Grey River Argus SATURDAY, October 20, 1934. VICTORIA’S CENTENARY.

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus SATURDAY, October 20, 1934. VICTORIA’S CENTENARY.

Over a far wider area than Victoria have the celebrations of its centenary at Melbourne a special interest for colonial pioneers and their scattered descendants. More, probably, than any other pioneer activity does tlie centenary commemorate the history of the gold mining industry. For the West Coasters of the early days, vanishing indeed to only a few now, it will recall how closely the rushes linked the goldfields here and there when sea travel was direct between the two. That the varied record of the period since John Batman or John Fawkner founded Melbourne should to-day be honoured so proudly is for all Australasia an example of the manner in which an inspiring tradition of colonisation should be handed down. If Victoria has the most dense population, the most intense industrial development, and one of the two finest eities on the island continent, what served more than anything else to lay the foundation was the advent of the gold seeker. The gold rush of the early fifties brought Victoria its separate identity, as until then it was governed from Sydney; and the Eureka Stockade signalised self-government in reality. Previously the so-called Port Philip territory was by the “powers that be” regarded as unpropitious for settlers of enterprise, and a certain Colonel Collins attempted to turn it. like Sydney district, into a convict settlement 101 years ago. The independent settlers saw him fail, and in less than a generation secured their independence with the proclamation of a separate colony. The squatters, no doubt, were averse to mining, fearing that a gold discovery would interfere with wool-growing, but when

they saw the rush of men over | the border upon the finding of the precious metal in New South Wales, they speedily somersaulted, organising prospecting with rewards for a discovery, with the result that eventually the rush of humanity came their way, and population increased to seven times what it had been. The miners had, indeed, to fight the squatters for areas on which to operate, and the struggle gave its character to the political history of the period, whilst the prosperity from gold made Melbourne the greatest town in Australia. It has become a city of beauty, and if it be said that too many Victorians are there congregated. it can yet be said that Victoria has a better distribution of population as well as a greater diversity of industry than any other Australian State. Its people have been far-sighted and progrssive, fostering local industry, fiscally and otherwise. The tilled lands, orchards, water conservation, electrical develop-

ment and fine cities, are a testimony to the progressive spirit of its inhabitants. Victoria, along with Queensland, encountered the depression more successfully than the other States, and it doubtless may be inferred that a desire to banish the aftermath has influenced the people in planning such an impressive centenary celebration. Not the least impressive feature is the air race across the world which commences to-day, the forerunner of a traffic development calculated to banish much of Australia’s heretofore notorious atmosphere of isolation. The presence, among many very notable visitors of a representative of the Royal Family in the person of the Duke of Gloucester is a very fitting and gratifying feature of the centenary, adding very markedly to the popular interest in the celebrations, not only in Victoria but in the rest of the Commonwealth and in New Zealand. The personality of the Duke, apart from his status, has evidently won the regard of Australians generally, and his reception everywhere marks his tour as one equally as successful as those of other members of the Royal Fam ily have been. The celebration marks a milestone the retrospect from which should to these new countries give an impetus for moral, intellectual and material advancement yet greater than ever before. Such an inspiration would be its finest justification.