Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
marine township which has sprung up in Holdfast Bay—to celebrate the foundation of the colony . " Differences arose at the outset as to the selection of a site for the capital , an influential party being in favour of fixing it on Encounter Bay , outside the Gulf of St . Vincent . But tho views of tho Surveyor-General , Colonel Light , prevailed , and the site chosen was that on which now stands the city of Adelaide . At
the beginning the difficulties were enormous , and wero nearly proving insuperable . Mr . Harcus traces these to the initial error in seeking to establish a dual Government by Governor and Resident Commissioner , which failed to work well , and was tho cause of serious dissensions among the officials . Governor Hindmarsh only held his appointment fourteen months , when he was superseded by Colonel
Gawler , during whose administration "the colony passed through the greatest trials and difficulties it has had to encounter . Financial embarrassments—the results of folly and extravagance—threatened and almost accomplished the complete destruction of tho settlement . Money was scarce , and labour , which ought to have been productively employed in developing the resources of the colony , was concentrated
in the city , where men , instead of producing something from the land , lived on each other . To save the colony , Colonel Gawler commenced extensive public works , to pay for which he drew npon the Lords of the Treasury , and had his bills returned to him dishonoured . " However , this difficulty was tided over by the Imperial authorities advancing the money as a loan , but the Home Government
wero dissatisfied with Colonel Gawler ' s administration , and he was one day summarily ejected from office . " Captain George Grey , a young officer who had been exploring in Western Australia , on May 10 th 1841 walked into Government House and presented to Colonel Gawler a commission appointing him ( Captain Grey ) Governor of the Province in succession to Colonel Gawler . " Captain Grey ' s
administral ion was distinguished by prudence and economy . He cut down the wages of Government employes to the lowest point , and thus forced the labour , which had been too much concentrated in the city , into the hands of private employers . The result of this was that workmen went into the country , and the land was brought under cultivation . " The necessaries of life became cheaper ; and ,
although money waa not over plentiful , beef , mutton and flour were cheap , and there was neither want nor complaining amongst the people . Governor Grey ' s administration will always be remembered with satisfaction and gratitude . He first inspired the people with a feeling of self-reliance , and taught them to live within their means " Colonel Robe , his successor , was unfortunate . He was always in hot
water with bis subjects , and was no doubt only too glad to be relieved . Sir Henry Young followed , and tbe most important event which marked his governorship was the opening of the River Murray for navigation . Sir Richard Graves McDonnell was very popular with the colonists . During his term of office Constitutional Government , with two branches of legislature , both elective , was established .
The railway system was extended , the electric telegraph erected , and exploration was materially advanced . New and valuable copper mines on York ' s Peninsula were discovered , aud farming operations extended and improved . . Sir Dominic Daly , who succeeded , and was likewise very popular , died in the colony , deeply mourned by all classes . During Sir James Fergusson ' a administration , telegraphic
communication between Australia and Europe was established , and on his promotion to the Governorship of New Zealand , Sir Anthony Musgrave was entrusted with tbe reins of Government . The Act constituting the colony provided that a local government should be granted as soon as there was a population of 50 , 000 souls . At first , its affairs were managed by a Board of Commissioners iu
London , represented in the colony by the Resident Commissioner . This , however , as we have seen , did not answer well . Difficulties and most unseemly quarrels arose . At the same time , the executive power was vested in a Governor and Council of Eight , all appointed by him—four being official , and four non-official . This lasted till 1851 , when tho first Constitution was granted . This authorised the
formation of a Legislative Council of twenty-four members , of whom onethird were to be nominated by the Governor , and the other twn-thirds elected by the people . It was required , both of members of Council and the electors , that they should possess certain property qualifications . This Council , which had power to make laws , but could not touch tbe land , worked well , we are told , during the few years of its
existence , bnt the people very soon began to agitate for fuller parliamentary representation , and in 185 G au Act received tho Royal assent , which , albeit it has been slightly modified in some formal particulars during the last year or two , remains substantially the same as when it first became law . This Act provided for two branches of Legislature- —a Legislative Council of eighteen , and a House of
Assembly of thirty-six , increased by Electoral Act of 1873 to fortysix members . There are certain qualifications necessary for members of the Council , and for those who elect them . They are chosen , onethird every four years , and the whole colony votes as one Constituency . If a member dies or resigns before the completion of his quadrennial term , the vacancy is reported to the House , and a new
election takes place . The House of Assembly is elected trienmally , tho colony being divided into eighteen electoral districts , each of which returned two members , but , as we have said , the number of members has been latterly increased to forty-six , and there has been a new arrangement of districts . The qualifications for an elector , and also for a member of tho Assembly are that he shall be a
Britishborn or naturalised subject of the Queen , and of the full age of twecty-ono years , and his name must have been on the register for six months . Judges and ministers of religion of every denomination are , however , disqualified from sitting in either Houso . The mode of election is now by ballot . The Executive consists of tho Governor and six Ministers of State , five of whose titles are fixed by law , while
that of tho sixth depends on the Governor . Each Minister receives a salary of £ 1 , 000 per annum . Each has a staff of officers , with a confidential secretary , who is a permanent officer , and there are likewise other important Government officials , such as the Auditor-General , Postmaster-General , the Surveyor-General , the Crown Solicitor , &<* ,, fa , The powers of the two Houses of Parliament are
Reviews.
