Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
TUESDAY, 31 AUGUST 1876
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
584 Stamp Duties Amendment Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Adjou-rnment,
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Tuesda,IJ, 31 August, 1876. Adjournment.-Railway Survey to the Border.-The late Judge Blakeney.-Parliamentary Buildings.-Bridge across the Burdekin River.-Gowrie Railway Acci dent.-Adjournment.-Railway Survey from Bowen to Bowen River.-Queensland Nationai Bank Bill • .A.DJOURNM:ENT. Mr. MAcRoss.A.N said he rose to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose o[ bringing a matter of some importance under the notice of the Government and of horror able members. It was within the recollec tion of honorable members no doubt, that on the previous day he had asked the Premier whether the Government had taken any steps to discover the practicability of making a road from Trinity Bay to the Hodgkinson Gold Field ; and if so, what steps ; and that the answer then given by the honorable gen tleman was that no steps had been taken. Now, he thought it must be plainly intelli gible to every honorable member that the Government were hardly aware of the im portance of opening up a road between those places ; ihey did not seem to be aware that the distance from the Hodgkinson Gold Fields to Trinity Bay was, according to the reports of men who had gone to within a distance of only a few miles from the port, only eighty miles, whilst the distance by the present road from Cooktown to the Hodgkinson was two hundred miles. On the present road there were also several large rivers to be crossed, whilst on the other track there were none. When they took into consideration that in a short time some thousands of rounds were to be voted for making roads in the Cook district, and that it was quite possible that a large sum would be spent on the road between Cooktown and the Hodgkinson, he thought it was time that the House stepped in and got some information from the Government as to whether there was not a better road to be found, namely, one from the Hodgkinson to Trinity Bay. When they contrasted the action of the Government in the present matter with the action of a former Govern ment in the year 1873, when gold was first discovered on the Palmer River, he thought there was very little to be said in their favor, although they professed to be a more pro gressive Government than the Palmer admin istration. Why, the Government of the honorable member for Port Curtis, imme diately on the discovery of gold, took steps to open up the Palmer district, and a road was opened to the gold fields there in as few weeks as it had taken the present Govern ment months to open up the Hodgkinson. It was now five months since the Hodgkin son Gold Field was discovered, and yet the House had been told by the Premier on the previous day that no steps had been taken to discover whether it was practicable to make Adjournment. [31 AuGusr.] Adjournment. 685 a road to Trinity Bay, by which a distance of on the Hodgkinson two men would be em 120 miles would be saved. When they read ployed, and thus the Customs revenue would the reports of correspondents in the news be proportionately increased. What, he papers from the Hodgkinson Gold Field, he would ask, did the supineness ot' the Gov thought they must be at once impressed with ernmtnt mean? He could not tell; but he the importance of opening up the district as could say that very strange rumors were quickly as possible, as from these reports it about the town as to their conduct, and that must be the most important mining district about a fortnight ago he had a conversatipn in Queensland. He would refer to a letter with the honorable Minister for Lands on the he had received only a few weeks ago same subject, and mentioned then the report from a gentleman who had been to the he had heard, and which he would repeat to Hodgkinson for the purpose of seeing whether the House, namely, that the Government he should place some quartz-crushing were afraid to open a road to Trinity Bay for machinery on that gold field. He was a fear the merchants of Cooktown would make gentleman who was well known in the North their member withdraw his support from in connection with machinery erected by him them. He thought, however, from what he on various gold fields, and whose opinion knew of the people of Cooktown, that they therefore was of some value ; in his letter, were anxious to have the matter decided ; that gentleman said :- at present they were not entering into " I think the Hodgkinson will be an extensive any trade engag-ements for fear that im· gold field. Tl1e reefs are very large and well mediately afterwards the port of Trinity defined. The formation is slate and sandstone, Bay would be opened up and they some of them have a hanging wall of conglome would be nearly ruined. The same remark rate; strange to say, where the conglomerate would also apply to the people ot Townsville. forms the hanging wall, the quartz is generally He thought the Premier should look at the very rich. We visited nearly all the reefs and question from a national point of view, and tried prospects from most of them. On the not allow himself to be influenced by any fear whole, I think the prospects were satisfactory. I of offending the merehants of Cooktown. think if a new port is opened at Trinity Bay, it And although those merchants might not like will give a great impetus to the Hodgkinson. a road to be made from Trinity Bay to the There is an immense quantity of poor stone which Hodgkinson, still they would be more satis will pay when the means of living and crushing are cheap." fied by having the matter settled at once. He would also remind honorable members, Now, in that last sentence laid the whole gist that the summer, which in the North meant of the matter ; that there was an immense the wet season, would be in again soon, when quantity of poor stone that would pay well the rivers would be impassable, and no one when the means of living and the cost of could tell what might happen if the people on crushing were cheaper. But that would never the Hodgkinson were to be dependent upon be the case so long as the people there were Cooktown for supplies, with so many rivers compelled to depend upon Cooktown for between the two places. Thus it was most their supplies. Some honorable members important that immediate action should be had a knowled~e of the cost of carriage in taken by the Government to ascertain the North, and that every additional mile whether a road could not be made to Trinity meant so many exLra shillings a ton ; and Bay. He would not detain the House longer, when it was stated that the difference in the but he considered he should have failed in distance between the Hodgkinson and his duty had he not brought the matter for· Trinity Bay, and the Hodgkinson and Cook ward. He would move- town -yvas so great, he thought the Govern That this House do now adjourn. ment should not lose a moment in discovering whether a road could be made to the port The PREMIER said that in answer to the of Trinity Bay. Even rich stonewould not pay remarks of the honorable member for the all the expenses which it was necessary to incur Kennedy, he might state that the Govern before it could be crushed, if people were ment were fully alive to the fact of the Hodg obliged to pay the high prices they were kinsonbeing a rich, and in all probability, a per compelled to pay with the present cost of manent gold field, and they had consequently carriage. People who were inclined to erect taken every means to make a good road machinery on the Hodgkinson would think for the transit of goods from Cooktown to the twice before doing so,as the cost ofcarriage alone Hodgkinson, where there was plenty of grass would amount to from £500 to £1,000 on one and water. He believed that the rate ot car machine, and that must be taken into account riage was at present only £30 a ton. During the as increasing the cost of crusldng when the wet season, certainly, there would be some machine was on the ground. He thought difficulty in crossing the River Mitchell, but the House would agree with him when he the Government had ordered a proper boat said that the whole colony, more especially to be constructed. It was not known whether Brisbane, derived great benefit from the the road from the Hodgkinson to Trinit_y Bay trade in the North. They knew that by was a suitable one ; if so, private enterprise shortening the distance by road by more than would before long find it out. He had been QUe half, Where O:[le 111a)l W!\S ~OW em;ployed informed by a gentleman th!l-tthere w~s a range 586 Adjournment. [ASSEMBLY.] that would cause it to be almost impassable by The SFcRET.A.RY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said, drays,andhealsohadareportfromMr.Howard he wished to take the opportunity ofsayingthat' St. George, from which, he regretted to say, the Government were not actuated by any there appeared to be very little probability of' such idea as that which had been imputed to there ever being a road between those places. them by the honorable member for the Ken That report, or rather telegram, ~aid:- nedy. He was aware that there was a great desire on the part of the people of Cooktown " Doyle and party were looking for a new road to.Trinity Bay, but have returned and report the to have the matter settled, and it would be range to be most difficult of descent ; they had settled so soon as the Government had re, to leave their horses on the top and get down on ceived a satisfactory report. They had in foot." structed :Mr. Brindley Sheridan, the Sub Collector 6f Customs at Cardwell, to proceed He might inform the honorable member that to Trinity Bay and report on the matter, and he had received other reports, very much that gentleman had done so, and his report stronger, against the proposed route than the was, that so far as he went, the character of report of Mr. St. George. He thought that the country was most encouraging; but the a port might be discovered thirty miles or so Government had since heard that a party north of Trinity Bay which might be much fitted out from Townsville had proceeded better. Thehonorable member knew very well further inland than Mr. Sheridan had done, that four parties had tried to get to Trinity Bay and were not successful in finding a good from the Hodgkinson, and had failed to do road. He could not sit down under the im so, and also that two parties sent from the putation that the Government were coquet• coast to get a road from Trinity Bay had ting with the honorable member for Cook, failed; and that being the caFe, he very much who was most anxious to have the matter questioned whether it would be advisable to go settled, and whose constituents had nothing to any expense in trying to open up a road be to fear from a port being established at tween the two places. The honorable mem Trinity Bay, and were only anxious to know ber should remember that the present Gov whether there was a pass across the range be ernment was an economical Government, and tween Trinity Bay and the Hodgkinson ; should take that as a reason why the Govern• for if so, many goods would be shipped to ment were· not willing to go to any great Trinity Bay, and be taken overland after expense. He had no doubt that a suitable wards, over a distance of about ninety miles. port would be found north of Trinity Bay, He had been rather surprised at the honor but at present the Government did not able member for the Warrego speaking about see their way clear to make a road from the the inhabitants of Trinity Bay not being re Hodgkinson to Trinity Bay. When it was presented ; but they were, as yet, hardly as found that such a road could be made for a numerous as the constituents of theW arrego; small sum, the Government might be willing they would probably have a member some to make it, but at present they were not justi.. time. "\Vhilst he believed that tht>re was no fied in doing so. seeing there was now a good immediate prospPct of a road being discovered, road between Cooktown and the Hodgkin he thought one would be found, and that son. the Government might be able to ascer Mr. W .A.LSH said he would freely admit tain, without any great expenditure, whether that the Government were economical when it was practicable to make a good road be. ever anything was absolutely required for the tween the places mentioned. North, but that when some lavish expenditure Mr. DE SATGE said he wished to be in was proposed for the South they called them formed upon one point, namely, whether selves not an economical, bu-t a progressive reads to new rushes were to be fou)ld by Government. They had been told that the private parties such as that of Mr. Mulligan, Hodgkinson was one of the largest reefing or were they to be made by a Government gold fields in all the colonies-that was the staff of surveyors ; was it to be left to private belief generally ; and yet they were informed parties to find out a road, or were the by the Premier that no road was to be made Government to do it, the same as was the from it to the nearest port, but that there case in other colonies P They were all aware was to be a detour of something like a that Mr. Sheridan was a most amiable hundred and twenty miles made, and for gentleman, and a good Customs officer, but what P ·why, simply because the inhabitants to send him to find out a road was most ab of Trinity Bay were not represented by a surd. The sooner there was a proper pioneer member; that was the point. He was sorry staff appointed the better ; but so ~ong as a that the subject had been introduced in the purely southern Government was m power, manner it was done by the honorable member there was not lihely to be the slightest atten for the Kennedy, as he should have preferred tion paid to the claims of pioneers, or to find to have seen it in the form of a motion that out a practicable road to new gold fields. At could be put from the chair. After what had the time of the last gold field being dis fallen from the Premier, however, he should covered, he remembered that the honorable like to know what could be the opinion enter member, the present Speaker of that House, tained by the people in the northern part of went up to the North, and, assisted by Mul the colony of that honorable gentleman. ligan and his party, discovered a road Adjou,rnment. [31 AuGusT.] Adjournment. ' 587 from Cooktown to the Palmer; yet now, when statement made by the honorable Minister it was stated that a very rich gold field had for Lands that only a small expenditure been discovered, there was not a word said would be necessary, that the opposition of the by the Government as to their having en Premier was most extraordinary. To r!'fuse deavored to find out the best road to it by to discover whether there was a practicable sending out a good staff to assist the pioneers road, when it would be of such advantage to to develop the resources of the new field. find one was most extraordinary. vVhy, he As to the Government expecting to find out remembered the time when the Government a new route by sending up Mr. Sheridan, he offerr.d large rewards for the same thing ; yet, could not believe that the honorable Minister in the present instance, where a port was for Lands was really serious. Mr. Sheridan found within about eighty miles of probably had his duties to perform at Cardwell, and it one of the richest gold fields ever discovered, was absurd to suppose that he was the proper the Government said they· did not feel them man to find out whether there was apractic selves justified in incurring ihe expense of able route from Trinity Bay to the Hodg trying to find a road. But it came to this kinson. The proper person to send would after all-\Vere they to take the answer of be an officer in the Surveyor-General's de the Premier, or the answer of"the honorable partment, one who was accustomed to that Minister for Lands ; or were they to have a descriptic.n of work. speech from another member of the Govern Mr. HAL"Y said that the answer which had ment contradicting the statements already been given by the Premier 'to the horror made P able member for the Kennedy was quite in Mr. IvoRY said he thought honorable_mem keeping with the action of the Government bers must be accustomed to the contradwtory on the previous evening, namely, to pamper speeches they had heard made from the the people near the towns ; and no matter Treasury ·benches. The question that was whether he was a wool-grower or a gold asked on the previous day was :- digger, to thwar~ ,the outside man in every " \Vhether the Government have taken any possible way. That was the principle of the steps to discover the practicability o£ making a present Queen-street Government-a Gov road from Trinity Bay to the Hodgkinson Gold ernment who thwarted the outside men just Field ; an cl, i£ so, w hRt steps ?" to keep up Brisbane, and centralise every And tlw answer given to that question