154 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



was lightly timbered, and though it had not been regarded as first- 

 class land for grazing, it proved, when cleared, to be wonderfully 

 suitable for wheat, and, in some places, for most prolific orchards and 

 vineyards. During the decade following the passing of this Act 

 important towns sprang into existence, or developed from humble 

 collections of shanties Nagambie, Murcbison, Mooroopna, Sheppar- 

 ton, Tatura, Nathalia, and a dozen other centres of commercial 

 activity, were the direct product of the settlement fostered by this 

 Land Act Though there were many failures from inexperience, 

 much hardship from want of capital, the fittest, with the assistance 

 of the banks, managed to survive, and gradually to buy out the 

 weaker brethren. In the course of ten or a dozen years they had 

 made the Goulburn valley known far and wide as the area wherein 

 the finest wheat and the finest fruit in Victoria was produced. 



The Act came into force on the 1st February, 1870; it was 

 passed through both Houses with comparatively moderate debate, 

 and Parliament was relieved for several years from dealing with a 

 question which had hitherto invariably evoked unnecessary warmth 

 in discussion. 



Having served the temporary purpose allotted to them by the 

 wire-pullers, the McPherson Ministry were put out on the 9th of 

 April, on the Treasurer's budget statement. Mr. Graham Berry 

 had taken up the financial r61e from the incapable hands of the 

 rejected Byrne. In the speech on the 8th of March, in which he 

 submitted a voluminous review of the colony's balance-sheet, he 

 did protest too much. It was one of the most complicated financial 

 statements to which the House had ever listened, and the debate on 

 it extended over a month. Then the Estimates were returned to 

 the Ministry for revision, with a mandate that the expenditure of 

 the country must be kept within its income. Mr. Berry failed to 

 work the sum, and Mr. McPherson thereupon tendered his resigna- 

 tion. 



The Cabinet which Mr. McCulloch formed in April, 1870, com- 

 prised a far stronger and more experienced group than the one it 

 displaced. The brilliant Archibald Michie was Attorney-General, 

 and Mr. H. J. Wrixon, Solicitor-General. Mr. J. G. Francis took 

 charge of the Treasury, and Mr. T. T. A'Beckett represented the 



