New South Wales.

Front matter

o 7

W

PREFACE,

Preface

the official records, and compiling- it in its present shape, entrusted to Mr. Alfred Bourne, of this Department ; the work bears evidence of the great assiduity and c| bestowed upon it by him. Acknowledgments are due to tlie Reverend John Campbell, of Glen Innes* for his valuable assistance in compiling the Introductory Chapter ; to Mr. E. W. Foxall, for condensing the Financial Statements ; to Mr. J. J. Spruson, for contributing the chapters on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island ; to Mr. Edward Dowling, Secretary to the Board of Technical Education, for the Australasian Statistics ; to Mr. Stephen Jones, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. A. P. Clapin, Clerk Assistant of the Legislative Council, for the information from which the Lists of the Parliament have been compiled ; and to Mr. W. H. Pidcock, for the Index.

It is necessary to explain that the Statistics given at ^the close of each chapter are taken from published Returns ^rnpiled by the Registrar- General.

"he Officers of the several Australasian Governments to ^application was made for Statistics most promptly iously supplied the information required.

devoured Map shows the extent of the Railway sysllin and other means; of internal communication ; and indicafps the Pastoral, f Agricultural, and Mineral areas, at

:ontains statistical information relating to Hunt 'Colonies (except Western Australia) and vted retudns of local interest.

Although close and careful attention has been given to this work in its progress through the press, I am conscious that it caru^ot be altogether free from imperfections; but I trust th^y if may be found sufficiently comprehensive and accura^BplVe useful to the general reader, and especially

so to therajgislatOr, the journalist, and the historian.

dli //

Sydney, New SoullHWaUe, _ . a 15 A ttgWtfSiSs. *£ -./>

T. R.

Chapter I

r At e.

EARLY AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERY.

What ancient geographers say—1 Fernandes de Qniros and Torres— Dutch dis¬ coverers — Abel Jansz. Tasman — Dampier, the buccaneer — Captain Cook sails in the “ Endeavour” — Botany Bay — Phillip and the First Fleet — Port Jackson — Sydney Cove — Foundation of the Colony . . 1

ERRATA.

Page 341, last paragraph, 4th line. After “ 19tli” add “April.”

Page 419, last paragraph, 1st line. For “ Fourth” substitute ** Fifth.”

Page 453, after fourth paragraph. Insert “On the 13th January, 1870, Mr. Robertson gave up the office of Premier and Colonial Secretary to Mr. Cowper, by which means the Robertson Ministry (No. 11) merged into the Cowper Ministry (No. 12) ; but < the 13th August, 1870, Mr. Robertson again joined the Ministry as Secretary f Lands.”

Page 533, third paragraph, 1st line. For “Seventh” read “ Eighth, read “ 1S75.”

(Governor King — Macarthur —Cruise of the “ Investigator”- Tfeh — P^rons Narrative — Bligh, of the “Bounty” — Quarrel Bliglvs Arrest and Deposition . ,A

CHAPTER IV/ governor macquarieS is io 1*21.

•orhimiol) too* lo n>f8£d>

y

Passage of the Blue Mountains — The Charter of JusSKf- King's Survo\T^BB Oxley’s and Hume’s Discoveries — Social Contests — Macquarie’s Defence^!} Statistics . *>9

CHAPTER Vf

GOVERNOR SIR THOMAS BRISBANE.— 1821-1825.

Era of Free Immigration— Various Discoveries— A Legislative Council— Trial by Jury— Liberty of the Press— Australian Agricultural Co.— Brisbane recalled— Statistics . . . y . . 33

PREFACE .

the official records, and compiling- it in its present shape, «as entrusted to Mr. Alfred Bourne, of this Department ; |nd the work bears evidence of the great assiduity bestowed upon it by him. Acknowledgments are due to tn^! Reverend John Campbell, of Glen Innes* for his valuable assistance in compiling the Introductory Chapter; to Mr. E. \V. Foxall, for condensing the Financial Statements ; to Mr. J. J. Spruson, for contributing the chapters on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island ; to Mr. Edward Dowling, Secretary to the Board of Technical Education, for the Australasian Statistics ; to Mr. Stephen Jones, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. A. P. Clapin, Clerk Assistant of the Legislative Council, for the information from which the Lists of the Parliament have been comniled : and

3 [Australian Colonies (except Western Australia) and ited returns of local interest.