was, thing round it.. He must say that he had "No ;" yet the Premier had, in the face of never known a Government to behave so that answer, got up and told the House that shamefully as they had behaved on the pre· Mr. Howard St. George had taken some vious evening If they wanted to get a road steps in the matter, and then the honorable found from 'rrinity Bay to the Hodgkinson, Minister for Lands said that Mr. l"heridan let them offer a reward and they would soon had taken some steps. He should like to have one. know which of those statements wns the Mr. THOMPSON said the honorable Min correct one. For his part, he did not feel ister for Lands had quite confused his ideas inclined to place reliance upon any statements on the subject. The Premier had got up made by the Government, more especially with a telegram in his hand and told them that when the Premier, after saying that some a route could not be found from Trinity Bay steps had been taken, said a few minutes after to the Hodgkinson, and that a party from the wards that it was of no use taking any steps, Hodgkinson had to leave their horses at the as a road would not be found. He would top of the range, and that, altogether, the ask, how the honorable gentleman could say Government would not be justified in spending such a thing as that in the face of his answer any money, as a road could not be found; of the previous day, that no steps had been and then a Jew minutes afterwards the honor• taken--how could he say a road would not be able Minister for Lands got up and said he found, if no steps to find one had been made? had no doubt a pass would be found, and that Then the honorable gentleman saicl that there very little exp!'nrliture would be required. was already a good road from Cooktown to Now, which of those statements were the the Hodgkinson; but, as had been pointed out House to receive? It really seemed to him by the honorable member for the Kennedy, as if there was always an antagonism between there were two or three large rivers to cross, the Premier and his colleague the Minister which in the wet season would be impassable, for Lands-the former gentleman got up and and thus the people at the Hodgkinson would made a statement to a certain effect, and be left without supplies' He thought the then he was contradicted by the latter. The bes~ thing the Government could do would question, as it appeared to him, was, whether be to offer a reward for the discovery of a a party of diggers eighty miles from the coast, good road, and not to be contented with who had explored for themselves within three sitting down and saying with the Premier miles of a port, were to be assisted by the that a road would not be found. Government or not P Surely there need not Mr. PETTIGREW said he positively trembled be so much expense, for it struck him that a for the fate of the Government after the body of native police would find a road in a attack which had been made upon them, and wePk ; if they could not, then there could not he thought the best thing the Government be a road at all. He considered, after the could do would be to table a vote of want of 688 Adjournment. [ASSEMBLY.] Adjournment. confidence in themselves. Why was it that been really serious in the remarks the honor the Premier himself did not go and try and able gentleman made a short time ago; there find a road, or why did he not. send his was too murh speculation about the honor Colonial Secretary P for it would do all the able member; what he liked was a simple good in the world to that honorable gentle aye or no. As for the Government, the man, who was killing :himself with work, sooner they got them out, the better perhaps; and with the trouble he took to answer but they would be a great deal worse if they questions put to him by the Opposition. fooled away money upon a road without He really pitied the honorable member, and knowing something of what they were doing. would willingly vote him £5,000 to go out Mr. STEYENSON said he was inclined to look and explore, the same as was done by a late upon the question hefore the House in a Government to a late member of that House. much more serious light than the honorable They talked about the late Government member for Stanley had treated it, as there being an economic Government, but all hP really was a great deal of importance attached could say was that it was a good thing they to making roads in the North. They could went out of office when they did, for they not forget that the late Government had would have had a great deal to answer for. greatly blamed their colleague, the present He contended that what the present Govern lionorable Speaker, for having expended ment were doing was not a patch upon the money upon the northern roads, and now job of that expedition, and the sooner the they found that their successors were un· leader of it was callPd upon to return and willing to incur a small expenditure in dis report himself the better it would be. No covering a road which there was every reason sooner had the House adjourned last year, to believe would be of immense advantage than the late honorable member for Burke to the people on the Hodgkinson Gold Fields. got away into the outside districts, and no He considered it was the duty of the Premier, more was heard of him ; he ventured to or of any Government, the moment he heard say that if the Government sent after him that he could make !l road to a new gold field and brought him home, they wculd receive a a hundred and twenty miles less distant than vote of thanks. As regarded a road from it at present was, to take steps to ascertain the Hodgkinson to Trinity Bay, it was not to whether that was the case or not. He be supposed that because a letLer or two thought it came with bad grace from the appeared in a newspaper, the Government honorable Minister for Lands to reply as he was to rush in and make a road costing a lot had done to the honorable member for the of money. Why, where was the money to W arrego, because it was well known that if come from P He could tell the Government there were any inhabitants at Trinity Bay, that when they got on to the Estimates they there would soon be a road made from it to would have to look out, as it was. He had the Hodgkinson. So notorious were the in his hand a return laid on the table that present Government for log-rolling, that they day, in answer to a motion of the honorable would soon promise them a bridge, or a jetty, member for Mulgrave, of particulars of the or even a railway. The Premier got up expenditure of £2,000 voted for European and talked about economy, but it was telegrams and miscellaneous services in con well known that his economy only existed nection with the Colonial Secretary's depart where there was no vote dependent upon ment, and he certainly thought the honor expenditure. able Colonial Secretary would not have Mr. FRYAR said he had no intention of passed such a document. speaking upon the road question, but he Mr. GRoOM asked, who spent the money? would take the opportunity presented by the Mr. PETTIGREW said he supposed it was motion of calling the attention of the Colonial the predecessor of the present Colonial Secretary to the question he asked two days Secretary who was responsible for it. (The ago with reference to the collection of the honorable member proceeded to read various electoral lists. On the passing of the present items in the return.) He saw expenses of Electoral Act, it was provided that lists were the "Kate" steamer in connection with the to be collected, and when the first lists were departure of the late Colonial Secretary, £12 published, he found, upon looking over the odd. list for East Moreton, that there were but Mr. PALMER: Hear, hear. 639 names, and that no less than 400 had Mr. PETTIGREW said he should like to been omitted, amongst them being the names know what that was for; it could not have of some of the most prominent men in the been for the steamer going down the river, district, men who lived in conspicuous resi· so it must have been for drink. Then again deuces which no collector could pass if he he saw an item of £6 13s. 4d. for a Chinese were desirous of finding out who were really interpreter at Cooktown, but surely it was a residents in the district. Amongst those n;onstrous absurdity to have such an officer omitted, who were not residents, he might when the Government were doing all they mention the member of the district, and many could to keep the Chinese out of the colony. others who were well known owners of pro· Altogether, it was a beautiful document to perty in the electorate. He was well lay before the House. He was afraid that aware that the electors of any district m;ght the honorable Minister for Lands had not have their names inserted on the lists by AdJom·nmenf. [31 AuGUST.] AclJournment. 589
making application, but it was not right that electors who were entitled to be on the roll the old rolls should be thrown aside every but who were not resident electors, and he year without further notice being taken of could not see how the collectors could obtain them, and that the owners of property should their names unless by taking the existing be under the necessity of making a fresh rolls. The roll of his own electorate con application when the rolls were to be revised. tained 1,060 names, while according to the During the year 1875 he was not in the census there were 1,193 resident adult males. neighborhood to compare the existing roll Without going, therefore, into far-off dis with the new list, but on looking over it tricts, here was proof that with respect afterwards he found that his own name and to an electorate most favorably situated, the names of several others were omitted. more than ten per cent. of the electors were It appeared, therefore, to be quite customary not upon the list in any shape. If this hap to take no notice of the electoral rolls already pened in East Moreton, what would it be in in existence. He was aware some ma!!istrates the more remote electorates ? East Moreton, and collectors were of opinion that they were however, was not an exceptional electorate in not to look at the roll of the preceding year, this respect. It was a matter of so much but were to visit the district and get the importance to the colony generally, and to names of the residents. On looking over the the constitution of the House, that the elec Act, however, he found nothing about the toral rolls should be properly prepared, that names of residents ; the names of the electors he hoped the House would insist upon thi! were what was required. The lOth clause of greatest attention being henceforth given to the Act provided :- the subject. He believed that at least fifty " All collectors appointed as aforesaid shall be· per cent. more names ought to be upon the tween the 1st and 31st day of August in every East More ton roll, for there were 10,000 adult year make out alphabetical lists of all persons males in the other constituencies centering qualified to vote within their respective districts in and about Brisbane, five per cent. of whom for the election of members of the Assembly in were likely to have votes in East Moreton ; the following form, &c." consequently not above two-thirds of the Here, there was no mention of mere residents. names were on the list that should be there. Again, the 24th section of the Act particularly He hoped the Colonial SePretary would provided that the clerk of petty sessions direct the attention of the benches of magis should at the opening of the courts of revision trates who would be entrusted with the per produce the lists, and a copy of the papers formance of the duty of collection, to the im· containing the names of persons claiming portance of the subject. and objecting, and should then proceed to The CoLONIAL SECRETARY said he was revise the lists. In so doing, the court was fully aware of the importance of the subject, to be guided by certain directions, and and he knew that the present working of the amongst other provisions was this :- system operated with great injustice upon a " The court shall retain on the lists the names large number of electors. It was brought pf all persons to whom no objections shall have under his notice, but unfortunately much too been duly made unless in the case of death." late for anything to be done this year. He If the roll itself were to die every year, surely was under the impression that the late Gov there was no reason for making a provision of ernment had given instructions that the old this kind. The 4th sub-section of the same rolls should be taken as the basis of the new clause provided :- lists ; he was not aware whether this was " The presiding judge crown prosecutor or done, but a circular was sent round last year justice shall expunge from the lists the name of calling upon the justices in the courts of every person whose qualification shall be disproved petty sessions to appoint a sufficient number or who shall appear to be disqualified to the satis of collectors to do the work well, and to be faction of the court or who shall be proved to be very careful in their selection, so that persons dead and shall correct any mistake or supply any were not appointed collectors who had any omission proved to have been made in any such list political prejudices; in fact the justices were in respect of the christian or surname or address or desired to see that the rolls should be as abode of any person included therein or the carefully compiled as possible. He had also nature or local description of his qualification." taken other steps to discover whether it would Again, the fifth sub-section provided that no not be possible by some other means to get person's name should be inserted in any list the property qualification made without unless notice were given. It was quite clear having recourse to the old roll. A great from these provisions that the electoral rolls many changes had taken place during the for the time being were to be taken as the year, and he had not yet a reply from the basis of the succeeding lists ; those rolls Registrar whether it was possible to do the were to be corrected, but if a collector only work in his office or not. If it could be done took the names of the residents whom he there, they would get rid of the whole of the mit:\"ht chance to meet in his perambulations difficulty, and he thought those who com in the district, he would not get more than plained chiefly complained of the property one-half of the electors. In a suburban and qualification ; the resider;ce qualification could country constituency near to the capital, or be easily taken each year by the collector. near to th~ larger towns, there must be many His attention, however, was not soon enough 590 Acljou,rnment. [ASSEMBLY.] Ailjourmnent. called to the defects which had been men of a district and the electors were two distinct tioned to take effectual measures this year, classes of persons, and the collectors ought to but he had given orders to have lists printed be taught so. It would be very advisable for with all possible speed. They would there the Attorney-General, guided by what was fore be sent up to the Government Printer done last year, to instruct the magistrates to in sheets, so that the public might have the take the rolls of' last year as a basis of the rolls returns in their hands as soon as possible, and of the presentyear. Individually, it was a mat see that their names were on the rolls. Be ter of perfect indifference to him; but it was fore there was any actual necessity for using the duty of the House to take care that those the electoral lists, the whole matter should be who were entitled to have a vote should be thoroughly gone into, and they would en placed upon the roll, and that they should deavor to get the lists collected in the proper not be improperly struck off'. If the Attor way ; if this was not possible, they must call ney-General would send round a circular, as upon the House to legislate upon the ques he did last year, it might be of' great service. tion. Whatever Government was in power during Mr. GRooM said he brought this matter the recess, he hoped they would direct their before the House last year, and he was quite attention to the necessity of amending the free to make the confession that he for one mode of collecting the electoral roll. For very much regretted that the Electoral Bill himself, he repeated, he preferred the voter's brought in by the honorable member for right system to any other. Bremer had been repealed. He believed the Mr. McLE.A.N said instructions had beeu voters' rights system the best any colony sent out to take the old roll as the basis of' could possibly have, and that if a general the new lists. He could corroborate all that election took place to-morrow, there would be had been said as to the imperfections of the just as much personation as when, some time existing rolls ; the names of' voters which had ago, he proved to the House that 169 persons beea on them for five years were not to be had voted six or seven times. "The present found, although some of them had never left electoral roll was a downright farce, and their farms. It would be interesting to know every year the colony was saddled with an why these voters had been for the first time unnecessary expense in collecting returns this year simply struck off the rolls P As to which were next to useless. As an illustra· the other question of the road to the Hodg tion he would inform the House that there kinson Gold Field, he considered that if' the were no less than 22 applications at Too· Government had been alive to their duties, woomba to do the work of eight men in col they would have been able to state long lecting the electoral rolls. 