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."
"You are, then, in illegal occupation of Crown lands, and unless you pay me twenty pounds for a license I am sorry to say it will be my duty to destroy your store," said Mr. Tyers.
There were two other stores, and a similar demand was made at each of them for the 20 pounds license fee, which was paid after some demur, and the licenses were signed and handed to the storekeepers.
Davy's hut was the next visited.
"Who owns this building?" asked Mr. Tyers.
"I do," said Davy. "I put it up myself."
"Have you a license?"