9 8 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



interior was both wholesome and nutritious. More and more the country lying back 

 from the river frontages was taken up and utilized. Wells were sunk and dams were 

 made to secure water. Flocks and herds multiplied ; there was an immense increase 

 in the export of wool, and in the sale of live-stock to supply the meat market in 

 Victoria. Agriculture also took a fresh start, especially in the growth of maize along 

 the coast, in dairy produce, and in the cultivation of sugar on the northern rivers. 

 Wheat-culture was considerably checked by the appearance of rust, but in the inland 

 districts farming progressed near the townships, and supplied the wants of the settlers who 

 were occupying the back country. The growth of wheat for the metropolis had to await 

 the construction of railways to furnish cheap transit. 



During Denison's Administration the salary of the Governor was fixed at five 

 thousand pounds, the railway to Parramatta was opened, the first submarine cable 

 connecting Australia with the outside world was laid. In Parliament much legislation 

 was accomplished dealing with the public lands and the establishment of an ocean postal 

 service ; with Chinese immigration and the condition of the working-classes. The year 1857 

 was marked by the disastrous wrecks of the Dunbar and the Catherine Adainson at the 

 Heads. Sir William Denison was transferred to the Madras Presidency in 1861, and was 

 succeeded in the Government of New South Wales by Sir John Young, afterwards known 

 as Lord Lisgar, who arrived in the colony in the month of March of the same year. 



Young's accession to office was marked by a parliamentary crisis which took place 

 shortly after his arrival in the colony. It was occasioned by the appointment of twenty- 

 one new members to the Upper House, in consequence of the action taken by the 

 Council in regard to the Crown Lands Alienation Bill, introduced by Mr. (afterwards 

 Sir John) Robertson. During this Governor's Administration Messrs. Henry Parkes and 

 William Bede Dalley who have since held the highest positions in the country, the 

 latter being elevated to the Privy Council were appointed Commissioners to visit 

 England for the purpose of inducing voluntary immigration to the colony. 



Among other instances of the new era of progress upon which the colony was 

 steadily entering since the bestowal by the Home authorities of responsible government 

 may be mentioned the authorization of tram-way construction and the extensive legislation in 

 connection with the public lands of the colony legislation which engaged the attention of 

 Parliament for a very considerable period. During Governor Young's reign also, the 

 first intercolonial conference was held in Melbourne, and had for its objects the discussion 

 of transportation, immigration, the postal service, and other matters of general wide-spread 

 importance. The gold-fields were being actively exploited, and at Burrangong several 

 riots took place, these being occasioned by an invasion of the field by an arm)- of 

 Chinese, to whom the diggers very naturally objected. A military force was thereupon 

 dispatched from Sydney, armed with field-pieces, but the disturbance was fortunately 

 <|uclled by the withdrawal of the Chinese. Governor Young retired from office in the 

 month of December, 1867, and was succeeded in the month of January following by 

 the Earl of Belmore, whose Administration was marked by the withdrawal of Imperial 

 troops from the colony, whilst that of Governor Robinson is memorable for the 

 successful establishment of telegraphic communication between Great Britain and the 

 Australasian Colonies, and the holding in Sydney of an intercolonial conference for the 