0 f course people before this whether a new road was or was could not shut their ears to what was said not possible from the coast to the gold field. around them, and what was said in that par A more important question there could not ticular instance was that the whole of the be to persons who were either travelling or men were appointed from political motives. carrying ; the difference between 80 miles The police magistrate of Toowoomba assured and 200 miles was to them enormous. It him that the best men for the collection of was quite evident from the reports that had the electoral rolls were thrown aside, and reached town, that the Hodgkinson was no men were appointed who could neither read mean gold field, and as there had been an nor write. One man went to an elector and immense number of quartz-reefs discovered, asked him how long he had been in his house, it was more than probable that it would be and the answer was " a fortnight." 'Ihe come a permanent gold field. It was there collector then said he could not take his fore the imperative duty of the Government name, as he ought to live there six months. to use every means in their power to see that And this was the sort of' man chosen by the the shortest road that could be found should district magistrates to collect the electoral roll be found and made without delay. He hoped by which representatives of the people were that this discussion would stir up the Gov sent to Parliament ! The absurd practice ernment to their duty in the matter ; they had been going on year after year, and he ought not to depend upon one, two, or three knew of nothing which more urgently re reports. In the earlier history of the colony, quired amendment than the mode at present honorable members would remember many adopted of collecting the electoral roll. He trips were made along the coast before the entirely agreed with the honorable member most important rivers were discovered; parties for the Bremer that the voter's right, when of discovery went back to Sydney declaring once he had it, remained in his possession, and there were no large rivers north of that there was no need to go through this yearly port. The Government, he hoped, would take farce of eollecting the electoral roll. The the hint from the tone of' the discussion, and Attorney-General; having heard the strong at once decide whether there was or was not expression of' opinion uttered in the House, a practicable road between Trinity Bay and sent some iRstructions round to the magis the Hodgkinson Gold Field. trates, directing them to take the old as the Mr. AMHURST thought the Government basis of the new rolls. Unless this was done, should have taken more interest in the North it was certain that one-half' of the electors than was evidenced by the fact that an ex would be again disfranchised. The residents Minister had diverted the discussion originally AdJournment. l31 AUGUST.] Adjou1•nment. 591 started by airing two-year-old grievances authority to do that which belonged to the relating to some 50 or lOO voters. It showed Colonial Secretary's department; but he re the apathy and the na.rrow-mindedness of the collected that last year he expressed his people in the southern portion of the colony, opinion in the House, not that the collectors and proved that they had not got the mind ought to take the old list as their basis, but and the will to do what was required. The that they should make free use of it. Let fact was, they knew nothing about it, cared the collectors go through the old list, take nothing, and would not take the trouble to every name, and ascertain whether every man learn. Yet nothing could be more important was 8till there He rem£ mbered the promise than means of commnnication between the made by Mr. Macalister, who gave instruc coast and the gold fields. The distance from tions to that effect; he (the Attorney-General) Trinity Bay to the Hodgldnson was as short had unfortunately lost sight of this till re again as the route from Cooktown, and that cently, but he had intended suggesting to the was of the first importance in getting up Colonial Secretary to send out circulars. It machinery and stores. It would not per was too late now. He would, however, re haps be so imporbmt a consideration if it mind the House that it was a rule that the were an alluvial, and nota reefing district; but, Colonial Secretary should not interfere with as the last speaker had pointed out, this was any electoral roll, or in the conduct of elec likely to be a permanent gold field, and yet tions. As to the statement made by the the Government, who were spending large honorable member for East Moreton, he (the sums of money upon all kinds of trumpery Attorney-Ge~:eral) could state that one-third objects in and around Brisbane, would not of the names in his own electorate were spend a trifling sum in discovering new roads omitted last year ; in fact, if a man had gone that would be of untold value to the northern carefully through the lists and tried to select districts. He was not , m·prised that the the best men to leave out, it could not have Premier was not listening to what he was say been better done. The only remedy now ing; the subject, of course, was too far removed seemed to be that adopted by the Colonial from his thoughts ; but if he thought there Secretary, namely, to see that the lists were was io be a second Cooktown at Trinity Bay, printed as quickly as possible. Not only he would be the first man to squander money were the lists last year imperfect, but they in order to secure a vote or two. It ought to were not prepared till within seven days of be known far and wide throughout the colony the time when they were wanted, when it was that the Government positively refused a far too late for persons to discover or rectify small sum of money to try and find a way errors. from a good harbor on the coast to one of the Mr. PALMER said the debate clearly showed richest gold fields in the colony. that they ought to go back to the Electoral Mr. BELL wished to allude to the very Rights Bill, brought in by the honorable mem great importance of the Government sending ber for Bremer, and repealed directly his instructions to the different benches of magis Ministry went out of office. The way in trates throughout the colony requiring that which the Government was carried on now the old roll should be made the basis of the was beneath contempt. As far as the.police t:ew. He should like to know whether such were concerned, they did their duty as well an instruction had been sent out or not. J\fr. as they could, although he protested, and Macalister, when he was at the head of the always would protest, against their being Government, most distinctly promised the employed in this work of collecting the House that he would do so, but he (Mr. Bell) electoral rolls. It was thoroughly demoral could answer for the districts in his own izing to them, and it turned the police into neighborhood, the police magistrate of which electioneering agents. Another objection he had told him that as he had received no had was, that where police could not be had, instructions, he would not take upon himself additional agents were employed, and he to make the old roll the basis of the new one, believed from all he had heard, that these because in his opinion it seemed to be agents sometimes went out with special in a:gainst the letter of the law. He (lVIr. Bell) structi ;n s. thought the police magistrate was quite right. The CoLONIAL SECRETARY : From whom? He would now remind the Government of the Mr. P ALMER said it was difficult to answer distinct promise made by Mr, Macalister, and that question. Perhaps he might say it was that its fulfilment was of the utmost import the Premier. He did not think the Colonial ance, because as electors living in the interior Secretary was quite up to that kind of thing would not take the trouble to make 11.pplica yet, but what he might come to after a little tions, and see that they were upon the more training from his head, it was hard to say. electoral roll~, one-half of the names would He (Mr. Palmer) believed, nevertheless, that be left out. He should be very glad, there these agents were sent out with special in fore, if the Government would give the House structions, he did not say from the Premier, some information on the subject. but he had his suspicions that they were told to The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the honor· tell the people, "Oh! Palmer, Bell, and those able member for Toowoomba was mistaken fellows are not your friends ; they look upon in supposing that he could give instructions Germans as no better than Uhinese," and so to the bench of magistrates; he had no on. He had heard that this had been said. 592 AdJournment. [ASSEMBLY.] AdJou1•nment.
The Premier thought he was vety secret of the people of Coo'ktown, and would not on with his telegraph wires and other little secret that account move in the matter that had services, but it was astonishing how these been reported. As to the Premier saying he things leaked out. He (Mr. Palmer) had would leave the matter to private enterprise, stood up for the poliee of Queensland for did such a suggestion come welL from him, many years, and would do so as long as they who, a few days ago, admitted having said he deserved it; a better class of men, he believed, would use the railway which the people had did not exist; but he protested strongly built so as to destroy all private enterprise against their being employed in collecting the upon the rivers P The honorable the Premier electoral roll. On the other hand, he had talked about the carriage from Cooktown been told that the paid agents went out with being only £30 a ton; did he know what that instructions, so there was something wrong meant to the people on the Hodgkinson Gold every way. As for the electoral rolls them Field who employed machinery? Did he selves, he had received letter after letter from know what that meant to the squatters and his own district, telling of five people left out farmers of the district-people who had here, seven there, and nine somewhere else, assisted in making railways in the South, the collector having never been round to where it was £S or £4 a ton ? Did he know them at all. The remedy was to repeal the that there were largtJ rivers to be crossed from present law, and re-enact the old .A.ct, by Cooktown to the Hodgkinson? which, if a man was entitled to a vote, he went and registered himself; and surely if a vote The PREMIER : Only one. was not worth registering it was not worth Mr. MACROSSAN said there were the Mitchell, having. Under the present system, they were the Palmer, and N ormanby which had two little better than nominees of the police and branches. The fact was the honorable member the paid collectors. Was that a system which knew nothing about it, and he had no sympathy the most radical member of the House with the struggling people in that district, or would maintain P He should hope not; he would not have talked so easily about £30 and that no members would care to sit a ton. He (Mr. Macrossan) believed that if in the House under such nomination. No he put a substantive motion upon the table, member on his side of the House could use the feeling of the House was strong enough stronger arguments iu favor of the honorable against the Government to carry it, and he member for Bremer's Bill, not even the hon promised the Government, if they did not orable member himself, than had been used take immediate steps to discover the practi. during the debate by members on the Min cability of making a nad from Trinity Bay isterial side. He hoped, now it was seen to the Hodgkinson Gold Field, he would that a mistake had been made in repealing move such a resolution. He did not ask for that Bill, it would be re-enacted without a road, but merely that the Government delay. He did not wish to sit in the House would try and discover whether one could be as the nominee of the police, or paid agents, made. He lHotested most solemnly against and he, therefore, hoped the debate would any money being spent on the road from lead to the repeal of the present Act. Cooktown to the Hodgkinson before it was Mr. DE Porx TYREL endorsed every word discovered whether there could not be a road that had been spoken against the present from Trinity Bay. The knowledge whteh mode of collecting the electoral roll. The the Premier had from }fr. St. George, and House had been informed that it was too the knowledge which the Minister for Lands late to instruct collectors with respect to the had from Mr. Brinsley Sheridan, was worth present lists, but he hoped it was not too nothing; and that which the Premier read as a late for the Government to instrucL the re telegram was merely a report two months old. vising benches or boards to make use of the People had been to Trinity Bay since then, old rolls. If this were done, the difficulty and the Premier was not aware whether the might be got over temporarily ; if it was not people who went from Townsville ten days possible, it was at least very desirable ago had succeeded or not. The honorable Mr. MA.CROSSAN wished to answer the re· the Premier knew nothing about the matter. marks of the Minister for Lands with regard Mr. Sheridan's report, moreover, had only to to the road to the Hodgkinson Gold Field. do with the depth of the water in the port, That honorable gentleman admitted, in con and of that he spoke highly. The Govern· versation to him, that he had heard of the ment said yesterday, however, that they had reports of the new road, and yet he could taken no steps, and in admitting that, they now stand up in the House and aecuse him condemned themselves for neglecting to dis (Mr. Macrossanl of imputing motives to the cover a road five months after the most im· Government. This was a very wrong thing portant gold field in Queensland had been to do, and could only have been done to keep opened. Although it waP supposed there was up an antagonism between the northern a road in existence SO miles in length against members, by trying to make out that one another 200 miles long, the Government had northern member had imputed motives to taken no steps to veri(y the report. He had another. He (Mr. Maerossan) might have just betJn informed that Mr. Brinsley Sheridan gone. further, and stated that the Prem1er received instructions not to go more than was reported to have said that he was afraid three miles from the coaat. Railway Survey [31 Al:GUST.] to tke BonleJ•. 593
