ahead of the vessel,
which went over her and filled her with water. On arriving in
Western Port the boat was found to have been not much damaged. There
was on board the 'This