Old Convict Days In Australia.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 28, 7 November 1905, Page 4

Old Convict Days In Australia.

[All Rights Reserved] .

(By Charles white.)

Author ot "Australian Bushranging The Story of the Blacks," etc., etc

Continued.

E. — Governor Bltgh.

In no direction was Macquarie's energh more vigorously exercised than m improving the condition of the rural population. From the first he took a deep interest m tbeir wetfare, and shortly after his arrival, personally went through most of tbe cou try districts, m order to see for himself the condition ol tbe people, and what improvements m their habits, mode of living, aid pursuits could be effected, subsequently issuing instructions t lat better regard should b 9 paid to habita of Cleanliness, t; mperauce and tbrif !■-. And he acted as well as preached, improving the roads leading to the only available market, aid doing much for tbe advancement of agriculture generally. The work of geographical discovery m which he engaged, and which he pursued with remarkable determination and vigour, wis m itself sufficiently meritorious to place Macquarie's name on the first page ol the history of the Australian colonisation. By the discoveries west and south, chiefly througb his instrumentality, the area of tbcolony was increased enormously, and new sources of wealth were brought within the reach of tbose enterprising coloni&ts who were panting for larger room and freer air. It has been well said of Macquarie by one writer:— He found New South Wales a gaol, and he left it a colony ; he found Sydney a V.llage, and he left it a city ; he found a population of idle prisoners, paupers, and paid officials, and he left a large free commuaity thriving on the produce of flocks and the labour of convicts." Yet, even then, the tone of society m the population centres was horrible. There was no educated or honorable class, no churoh worthy of the name ; jn school" exceot fcr the wealthy, and those aught chiefly by convicts ; there were slave masters who soid rum, and slaves who drank it ; an autocrat surrounded by parasites, whose fortunes he could make at a stroke of tie pen. Virtue and honour were as scarce a? freedom, and wretchedness and prosperity embraced m the persons of individuals and the communi y

The first fitful throbbings indicating the death agony of the penal system of the colony were now heard, and the first breathings of that free national life now m full vigour were obseivcd. When Macquarie was recalled m tbe latter part of 1821, the colony was undergring a change, which, m its completion, was to exhibit New South Wales to the world as the grandest instance of successful colo nisation ever recorded m history, and not a few of the blessings tbis day enjoyed may be traced to the vigor of Macquaria's administration. Even m his day the progress towards freedom and greatness was well marked, and he had the satisfaction of recording to the Home Government many facts indicating the material prqfjrew that had eventuated during his term of office. Governor Macquarie may have been iussy and conceited, but he was withal active, energetic, prudent and patriotic ; and at this long distance from the- time when he administered the affairs of tbe colony, we can look back and share m the honest pride which.he displayed when rendering an account of his stewardship. Ec died m England m 1824, two years after leaving the solony, for whose material advantage he had so diligently laboured.

G.— Govebnob Bbisbane,

Governor Brisbane succeeded Macquarie, and entered upon bis duties on Ist December, 1821. He was eminently unfitted for his position, for although a soldier he was weak and vacillating, and too much given to transferring to others the duties which he himself should have performed. At tbis time the struggle for supremacy between the different classes was at its height, and it required the vigorous brain and strong determination of a powerful, courageous man to guide the affairs of state, between the unscrupulous grasping of the disappointed military, the forceful demands of tbe wealthy emancipists, for the restitution of legal and other rights, and the clamouring of the fnee settlers of the humbler class — retired soldiers and sailors aad emijrin's— who, although generally taking sides with the emancipists, against the " pure merinoes," as the official aristocrats were called, were not unmindful of the claims of "Numher One." Brisbane neither bad the courage nor the tact to manage things properly. He was tossed hither and thither between the contending forces, and m order to escape from the clamour, he made himself a retreat at Parra* ma'ta where he established an observatory and devoted himself to the pursuit of scientific studies, seeking rest fiom the turmoil and strife of active official life m. the quiet contemplation of the stars. Events did not stand still, however, and during his administration several important changes took place. The old monopolising ad domineering spirit •which had been checked by Macquarie bijoke out stronger than ever, and militarism jft. asserted itself, the. Governor haying, practically to stand aside while officials, helped themsehe? and each other to place and power, and divided the land ip great slices between tbem. Among the most important events during Governor Brisbane's term of office were the following :— The. institution, of a legislative oouncil ; the establishment of a trial by jnry ; the formal acknowledgment of the liberty \>_ the press ; important discoveries of new c ' tr J 5 and the. steady m flow of immigration from the mother'country. The publication of Commissioner Big^e's rjeport awakened the public of Great Britain tp tha fact that the far off South Land furnifihfii a splendid field for enterprise, a d towards the latter part of Macquarie's administration a tide of emigration sot m which Was at full flow when Brisbane arrived and it continued with steadily increasing volume during the whole period of his Government, As it was chiefly persons who could afford employment to convicts who were desired by the Government, the Home authorities held out the inducement of grants of land to those only who could produce certificates of their possessing capital of at least £300, and consequently the greater number who came were possessed of means to enter at once upon the work of development. Brisbane was peculiarly unfortunate m his .financial measures, and almost preoip r ta!ed' the colony into the sea of ins>lvency. During tbe latter p*rt of his term be became very unpopular, and when word came from England that he was to be •' relieved," there was general rejoicing. He B^rvel from December, 1821, to December 1825. Before he left besought to please and benefit the emancipists by sitting down with a company of them to dinner — an aot of grace which the "pure merinos " resented with e'laraoteristio warmth. To eat out of tbe same dish with " branded cattle " would have Iren as hurtful to them as contact with an alien of the lowest type would bo to a Mussulman. During the interregnum of nineten days between tbe departure of Bris. bane and the arrival of his successor, Sir Balph Darling, the Government was administered by Colonel Stewart, of the Third Regiment, or Buffs, and who afterwards became Major-General, aud resided on his large e&tatenear Bathurst. Qf this gentleman's

adminetration very little has been recorded. He Bimply held the reins of the coach until the new driver climbed into the seat. It was currently reported, however, that m one respect he waa remarkably active. This is what was said:— Other Governors had invariably looked forward vo th-ir return-to the motherland at the expiration of their term of service ; Colonel Stewart had decided o make his permanent home m the penal colony. Other Governors had b»en liberal m making larye grants to residents or intending residents ; Ciionel Stewart was more " canny," and availed himself of the privilege cf ching . ood to the person who m his own opinion wa3 most deserving of good. He therefore secureit for hims lf an immense ract of grazh g and agr!eul f ural land near Bathur.-t, and hv>-d to work and die upon it, his remains being interred m a vault upon the higheet peak therof, aud from which pL-ak an extensive view of the country around wan to de obtained, the major portion of which country was included within the boundaries marking the " original grant " sesured by self-payment for eighteen days' patriotic service! This story was. however, contradicted by his son Mr. J. H. Stewart, who still lives upon the estate, m 1883. m terms both emphatic and explicit. (To be continued).