Mr. PALMER: No, that is wrong. I gave it utterly impossible to carry their produce the information, and it was this, that Mr. to deep water. Another thing which might Brinsley Sheridan told me he had no means be urged in connection with the motion was of going back more than three miles from the that it was the duty of the Government, coast. I did not say he had instructions not wherever they thought it was at all probable to go ; he could not 'go with his small party that at some future time a railway would be for fear of the blacks. constructed, to survey the line for the pur Mr. MA.CROSSAN said that anyone ac pose of reserving or retaining the land in quainted with Mr. Sheridan must know that their own hands. He knew that at the pre however meritorious he might be, he was not sent time a great deal of the land between the man to be a pioneer at his time of life. Oxley Creek and the Logan was still Crown As for the Premier, he had taken no trouble land. and there could be no doubt that in a to ascertain even whether there was a range ; few years it would be all taken up by settlers, he took no trouble whatever in the matter. and consequently, in the event of a railway He hoped the Government would at once being constructed, without a survey having take this affair in hand, and employ some been made up ~o that time, the Government offieer who was quite capable of discovering would have to purchase it back again. the road if it existed. Having urged this, he Further down there was also a good deal of would withdraw the motion for adjournment. Crown land, and if the Government would survey the line, they could retain it in their own hands. He hoped the House RAILWAY SURVEY TO THE BORDER. would look upon this motion favorably, Mr. MoLEAN said, in rising to move the because it was evident from the settlement motion standing in his name, he might state that existed, and the great settlement that that he had placed it on the paper on the would take place in the district, that the time advice of a great many of his constituents, was not far distant when there would be a who believed that a branch line of railway demand for a railway there. At the present could be constructed at a cheap rate fr.Jm time there was a strong demand in favor of Oxley Creek as far as N e1''iifig' Creek. He railway construction; not only in the southern might also state, that in asking for this sum portion of the district, but also up towards for the purpose of the survey of a line of rail Fassifern they were strongly agitating for a way, he was simply asking the Government tramway. There was no portion of the to confirm what the previous Government colony, he maintained, where a cheaper line had partially done. He had been informed of railway could be constructed than in the that the previous Government instructed Logan district. There was some of the best two officers to ride over the whole of the timber in the colony there for the purpose of ground from Oxley Creek down to N' erang building bridges, and the whole of the land Creek ; and he had also been told that the was of such a description that there would land was of a most suitable character for the be no engineering difficulties whatever to be construction of a cheap line of railway. It encountered in the construction of the line. would only be necessary to make the survey Without going into statistics, which he might from Oxley, and the line would only require do, to prove the population and the pro to made from there, where it would branch ducing capabilities of the electorate, he off, and go across by Cooper's Plains, begged to move :- Brown's Plains, by Waterford, down to Been That this House will, at its next sitting, resolve leigh and the coast. Objection might be itself into a Committee of the Whole, to consider raised to the construction of a railway in this of an Address to the Governor, praying that His district, because there wer.:l navigable rivers Excellency will be pleased to cause to be placed running through it. Well, the Logan was, to upon the next Supplementary Estimates the sum a certain extent navigable, but the Albert of one thousand pounds (£1,000) for a survey of was not so navigable as a great many sup a line of railway to the Border of New South posed it was. 1'hey were both subject to Wales, or to some less distant site at or near freshes, which were continually raising sand Tullebudgera Creek. banks, and every fresh so changed the proper The PREMIER said he thought he might channel that there was no saying where it give the honorable member for the Logan might be after the fresh went down. And the same answer that he had given to the then, further south again, Nerang Creek was honorable member for Rockhampton on the navigable only a short distance from the question of the survey of a line of railway from coast; and he thought, if there was such a Rockhampton to Broadmount-that there thing as a cheap line of railway comtructed was a sum of £10,000 on the Loan Estimates in the Logan district it would encourage settle for railway surveys. At the same time, he mE-nt ~o a very considerable extent. There was not opposed to the construction of cheap were a great many settlers at present in the lines of railways or tramways to the farming Logan electorate, and it was impossible forth em districts of the colony. That was part of the to get their produce to deep water to be carried policy of the Government, as he pointed out to Brisbane. In many places the roads when making his Ministerial Statement, and were so bad, never having had any money next year they proposed to go in for a cheap expended upon them, that the settle1·s found system of railways to those districts. They 2w 594 [ASSEMBLY.] to the Borde1•, had not yet sufficient information. to enable £10,000 i'or the survey of railways in different them to· come down with a policy of that portions of the colony. Under those circum kind at the present time, but they hoped to stance, he thought it better that the motion be in a position to do so next year. No should be withdrawn. doubt this sum of £1,000 would be re Mr. DE SATGF. said it appeared that ihe quired, at least, to effect this survey ; and honorable the Premier disapproved of the it must be evident that at some time a line motion, and yet he was not going to oppoRe it. would run to Tullebudgera, or to the Tweed He thought that honorable gentleman ought River, to tap that distriet of X ew South to give up this trimming policy, and that even Wales. At the present time he might inform when one of his supporters asked for some honorable members that the greater part of thing the Government could not grant, he the trade of that district came to the metropo should say so distinctly ; he should make no lis, and it would be a great advantage if th.:-y difference whether it came from that side of could always secure that trade, which, rightly the House or the other. This Tullebuggera speaking, ought to belong to Queensland, and l 're~k. so far as he could learn, was not one he believed they could do so by a system of of the most populous places which they should cheap railways or tramways. He would not grant a survey to, and in their opinion the oppose the motion, but he would put it to the sum of £1,000 was not a very small sum ; it honorable member whether it would not be was something like Dr. Lang's claim, not a better to leave it for the present-the Gov mere trifle. He considered the Government ernment being fully alive to the importance should object to this if they were an econo of constructin'j railways where there was any mical Government. The honorable the Pre probability that they would ray. In this mier the other day distinctly refused to enter district the line was certain to pay, and 'le tain a proposition for an amount of money to put it to the honorable member, sueh being survey a lme, by saying that £10,000 had been the case, and as he had got his (the Premier's) placed on the Estimates for those purposes ; promise on the mqtter, whether it would not be and if the honorable gentleman would be as well to withdraw his motion. At the same more distinct and firm in his policy, he would time he (the Premier) would offer no oppo get far more credit from both sides of the sition to it. They knew that money spent in House ; and however good his supporter surveys of this kind was not wasted ; and he might be, if he af vey wherever it was likely a line of railway lump sum should be appropriated in detail. would be required. He said it was true But he did think it would be better that such economy. a vote should not be placed on the Supplemen Mr. THOMPSON said he hoped the honor· tary Estimates, for financial reasons, because it able member would press his motion, because was quite clear that these supplementary votes if he did not, he would not have done what for the survey of rail ways would not rest here. wa.s required by law. The Railway Act re They had already a sum voted for a similar qmred that the desirability of railway surveys purpose which would be charged on the Sup should be affirmed by Parliament before they plementary Estimates, and there were certain could be carried out, and the voting uf a lump to be others. There were districts he couli sum for that purpose would not enable the mention when trial surveys for the purpose Government to make the survey, unless of rC'serving the land were required just as Parliament also expressed an opinion that it much as in this case ; and he need hardly should be clone. That had been pointed out assure the honorable member for Maranoa on a recent occasion by the honorable mem that it would be very desirable, for instance, ber for W arrego, and it would be seen at to extend the ])resent lines into the interior onre by reference to the l{ailway Act; so without much delay, and for this reason sur that the honorable member who moved veys should be made so as to secure the best the motion had taken the right and the lands for the purpose. The most serious only course he could take to secure what questions were being involved now in refer he wanted. He CMr. Thompson) for ence to that, and as the question of a general one, was not going to be a party to voting vote for. railway surveys was a most im £10,000 for railway surveys to enable the portant one, he hoped the honorable member Government to bribe constituencies. Let the for the Bremer would finJ it possible to revise law becarriedout,and when the House affirmed the opinion he had given. 'l'he House might the desirability of a survey, let the amount be decide th11t it would be .desirable to spend voted as it was required. The clause of the even a larger sum than £10,000 for that pur Railway Act provided:- pose. He quite agreed with the honorable " \Vheneve1· Parliament shall have approved of member for Port Curtis that nothing could a survey or surveys being made for the pur be more important at the present time, when pose of extending existing lines of railwav or for they were alienating Crown lands to a con making others the Government shall cau~e to be siderable extent, than that immediate steps prepared plans sections--" should be taken to reserve land wherever it was probable or possible that at any future And so forth. They would have to take that time railways would be made, so that when course. they arrived at the stage when the railways T~e PREMIER: That relates to plans and should be made, no very cGJnsiderable delay sec< wns, not surveys. would be necessary in connection with them. Mr. THOMPSON said, when Parliament The district through which it was proposed decided that a mrvey should take place, the to make this survey was one of the most plans and sections were to be got ready by populous in the country, and he was happy the Government, which could onlv b'l d:ne to see that the New South Wales Govern after the survey. That was what "it meant. ment had decided lately, or at all events, that 'I he honorable the Premier could depend upon it was proposed that their line from the it that he would not get £10,000 to spend here, Claren ce district should not run east and there, and everywhere. west., but north and south. They proposed 'lhe SECRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said he to take the first step now to meet us by a line thought this was one of those lines that from Grafton, and this, therefore, might be ought to be surveyed, and the lanti reserved. looked upon as a very important coast line. He understood it was proposed, if it had not HoNORABLE ~iEMBERS of the Opposition: Hear, hear. already been authorised, to construct. a line from Graft.on and the Richmond, and it was The l'RE::UIER: I said so too. contemplated--- The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS said .JYlr. GROOli: It has been authorised. the honorable gentleman at the head of the The SECRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said he Government had also said so-that the survey believed it was from Richmond to the Tweed, should be made and the land reserved as soon and there it was that this colony would effect as possible. He was sorry to hear the honor a junction with their neighbours in New able member for Bremer assure the House South vVales ; and not only that, but they that ·he would never give his vote for an should he opening up a rich district, for it amount to be voted. for railway surveys was a rich district, and one that was largely generally, by way of loan. There could be populated ; and it was population, as they all no objection in his mind to this vote but he knew, that contributed to make railways pay. thought it won.ld be better, as a qu~stion of He was sure the GoYermnent had no wish to finance, that it should be carried out and bribe constituencies in the way of railway charged to the loan vote, which they hoped surveys. would be agreed to. It was quite within the Hol-.ouBLE ~fEMBERS of the Opposition: province of the House to designate how that Oh! No. 596 Railwag Survey [ASSEMBLY.] to the Border. The SECRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said it be the real demands of the people of the was all very well to talk about bribing consti country. tuencies, but the other way to look at it was Mr. PETTIGREW said he should like to this: As constituencies were growing in im offer a few observations on the closing re portance they might legitimately claim such marks of the honorable the Minister :for consideration as this; it was not bribing them. Lands. Now, he must really say that that HoNORABLE MEMBERS on the Ministerial honorable gentleman supposed them to be side: Hear, hear. very much simpler than they were if he ex The SEcRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS : It nected him (Mr. Pettigrew) to swallow a was a just demand ; they claimed only com great deal that he had stated just now. The mon consideration from the House. honorable gentleman professed t1at the Mr. J. ScoTT rose to a point of order. He Government did nothing for the purpose of wished to ask if the honorable member was bribing. Of course not! Jt was the pre in order in discussing a question that had yet vious Government that did all that, and not to come before the House. He was discus the present Government ; they had no idea sing a question of Supply, and he (Mr. Scott) of bribing! But he thought when the hon thought he was not in order in doing so. orable the Minister for Lands got up and The SPEAKER : I did not understand the made those little statements, he ought to re honorable member to allude to any motion to member that other people had a little memory come before the House. I understand him as well as himself; and he (Mr. Pettigrew) to be discussing an accusation made against rather fancied that the present Government the Government of bribing constituencies, or had exceeded far beyond all their predeces something to that effect. sors put together-by one hundred per cent. Mr. J. ScoTT : He is referring to the -that was twice-well, he would give them £10,000 which is to come on in Supply. another fifty per cent.-in endeavoring to se The SEcRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said cure popularity. The honorable the Premier he was referring to the remark of the honor himself invariably stated, "I am the most able member for Bremer, respecting the popular man in the colony." He (Mr. Petti object of the loan vote. Of course, that grew) remembered him coming before an Ips gave him an opportunity of discus~ing the wich audience, and saying, "I am the most general question, but he had no desire to do popular man in the colony ; I will take and so at the present time. But he thought it defeat any of you" He (the Premier) went was his duty not to allow the remark of the to Rockhampton, and what was the result? honorable member for Bremer to pass, The Rockhampton people threw it back, because, whatever that honorable member and said, "You are not the most popu might think, he (the Secretary for Lands) was lar man in the colony." He even in bound to assert on his own part as a member the Stanley electorate did the same thing. of the Government, that whenever they pro The honorable member for Toowoomba posed a vote for a certain district, it was not was another of those popular men ; but as a bribe to the members of that district in he (Mr. Pettigrew) could tell him that he order that they should support them as a had got such a hornet's nest up there, as he Government, but simply because the Govern would find at the next general election, that ment believed that as districts grew in he never expected in his born days ; and he importance and population, they were con·es would find that he was not the most popular pondingly deserving of that attention in man in the colony-at all events unless he those matters which their political and social changed his ways very materially from what position entitled them to. It was well known they were at present. Now, he (Mr. Petti 1t did not matter a fig to the Government grew) was coming to the question, and he whether they remained in office six weeks, might say he did not objecL to the niotion. six months, or six years, so long as they He thought, as he had said before, that they believed they were carrying out measures might as well survey lines of railway where suitable to the present position of the colony. ever they might be required, and reserve the It did not matter a fig to the Government land in the meantime; and he should support if they were out of office to-morrow, and, the vote. He thought there was no occasion therefore, he said that those were ungener for the honorable the Minister for Lands to ous imputations-that they were bribing get into such a state of excitement as he had constituencies, merely to maintain themselves seen him in just now about a trifle like this. in office. The accusation might be made by It could be put on the Supplementary Esti honorable members, if they liked, that the mates just as well as on the Loan Estimates. Government were bribing constituencies in There was this £2,000 put down for European the light of obtaining a little ephemeral telegrams, which was really for entertain popularity. He could understand such an ing the late Premier in England; and why accusation being made, but, of course, any did not the gentlemen who wished to see thing of the kind would react against the him off put their hands in their pockets Government, and so render it probable that and pay for the dirty entertainment P He their tenure of office would be a short one, if said when gentlemen asked others to go to they did not lay claim to safer and sounder an entertainment on board a steamer, which 1mpport in carrying out what they believed to they had for nothing, and then the whole Railway Survey [31 AUGUST.] to tlte Border. 