1825
  				Source: Sydney Gazette, August 4 1825.
Norfolk Island - The latest accounts from Norfolk Island mention that Settlement to be 
in a most flourishing state, having an immense increase of stock, in cattle, poultry, &c. 
and large crops of wheat, maise, and coffee. Most of the original houses are roofed in, 
and the new works proceeding with spirit and activity. Captain Penson, of the Mermaid, 
who sailed from Sydney for that Settlement, about the 13th of May, states, that the weather 
was so bad on his arrival on the caost, as to prevent his landing the cargo for six weeks.
Kingston is the name of the new capital of this dependence, and was formerly the estate of 
old Mr.Lucas.

1826
			Source - Colonial Times, February 3rd 1826
NORFOLK ISLAND. This settlement appears to be in a state of progressive improvement,
the Amity returned  to Sydney on Thursday from her trip there to carry supplies.
The following extract of a letter will be perused with interest.
Before the arrival of the Amity [a gentleman writes to his friend] we began to 
think the good people in Sydney had forgotten us. Our flour was nearly exhausted, and we 
had been for a fortnight on half allowance, our tea, sugar,spirits and etc, had been done 
for some time, but we had abundance of meat, fish ,vegetables and milk,so could feel no 
dread of starvation. This is the sweetest spot you can possibly imagine - the climate fine 
beyond description,and all  makes it pleasant quarters. We have lots of sport - the wild
boars which are numerous and terribly fierce afford gallant amusement; when they are 
closely pursued,they will attack you in a very formidable way;my dog has got innumerable 
wounds in this war-he had his leg broken some time ago while hunting and actually attacked
three on three legs.I have seen the hides of some an inch thick,and their tusks 9 inches 
and a half long.  
The goats also the finest in the world, furnish us with good mutton - we have a large herd 
of them that are grown very tame, and give us plenty of milk. There is good shooting also 
of fowls and pigeons,but all is very fatiguing,the island is so much broken into hills and 
valleys,and covered with grass from three to eight feet in length.  As to fishing,we can
generally catch as many snappers, king fish, and salmon as we want from off the rocks. 
Boating is too dangerous. It was only the other day that one of our whale boats, returning 
from a brig, was upset on the reef, and seven persons, among whom  was Mr Parker, narrowly
escaped on shore by swimming and holding on by the oars through a tremendous surf. - the 
boat was dashed almost to pieces,but no other loss was sustained. Tis a most treacherous 
place - sometimes the sea has not a ripple on it, and in half an hour after the waves will 
break across the passage,sufficient to overwhelm any thing. Several turtles have been seen 
about the island, but they wont venture on shore. I would send you the pines, but I am 
persuaded they would not live; in the course of the winter I will preserve you some with 
more certainty of success. Our little establishment is getting on very well - five or six 
acres of tolerably good wheat have just been cut down, and an excellent Comissariat store 
is nearly completed.

					Source:Colonial Times May 5th 1826
Norfolk Island. Since the re-formation of this Island, as a penal settlement,only a few 
females have been permitted there. Circumstances have occurred,which have induced the 
Government of the sister Colony  [NSW] to cause their removal:and for the future no women 
of any description will be allowed to proceed thither.The Isabella brought a number 
of goats from thence.Upwards of 90 acres of land,which had been formerly cleared, have 
been cultivated for wheat.- Agircultural operations are performed by manual labour and the 
hoe, as was the case here for some years after the formation of the Colony. 
There are no cattle or horses on Norfolk Island. Several men have already perished on 
the coast, which is universally known to be so dangerous, that a vessel cannot even 
find anchorage, or a boat land in safety from the heavy surf which almost continually 
breaks on its shores.

					Source: Colonial Times. August 4th 1826
The brig Amity lately brought away the whole of the women,free or bond, 
who remained at Norfolk Island, without exception
{CT August 4th 1826}
					Source: Colonial Times,August 18th 1826
The Amity has not brought up much intelligence from Norfolk Island, in addition 
to that received some weeks since by the Isabella.  A neatly constructed house, 
for the Commandant, had been for some time completed, with a Commissariat store. 
The garrison and prisoners continued to live in temporary huts. Five of the seven 
bushrangers who had managed to get into the interior,and to escape detection so long, 
had been taken by a corporal and two or three privates of the garrison, under the 
direction of Mr Campbell, who filled the situation of Superintendant of prisoners. 
The other two are supposed to have, by some means,escaped from  the island altogether, 
as they had not appeared at or near the settlement for months past.  
The Pocklington whaler was once off the island, but little communication between 
her and the shore was encouraged or permitted.Wild pigs and pigeons, guavas and fish, 
were plentiful and prolific as ever. 
New Zealand flax is found to thrive; so 60 acres or more,of wheat,which promises to repay 
the cultivator 20,30 or perhaps a hundred fold.There are little nor no sickness amongst 
the garrison and prisoners.One of the latter died of a species of dysentery; the only 
casualty of the kind that had occurred. - The Amity, during the time that she remained, 
was enabled to anchor in Cascade Bay, abreast of the Settlement, and in the bight between 
the latter and the former bay. She brought away whatever women remained,without a single
exception, and several persons  who had filled official situations on the Island. 
About one hundred and ten prisoners remained. Mr Buchanan has brought with him a number 
of fine goats, taken on the island.