co-ordinate , except in ono important respect . Mouoy bills mnst originate in the House of Assembly . In fact , tho Government of the colony is administered much in the same fashion as our own , but all Acts passed by the Colonial Parliament must either be assented to by tho Governor , or sent home for tho approval of Her Majesty
before they can havo tho force of law . Bnt the Colonial Parliament is wise enough not to pass Acts likely to bo repugnant to the principles of Imperial Legislation , and therefore it is , practically , left to manage affairs in its own fashion . The following passage on the feelings of tho colonists towards tho Mother Country is worth quoting : —
There is no country in tho world where moro political freedom exists than in South Australia . The English Government havo given us this great Colony to do the best we can with it—to people it , aud to develop its resources . Wo pay nothing to the Mother Country for the privileges we enjoy ; all our public funds are spent in the Colony , and for carrying on its advancement . The confidence reposed in us has
not been misplaced . We have cansed no anxiety to the Home Government , and that Government has exercised no arbitrary power over us . We are , as I have said before , a practical democracy , and yet there i i not a more loyal people in the British Empire than wo . We are proud of our nationality and privileges as Britons , we are unwavering in our attachment to the Person and Throne of the Queen . We are as
much interested in all that relates to Her , and to the safety , dignity , and progress of Great Britain , as tho people who live in Middlesex or Yorkshire are . We have always resented the representations made by a knot of fussy people in England , who have taken upon themselves to complain of the grievances of the Colonies , and to threaten the Home Government with their secession from British rule . We
know little of these grievances ; we seldom complain of ill-treatment , and we deprecate , as an insult to our inextinguishable loyalty , any hint that we wish to separate from tbe grand old country , of whose history we feel proud , and with which it is our highest boast to be identified . We have shown that the most liberal political institutions are not incompatible with the profoundest loyalty to the
Queen and Government . " This agrees essentially with statements by Mr . Anthony Trollope in his work on Australia and Neio Zealand . That gentleman tells us that an Australian is indignant at the bare suggestion of a separation from the mother country ; yet , almost in the same breath , and with a singular disregard for this feeling of loyalty , he adds that
this separation is inevitable . But to return to Mr . Harcus and his account of the political feelings which prevail in the colony . His description of an election is extremely vivid , and especially of the " political amenities , " which candidates and members exhibit towards each other . Candidates , it seems , as a rule travel in company on terms of perfect good humour and fellowship , but on the platform
they attack each other with great freedom of speech , but it is done in a Pickwickian sense , aud keen political strife does not " generally destroy personal friendship aud good fellowship . " There is little political rancour as in other countries , " not that our public men do not feel strongly on political questions , but we are so closely mixed up in social and business life , that wo canuot allow political aspe .