Although close and careful attention has been given to this work in its progress through the press, I am conscious that it cannot be altogether free from imperfections; but I ilatOr, the journalist, and the historian.

be found sufficiently comprehensive and gful to the general reader, and especially

T. R.

is AwjvmfKm

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY AUSTRALIAN' DISCOVERY.

What ancient geographers say— Temandes de Quiros and Torres— Dutch dis¬ coverers — Abel Jansz. Tasman — Dampier, the buccaneer — Captain Cook sails in the “ Endeavour” — Botany Bay — Phillip and the First Fleet — Port Jackson — Sydney Cove — Foundation of the Colony .

PAC E.

Chapter II. Governors Phillip And Hunter.— 178s-1s00

First Historical Scene — Trouble with Aborigines — La Ptfrouse — Norfolk Island — Rumours of Gold — Supplies from Home — Departure of Phillip — State of Colony — First Emigrant Ship— Attempts to cross the Mountains — Governor Hunter — Bass and Flinders Newcastle — Governor Hunter's departure- First Printing Press — Statistics . .

CHAPTER III. mk

GOVERNORS KING AND BLIGH. — 1 S§0~ 1 SOfr. ‘

Governor King — Mac&rthur — Cruise of the “Investigator ; .

— IVn.ii \s Narrative — Bligh, of the “ Bounty v— Quarrel Bligh s Arrest and Deposition . A „ ‘ '

• ftwwuoJ too*

l V* noises

CHAPTER IVA

GOVERNOR MACQUARI E -££10-1821 .

Passage of the Blue Mountains — The Charter of JusMe -King's

Oxley’s and Hume’s Discoveries — Social Contests — Macquarie’s Defence’^J^J Statistics . . . . .

CHAPTER V.

GOVERNOR SIR THOMAS BRISBANE.— 1821-1 S25.

Era of Free Immigration- Various Discoveries— A Legislative Council— Trial by Jury— Liberty of the Press- Australian Agricultural Co.— Brisbane recalled— Statistics

V

VI

COX TENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

The New Legislative Council —Royal Instructions— Commercial Panic— The “Rogue’s March”— Legislation anent the Press— Mr. Justice Forbes— Discoveries by Captain Sturt— Sydney Water Supply— Separation of Van Diemen’s Land — Statistics . .

CHAPTER VII.

GOVERNOR SIR RICHARD BOURKE.— 1831-1837.

Sir Richard Bourke— Meeting of Legislative Council — The First Appropriation Bill — The Government Gazette— Session of 1833— The Jury Act — Session of 2834 — Church and School Lands— Session of 1835— Claims to Grants of Land Bill — Committee on Immigration — Session of 1836 — Trial by Jury — Crown Lands Occupation Bill — New Government House — Circular Wharf at Sydney Cove — Darlingliurst Gaol — Session of 1S37 — The Port Phillip District — Dr. Lang and Immigration — Major Mitchell's Explorations — Statue to Sir Richard Bourke — Statistics .

CHAPTER VIII.

GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GIPPS.— 1838-1846. ge Gipps — His Policy — Financial Disaster — Legislative Session of 1838 — posed Bill for the Government of New South Wales — Session of 1839 — hGIta n Lands Occupation Act Amendment Bill — Minute on Finance — Minute iu cation — Despatch from Lord Glenelg re Transportation — Session of anexation of New Zealand — Claims to Grants of Land in New >rtli’s Address— Sir George Gipps* Reply- Ehi&nc< Education —Police a n'^Gaol Expenditure — Royal Instructions — The Council's Address thei on — Session of 1841 — Financial Embarrassments — Education — -patidjes &ani jHgland— Committee on Immigration Debentures— Session of lSP2-ScS!nmtfecial Panic— Session of 1843— The Constitutional Act— The EleJfcal Bill pDissolution of the Council— Meeting of the New Council— on Monetary Confusion — Prorogation — Extraordinary the Councllrrbession of 1844— District Councils— Differences Governor and the Council — Land Grievance Committee — Com- ■Ptiee on Education — Select Committee on the Elective Franchise — Police 1 '.•nditure#!pj3«iernl (Grievances Committee — Addresses to Her

Majefit ion of 1845— Immigration — Session of 1846 — Crown Lands

^^Hpation Contribution Bill — Close of Gipps’ Administration — Dr. Ludwig hardt — Statistics . .

CHAPTER IX. — ^

GOVERNOR SIR CHARLES A. FITZ ROY . — 1 846-1 854. Opening of Session 1846 — Financial Message — 'Minimum upset price of land — Transportation— Select Committee on Steam Communication — Prorogation — Anti-transportation Committee— Re-assembling of Council— Finance — Squat¬ ting Regulations — Select Committee's Report— Coal monopoly— Resolutions on

CONTENTS .

Til

FAG E.

Transportation — Immigration — Death of Sir George Gipps — Prorogation —

Death of Lady Mary Fitz Roy — Session of 1848 — Despatch on Separation of Port Phillip — Finance — Railways — Steam Communication — Dissolution of Council — The Separation question — The new Legislative Council — Despatches on Separation and the Constitution — Despatch on Transportation — Despatch on Crown Lands — Finance — Railways — Select Committee on a Sydney University — Sydney Corporation — Postage Bill — Steam Communica¬ tion — Jte Emigration to California — Prorogation — Opening of Session, 1850 —

The Transportation question — Finance — Constitutional — Colonial appoint¬ ments — Select Committees — Grievances — Anti-transportation League — Rail¬ ways — First Session of 1851 — The new Constitution — Separation of Victoria —

The Grievance Petition— Prorogation— Gold discovery— Assembling of a new Legislative Council — Fitz Roy Governor-General — Despatches on Crown Lands — On Transportation — Second Grievance Petition — Finance — Immigra¬ tion— Steam Comm unication — M int— Defence — Mi litary — Postage — Proroga¬ tion — Opening of Session 1852 — Select Committee to prepare a Constitution for New South Wales — Earl Grey's Reply to the Remonstrance — Answer to Earl Grey — Financial Message— Mr. Wentworth’s Resolution re Estimates —

Second Financial Message — Gold-fields management — Select Committee on Immigration — Police Regulation — Clergymen's Stipends — Steam Communica¬ tion-Cost of Military— Hon. E. Deas-Thomson— Railways — Close of Session — Legislative Session of 1853 — Sir John Pakington’s Despatch — Duke of New¬ castle's Despatch — Resolutions in reference thereto — Select Committee on Constitution — Constitution Bill — Constitution ’Committee— Passing of the Constitution Act — Declaratory Resolutions— Finance — Water Supply — Disso¬ lution of the Sydney City Corporation — Paris Universal Exhibition — Proroga¬ tion — Meeting of Legislative Council — Governor-General’s Opening Speech —

The War with Russia — Sydney Railway Company — Mr. Parkes on inferior Immigration — Branch of Royal Mint — Finance — Governor-General’s Salary —

Dr. Lang re Separation — Correspondence on Constitution — Want of Confi¬ dence — Resolutions on Transportation — Darvall’s Resolutions adverse to Con¬ stitution Act — Select Committee on Immigration — Railway construction — •

Crown Lands Inquiry— Asiatic Labour — Territorial Revenue— Farewell to Sir Charles Fitz Roy — Prorogation — Kennedy’s Discoveries — Statistics . . . . 128#

■ a

CHAPTER X.

