6 THE PASTORAL AGE IN AUSTRALASIA 



interest gave birth to some of the strongest personalities 

 in the Colony. It led to revolutions in the affairs of 

 »State. It gave birth to a political organization. For 

 one generation or more it ruled the seven colonies with 

 a sway that waxed as the absolute power of the Governor 

 waned. It composed the legislature, appointed the 

 judges, controlled the executive, and, if the Governor 

 was refractory, it sent him " home." The agriculture 

 that has during that time arisen has existed to supply 

 its wants, and the various industries were long its 

 auxiliaries. Nay, the aristocratic industry par ex- 

 cellence was the first to organize and arm its artizans. 

 The largest union in Australia consists of workers on the 

 stations, and the most revolutionary journals published 

 in the Commonwealth are its organs. So was it with 

 commerce. Colossal wool-brokers have conjoined to 

 make Sydney " the greatest wool-mart in the world," 

 it is claimed ; at all events, with Yorkshire Bradford, 

 one of the two greatest ; and the large importing houses 

 in each provincial metropolis have come into existence 

 to supply its wants. Villages were formed to supply 

 its local needs, and seaports created to afford scope for 

 its output. Rank, Mealth, and fashion have waited on 

 it. Social life reflected its tastes and Avas the measure 

 of its grandeur. It constituted ' society,' ran the races, 

 gave the balls, and kept open house ; the surrounding 

 villages lived in its sunshine. By it, principally or 

 largely, the various colonies have been reknitted to the 

 Motherland, and new links of connection with it have 

 been forged. The old religion was born afresli on the 

 station ; hterature, science, and various forms of art 

 have been begotten or rejuvenated by it. All this is 

 the work of the Golden Fleece. 