nties to pass beyond the region of politics . I have often seen two or moro gladiators , denouncing each other in the House in the strongest language allowed by the rules of Parliamentary debates , meet immediately after in tbe refreshment room , when ono would smiliugly say to the other , ' Have a drink ? ' and tho men who a few minutes ago were figuratively flying at each other ' s throats , are hobnobbing
like old friends , as they probably are . This is one of the pleasautest and most creditable features in a political life . Chapters IX . and X . aro devoted , the former to a sketch of tho Local Government , with its Corporations and District Councils , its Road Boards , & c , & c , and the latter to tho Judicature , showing tho Constitution of the Supreme aud inferior Courts . Then follows a
sketch of the Land Laws , showing how the land is apportioned , how sold , and the evils inseparable from the system , with the steps taken to reduce their effects to a minimum . The method of combining agriculture with stock breeding is exhibited in the case of the Hill River Estate , tho property of Mr . C . B . Fisher . This property is 60 , 000 acres in extent , lies north and south , iu a valley between
two tiers of hills , the eastern being treeless , the western lightly timbered with Sheaoak and gum . The valley , on an average , is seven miles broad and about twenty-five miles in length . Tho sod is a rich deep chocolate washed from the surrounding highland . The station is divided into four diffei'ent establishments , namely , the wool shed and drafting yards , seven miles down tho valley to the north ; a new
series of farm buildings , two miles to the east , being prepared for harvest ; another large farming establishment nearer home ; and the homestead , a stone residence and stabling , surrounded by well-kept grounds , orangery and orchard , comprising in all twelve acres . The kitchen-garden of four acres produces every kind of vegetables . The drafting yards are complete of their kind , and aro flagged in the race
and crnshdens with shite obtained on tho property . The buildings for the shearers are of stone , divided iuto dining , sleeping , and cooking departments , nnd there is a separate stone cottage for the overseer . The number of sheep shorn is 50 , 000 , the shearing floor accommodating 40 shearers . The wool is of tho Merino combing description , the clip last year ( 1875 ) being "from 9 lbs . in the wether
to 3 J- lbs . in the lambs in the grease , or an average all through of about 7 lbs ., for which an average of 14 Jd was obtained . " There are about 200 cattle of superior short horn blood , and it is intended to obtain a bull and begin that department of breeding . New farm buildings are being erected handy to the cultivated land , comprising a quadrangle , 10 feet high , of stone walling 120 feet long each side ,
roofed with galvanised iron , sloping inwards and divided off into 10 x 10 loose boxes for horses , with all needful accommodation . A well and trough for watering occupy the middle of tbe square , which will be further built over so as to accommodate 200 horses . The other buildings consist of the men ' s stone buil lings , overseer ' s residence , large hay-cutting and corn-bruising hous ^ , and barn 106 feet by 34 , aud J 5 feet walls , capable of holding 60 , 000 bushels of wheat , with
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
marine township which has sprung up in Holdfast Bay—to celebrate the foundation of the colony . " Differences arose at the outset as to the selection of a site for the capital , an influential party being in favour of fixing it on Encounter Bay , outside the Gulf of St . Vincent . But tho views of tho Surveyor-General , Colonel Light , prevailed , and the site chosen was that on which now stands the city of Adelaide . At
the beginning the difficulties were enormous , and wero nearly proving insuperable . Mr . Harcus traces these to the initial error in seeking to establish a dual Government by Governor and Resident Commissioner , which failed to work well , and was tho cause of serious dissensions among the officials . Governor Hindmarsh only held his appointment fourteen months , when he was superseded by Colonel
Gawler , during whose administration "the colony passed through the greatest trials and difficulties it has had to encounter . Financial embarrassments—the results of folly and extravagance—threatened and almost accomplished the complete destruction of tho settlement . Money was scarce , and labour , which ought to have been productively employed in developing the resources of the colony , was concentrated
in the city , where men , instead of producing something from the land , lived on each other . To save the colony , Colonel Gawler commenced extensive public works , to pay for which he drew npon the Lords of the Treasury , and had his bills returned to him dishonoured . " However , this difficulty was tided over by the Imperial authorities advancing the money as a loan , but the Home Government
wero dissatisfied with Colonel Gawler ' s administration , and he was one day summarily ejected from office . " Captain George Grey , a young officer who had been exploring in Western Australia , on May 10 th 1841 walked into Government House and presented to Colonel Gawler a commission appointing him ( Captain Grey ) Governor of the Province in succession to Colonel Gawler . " Captain Grey ' s
administral ion was distinguished by prudence and economy . He cut down the wages of Government employes to the lowest point , and thus forced the labour , which had been too much concentrated in the city , into the hands of private employers . The result of this was that workmen went into the country , and the land was brought under cultivation . " The necessaries of life became cheaper ; and ,
although money waa not over plentiful , beef , mutton and flour were cheap , and there was neither want nor complaining amongst the people . Governor Grey ' s administration will always be remembered with satisfaction and gratitude . He first inspired the people with a feeling of self-reliance , and taught them to live within their means " Colonel Robe , his successor , was unfortunate . He was always in hot
water with bis subjects , and was no doubt only too glad to be relieved . Sir Henry Young followed , and tbe most important event which marked his governorship was the opening of the River Murray for navigation . Sir Richard Graves McDonnell was very popular with the colonists . During his term of office Constitutional Government , with two branches of legislature , both elective , was established .