GOVERNOR SIR WILLIAM DEN I SON. — d $55- 1 8(5 i ?

Sir William Denison — He declines to dissolve the Legislative Council — The Opening Speech — Financial Minute — Martin’s Resolutions — Custom-houses on the Border — Wentworth’s communication — Lord John Russell’s Despatch — Steam Postal Communication — Education — Resolutions on the War — Railways — City Commissioners' Department — Bills and Select Committees — Retirement of Sir Charles Nicholson from the Speakership — Final Prorogation of the Legislative Council — Responsible Government — The Donaldson Ministry — The First Parliament — Cowper's Amendment on the Address in Reply — Departmental arrangements — Political position of Judges — Resignation of the Donaldson Ministry — The Cowper Ministry — Treaty of Peace — Defeat of the Cowper Ministry — The Parker Ministry — Constitution Act Amendment — Parkes’ Resolutions on Transportation — Donaldson's Financial Statement— Schedule C — Separation of More ton Bay — Political Pensions — Plunkett President of Legislative Council — Select Committee on City Commissioners —

Till

COX TEXTS.

Robertson's Resolutions — Prorogation Re assembling of Parliament Donald¬ son’s Financial Statement— Defeat of Parker’s Ministry on the Electoral Bill— The second Cowper Ministry — Jones’ Financial Statement — Crown Lands Bill— Dissolution— Proposed Separation of Northern Districts— Federation— The Secoud Parliament — Campbell’s Financial Statement 1 roops for India Mr. Plunkett and the Board of National Education — Death of Sir Charles FitzRoy — Electoral Bill — Chinese Immigration Sydney University — Death of Sir Ralph Darling — Of Archdeacon Cowper — Haslem Creek Railway Accident — Steam Communication- Constitution of Legislative Council — Disputed Elections — Bills of the Session — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Cowper's Financial Statement — Public W orship — Bayley

Attorney-General — Departmental arrangements — Dissolution of Parliament — The Third Parliament — Parkes’ Resolutions on Customs Duties — Cowper s explanation — Robertson’s Land Bills — Separation of Moreton Bay — Education Bill, its defeat — The Forster Ministry — Retirement of Cowper from the Assembly — Cowper’s second Cabinet — Resolutions on Defence — Sir Daniel Cooper rctires j from the Speakership — Mr. Murray elected — Telegraphic — Steam Postal Communication — Elective Legislative Council Bill — Ministerial Statement — Vote of Censure — Resignation of the Forster Ministry — The Robertson Ministry — Weekes’ Financial Statement — Death of Sir Thomas Brisbane — Select Committee on the Condition of the Working Classes — Parkes’ Resolutions — Prorogation — The P. and O. Mail-contract — Re¬ assembling of Parliament — Federation — Various measures — Free selection before survey — Dissolution of Parliament — The Rohertson-Cowper Ministry — The Fourth Parliament — Valedictory Address — Railways and Telegraphs- - Wreck of the 44 Dunl>ar” — Explorers of Denison’s era — Death of Sir Thomas Mitekell — Gold at Port Curtis — TheKiandra Rush — Lambing Flat — Denison’s departure — iStatistics .

« CHAPTER XI.

GOVERNOR SIR JOHN YOUNG.— 1861-18 68.

