On the whole, I am confident that the difficulties placed in the way of agriculture by the climate are as nothing compared with the overwhelming obstacles furnished by the policy of the Legislature and Government of the Colony.

Before concluding this communication, I cannot resist the opportunity it affords to place on record my opinion, that even should all other means fail of providing the country with an ample supply of agricultural produce, a remedy may be found by allowing any person to enter upon and occupy 80 acres of waste land, without competition or delay, and pay for it at the upset price, four years thereafter; provided that he clears and cultivates 10 acres the first year, and 10 additional acres in each of the three succeeding years, and is at the end of the time residing on the spot.

JOHN ROBERTSON.

Yarrundi, Aug. 6th, 1855.

I also gave my general support to the Robertson Land Bill, which passed through a determined opposition, and became law eventually, after the violent expedient of “swamping the Upper House,” which swamping, however, had no practical or immediate effect, as the old members, including the President, retired in a body when the new members attempted to take their seats.  By the Constitution, the first Council was appointed for five years only, and the term was near its expiration when this historical incident occurred.  So nothing could be done with the Bill, or anything else, until the next Council was appointed, whose term was for life.

Sir John Robertson’s Act did immense good.  Its broad scope was to enable men to select land for themselves in blocks from 40 to 320 acres, at L1 per acre, without waiting for any surveyor or other Government official, but subject to the conditions of a deposit of 5_s._ an acre, actual residence and improvements to the value of L1 per acre in value.  The balance of the purchase-money was to remain for a time, not limited by date, at 5% interest.  It is no figure of speech to say that this law unlocked the lands to the industrious settler, and notwithstanding the abuses which too widely grew up, it was the means of bringing into existence hundreds of comfortable homes in all parts of the colony where the name of its author is held in grateful remembrance.  It will have been seen in a previous chapter what a network of difficulties surrounded the man of small means who tried to obtain a rural home in former years; and perhaps the highest tribute to the memory of Sir John Robertson is that, after all the amendments which have been carried, the chief principles of his Act are still imbedded in the law of the country.

QUEENSLAND

+Source.+—­Sessional Papers of the House of Lords, 1861, Vol.  XI

The Moreton Bay district was first colonised from Sydney as a penal settlement for doubly convicted criminals.  But so soon as transportation to New South Wales ceased, remarkable progress was made in exploiting the vast natural resources of the colony of Queensland.

COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR SIR W. DENISON, K.C.B., TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.