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His Excellency Sir William Denison embarked for India on the 22nd January, 1861. He held a farewell levée prior to his departure, and was presented with numerous addresses expressing congratulations and best wishes for the future.

The following statistical information shows the progress made by New South Wales during Sir William Denison's administration :

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8,139,162 109,166

92,843

1855... £4,668,519 £2,884,130

1856...

5,460,971 3,430,880 1857... 6,729,408 1858... 6,059,366 1859... 6,597,053 1860... 7,519,285 5,072,020 251,497

4,011,952 180,053 2,148,664
4,186,277 200,713 2,110,604 7,581,762
4,768,049 214,684 2,190,976 5,162,671 119,701
180,662

2,408,586 6,119,163

*Census taken 1 March, 1856, when the population numbered 266,189.

+Separation of Queensland took place in 1859

CHAPTER XI.

GOVERNOR SIR JOHN YOUNG.-1861-1868.

The case of Tawell-Weekes' Financial Statement-The Land Bills-Appointments 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 Statement-Railway extension-Dismemberment-Powers of the Legislative Council-Prorogation-Parliament re-assembles-Address of CondolenceChurch and School 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 Legis lative Council-Honorable Terence Aubrey Murray President-Powers of Legislative Council-Mr. Hay Speaker-Australian Subscription Library-Prorogation-Intercolonial Conference-Re-assembling of Parliament--Church and School LandsEducation Bill-Insecurity to life and 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 Customs Duties Bill in 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 Statement-Resignation of Mr. Samuel-Cowper's Financial Statement-Burdekin Treasurer-Defeat of Cowper's Administration-The Martin Ministry-Eagar's 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 -Eagar's Financial Statement-The Land Bill-Ministerial Statement-Want of Confidence motion-Retirement of Sir John Young-Statistics.

ON the retirement of Sir William Denison, LieutenantGeneral John F. Kempt administered the Government of New South Wales for the period extending from 23rd January to 21st March, 1861.

The Right Hon. Sir John Young, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., arrived on 22nd March. He was sworn in under a Commission authorizing him to administer the Government of New South Wales under the title of Administrator. This was issued pending the preparation of a Commission under

the Great Seal conveying his formal appointment as CaptainGeneral and Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales.

An Address of congratulation was voted by both Houses of Parliament on 27th March; to which, on the following day, a reply was returned.

One of the last official acts of Sir William Denison created considerable discussion after his departure. For several years a correspondence had been going on between the Imperial and the Colonial Governments, respecting a proposed re-grant of escheated land to the representatives of John Tawell, who had been executed in England for murder. In the opinion of the local Law Officers of the Crown the Governor had no power to make this grant, and the Ministers therefore declined to advise its issue, notwithstanding great pressure from the Imperial Government. Shortly before his departure, Sir William Denison demanded the Great Seal of the Colony, that he might affix it to a grant which had been prepared in the office of a private solicitor. Mr. Cowper withheld the Seal, and pointed to the decision upon this point by his own and other Cabinets. But Sir William Denison had received the command of the Secretary of State, and was determined to obey it, the protest of his responsible Ministers notwithstanding. He insisted, therefore, upon the surrender of the Seal. Mr. Cowper and his colleagues then gave it up, and tendered their resignations at the same time. His Excellency, however, having completed the deed of grant, sent the Seal back to its former custody, and declined to accept the resignation of the Ministry.

The matter was brought before the Legislative Assembly on 29th January by Mr. Redman, who moved :—

"That, in the opinion of this House, the conduct of the late GovernorGeneral, in affixing the Great Seal, against the advice and in spite of his Ministers, and afterwards temporarily entrusting it to his Private Secretary, was not only unconstitutional, hasty, and highly dangerous, but, under the circumstances, has inflicted a private as well as a public wrong."

After a short debate the Previous Question was negatived without division.

On the 13th February, Mr. Cowper moved for a Select Committee to prepare an Address to Her Majesty, praying that she might be pleased to direct that the Great Seal of the Colony should not be used except with the advice and consent of a Responsible Minister, or of the Executive Council for the time being. The debate was adjourned; and on 8th

May, on the motion of Mr. Morris, the Order of the Day for its resumption was discharged from the paper.