ft

Tlfcj ca^e of Tawell — Weekes’ Financial Statement — The Land Bills — -Appoint- • ments to the Legislative Council — Parliamentary Crisis— Prorogation — Customs Duties — Bill to amend the Constitution of the Legislative Council — Gold- . fields — Church and School Lands — State of Prisons — Dismemberment of the Colony — Burrangong and the Chinese — Rioting — Return of Wentworth — Nominations to the Legislative Council — Opening of Session — Land legislation — Chinese Immigration — Church and School Lands — Police regulation — Murray River Customs — Re Legislative Council — Weekes’ Financial State¬ ment — Railway extension — Dismemberment — Powers of the Legislative Council — Prorogation — Parliament re -assembles — Address of Condolence — Church and SchooP Estates — Grants for Public Worship Prohibition Bill — Weekes’ Financial Statement — Elective Legislative Council Bill — Religious Equality — State of Manufactures and Agriculture — Retirement of Wentworth from the Chair of the Legislative Council — Honorable Terence Aubrey Murray President — Powers of the Legislative Council — Mr. Hay Speaker — Australian Library —Prorogation — Intercolonial Conference — Re-assembling of Parliament — Church and School Lands — Education Bill Insecurity to life aud property — Riverine District — Smart’s Financial Statement — Defeat of the Government — Ministerial Statement — Eagar’s Financial Statement — Financial proposals — Stamp Duties — Newspaper Postage — Defeat of the Custom Duties

PAGE.

*242

CONTENTS .

IX

PAGE.

Bill iii the Legislative Council — Ministerial Statement — Prorogation — The Fifth Session — Defeat of the Government- — Dissolution — Amendment on the Address in Reply — Cowper’s Ministry — Smart’s Financial Statement — Stamp Duties— Felons Apprehension Bill — Steam Postal Service — Border Duties Conference — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Resignation of Mr.

Hay — Pitt-street Tramway — Samuel's Financial Statement — Ministerial State¬ ment — Resignation of Mr. Samuel — Cowper’s Financial Statement — Burdekin Treasurer — Defeat of Cowper’s Administration — The Martin Ministry — Eagars Financial Statement — Public Debt Commissioners Bill — Ocean Mail Service Third Session of Fourth Parliament — Public Education Bill — Eagar’s Financial Statement — Select Committee on Working Classes — Prorogation —

Postal Conference — Re-assembling of Parliament — The Federal Council Bill —

The Border Duties Bill — Railway proposals — Eagars Financial Statement —

The Land Bill — Ministerial Statement — Want of Confidence Motion — Retire¬ ment of Sir John Young — Statistics . 328

CHAPTER XII.

GOVERNOR THE EARL OF BELMORE. — 1868-1872.

Sir Trevor Chute, Administrator — Duke of Edinburgh — Attempted Assassination of the Duke — Financial — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Defeat of the Martin Administration — The Second Robertson Ministry — Select Com¬ mittee on Treason and Assassination — Newspaper Postage Act — Samuel's Financial Statement — Prorogation — Opening of Sixth Session — Samuel’s Finan¬ cial Statement — Constitutional Powers of Legislative Council — Dissolution —

Sixth Parliament — Immigration — Financial Statement — Railway extension — Prorogation — Intercolonial Conference — Re-assembling of Parliament — Finan¬ cial Statement — Stamp Duties Act Continuation Bill — Ministerial Statement — Cowper Agent-General — The Martin -Robertson Coalition — Lord’s Financial Statement — Powers of Legislative Council — Internal Communication — Death of Sir William Denison — Prorogation — Intercolonial Conference of 1 S7 1 — Opening of Session — Border Duties — Lord’s Financial Statement — Border Customs Duties collected by New South Wales Government — Piddington’s Amendment — Dissolution of Parliament — Earl Belmore retires — Statistics . 438

CHAFFER XIII.

GOVERNOR SIR HERCULES ROBINSON.— 1872 1879.