597 affair was brought before that House-if for precisely the same purpose P Now, they liked to go down the river feeding and supposing in connection with this Talle fuddling at the expense of the State, he said, budgera contract there was one political sup let the country know what they had done. porter, one political spouter, one political He maintained it was a very mean way of Under Secretary-because he called the man spending public money, and yet his honorable the Under Secretary of the Premier, for he friend the Minister for Lands got into such a had seen him sitting in the House in the state of virtuous indignation about this Under Secretary's seat, and he had told him matter. They would be inviting him (Mr. (Mr. Pettigrew) that he was there by the Pettigrew) to one of their picnics one of those express wish of the Premier--when the horror days, and he hoped they would put their able the Premier found it necessary to pay this hands in their pockets and pay for it, Tullebudgera man, he would say, for services because before he would go to a pic rendered, instead of paying him out of his nic of the Government, he intended to own pocket, as another man would do, he know who was going to pay for it. He was paid him in another way. He said, " There entitled to be there, ancl every other citizen is £1,000 on the ERtimates for a certain in the colony was entitled to be there by work ; you put in a tender for £995 ; get right, if it was to be paid for at the expense Jim Suoaks," who knew no more about the ot the colony. same job than a blackfellow, "and get a HoNoRA.BLE M:&MBERS of the Opposition : stonemason to put in a tender also, and the Hear hear. job is done." That was done in his (Mr. Mr. PETTIGREW said that was the way Pettigrew's) own electorate the other day ; to look at it. He believed that the leav he knew it to be a fact. ing of the late Premier would come to Mr. W A.LSH rose to order. He said a most light one of those clays, ancl they would serious charge had been made against the see all about that little parting scene, Premier of the colony, and he thought the and probably the parting scene on the de honorable member should give the names ofthe parture of the late Treasurer would also be parties, and every information he possibly brought up, and he should like to know who could on the subject, and not leave it as a was to pay for it. He could assure the horror mere matter of inference or doubt able the Colonial Secretary that he hacl better Mr. PETTIGREW said, without the least pay it at once, because as far as this £2,000 for trouble he would give the names. The telegrams to Europe was concerned, he (Mr. name of the successful contractor, say for Pettigtew) would reckon up the figures this Tullebudgera Railway, was Bashford, very carefully, and see what the telegrams and the dummy contractors were Mr. Burns amounted to last year, ancl not one farthing and a stonemason named Hugh McQuaker, more would he get; he must find out some who knew as much about making a culvert fresh swindle to get at the public purse. as a spade did about saying grace. Those That was the way the Treasury was robbed, were the names, and the honorable the and the people did not know how it was Premier would not deny it. Now, he wished robbed. , Dicl they mean to say there was the it to be distinctly understood that if the hon slightest necessity for sending up to the \Vorks orablethe Premier, or if the Colonial Secretary, Department in Ipswich, the man who went wished his men. to go through the country there the other clay as office-cleaner? Did stumping it either for railway purposes or in the honorable the Mini~ter for \Vorks say order to get up political meetings in the city of there was any necessity for that? There Brisbane, or the town and district of Ipswich was another £100 a year for two men who he said if those gentlemen had the slightest ~ere riding through the country half their ambition to have their political agents stump time. There was no necessity for that, and ing the country on their behalf, paying tor what was the object of it P rooms and advertisements, and all the rest of· An HoNORA.BLE MEMBER : A vote. it, and those men were to be paid by pub Mr. PETTIGREW said he clid not think it lic works, such as this Tullebudgera con was for a vote ; he gave the Government more cern-- credit than that. Did the honorable the Pre Mr. M cLEAN rose to a point of order. He mier mean to tell him, when he had a staff of objected to the remarks of the honorable officers in connection with the Roads Depart member in connection with his motion, which m 'nt, that he should go and sublet cont1acts would make people believe that the Gov to political supporters P ernment were giving him a bribe for his sup The, SPEAKER said he thought the honor port. able member was not speaking to the ques jon The SPEAKER: The honorable member before the House. must state his point of order. Mr. PETTIGREW said he would return to Mr. McLEA.N said he would state the the question by the same road that he went. point of order. The honorable member was Did the honorable the Premier mean to tell leading people to believe that he was bribed him that iu connection with this Tullebudgera by the Government in bringing this motion Railway there was any necessity to pay politi forward. cal supporters by giving them work to do Mr. PETTIGREW said he hacl not the most when there was a department established distant intention of doing anything of the 598 Railtt•ay Survey [ARSEMBLY.J to the Borde1•, sort. If the honorable member was so thin steps as would enable them to reply. They skinned, wait until he (Mr. M cLean) brought well knew how it could be done. in his Bill to tum barmaids out of public Mr. PETTIGREW said he was really much houses ; he would want the hide of a bullock amused at the honorable the Colonial Secre to stand it. tary. That honorable gentleman seemed to HoNORABLE MEMBERS: Hear, hear. think that he, and he alone, was the Ministry; and if he took upon himself to be the mouth Mr. PETTIGREW ~aid if the honorable gentlE"man came and thought he had a delicate piece of the Ministry, he {Mr. Pettigrew) had constitution, and wanted to be smiled upon, no objection that he should be; but really a he (Mr. Pettigrew) could only pity him, an.i more lamentable exhibition than that horror able member made of himself last night, he the sooner he went home to the bo~om of his family the better. He (Mr. Pettigrew) had (Mr. Pettigrew) had never seen by any mem been threatened to be burned. and all sorts of ber who ever sat on the Treasury benches. things, and he did not know that the horror If the honorable member thought that by get able member had been threatened with any ting up to a point of order, which he could not of those things yet ; and he, (Mr. PP.ttigrew) state, he was going to put him down, he was as a friend of the Good Templars, should very much mistaken. He (Mr. Pettigrew) strongly advise him to withdraw his Publi would put down five dozen like him without cans' or Good Templars' Bill at once ; for he the slightest trouble. "Why, last night he (the (Mr; Pettigrew) would recommend that the Colonial Secretary) did not know the difference head of every cask of grog should be knocked between a cheque and a promissory note, or out at Cape Moreton, rather than he would between one class of colonists aud another. consent to that Bill. Heferring again to this Beyond the city of Brisbane and the s:reet Tullebudgera Railway, he could tell the called Queen street, he knew nothing, and honorable the Premier, that when a member he (Mr. Pettigrcw) should recommend him of that House, in his capacity as a representa to travel in Queensland. He had never tra tive, sent him a telegram, as he (Mr. Petti velled beyond the city of Glasgow before he grew) did on Monday week, some attention came to this colony, and he had no more should be paid to it. He sent him a telegram conception of the colony of which he was substantially to this effect : " Returned Colonial Secretary, than Brian Boru had of from S. works done by Government are Australia. He probably read a newspaper good; those under contract simply disgrace n~'W and again, but his whole soul was cen ful," and yet in the face of that telegram, the tered in Queen· street, and beyond that he same thing was done Political supporters could not get. He (:1\-Ir. Pettigrew) had no must be paid. Whether it was the honorable thing to say against the other members of member for Logan, or the Under Secretary the Government; they were all respectable of the Premier, the future member for some men, but he would give them a little caution. of the Ipswich constituencies, Mr. Bashford, Those little jobs he had referred to were not he did not care a straw, but they must be done in a corner. He knew of the little paid, and why not pay them in hard cash? manreuvrings that were going on on the Why put down £2,000 for European tele quiet. The honorable the Colonial Secretary grams, which was used for feeding and fud rose up when the Premier was silent. The dling?- honorable the Premier had wisdom-wisdom was in all his acts; but as for·the Colonial The CoLONIAL SECRETARY said the horror Secretary, he knew nothing at all about the able member was travelling from the question, colony he was called upon to govern. No and was going into a subject that had been thing good could come from him, and take discussed. nothing from nothing and nothing remained. HoNORABLE MEMBERS of the Opposition : Mr. vYALSH said surely the members of lVhat is the point ·of order P the Government were going to take some The CoLONIAL SECRETARY: The honorable steps in connection with the startling accusa member is travelling from the subject, and tions that had been brought against them. we will not be allowed to reply; I have no If they could not get one of their sup objection if we are allowed to reply. porters to do so, one of themselves was bound The SPEAKER : No point of order has bePn to move the adjournment of the debate, so stated, because the discussion referred to did that they might have au opportunity of re not take place on. the motion before the plying. Never since he had b!:'en in the House, but on a motion for adjournment. At House had he heard such charges brought the same time, I cannot see what eonnection against the Premier of the colony, and he the honorable m Pm ber' s remarks have with the protested against the matter being treated motion before 1 he House ; I hope the honor -with anything like levity. He had not in allle member will confine himself to the tended to address the House at that stage of question. the debate, because he thought it was one Mr. W ALsH said, speaking to the point of affecting a question of great importance. It order made bv the honorable the Colonial was this : whether the supporters of the Secretary, he thought, after the very sPriom Government alone were to propose the rail· charges that had been made against 'the Gov way policy of the colony P He did not sup ernment, they should insist upon taking such pose if any member on that side of the House Railway Sun•ey [31 AUGUST.] to tlte Border. 599 introduced a motion of this kind, it would whom were constantly being levelled charges meet with any favor at all on the part of that were most detrimental to the charal'ter the Government. n appeared that nobody of the colony. One day they were charged with seemed to understand the position of the improperly giving contracts, and on another question so far as the Government were con with the appointment of men to the Civil Ser cerned. The honorable the Minister for vice who were not fit to be in it, but who were Lands had endeavored to elucidate it, but the appointed solely for political purposes; and honorable the Premier did not say that that being the case, he ronteuded that it was the Government were favorable even to high time the Government should take steps the expenditure of this sum of money. to repudiate those charges : otherwise the He had eudeavored to point out to the Gov members of it were not fit to Ol'cupy the posi ernment that the most grave charge he had tion they at present held. The character of the ever heard uttered in that House had been colony had been sullied bytherepeatedcharges levelled against the leading member of it, made against the Government - charges which was no less than trying to satisfy a which they had allowed to pass unrefuted, political supporter by giving him a contract and had only treated and laughed at as mere -a contract which they had been warned burlesque. The colony could not pro~per not to give. It might have been a mistake under such a state of things ; it could not on the part of the honorable member for prosper if that was the way, the painful way Stanley, but it was a most serious charge to in which those broad charges were to be met. be made against a gentleman who had been He conRidered that the individual members selected by His Excellency the Governor to of the Government should get up and chal~ be his Prime Minister. He submitted, that lenge the honmable member for Stanley to when that direct charge was made-not infer prove the truth of the statement he had entially, became he had taken an opportunity made. \Yhy had not something of that sort of asking the honorable membrr for been done ? But no, night after night, and Stanley what he meant, and of asking day after day, they found Government sup him to give the names of the indivi porters getting up and charging the Govern duals implicated with the Premier in the ment with the greatest offences that he had alleged corruption-the first duty of the ever heard charged against any Government Premier should have been to have got up and in this colony. Why the honorable Colonial denounced the statement as untrue, or his Secretary had actually been charged with colleagues should have done so. But no, the something little short of imbecility as regarded honorable Premier sat down quietly, whilst his knowledge of the proper way to conduct the honorable Colonial Secretary got up and the business of his department; and yet how said it was not fair to make such charges had that charge been received by the horror against the Government, seeing that they able gentleman? Why, that the honorable could not reply: Now, they all knew that that member making the charge knew very well was, if not a subterfuge, amistake, !or they could that the Government could not reply. If, always find a means of replying; they had a however, the members of the Government lawyer amongst them who knew very well that understood their business they would at once he cou~d always get an opportunity by moving avail themselves of one of the many forms of the adJOU Depar~men~ if this system was encouraged? spreading scandal as he went. That was His object in what he had done to-night was Evangelicalism, was it ? He recommended not to attack the Premier, but to prevent these people to read the first chapter of further mischief. He understood there were .Tames if they wanted to know what a Chris to be two bridges at Laidley, and that they tian minister ought to do. Instead of loving were to be called for by tender, but he was their neighbors as themselves, they declared sure the Government could do their work that if there was a Catholic in the House, he infinitely cheaper and better, and they could must be persecuted because he wasJesuitical. get the best timber without paying for it. Was that proposition for the expenditure of He denied that W alien was a customer of his, £73,000 a .T esuitical notion? although the Premier might have told the The SPEAKER : I have not interrupted the member for Toowoomba that he was. Would honorable member before, because consider the Premier state what he intended to do able latitude is allowed on these motions for with those two bridges at Laidley ? Were adjournment. The motion, as I understand they to be clone by the Government stroke or it, wa~ made to allow explanation and reply not ? "\Vas there to be any more manipulat with respect to specific matters, and I cannot ing? He could tell of a certain Under see that what the honorable member has been Secretary who hired the room at Ipswich, paid speaking of