The railway system was extended , the electric telegraph erected , and exploration was materially advanced . New and valuable copper mines on York ' s Peninsula were discovered , aud farming operations extended and improved . . Sir Dominic Daly , who succeeded , and was likewise very popular , died in the colony , deeply mourned by all classes . During Sir James Fergusson ' a administration , telegraphic
communication between Australia and Europe was established , and on his promotion to the Governorship of New Zealand , Sir Anthony Musgrave was entrusted with tbe reins of Government . The Act constituting the colony provided that a local government should be granted as soon as there was a population of 50 , 000 souls . At first , its affairs were managed by a Board of Commissioners iu
London , represented in the colony by the Resident Commissioner . This , however , as we have seen , did not answer well . Difficulties and most unseemly quarrels arose . At the same time , the executive power was vested in a Governor and Council of Eight , all appointed by him—four being official , and four non-official . This lasted till 1851 , when tho first Constitution was granted . This authorised the
formation of a Legislative Council of twenty-four members , of whom onethird were to be nominated by the Governor , and the other twn-thirds elected by the people . It was required , both of members of Council and the electors , that they should possess certain property qualifications . This Council , which had power to make laws , but could not touch tbe land , worked well , we are told , during the few years of its
existence , bnt the people very soon began to agitate for fuller parliamentary representation , and in 185 G au Act received tho Royal assent , which , albeit it has been slightly modified in some formal particulars during the last year or two , remains substantially the same as when it first became law . This Act provided for two branches of Legislature- —a Legislative Council of eighteen , and a House of
Assembly of thirty-six , increased by Electoral Act of 1873 to fortysix members . There are certain qualifications necessary for members of the Council , and for those who elect them . They are chosen , onethird every four years , and the whole colony votes as one Constituency . If a member dies or resigns before the completion of his quadrennial term , the vacancy is reported to the House , and a new
election takes place . The House of Assembly is elected trienmally , tho colony being divided into eighteen electoral districts , each of which returned two members , but , as we have said , the number of members has been latterly increased to forty-six , and there has been a new arrangement of districts . The qualifications for an elector , and also for a member of tho Assembly are that he shall be a
Britishborn or naturalised subject of the Queen , and of the full age of twecty-ono years , and his name must have been on the register for six months . Judges and ministers of religion of every denomination are , however , disqualified from sitting in either Houso . The mode of election is now by ballot . The Executive consists of tho Governor and six Ministers of State , five of whose titles are fixed by law , while
that of tho sixth depends on the Governor . Each Minister receives a salary of £ 1 , 000 per annum . Each has a staff of officers , with a confidential secretary , who is a permanent officer , and there are likewise other important Government officials , such as the Auditor-General , Postmaster-General , the Surveyor-General , the Crown Solicitor , &<* ,, fa , The powers of the two Houses of Parliament are
Reviews.
