THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 361 



were held, and the only sign of disapprobation came from some of 

 the Nonconformist Churches, who sent in a huge petition protest- 

 ing against the proposed increase of the State aid to religion to 

 50,000. On the 18th of January, 1854, the discussion on the 

 second reading commenced. It extended over four sittings, and 

 concluded with the committal of the Bill on the 25th of January. 

 The Colonial Secretary and the Attorney-General were supported 

 by two new official members Mr. Andrew Clarke, Surveyor- 

 General, and Mr. H. C. E. Childers, Collector of Customs. No 

 less than fifteen unofficial members addressed the House at length, 

 but the only point of difference centred round the method of creat- 

 ing the Upper House. The advocates of the nominee system were 

 in the minority, and a proposition by Dr. Greeves that the Upper 

 House should be selected by the members of the Assembly found 

 no supporters. When the Bill got into Committee there was a 

 great deal more talk and many tedious postponements of clauses. 

 But it emerged triumphant, and was finally passed on the 24th of 

 March very much in the form in which it had been drafted by Mr. 

 Stawell. The only alteration of importance was the reduction of 

 the qualification of members for the Upper House from 10,000, 

 or 1,000 a year, to half that amount. Although the Constitution 

 Act of 1850 had given the Council almost absolute freedom to 

 amend or alter the form of Government, there were some pro- 

 visions, chiefly in connection with the Eoyal prerogative, in this 

 newly completed Constitution which necessitated its being for- 

 warded to England for the Eoyal assent. It reached London on 

 the 31st of May, just too late to be dealt with by the Parliament 

 then in session. The Victorians were impatient and annoyed, for 

 many troublesome problems connected with the revenue, the Civil 

 Service, and the half-revolted diggers were waiting the creation of 

 the new tribunal for their settlement. On the 14th of November 

 the Council addressed a strong remonstrance to the Colonial Office 

 protesting against further delay, and urging that the interests of 

 Victoria should not be sacrificed to the apparent desire of the Home 

 Government to bring the Australian Colonies into line. 



The progress of the Bill through the British Parliament did not 

 stir much interest there. Strange to say, the only opposition to it 