has anything to do with either for the advertisements, and got up the meeting the adjournment, or any of the questions at which the Premier said he was the most before the House at the present time. popular man in Queensland. If the Premier Mr. PETTIGREW said he had no doubt chose to talk to him about twopence half taken a pretty wide range, and he would only penny worth of sugar, he could answer him, further say that he had not the slightest and could tell him that he never intended objection to vote this money for the Tulla to sell his vote. He would do what his con budgera line. science told him, and when his comtituents Mr. DE SATGE strongly advised the Gov did not like it, they could send and let him ernment to receive the member for Stanley know. If there was no cash in the matter, into the Ministry without a portfolio. and brains told for anything, he was quite The PREMIER wished to explain that he prepared to fight the constituency with knew nothmg of the contract mentioned by any man in the country. If there was the member for Stanley, except that the any bribery wanted be cou!d bribe the lowest contract was accepted. He looked electors by giving them good service upon contract work as much preferable to in the House. He wanted to know whether day work. There was, for example, a bridge the Premier was to get a man, who ought ~o over the Balonne, which had cost the country be at W oogaroo, to go to M:ount Esk and £4,000 for day work, and it wou.ld probably attack him at a public meeting? Was a cost it £2,000 more, yet had the work bPen private letter of his to a Government depart clone by contract it would not have cost more ment to be published in a newspaper? And than £1,200. As for the other matter, he then he was insulted by being toLl he was in repeated again, he was not aware who the partnership with a man simply because he tenderers were until the business was settled, wrote to the Premier that he was a good and to any statements to the contrary he man for a certain purpose. He was quite must give a distinct denial. prepared to be !!.t peace with the Premier, Mr. GRoOM said he knew something of but he was not content to be told that he had road parties, and wished the Government made a fool of himself, and should be gibLeted would disband every one of them. He woulrl in the papers next morning. Perhaps that have ail work done by contract, with a good sanctimonious document, the Evangeliml road engineer to overlook the whole ; but he Stand(M·d, would have something to say about could say without the least hesitation, that in him-that document produced at the special the districts he had known, there were request and order of the Premier of Queens thomands of pounds being squandered away, land. How that paper could ever have called because of the Government stroke. That the Premier a pious man he did not know! particular stroke was very well known, and He had a letter in his pocket from a man in it made him pronounce strongly in favor of Ipswich who was ordained to teach and preach, the contract system. and that man had had the impudence to ask Mr. \VHSH said the honorable the him to put a couple of working men on the Premier stated that certain unneces~ary ex Commission of the Peace, and such a letter penditure had taken place in the W arrego was probably never seen He begged to say district, and then he instanced expenditure that he never in his life recommended a on a bridge over the Balonne. He seemed per~on who was not worth the recommenda to know nothing of the features or geography tion. And now very likely he would have a of the country. Whether the houorable gen sanctimonious llrticle in a paper written by a tleman assented to the accusation he did not person who galloped through the country know, but he knew that he (Mr. vValsh) was doing the bidding of the Premier and his right, and the houorable the Premier was Attorney-General. They used to call this wrong, as he usually was. But a little more person the stocking-weaver, and he went might be said on the subject. The houorable from house to house blatherskiting and gentleman stated that a bridge made nnder the Railway SuJ•vey to tlte Border. [31 AUGUST.] Tlte late Judge Blakeney. 603 Roads Department cost £4,000, which would this, and he believed the honorablethe Premier only have cost £1,200 under the contract was perfectly wrong when he said it had cost system; and he (Mr. Walsh) said if £4,000had £4.000 up to the present time. £3,000 had been spent when £1,200 was sufficient, the been voted, and he did not believe it had Government should take steps to see that the cost more than that up to the present time. officer of the department did not make such The honorable member was also wrong about blur.ders in the future. Somebody was to day labor and contracts; but he wished now blame. He did not catch the interruption of merely to show the falsity of the facts which the honorable the Premier. Did he under he (the Premier) constantly obtruded uoon the stand him to say he was to blame? House. No man ever signPd a coutract to carry The PREMIER: No. out this work for anything like £1,200, or Mr. IVALSH said those interruptiOns were £2,500, or any thing under £3,000, and the Gov not clear or expreRsive, and he thought they ernment of which the honorable the Speaker had better be left out. The explanation was Minister for Works, who would corrobo of the honorable the Premier that a bridge rate what he said, commenced the work by which ought only to have cost £1,200, had, day lahor for the simple reason that no con under the department, cost £4,000, reflected tractor could be got to face it. the greatest discredit on the department, and 1Hr. IvoRY said, after the speech of the the honorable the Premier should take the honorable member for Maranoa, it must be earliest opportunity of assnring the House quite obvious that the reason why the honor· that such a blunder should not occur again. able the Premier was usually so dumb as he He thought that they had a right to know was in the House was because he had the the name of the officer who had made this unfortunate farulty that when he did open blunder, by which the country had lost his mouth, as it had been graphically stated in £2,800. a newspaper, he put his foot in it. He (Mr. Mr. MclLWR.UTH thought they had wan Ivory) should decidedly recommend him to dered very far'' way from the subject in discus do in future what he did at the commence sing the merits of day lallor and the contract ment of the session, ltnd that was, to employ system, and the honorable the Premier was one of his colleagues to do the speaking for responsible for that by bringing in facts, the him. He thought a more melancholy expo extraordinary falsity of which made him ri;e sure of incompetency and want of know in order to correct the honorable member, ledge had seldom heen made in that House who did not understand the difference be than had been recently made by the honor tween the Balonne and the \Varrego districts, able the Premier. and they could not expect him to be yery The question for the adJournment of the particular in the facts he stated. His state debate was then put and negatived. ment was, that a contract was entered into The CoLONU.L TRE.A.SURER said the Gov by a contractor to construct a bridge over the ernment had expressed their intention of Balonne for £1,200, but that was not carried accepting the motion, provided it was charged out, and the same bridge had cost the Gov to the Supplementary Loan Estimates, and ernment £4,000. Both of those statements without wishing in any way to obstruct it, he were incorrect, and he challenged the hon should moYe that the words "next 8upple orable member to look at the records of his mentary Estimates" be omitted, with the own office, where he would find that a sum of view of inserting " Supplementary Loan £1,500 was on the Estimates for a bridge Estimates." He thought that the most con over lhe Balonne. Tenders were called for venient course to adopt, because the com in the newspapers of the colony, and at last mittee would then consider it in t 'at f •rm. one man, who had never seen the plans or Mr. 'l.'HOMPSON suggested that the p:roper specifications, sent in an offer to do the work time to make the alteration was in corn· for £1,200, but when the plans and specifica mittee. tions were placed before him, he refused to The CoLONIAL TREASURER said if it were sign the contract, and the thing lapsed. more convenienL to make the amendment in After further advertisements in the colonial committee, he had no desire to press it now; newspapers for fur~.her tenders, one at last but the mover of the l.'esolution would under was sent in for £2,500. This gave rise to a stand that it would be made in comm1ttee. difficulty, which could not be got over, Lecause Motion put and passed. only £1,500 was on the Estimates; hut, by the efforts of the honorable member for Balonne last year, a sum of £3,000 was put on THE LATE JUDGE BLAKENEY. the Estimates, and then tenders were tried J\lfr. BELL moved- to be got according to the plans and specifica That the House will, at its next sitting, resolve tions marle by the Government, but no one itself into a Commit.tee of the vVhole, to considet· C)uld be found to tender for that price; and if of an AdJress to the Governor, praying that his the bridge was to be built at all, the only Excellency ·will be pleased to caused to be placed alternative the Government had-and what was upon the next Supplementary Estimates the sum usually done in such cases-was to perform of £583, as compensation to the widow of the the work by day labor. There was no piece late Judge Blakeney, for money deducted from of work tlat had been advertised more than the salary of her late husband. 604 Tlte late Judge Blalceney. [ASSEMBLY.] The late Judge Blakeney. He said he was happy to state this motion quently carried out his position as a judge of would require very few words of explanation the colony, he believed, with credit to himself from him, and he thought it was one which and benefit to his country. He did not would commend itself to honorable members dace any stress upon the fact of his doing when it was placed before them. 1 t would his duty, because he hoped no man would be recollected that Judge Blakeney during continue in the public service who did not do the floods of 1874 while on circuit-- his duty. The point he wished to make was, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: 1872 or 1873, that there had been two sums deducted from not 1874. his salary, which, in his opinion, entitled his Mr. BELL said Judge Blakeney took ill in widow to the amounts he had mentioned- the 1874, and he thought it was just before that £250 and £333-according to the promise of the floods took place. However, the exact the Government. At that time, he had a date was not of importance at this moment. further promise from the Government, that It might or might not he as the honorable after a certain period, he should have no the Attorney-General stated, but, at any rate, further pay ; but as it did not reach that it was in floods which were of an astounding point, he hoped honorable members would character, and which obliged Judge Blakeney agree with hm1 that he was not asking more to live in a bark hut or gunyah without food than was fair and reasonable. V\"ith these for three or four days, living, he was told, observations he should movE' the motion. upon little more than the milk of a goat for that The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was sorr.v time, and the effect of that was, he (Mr. Bell) the honorabe member for Dalby had not believed, very much to shatter his constitution. possessed himself more accurately of the He was then very much advanced in years, facts of the case he had brought before the but still a hale and very active man in his House. He thought it would be better, capacity as a District Court Judge. In June, before he said anything more, to inform the 1874, he applied for, and was allowed leave, House of the actual facts of the case upon and his salary was paid until at a later date, which alone any claim .Mrs. Blakeney might when it was intimated that he could not longer have for consideration must be based. He continue on full salary, but that one-half of it had taken the trouble to-day to look into all should be deducted in order that some one the records in his office relating to the sub should receive payment for the duty which Ject, and the result of the different proceed was performed for him. Near the end of 1875, ings taken by the Government was this : he was put npon full salary, and was allowed Sometime before the latter half of 1874·, leave of absence until the end of that year. Judge Dlakeney had become ill, from some Half his salary was deducted during the pre cause which he did uot know. In July, 187 4, vious ~ix months, which amounted to £250. he was excused by Executive minute from Now, the sum he (Mr. Bell) had asked for was attending at the sittings of his court then £583, which was divided into two sums, one the next ensuing, upon full pay. He was also £250 he had named, which was deducted from excused afterwards from attending all the his salary, in his (Mr. Bell's) opinion, and be other sittings in that year; so that. in point hoped in the opinion of that House, unreason of fact, he had leave of absence for the second ably and unfairly, inasmuch as he was entitlPd half of 1874. In December, 187 4, it was at that time to his full pay. Subseq11ently, resolved by Executive minute that he should while he was allowed leave upon full be further excused from attendance at his salary, by the consent of the Government, a court for the first half of 1875, upon the con motion was brought into the House in August dition that one-half of his salary should be 1875, when he had four months to run of his retained to pay the expenses of a Deputy full salary, giving him a retiring allow Judge. That deduction was made. He ance in the full sum of £1,000, which sum believed a little more than half was de was carried on the motion of the Govern ducted, about £270, but £30 was afteJW.tJds ment of the dav. It miuht be said that that paid, so that the amount was as nearly as sum of £l,OOO"ought to be full compensation possible £250. That was continued during for the Judge and his successors, inasmuch the first half of 1875. Then, Mr. Blakeney, as it was the full sum granted by that House; finding his health would not allow him to but it must be recollected that when that resume duty for the remainder of the year, sum was granted in August 1875, he was applied for further leave. On the 31st of then entitled to four months' full pay upon JVlay, 1875, an Executive minute was passed, the consent of the Government. He (VJr. excusing him from further attendance for the Dell) had put together the two sums-the remainder of the year, allowing him full £250 he had mentioned, and the subsequent pay, but with the express condition that sum of £333 for the period during which he no further leave should be granted. He had was entitled to the whole of his pay. He six months' leave of absence on full pRy, six thought he need not, in the presence of an months on half pay, and a further six Assembly who were acquainted with the late months' on full pay on the condition that no lamented gentleman, attempt to dilate upon furt.her leave should be granted. Then, a sug. him as a member of this community, and one gestion was made on behalf of .Mr. Blakeney, who for a long time had borne his part in that instead of waiting until the end of the the politics of this colony, and who subse- year then expiring, as he would probably The lute Judge Blakeney. [31 AUGUST.] Parliumenta1'Y Buildings. 