Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1904 THE STORY OF WESTRALIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7726, 28 March 1904, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1904 THE STORY OF WESTRALIA.

While great issues are pending in the East, while European affairs are in a perpetual state of simmer, while tariff war and colonising schemes and Imperialist visions keep the Briton of the Twentieth Century in a chronic state of apprehension and excitement, a little domestic drama of progress is being worked out in a comparatively obscure portion of the world, to which but little attention is being paid, but which will, before long, be quoted as one of the finest illustrations of the progressive and colonising spirit of our race. It is in Westralia that some of the best political ideas are in a fair way of being beneficially reduced to practice. The story of Western Australia is one of the most interesting in Colonial history, possessing certain features absolutely unique.

More than half a century ago, when New South Wales and Tasmania purged themselves of the transportation taint, and ceased to be convict settlements, the Government of England, still holding to the idea of transportation, pitched upon the vast and arid Western corner of Australia as a fit and proper place for a convict establishment, a land that nobody would ever covet, that would defy the pioneer, and was, in fact, just the very place for the purposes of the prison authorities. A site was chosen on the banks of the Swan Eiver, and named accordingly. To the Swan Eiver, then, were sent batches of convicts, among them some specially notorious criminals in the higher walks of criminality. Banking magnates, railway defaulters, company promoters, and the like were shipped off to the remote and dreary region. But the climate wa3 found to be delightful—far and away the pick of Australian climates; and the Victorian and New South Wales

diggings having drawn vast numbers of free men oi an adventurous turn to the Great Land of Silence, it was not long before some bolder adventurers found their way westward. The pearl fishery, the superb forests of jarrah and sandalwood had already attracted some wanderers, and by degrees a population of free men began to grow, and in process of time they too demanded the removal of the convict element.

The consequence was the establishment of a Crown Colony. Even under the serious limitations which that form of government imposes, society began to develop, and industries to take root. The light, but fertile soil was found to be productive, the climate was heavenly, and the splendid qualities of the British colonists found ample scope for display Slowly grew the agricultural interest, and Fremantle and Perth became important trading centres. The timber trade assumed great proportions, and the population gave evidence of fitness for self-government. The desire for that boon grew insistent. Meanwhile, the restless and hardy prospectors had penetrated into the interior, facing risks and hardships as great as any on record; and it became evident that this vast strange land was wonderfully rich. The fringe of granite on the coast were succeeded further inland by reefs of enormous magnitude ; and, at length, when the prospects of Westralia were now undeniable, the demand for a Constitution and Representative government could no longer be denied. In 1890, these came into actual operation.

Since then the political history of Westralia has been a stirring and interesting epic. The Colony received a great accession of population, and the gold seekers, pushing on to the interior, began to people the solitudes —the arid sandy waterless interior; and there were sturdy and progressive politicians who gave effect to the desires of the people. The story of the epoch from IS9O to, say, 1897, is one of extraordinary fascination, for it is a story of intrepid ventures, of endurance, of progress, of fever, of dazzling visions and enormous speculations —all carried on in spite of some most unfavourable conditions. Tho great scheme for water supply on the gold fields was one of the most magnificent ever devised. We can speak of this from actual observation. The work was stupendous—its achievement was a great feat. Meanwhile, through all that feverish

period, the agriculturists and all who looked to the land as the source of true and permanent prosperity, were steadily bringing the coast lands under profitable cultivation. Nowhere, in the whole Colonial Empire of Great Britain, has the agricultural interest been more steadily progressive than in AVestralia. Anyone \vho reads the agricultural reports from year to year must realise this, and the visitor finds himself in a paradise of fruit and flowers. Nothingis m ore remarkable than the belt of verdure and bloom, the floral carpet that extends from the coast to Northam, whence one passed into the desert. In the south, grain grows abundantly, in the southwest the wonderful forests of jarrah are a most remarkable spectacle, and the climate —one needs to visit Westralia to realise the witchery and spell of its balmy atmosphere—pure and exhilarating !

It is not surprising that here the work of the politicians should be interesting and enobling. The reign of Sir John Forrest became at last oppressive from its very vigour (though undoubtedly progressive and patriotic in the last degree), and such as could scarcely be borne as the Colony developed and modern problems began to demand solution, and is now a matter of history. The present Premier, the Hon. Walter Hartwell James, representing the prosaic industrial element, formed a Cabinet whose services have been of incalculable benefit to the Colony. Mr James is essentially a domestic and industrial legislator, taking cognisance of the social requirements of a growing community, and especially anxious to assist the agricultural interest. So far his success has been as remarkable as his earnest purpose has been evident. To-day, the colony has nearly three thousand miles of railway, mining centres all over the interior, and a timber trade of great proportions. In addition, her production of wool, fruit, minerals, pearls, etc., (besides her great gold yield) have made her self-contained and prosperous. The policy just unfolded by Mr James is indeed something to admire ; and the statement that the agricultural progress has been " astounding," is not more wonderful as a fact than gratifying as an evidence of sterling good Government. The proposal to widen the franchise and impose a progressive land tax, is a proof of genuine solicitude for the colony's future. Westralia indulges in no sensational legislation or clap-trap proposals. The utterances of Ministers have been singularly free from this element, and their endeavours to stimulate and support permanent industries have been crowned with a great success.

We may look upon Westralia as a splendid object-lesson. Her conditions differ entirely from those of-Npw Zealand, but the same dauntless and earnest spirit has characterised her people in laying the foundations of prosperity. The fever has subsided, and a time of industrial peace and progress and hard work has succeeded. The memories of the past are Visions of surpassing interest; but they have been followed by prospects still more cheering. Only a few years ago, camel-trains toiled painfully over yast areas of sand, to carry sustenance to isolated parties and scanty communities of gold-seekers, where now the railway passes along through pros' perous towns and populous goldfields.

Only a few years ago, the march over the desert was performed to the dire accompaniment of thirst, and swarms of Afghan camel-drivers had a monopoly of conveyance. To-day, the camel's occupation is diminishing, and the appliances of higher civilisation and closer settlement have been established. The desert of Westralia, once deemed hopeless, begins to "blossom as the rose," and her people have taken rank with the best and noblest of the colonial communities of the Empire.