270 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



tions issued to Governors of Colonies possessing representative 

 institutions, and condemned them as showing a contemptuous dis- 

 respect and want of consideration by the Colonial Office towards both 

 Australian Parliaments and Imperial officers. The home authorities 

 could not submit to such a rebuff, though subsequent modifications 

 of the Governor's instructions proved that the arguments of the 

 Chief Justice had weight in the British Cabinet, and that they had 

 received favourable consideration, notwithstanding their aggressive 

 tone. Meanwhile, to avoid the difficulty of having a recalcitrant 

 Acting Governor, Sir William Eobinson, whose term as Governor of 

 South Australia was just expiring, was appointed to take charge 

 during Sir Henry Loch's absence, and public discussion was 

 averted. 



Towards the end of 1887 Mr. Peter Lalor was constrained by 

 failing health to resign the Speakership. He was suffering from 

 an incurable malady, and had on several occasions been compelled 

 to vacate the chair in paroxysms of pain. Despite strong prejudice 

 at the outset against his fitness for the post, he had by careful 

 study of Parliamentary law and practice acquitted himself most 

 creditably, ruling the debates with imperious firmness and admitted 

 impartiality. There were three candidates for the position, Mr. 

 M. H. Davies, Mr. Thomas Bent and Mr. Thomas Cooper. The 

 contest caused much feeling and excitement, but the choice of the 

 House fell on Mr. Davies by thirty-eight votes to thirty-seven. 

 He was a young solicitor, who had held a seat in the Gillies 

 Ministry without office. He had the reputation of being very 

 wealthy, was prominently connected with a large number of financial 

 companies, was exceedingly liberal in social and official entertain- 

 ing, and had, a few months previously, given 10,000 to the public 

 charities in recognition of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. A knighthood, 

 which had been refused by his democratic predecessor, was con- 

 ferred upon him a few years later in respect of his honourable 

 office. 



A recrudescence of the anti-Chinese feeling took place in 1888, 

 though it is difficult to discover any reason for the zeal with which 

 it was worked up in Victoria. There had been no increase in 

 the Chinese population; indeed, as already shown, it had been 