605 be unable to resume his duties, and be the sum on the Estimates unless he did re thrown out of employment without remu sign, and it had no appearance of a bargain. neration, he (the Attorney-General) should It was only when he had actually resigned ask the House for a 1 etiring allowance and was no longer a judge of the court that of £1,000 during the then session. He he (the Attorney-General) was induced to (the Attorney-General) said he cou1d make propose the £1.000. Under those circum no bargain, nor could he ask the House to stances the Government could not agree to vote a thousand pounds on the condition of give the £333, and he thought the honorable his resigning, but it he did resign he (the memb~r would see that he was somewhat Attorney-General) would, if his colleagues mistaken in the facts. He did not wish to approved of it, propose a vote for that amount. say anything more on the subject. He His colleagues did approve, illr. Blakeney did thought he had said sufficient to show that resign, absolutely and unconditionally, his although the request with regard to the £250 resignation taking effect on the 30ih of was a fair one, that for the £333 stood in no Augmt, and after his resignation was ac way on the same footing. .As to whether cepted by the Governor in Council, he (the it would be granted, of course the House Attorney-General) proposed that £1.000 could grant what it pleased; but it should should be granted, and it was carried. Those not be granted on the assumption that the were the facts, which might be recapitulated £333 was a deduction from Ralary. If it as follows :-Half-a-year on full pay, another were granted, it should be as a retiring allow half-year on half pay, and then a third half ance in addition to the sum granted last year. on Jull pay, during which he resigned, and Mr. THOMPSON said this motion only asked received a retiring allowance of £1,000. He to go into committee, and he thought the therefore thought the late Government could Government might allow that, and the amend not be blamed for anything like i!Jiberal ment could be made in committee. treatment of an old and deserving public ser Mr. GRooM thought the honorable the vant. As he preferred to take the retiring Attorney-General should let the House know allowance from the House to the chance of what the Government intended to do with waiting to the end of the year and getting this vote. Was it their intention to support it, nothing more, and as it turned out that he or to request their supporters to do so, or in did resign before he got the benefit of the what way were they to regard it? He was last half-year on full pay, he (the Attorney sure the House would allow the honorable General), on behalf of the Government, should the Attorney General to explain exactly in offer no objection to the motion so far as it what position it stood in relation to the Gov related to recouping the amount deducted ernment, whether they intended to oppose it from his salary, that was the £250. But or accept it; then honorable members would with regard to the remaining portion, it know what to do. seemed to him to stand on an entirely diffe The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, with the rent footing. In fact, in that respect the permission of the House, he would explain resolution was not according to the facts. £250 that the Government proposed not to offer was the amount deducted from his salary, any objection to the vote so far as the £250 but the £330 was not deducted in any sense was concerned, but they objected to any of the term. The whole of his salary, with the further amount being granted. If the honor exception of the £250, was paid before the able member for Dalby would agree to the date of his resignation, and he preferred re- £250, there would be an end to the matter. signing and gettmg the retiring allowance to JYir. BELL said he only put forward the taking leave of absence. It was painful for case as he had been instructed. He had no him (the Attorney-General) to have to refuse doubt the honorable the Attorney-General the amount, but he felt bound to say was not altogether incorrect in his facts. He that he had no elaim whatever to it. The should be sorry to say he was, but as he (Mr. £250 he certainly did not get the benefit of, Bell) was not in the House when the matter and so far as that was concerned, the was brought before it on the previous occa motion was a reasonable request, and he sion, he did not know; and it the House had no objection to granting it; but with would go into committee and the details of it respect to the other, he could only say, were there discussed, if he could not find that if there had been any idea that he sufficient proof for his position, he should be (Judge Blakeney) was going to get full very happy to accept the alternative of £250. pay till the end of the last year, the £1,000 The motion was then put and passed. would not have been proposed, and he (J.udge Blakeney) was told so distinctly; he was told that it would only be given in the event of P ARLIAMENT.A.RY BUILDINGS. his resigning. And he (the Attorney Mr. W .A.LSH, in rising to move the motion General) remembered that when the matter standing in his name, said the reason why he was brought before the committee last year, had not allowed it to go as ... formal" was, the honorable member for Port Curtis asked because he thought it his duty to explain him if it were a bargain to get rid of Judge that the sum of money which the Govern Blakenev, and he (the Attorney-General) ment had upon the Estimates to be expended stated that he had distinctly refused to place on the Parliamentary Buildings was not 606 Parliamenlai'!J Buildings. [ASSEMBLY.] Bridge across the Burdekin River. intended for the purposes of this motion. a disgrace, and he had frequently noticed it 'Ihe Government had pla11ed a sum of money wl!en he was in another capacity. on the Estimates for the romplehon ·of the Mr. W ALSH said he did not wish to detain buildings, but no provision had been made the House for one minute, except to mention, on the Estimates for keeping the present out of justice to the President and the for buildings in a state of repair ; and it was be mer Speaker, that they had systematically cause the President of the Council and the done their duty in calling the attention of the late Speaker had, in vain, called the attention Government to the state of decay in which of the (}overnmf'nt to the subject, or rather, the buildings were in. the attention of the various Ministers for Question put and passed. Works, that he thought it necessary to move that the representations he had himself BRIDGE ACROSS THE BURDEKIN RIVEH. made when Speaker, should become records Mr. MACROSSAN said that in rising to of the House in a printed form. He was move the motic'n standing in his name, he sorry to say that every honorable member, felt extremely sorry that he was not able to every citizen, and even every visitor to the avail himself of the advocacy of the honor· colony, remarked upon the bad state in which able the Speaker, for he was quite certain that the walls of the buildings were left, and he there was no other honorable member of that contended that the Government, for the House who so well understood the necessity credit of the Parliament, should take immedi there was for the proposed brid!!e. There was ate steps for arresting the decay that was a great deal of traflic between Townsville and now going on, and for repairinl! the dilapida Charters Towers, and when the :River Burde tion that was so apparent both inside and kin had risen, learns that were on the road outside of the building. The windows allll with supplies for Charters Towers were c0m the window blinds were the most conspicu pelled to camp for weeks on the Townsville ous objects of the building at the present bank of the river, owing to the incomplete time, in consequence of the tattered state of mode of taking goods across. The river had the latter; and he took that opportunity of been nearly impassable for six weeks lately, saying, that on the mere gr<;mnd of econcm;r and goods had to be taken across in a crazy alone, authority should be given to the Presi old boat, at the risk of the owners of the dent and the Speaker to expend a certain goods, and then teams had to be hired on the ~urn of money in repairing the building where other side to take them up to Charters necessary. He was aware that there was Towers, entailing an additional expense of some jealousy in handing over the authority £3 10s. a ton ; that, he thought, must be ad to those gentlemen, but from the experience mit:ed to be a terrible tax upon the resources he had had, both as Minister for Works and of the people there. Although somP honorable as Speaker of that House, it was a mistake membersmightthink that the sum he hac asked in an economic point of view not to do so. for was very large, he had asked lor that There was an old saying that " a stitch in amount, believing in his own mind that it was time saves nine," and he had seen many far more than would be required. He m;ght instances of the truth of that axiom in regard have aslrPd, as was often done, for a smaller to the Parliamentary Buildings; but in vain sum, knowing at the time that it would not had he appealed to the Works Otlice, and in be sutiicient; but he considered it was the vain had his predecessor appealed to him w hPn :tpore honest course to ask for the larger sum he was Minister for vVorks. He had since at once. No doubt the river was very wide seen the necessity of the Government making -it _was, he l:elieved, the Vl"idel't in Queens some provision for the immediate repair of laud-but the material for building a bridge the buildings, and of placing at the disposal was to be obtained in the district, as there of the President and the Speaker a ~um of was plenty of granite in the immediate neigh money for keeping the buildings in a state of borhood, and, moreoYer, there would be 1,0 repair. He would, before sitting down, take occasion to sink for a foundation, as the rock the opportunity of saying that he thought cropped out on the surface at Hamilton's the honorable Colonial Secretary should, in Crossing, or a crossing below it-he could the case of papers relating to the custody of not say which. He had refrained from indi the Parliamentary Buildings, have made it his cating what particular crossing-place should duty to move that they be printed, so that they be selected-whether Hamilton's or not-as might be put into the hands ef every honor it was, as yet, undecided where the propostd able member, instead of leaving a private railway would cr0ss the river. In connec member to move in the matter. tion with that work, he might say that he The PREMIER said he had no objection what should not have asked for the construction of ever to having the papers printed ; at the same a bridge, such as the bndge he had in view time, with regard to the remarks of the hon would be, had it not been that the Govern orable member for "\Varrego, he must say that ment intended to make a railway from he ilad often been struck with the dilapidated Townsville to Charters To\"ers, and that the state of the buildings, and he could assure Lridge should be sufficient to carry heavy the honorable member t!Jat now the matter railway traffic. By that means, the ore had been brought under his notice, he would sum expended in making the bridge v.-oulcl attend to it. The state of the bUildings v.-as be so much off the cost of constructing the Bridge ucross the [31 At:Gt:ST.] Burdel.:in Ri'VC'I'. 607 railway. He thought he need not say much give what was a fair expenditure for the more on the subject, except to inform the North. He begged to move- House of the amount of traffic that existed That this House will, at its next sitting, re· at the crossing-place he had mentioned. solve itself into a Committee of the Whole, t,o With the object of ascertaining that infor consider of an Address to the Governor, praying mation, he had sent a telegram to the secre that His Excellency will be pleased to cause to be tary of the Charters Towers Road Com placed upon the Supplementary Loan Estimates, miltee, and the answer he had received was, the sum of £75,000 for the purpose of construct that the estimated goods traf!:ic last year ing a bridge across the Burdekin River, between amounted to 3,000 tons across one way, and Townsvilie and Charters 'l'owers. that it was estimatt>d to be still more for the The PREMIER said that the House certainly present year. He had asked for the pas~en seemed to be in a very liberal mood that even ger traffic also, but the answer he rece1ved ing, but however liberally disposed honorable was that Cobb and Company's agent refused members might be, he trusted that they would to give any information on that point. Hon not agree to the motion which had just been orable members could easily understand that, read The honorable member had asked for because there was no line run by that enter £75,000, but he had not attempted to show prising coaching firm, so profitable to them as that that amount w,_ uld be sufficit>nt to pay the line between Townsville and Charters for a bridge of the character he wanted. He, Towers; the honorable the Premier could how, ver, could tell the honorable member bear him out in thr.t statement. In fact, what it woul(l be ; he had a return showing intending passengers had to book their plaet>s what the railway bridges would cost across sevt>ral days beforehand, and the coachPs Reed's River and the Burdekin, and they were always full up and down; so that he were put down at £154,000, but if they presum-'d the agent refused to give the infor were to be constructed for ordinary traffic also, mation in order to protect the interests of they would cost at least £250,000. When, the firm ; there was also a large traffic on however, he informed honorable members that horseback-three times as much as by coach. the Burdekin was four times the width of the He did not think that the people of the Brisbane River, they co.1ld form some con district would have any objection to pay a ception of the cost of a bridge across it. The toll if a bridge was erected; and when it was people of Brisbane had had to wait for a long considered that £3 10s. had to be paid in time for a bridge, and, also, the people of flood time, in addition to the ordinary cost of Maryborough; and, 1herefJre, he thought the carriage, he thought that a reasonable toll residents of Charters Towers might be con would be looked upon as a boon. At the tent to wait for some time longer yet. He season when the river was usually flooded, might say that he had been in communica the cost of carriage from Townsville to tion with the Road Engineer for the Charters Charters Towers was from £10 to £15 Towers district, for the purpose of getting per ton, and when £3 10s. was added to every information in connection with the sub that, it was a heavy burden upon the ject before the House, and he would promise people at Charters To;.ers. If it was not the honorable mPmber that if he withdrew the intention of the Government to make a his motion, there should be a punt for carry railway, he should have asked for an under ing goods and passengers placed at the spot current bridge; but viewing their intention, he mentioned as sonn as possible. He could thought that it would only be throwing away assure the honorable member that the sum money to spend £8,000orso upon an under-cur mentioned by him would be quite inadequate; rent bridge. With regard to therevenuederived and as to there being- a good stone bottom, from the district, he thoug-ht the honorable his experience had told him that the expense the Treasurer would bear him out when he of boring it would be greater than if there said that it was much larger than that returned was a shingle bottom; that, in itself, was an from any other similar district south of it. additional reason why the money should not The return of gold had been 70,000 ounces be voted. He granted that the traffic between a-year, and he thought he might say that the Townsville and Charters Towers was very Customs duty at Townsville had averaged be great, and there was no doubt that Towns tween £40,000 and £50,000 a-year. Taking ville was one of the most flourishing little into consideration the fact that a bridge had towns in the e·olony; but still, taking into been made across the Rinr Mary, which consideration that £75,000 would be only a would certainly not carry the railway the flea-bite compared with what the real cost of Government intended to n1ake between Mary the bridge proposed by the honorable mem borough and Gympie, that a bridge would ber would be, he thought that his promise to soon be built across the Fitzroy, and also that have a proper punt at Hamilton's Crossing he believed it was the intention of the Gov should be sufficient, and that the honorable ernment to introduce a Bill to make the member should withdraw his motion. Brisbane bridge free, which would involve Mr. J oHNSTON thought that the honorable a large expenditure, he thought the Govern member for the Kennedy should have supplied ment would hardly ask northern members to the House with some more information before consent to those things if they refused to he asked them to vote such a large sum of 608 Bridge across tlte [ASSEMBLY.] Burdekin Rive1'. money-for instance, the breadth and depth postpone the matter until the railway to ot the rher, the steepness of the banks, and Charters Towers was discussed. the strength of the current. The House Mr. PETTIGREW said if the Ministry would would then have been able to judge whether a deal with every question in this open manner punt at Hamilton's crossing-place would not it would be much better for the business of be sufficient for a few years, or until such the country, and he must congratulate both time as a railway bridge was built. the Premier and Colonial 'l'reasurer upon Mr. AMrruRsr said he would remind the meeLing this vote with a direct negative. honorable member for Bulimba that the The reasons given by the Treasurer were of present was only a preliminary stage of the themselves sufficient, without anything proceedings, as the resolution, if passed, would else, to warrant the House in not granting have to go into committee, where it would be this sum of money, especially when it more fully discusser!. He