The Colonial Treasurer made his Financial Statement on 31st January. Mr. Weekes said that it would be necessary that he should briefly go through most of the points alluded to when he laid the budget of 1861 before the late Assembly. He was particularly anxious to do this, because there had been no lack of gloomy forebodings as to the real position of the colony. He thought he should be able to show the committee that, so far from the colony being in a state almost of insolvency, the finances were in a sound and healthy condition. Before proceeding further he would refer to the revenue and receipts of the colony from 1851 to 1860. He then showed that the revenue and receipts had increased from £400,000 in 1851 to £1,317,000 in 1860. He asked the House to bear in mind that the revenue for 1860£1,317,968-was the revenue of the colony after having been deprived of an entire province (Queensland). Respecting the public debt, which it would be found was about £3,819,730, the whole of the debentures which had been sent from the colony had not yet been placed in circulation. Some £500,000 or £600,000 were still remaining on hand and were to be disposed of by the Oriental Bank. The high value the capitalists of England appeared to attach to the debentures of the colony was very gratifying. In 1858-9 the debentures ranged from 973 to 103; £813,000 worth had been sold, realising £816,778 12s. 6d. In the year 1860 the debentures sold amounted altogether to £560,900, at prices ranging from 98 to 102. When the 5 per cent. debentures bore that excellent price in the market of England it was a convincing proof not only that English capitalists had confidence in the resources of the colony, but also in the wisdom and prudence of its legislation. He would now proceed to a statement of the accounts current of revenue and expenditure. There was an item in the account of 1859 of £177,025 6s. 11d. called "savings on votes of Parliament." He would draw the particular attention of the House to this item. Mr. Weekes then at some length justified the policy of "savings" from the amounts voted for public works, and stated that these savings were now at the disposal of the House. He held in his hand a statement of the particulars of the amount of savings on votes of Parliament in continuation of those shown in the account current for 1858; and he would enumerate some of the items. One prominent item was

£50,000 for steam communication via Panama. Had the Panama route been established that sum would have been used. But the line had not been opened; and therefore it would be right to say that the £50,000 for 1860 had not been required. The greater part of the sum appropriated for paying the Colonial allowance to the military and naval forces for 1860 was saved to the colony, as the troops had not been there to earn it. Savings had also been made under various other heads. The estimate which had been framed of the revenue for 1860 had not been realised, but he hoped to be able to give a satisfactory elucidation of the falling off-temporary, as he believed it to be. The original estimate, submitted in October, 1859, amounted to £1,665,339. Subsequently the separation of Queensland occurred, and Mr. Samuel, deducting £133,107 on account of that separation, estimated the revenue of 1860 at £1,532,232. The actual revenue received, however, had been £1,317,968, being an increase in items estimated of £49,968 and a decrease upon other items of £254,233, making a net decrease on the estimate of £204,265. The amount of decrease in the Customs consequent on the separation of Queensland had been under-estimated, and amounted to £58,000 instead of £35,000. The land revenue for 1860 had exhibited a very serious falling off, amounting to no less than £164,361. The Forster Ministry had, when in power, permitted the land sales to come almost to a dead stop. Since the Ministry of which he was a member had come into power the proceeds of the land sales had greatly increased, and had almost overtaken the amount of the previous year. The Customs revenue for the first month of 1861 showed an increase of £8,000 on the corresponding month in 1860; so that it might be fairly considered that the revenue on almost every point was improving. Turning to the Ways and Means, it would be found that he commenced the year 1860 with a balance of £148,056 from the preceding year. The actual revenue and receipts collected during 1860 amounted to £1,310,052; the amount due by the Sydney Municipal Council for interest on debentures was £49,812; and the loans authorized to be raised for public works, and to pay off debentures, to £681,837; making together a total of £2,189,757. On the other hand, there was the amount of the Appropriation Act of 1860, £1,143,931; special appropriations of £276,833; provided by Constitutional and Colonial Acts, £58,350; amounting in all to £1,479,114. From that, however, the

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