co-ordinate , except in ono important respect . Mouoy bills mnst originate in the House of Assembly . In fact , tho Government of the colony is administered much in the same fashion as our own , but all Acts passed by the Colonial Parliament must either be assented to by tho Governor , or sent home for tho approval of Her Majesty
before they can havo tho force of law . Bnt the Colonial Parliament is wise enough not to pass Acts likely to bo repugnant to the principles of Imperial Legislation , and therefore it is , practically , left to manage affairs in its own fashion . The following passage on the feelings of tho colonists towards tho Mother Country is worth quoting : —
There is no country in tho world where moro political freedom exists than in South Australia . The English Government havo given us this great Colony to do the best we can with it—to people it , aud to develop its resources . Wo pay nothing to the Mother Country for the privileges we enjoy ; all our public funds are spent in the Colony , and for carrying on its advancement . The confidence reposed in us has
not been misplaced . We have cansed no anxiety to the Home Government , and that Government has exercised no arbitrary power over us . We are , as I have said before , a practical democracy , and yet there i i not a more loyal people in the British Empire than wo . We are proud of our nationality and privileges as Britons , we are unwavering in our attachment to the Person and Throne of the Queen . We are as
much interested in all that relates to Her , and to the safety , dignity , and progress of Great Britain , as tho people who live in Middlesex or Yorkshire are . We have always resented the representations made by a knot of fussy people in England , who have taken upon themselves to complain of the grievances of the Colonies , and to threaten the Home Government with their secession from British rule . We
know little of these grievances ; we seldom complain of ill-treatment , and we deprecate , as an insult to our inextinguishable loyalty , any hint that we wish to separate from tbe grand old country , of whose history we feel proud , and with which it is our highest boast to be identified . We have shown that the most liberal political institutions are not incompatible with the profoundest loyalty to the
Queen and Government . " This agrees essentially with statements by Mr . Anthony Trollope in his work on Australia and Neio Zealand . That gentleman tells us that an Australian is indignant at the bare suggestion of a separation from the mother country ; yet , almost in the same breath , and with a singular disregard for this feeling of loyalty , he adds that
this separation is inevitable . But to return to Mr . Harcus and his account of the political feelings which prevail in the colony . His description of an election is extremely vivid , and especially of the " political amenities , " which candidates and members exhibit towards each other . Candidates , it seems , as a rule travel in company on terms of perfect good humour and fellowship , but on the platform
they attack each other with great freedom of speech , but it is done in a Pickwickian sense , aud keen political strife does not " generally destroy personal friendship aud good fellowship . " There is little political rancour as in other countries , " not that our public men do not feel strongly on political questions , but we are so closely mixed up in social and business life , that wo canuot allow political aspe .
nties to pass beyond the region of politics . I have often seen two or moro gladiators , denouncing each other in the House in the strongest language allowed by the rules of Parliamentary debates , meet immediately after in tbe refreshment room , when ono would smiliugly say to the other , ' Have a drink ? ' and tho men who a few minutes ago were figuratively flying at each other ' s throats , are hobnobbing
like old friends , as they probably are . This is one of the pleasautest and most creditable features in a political life . Chapters IX . and X . aro devoted , the former to a sketch of tho Local Government , with its Corporations and District Councils , its Road Boards , & c , & c , and the latter to tho Judicature , showing tho Constitution of the Supreme aud inferior Courts . Then follows a
sketch of the Land Laws , showing how the land is apportioned , how sold , and the evils inseparable from the system , with the steps taken to reduce their effects to a minimum . The method of combining agriculture with stock breeding is exhibited in the case of the Hill River Estate , tho property of Mr . C . B . Fisher . This property is 60 , 000 acres in extent , lies north and south , iu a valley between
two tiers of hills , the eastern being treeless , the western lightly timbered with Sheaoak and gum . The valley , on an average , is seven miles broad and about twenty-five miles in length . Tho sod is a rich deep chocolate washed from the surrounding highland . The station is divided into four diffei'ent establishments , namely , the wool shed and drafting yards , seven miles down tho valley to the north ; a new
series of farm buildings , two miles to the east , being prepared for harvest ; another large farming establishment nearer home ; and the homestead , a stone residence and stabling , surrounded by well-kept grounds , orangery and orchard , comprising in all twelve acres . The kitchen-garden of four acres produces every kind of vegetables . The drafting yards are complete of their kind , and aro flagged in the race
and crnshdens with shite obtained on tho property . The buildings for the shearers are of stone , divided iuto dining , sleeping , and cooking departments , nnd there is a separate stone cottage for the overseer . The number of sheep shorn is 50 , 000 , the shearing floor accommodating 40 shearers . The wool is of tho Merino combing description , the clip last year ( 1875 ) being "from 9 lbs . in the wether
to 3 J- lbs . in the lambs in the grease , or an average all through of about 7 lbs ., for which an average of 14 Jd was obtained . " There are about 200 cattle of superior short horn blood , and it is intended to obtain a bull and begin that department of breeding . New farm buildings are being erected handy to the cultivated land , comprising a quadrangle , 10 feet high , of stone walling 120 feet long each side ,
roofed with galvanised iron , sloping inwards and divided off into 10 x 10 loose boxes for horses , with all needful accommodation . A well and trough for watering occupy the middle of tbe square , which will be further built over so as to accommodate 200 horses . The other buildings consist of the men ' s stone buil lings , overseer ' s residence , large hay-cutting and corn-bruising hous ^ , and barn 106 feet by 34 , aud J 5 feet walls , capable of holding 60 , 000 bushels of wheat , with