Arrival of Sir Hercules Robinson — The Seventh Parliament — Amendments on the Address in Reply — The Parkes Ministry — Death of Mr. Wentworth — Border Duties Convention Bill — Rejected in Legislative Council — Mr. Parkes’ Resolutions — Financial Statement — Internal Communication — Public Funeral to Wentworth's remains — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Parkes’ Financial Statement — Resolutions on Education — Intercolonial Con¬ ference — Ocean Mail Service — Legislative Council Bill — Constitution of the Legislative Council — Prorogation — Border Duties Convention — Re-assembling of Parliament — Death of Sir Terence Aubrey Murray — The Hon. John Hay President — Another Legislative Council Bill — The Council declines to adopt the Report of the Select Committee — Ocean Mail Communication — Lloyd’s

X

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Financial Statement— Retirement of Sir James Martin— Departmental— Retirement of Victoria from the Bonier Duties Convention— Electoral Bill- Telegraph Cable— The Prisoner Gardiner— Prorogation— Opening of Fourth

Session Address in Reply — Financial Statement — The Gardiner question —

Minute of Sir Hercules Robinson— Combes’ Resolutions— Dissolution of Par¬ liament— The Seventh Parliament— Amendment on the Address in Reply—

The Governor’s Message— Sir William Manning sent for— The third Robertson Ministry— Death of Mr. Arnold— Mr. George Wigram Allen Speaker- Resignation of Mr. Allen— His re-election— Forster’s Financial Statement- Immigration— Electric Cable— Postal— Stamp Duties— Crown Lands Act Amendment Bill— Prorogation— Re-assembling of Parliament— Death of Sir Charles Co wper— Robertson’s Financial Statement — Forster Agent-General — Agreements Validating Bill— Education Bill— The Surplus Revenue— Proro¬ gation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Stuart’s Financial Statement — Cable Conference — Want of Confidence Motion — Ministerial Statement ^ ote of Censure — Political Crisis — The second Parkes Ministry — Piddington s ! inancial Statement — Queensland Gold-fields Act Amendment Bill Ministerial Statement — Legal meaning of 31st clause of Land Act — Another Crisis — The fourth Robertson Ministry— The Treasurer’s Motion negatived— Mr. Stuart sent for — Mr. S. C. Brown commissioned — Dissolution — The Ninth Parliament — Amendment on Address in Reply — Sir Henry Parkes fails to form a Miuistry — The Famell Ministry — Cohen’s Financial Statement — Primary Education — Milbum Creek Copper -mining Company — Mail Service — Dupli¬ cate Cable Conference — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Cohen’s Financial Statement — Crown Lands Bill defeated — Sir John Robertson sent for — Resignation of Sir John Robertson — \ ote of V ant of Confidence The Parkes-Robertson Coalition — Watson’s Financial Statement — Chinese Immi¬ gration Restriction Bill — Parliamentary Privilege Bill — Collision between the two Branches of the Legislature — Lands Acts Further Amendment Bill — Australian Exploration — Departure of Sir Hercules Robinson — Statistics . 491

CHAPTER XIV.

GOVERNOR LORD AUGUSTUS LOFTUS.— 1879.

Sir Alfred Stephen Administrator — Arrival of Lord Augustus Loftus — Death of Hon. E. Butler — The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council — Prorogation — Intercolonial Meteorological Conference — Re-assembling of Par¬ liament-Church and School Lands — Public Instruction Bill— Financial State¬ ment — Electoral Bill — Church and School Lands Dedication Bill — Stamp Duties Bills — Powers of Legislative Council — Supplementary Financial State¬ ment — Dissolution — Tenth Parliament — Financial Statement — Milbum Creek Copper-mining Company — Prorogation — Re-assembling of Parliament — Chinese Infiux Restriction Bill — Military Defences Commission — Licensing Bill —

Report of the Royal Commission — Ministerial Statement — Watson’s Financial Statement — Death of Mr. Fitzpatrick — Departure of Sir Henry Parkes — Prorogation — Third Session of Tenth Parliament — Destruction of the Garden Palace — Watson’s Financial Statement — Land Bill rejected — Dissolution of Parliament — Meeting of the Eleventh Parliament — Mr. Edmund Barton Speaker— the Stuart Ministry— Governor’s Opening Speech — Inscribed Stock Bill — Dibbs’ Financial Statement— German Immigration — Licensing Act Amendment Act — Loyal Address — Mail Contract — Immigration — Proro¬ gation — Statistics . *>93

CONTENTS .