1839
					Source: Launceston Advertiser September 25 1839
The Indemnity has brought intelligence of a serious mutiny having broken out 
among the military stationed at Norfolk Island. The reports which we have heard state 
that the married soldiers  have been allowed to occupy seperate huts, to each of which 
was attached  a small garden for the use of the occupants. Major Bunbury, the Commandant, 
had issued orders for the removal of these huts, intending to place the soldiers in one 
common Barrack, and to assign an extensive plot of garden ground for the common use of 
the military. These orders had given grievous offence to the soldiers,who on the approach 
of the convicts to remove the huts, turned out loaded muskets, to the number of sixty or 
seventy, and rushed the guard,the remainder, though not joining with the mutineers, 
remaining passive spectators of the outrage. Major Bunbury arrived on the ground, and 
drawing his sword ,threatened to cut down the first man that stirred, upon which the 
mutineers after some consultation returned to their huts,but the Commandant was compelled 
to forgo his intention of carrying his designs into effect until assistance could be 
obtained from head quarters. It being feared that the convicts may take advantage of this 
state of affairs to raise an insurrecton, the Government have resolved to despatch
H.M.S Alligator to Norfolk Island, and the  Cornwall has been chartered to 
follow with Major Ryan [who succeeds Major Bunbury as Commandant] Captain Tew and Best,
Lieutenants Stapleton and Enoch, Ensign Grimes ,and a detachment of one hundred and fifty 
men belonging to the 50th regt. 
The Cornwall on her return will bring up Major Bunbury and whole of the military 
now at Norfolk Island, when the mutineers will be tried by a Court Martial. Major Ryan
and Captain Tew have been appointed magistrates of the Colony. The  Cornwall only 
arrived from England with Emigrants a few days since, so that she is already fitted up, 
and is expected she will be ready to proceed to sea to-day or tomorrow.

1840			Source: Launceston Advertiser December 24 1840
D espatch from Lord John Russell to His Excellency Sir George Gipps,
					
					Downing Street, 6th July 1840.
Sir:- I have received  your despatch,marked seperate of the 23rd November last, in which 
you notify the selection of Captain Maconochie to be superintendent of the convict 
establishment at Norfolk Island, and enclose a copy of a communication which Captain 
Maconochie had addressed to you on his appointment to office. I had already received a 
copy of that letter from the Lieutenant-Governer of Van Diemen's Land.
I have communicated a copy of your despatch to the Secretary of State for the home 
department. I enclose for your information and guidance a copy of an order in council 
for determing the places to which convicts  may be transported from the United Kingdom, 
from and after the first of August next, the effect of which is to exclude the colony 
of New South  Wales from the list of such penal settlements. Her Majesty's Government 
have also decided that no more convicts should be sent from the Australian colonies to 
Norfolk Island, as Goat Island within the government of New South Wales, and Kings 
Island within that of Van Diemen's Land, would appear to be proper selections as places 
of confinement for prisoners convicted in the respective colonies.
Although, on that point, I would leave the choice, provided that it were not a settled 
district,to the discretion of yourself,and the Lieutenant-Governer of Van Diemen's Land. 
It is not contemplated to adopt the proposal of Captain Maconochie for the seperation 
of Tasman's peninsular and King's Island from Van Dieman's Land; but I have impressed 
on Sir J. Franklin the necessity of using the utmost care in the selection of officers 
to superentend the convict establishment there.   
Convicts at Norfolk Island whose sentences are about to expire shall immediately before 
the expiration of their term of punishment be sent to Van Dieman's Land, and those who 
may have recieved a ticket-of-leave may be subjected in Van Dieman's Land to such 
restraints as upon a further  consideration of the system may be thought most useful. 
I have only further to make a few remarks: which I would wish you to bear in mind in 
carrying out these measures:-
1st - That assignment when once abolished must in no shape be 
revived.
2nd- That of all systems of imprisonment that which is called 
the seperate system is the most efficious and complete.
3rd- That  when,from various reason,associated labour is adopted, 
it is not advisable to attempt, by coercive means, to enforce 
perpetual silence, such attempts are never entirely successful,
while they provoke and irritate the criminal, although silence, 
as a means of discipline, may be properly enjoined and enforced.

It is the intention of Her Majesty's Government that Captain Maconochie's plan should be 
left to be tried by himself, and that the experience of that trial should guide the future 
proceedings.
						I am,Sir your most obedient Servant
						J.Russell