XI

CHAPTER XV.

NORFOLK ISLAND.

First Colonization : Captain Phillip, R.N., Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1 788 — Lieutenant-Governors of Norfolk Island ; Lieutenant King, 1789 ; Mr. Ross, 1790 ; Major Foveaux, 1800 ; Lieutenant Brown, 180.3 ; Captain Wilson, 1803 — Second Colonization : Lieutenant-General R. Darling, Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1826 — Commandants of Norfolk Island: Captain Wakefield; Lieutenant-Colonel Morissett, 1S39 : Major Anderson, 1839: Captain Maconochie, 1839; Major Childs, 1844 — Island annexed to Van Diemen’s Land : Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1844 — Commandant of Norfolk Island : Mr. Price, 1846 — Norfolk Island erected into a separate Colony, with Great Seal, to be presided over by the Governor of New South Wales for the time being : Sir William Denison, Governor-General of New South Wales and Governor of Norfolk Island, 1856 — Head quarters of Melanesian Mission established at Norfolk Island : Sir John Young, Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and Governor of Norfolk Island, 1866. The Pitcairn Islanders...

CHAPTER XVI.

LORD HOWE ISLAND.

Discovery of the Island: Captain Phillip, R. X., Governor of New South \\ ales and its Dependencies, 178S — First Settlement: Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1833 — The Island becomes a contem¬ plated Penal Settlement : Sir Charles A. Fitz Roy, Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1850— Official Visit of Water Police Magistrate : Earl Belmore, Governor of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1S69 — Resident Magistrate ; Official Visit of the Hon. J. Bowie Wilson : Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and its Depen¬ dencies, 1879 — Visiting Magistrate : Lord Loftus, Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and its Dependencies, 1S83 . .

PAGE.

XU

CONTENTS.

APPENDICES.

PAGE.

A. — Leasing of Deposits of Guano . .. . 079

B. — Statistical Return showing the relative positions and aggregate

IMPORTANCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AT THE CLOSE OF THE

C. — Australasian Statistics : —

I. New South Wales . 083

II. Tasmania . 087

III. South Australia . 091

IV. New Zealand . 095

V. Victoria . 699

VI. Queensland . 703

VII. Fiji . 707

D. — I. Governors . 709

II. Judges of tiie Supreme Court . 710

III. Members of the Legislative Council, 1824 to 1843 . 712

Non-elective Members of the partly Elective and partly

Non-elective Council, 1S43to1S5G . 714

Elective Members of the partly Elective and partly Non¬ elective Council, 1843 to 1856 . 710

Members of the Legislative Council under Responsible Govern¬ ment, 1856 to 1883 . 720

Members of the Legislative Assembly under Responsible Govern¬ ment, 1856 to 1883 . 728

IV. Parliaments . 756

V. Presidents of the Legislative Council . 757

VI. Speakers of the Legislative Assembly ... . 757

VII. Agents-General . . .* . _ . 757

VIII. Ministries . 758

IX. Members of the Legislative Council, Second Session, 1883 . 764

X. Members of the Legislative Assembly, Second Session, 1883 ... 705

XII. Map of New South Wales .

NEW SOUTH WALES.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERY.

Ancient geographers — Fernandez de Quiros and Torres— Dutch discoverers — Abel Jansz. Tasman— Dampier— Captain Cook’s voyage— Arrival of Governor Phillip — Foundation of the Colony.

It is not possible to say at what time or by what means the earliest reports of the existence of a great unknown country in the Southern Hemisphere reached European nations ; but it is not improbable that they date back to the year 327 b.c., and were conveyed by the scientific and leax*ned men who in that year accompanied the famous expedition of Alexander the Great, whose reign forms so important an epoch in the history of the world. By his conquests not only was the area of civilization enlarged, but facilities for the acquisition of further scientific and commercial knowledge were increased. His famous expedition to the East opened the way to India, and thus Europeans became acquainted with the products of islands and countries lying far beyond those which they had before thought to be the utmost limits of the earth. In connection with Alexander’s expedition, there is no distinct mention of the existence of the Great South Land, but from that period allusions to it occur in the works of geographers and other writers. The reason of this is obvious, when it is considered that maritime enterprise in the Indian Seas has never been more active or successful than it was during the three or four centuries which followed the period when the navigators of Alexander’s fleet brought to the West a knowledge of Eastern commerce. This being so, it would have been strange indeed if those traditions of a great unknown land which were current

A

New South Wales.

in the remote regions alluded to had not been circulated in their own countries by the traders and crews returning from these places. Passing over several earlier references, those will be noticed chiefly which are quoted in an exhaustive work entitled “ The History of Australian Discovery and, Colonization,” by the late Mr. Samuel Bennett, published in 1SG5. Mr. Bennett says: — “Strabo (b.c. 50) mentions a great island which lay about t wenty days’ sail south-east from India, and which stretched far towards the west. Pliny, in his ‘Historia Naturalis,’ which he published about a.d. 77, refers to a great island to the south of the Equator, the central parts of which were said to be occupied by an inland sea. Ptolemy (a.d. 150), after describing the Malay Peninsula, under the name of the Golden Chersonesus, states that to the south¬ east lay a great bay. At the utmost extremity of this bay, in latitude eight and a half degrees south, he places Catigara, the most remote place to which the navigators of his time had penetrated. From this bay, he says, the land turned to the west, and stretched in that direction to an unknown distance. The latitude given by Ptolemy would indicate a position in the bay, or apparent bay, formed by the south-western shores of New Guinea and the northernmost parts of Australia. The narrow channel dividing the two countries — discovered by Torres, a Spanish navigator, so recently as the early part of the seventeenth century (August 30, 1G06) — was of course un¬ known in the time of Ptolemy, and consequently that part of the Indian Ocean would appear to the navigators of his age to be a very deep and extensive bay. From this great bay Ptolemy states that the coast stretched to the west until, as he believed, it reached the eastern extremity of Africa. This belief became a very general one with ancient geographers, and, in addition to the theory of Ptolemy, was apparently supported by the fact that when the navigators of their times attempted to sail, or were driven by stress of weather, much to the south or south-east of the Golden Chersonesus, or the Spice Islands of the Indian Archipelago, they were met by the shores of a Great Land, whose limits had never been reached, stretching far to the south-west. In conformity with this opinion of the great extent of the Southern Continent, the Arabian geographer, Edrissi, who wrote in the twelfth century, also taught that a continued tract of land stretched eastward from the African coast until it united with the southern part of Eastern India ; and in maps framed on Ptolemy’s system of geography, tliis Great South Land formed a prominent

Early Australian Discovery.

feature. Agatliemerus, who wrote later than Ptolemy, and five or six centuries after Alexander’s naval expedition, considered the Great South Land, of which so much had been said and of which so little was known, to he the largest island in the world. It seems clear, then, that the existence of Australia was known to the early Greeks and Homans, although its precise position and extent remained uncertain long alter their times.”

When the glory of the ancient civilization began to wane, in the Middle Ages — a period during which both the literature and the commerce of the West suffered much — the Persians controlled the trade of the Indian Ocean. The next race who wielded the sceptre of trade was the Arabian, whose navigators, as early as the ninth century, if not earlier, had penetrated beyond the Golden Chersonesus, through the straits of the Archipelago, and as far as China. In course of time the language and religion (Mohammedan) of the Arabians became general in the Indian Islands. It is said that to the present day traces of the Arabic tongue may be detected in these islands, and also in nearly every dialect spoken by the Australian aborigines. It therefore seems highly probable, though no written records have been pre¬ served, that within the seven or eight centuries during which the Mohammedan powers held sway in the Malay Peninsula and the Indian Archipelago, the northern coast of Australia must have been visited by their navigators.