hoped the Gov was considered how very easy it was ernment would allow it to go into committee. to ask for a certain su:n of money, such as Mr. GRoOM said he also hoped the Gov that for the dry dock in South Brisbane, ernment would allow the matter to go into which would cost £150,000 at least. The committee, especially as there were some honorable member for Kennedy, he thought, northern members absent that evening. He ought to accept the assurance of the Govern had sufficient confidence in the honorable ment, because the railway to Charters member for the Kennedy to believe that he Towers was not a bogus affair, like some of would not go to that House for a sum of money the others. If there was to be a bridge over if he could not show very good reasons for the Burdekin, let it be one from which the asking for it. He was prepared to vote for country would get the most good, and one the motion in its present form. that would carry a railway. If they were to The CoLONIAL TREASURER said he thought build railways they must get a revenue from that when they discussed a motion like that them. The honorable member for Kennedy before them, and honorable members asked had gained all he could, and should now with the Government to allow it to go into com draw his motion. It seemed from what the mittee, they should do so with some practical honorable member had said, that this Govern result in view, namely, whether it would ad ment was pledged to take over the Brisbane vance the object of the motion in any way. bridge: he should like to know about this. In the present instance he did not think it It was all very well to propose this, but as would, but that if the motion once got in to the bridge was built at great expense, and committee it would never come out of it. the land owners on the other side had bene He had always strongly deprecated the system fitecl by it, the Government surely were of committing the country to an expenditure not to be involved in a quarter of a million of without having sufficiently reliable data and money in paying for it. The debate had information before them. The House voted showed a curious state of things: the Premier the money, the department proceeded on that spoke in one way and the Minister for Lands expenditure, which was found to fall short of in anoGher. He (Mr. Pettigrew), if he were what was actually required, and the end was, Premier, would make his Minister for Lands that the country was committed to an ex speak as he told him. penditure it had never intended. That was Mr. W ALSH complimented the Colonial the history of many works, and he was con Treasurer upon his return to reason. The vinced that if they were committed to honorable gentleman opposed the honorable the work named in the motion before them, member for Kennedy's motion on the ground there would be precisely the same result. that he was asking for an expenditure before If the honorable member were in earnest he there was an estimate. It was about time might have waited until the vote on the Loan that there was a sine qua non for all future Estimate for the construction of railways came expenditure. on for discussion, and then he might very lYir. GnooM: Hear, hear. well have advocated the construction of a Mr. W ALSII said he was glad to hear the bridge over the Burdekin that would have an honorable member for Toowoomba's ap swered the purposes of the railway as well. proval, and if he could but get a few more That would have been the most economical members on the other side to insist upon this scheme, and the most judicious for his con excellent principle, it would be a good thing stituency. But the honorable gentleman indeed for the colony. He, when in office, asked the Government to commit the country had lectures enough for rushing into expen to a bridge over the Burdekin on its ow-n diture before estimates were made, and until merits, and apart from railway construction. a certain committee for which he had moved This was a serious thing, and the honorable brought out its report, he probably would gentleman would gain nothing by going into never hear the last of it, although he felt he committee, for the Government would have should hear the last of it then. He held the to oppose him at every stage, until the consi Estimates of the Government in his hand, deration of the railway vote was before the and in them there were five or six: railways House. He had better, therefore, take the proposed, involving preliminary expenses to advice that had been offered to him, and the tune of £650,000, for which there were Bridge across the [31 AUGUST.] 609 no estimates whatever. What a farce it when it was impossible to get anything from was, therefore, to find a Government intro the New South Wales Government further ducing a measure setting forth that they were north than Moreton Bay, and there was a prepared to commit the country to an expen great deal of dissatisfaction in this part of diture of millions without estimates, and the colony in consequence. HP, there then chiding the honorable member for the fore wished the people of Charters Towers Kennedy for asking the House to consent to and the North generally to get fair a motion for the comparatively paltry sum of play, and have their rase at least fairly re £70,000, simply because he had no estimates presented to the House. The public funds to guide him. Wh<>re was the consistency? ought to be fairly distributed throughout the When the Government wished to throw out colony ; but he could not understand why a motion they could preach about the car the honorable member for Stanley mixed up dinal virtues, but why did they not practise the Brisbane bridge with that across the those virtues themselves? It was disgraceful Burdekin: it was altogether out of place to to find that the Government themselves were make such a reference, and it was evidently the exemplars of an enormous sin (for such done merely to have something to talk about. he admitted it was) to answer their own pur The honorable member for Kennedy had been poses, while they came down severely lec :tJrobably well advised that his motion was turing the honorable member for Kennedy premature, and he would, under the circum on precisely the same grounds. It was stances, recommend him to withdraw it. political inconsistency which, in these days, amounted to positive crime. The Mr. BuzaCOTT hoped the Premier would Premier, whenever he heard arguments which offer no opposition to the motion going into struck deep into the policy of the country, committee, and he felt certain that if the appeared utterly unconcerned. The Premier honorable member wished to conciliate the said he knew for a certainty this bridge would people at Charters Towers, he would allow it cost at least £250,000, and yet it was to be to go through. The people in ihe North would made upon a line of road for which they were think far more of it than of a proposal to in the Estimates asked to vote a sum of money spend £160,000 on the railway, because they for making a railway. The Government did not believe there was any serious attempt were actually asking the House to commit on the part of the Government tQ undertake itself to the making of a railway between it there. If, however, this amount were Townsville and Charters Towers for some voted for the bridge, they would think the thing like £160,000, and the Premier got up Government were really in earnest. From and coolly told the honorable member for information he had received, he could sav Kennedy that he knew the two bridges would that the bridge was really required, and that cost a quarter of a million of money. These it would be of very great advantage to the were two bridges which must be made for people of Charters Towers and the whole railway purposes, and yet the honorable mem interior behind it who suffered excessive bttr hood winked the House for the purpose, he inconvenience from want of communication believed, of gaining the vote of a single mem during their finest season, and he was con ber, or coercing the constituency of that mem vinced that no bridge was more rPquired in ber, and put down this railway from Towns all Queensland than that referred to in the ville to Charters Towers. It was time that motion. He hoped, therefore, the Premier honorable members on the other side of the would allow the motion to go into com House saw the fallacy of supporting a Gov mittee. ernment that would make propositions one The CoLoNIAL SECRETARY said the horror day of such a deceptive nature, and then able gentleman who had just s~.t down was would meet the cogent reasoning of the hon scarcely fair in suggesting that the Govern orable member for Kennedy by the paltry ment were not sincere in bringing this rail argument that he had no estimates. As to way forward. The Government had shown the two bridges, he did not believe there their sincerity by bringing forward a com were any two rivers in the colony that would prehensive railway scheme. The honorable cost a quarter of a million of money to span, member for W arrego accused the Govern· and he did not believe the Premier knew for ment of inconsistency in putting a small a certainty anything about it. amount on the Loan Estimates, when the The PREMIER said he would explain that cost of the two bridges referred to would be con the engineer's report showed that the bridging siderably more. If the honorable member, of the two rivers for railway purposes, solely, however, had looked at the footnote he would would be :£154,000 ; and if that were so, for have seen that the sums stated were simply traffic, and other purposes, it would, as he advances towards construction, and the horror said, probably cost a quarter of a million of able gentleman might have known that the money. plana would have to be laid on the table Mr. E'DMONDSTONE said he was going to before the work could be commenced. With support the motion, notwithstanding he did the prospect of a railway line over the same not pledge himself to vote for the bridge. ground, the honorable member for Kennedy, He wished the matter, however, to be con he thought, would be wise in withdrawing his sidered in committee. He could remember motion. 2x 610 Bridge across the Burdelcin. [ASSEMBLY.] Gowrie Railway Accident. Mr. MAcnossAN, in reply, said the economical no doubt, in spending in the Premier had diRtinctly proved by his actions North the money they obtained from the in the House, that be w.as net the head of a people in that portion of the colony; but they Government who looked upon the expendi were not so with regard to the people of the ture of money in the northern part of the South. Perhaps the honorable member colony as being for the benefit of thr whole expected the people of Charters Towers and of the· colony. In the early part of tho after Townsville to build this bridge by private noon he moved the adjournment of the House enterprise, as he said the people of the to call atteution to the conduct of the Gov Hodgkinwn ought to make their own road ernment in relation t0 Trinity Bay and a new by private enterprise. He (Mr. Macrossan) road to the Hodgkin son. The inquiry asked was astonished that he had not been met by for would not, he believed, have cost more that argument. lt seemed to him to be a than £100 at the outside, and might have foregone conclusion in the minds of the been done for less ; but although the expen Ministry that this sum, whether sufficient or diture of that money would be ultimately of not, should not pass. He had been told benefit to the extent of thousands of pounds that it would never go into committee, and to the colony, the reply to his question was, that if it did, it would remain there and nev~r that this was an economical Government. It come out; but it might come out in a very was no doubt economical whenever it was a different way from what thathonorablemember question of spending money in the North, . expected. It might come out with an order and however 11leased the honorable member from that House to compel the Government for Stanley might b0, it reflected very little to make a survey, and produce plans and credit u pan either the Premier or Colonial estimates sufficient for the information of the Treasurer to meet the motion with a House with regard to the cost of this bridge, direct negative. Did they expect him to and he thought that would satisfy the people furnish plans and estimates P It was the o: Charters Towers. If they found that this duty of the Government to allow this motion bridge would cost such an enormous sum as to go into committee, and it was their duty the honorable gentleman had stated, and the to furnish plans and estimates, and show that position of the colony was not s11ch as to war the brlclgc would cost a quarter of a million rant that expenditure, he was sure the people of money He did not believe a word of it, and of Charters 'rowers and Towusville were not so he would ask the Premier what engineer had unreasonable as to expect the Government to given him a report to justify the statement. spend so much money. But it had yet to be What engineer had been to the Burdekin and proved what the bridge would cost, arcd the furnished plans and estimates P The honor Government had no right to ask him to pro able gentleman had got his report from a duce plans and estimates. Let them do so, common surveyor, and it was not right for him and prove to him that the position he had to mislead the House as he had done. He taken up was a wrong position. called upon the Premier now to produce the The motion was then put, and the House name of the engineer who said it would cost di>ided with the following result:- a quarter of a million of money to bridge t,-o rivers. He (Mr. l'.Iacrossan) only wanted to AYES, 16. bridge one river; as to the other, he did not Messrs. Walsh, Thompson, Edmondstone, Bell, know where it was intended to cross it, but he Amhurst, Kingsford, Groom, Graham, Buzacott, did lmmY it would cost more money to bridge De Satge, Beattie, Low, W. Scott, Tyre!, Mac the l{ced than the }3urdekin River, for it was ' o,,san, and 1vory. a lagoon sometimes, and, in fact, a perfect sea. NOES, 10. J3ut, when he asked for this bridge, it would :Messrs. G. Thorn, Dickson, Griflith, Stewart, be simply a ];ridge. The river was not so Douglas, J. Thorn, Fryar, Morgan, Pettigrew, and very wide ; it "·as narrower there than in any Johnston. portioJJ. abo-ve or below; it was confined between high banks, with good approaches; GOWRIE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. · and he did not think honorable members on Mr. GnooM said the Government were the other side of the House were at all justi quite prepared to allow the motion standing fied in asking him to produce plans and in his name to go into committee, without estimates. \Yhcn honorable members on the pledging themselves to the amounts specified :Ministerial side of the House brought forward in it, and under those circumstances, at that motions, the Government did not ask them late hour of the evening it would be us!'less to for plans and estimates. vYhat guarantee discuss the merits of the question. He there was there tlmt the thousand pounds for the fore intended simply to move the motion, and survey of a line of railway to the Logan, when the House went into committee, to take brought forward that afternoon, would be the opinion of the committee on it. He sufficient for that purpose P Was there any moved- guarantee that £5,000 would be sufficient P That this House will, at its next sitting, re And yet the money was voted ; but when he solve itsel:l' into a Committee of the Whole, to came forward to ask for anything for a consider the following resolutions :- . northern constituency, the Government were 1. That as the late John Gerhardt lost his life then an economical Government. They were through an accident on the Dalby Railway, and Gowrie Railway Accident. [31 AUGUST.] Gowrie Railway Accident. 611 while in the execution of his duty, provision should be prepared with some definite plan should be made for his family to the following for relieving those men. He thought this extent :-To his widow, a grant of the sum of two would be the right principle to adopt: to hundred pounds (£200), and to each of his six establish an insurance fund, and deduct from children, a grant of (£50) fifty pounds, in all £500. the wages of the men eve~y month so much 2. That as Robert Dellar,on the occasion of the money, and if an accident happened to any late accident on the Dalby Railway, displayed one of them, certain provision should be heroic courage in walking a distance of three miles, while suffering intense >1gony from wounds given. Let it lJe deducted from their wages and sc>1lds, to report the accident >1nd obhin assis and retained in the hands of tl1e Government, tance, and as, moreover, he is found to be per and that would prevent these cases being manently injured, compensation should be awarded brought before the House every session. He to him, to the extent of £200. sympathised with the honorable member for 3. Th>1t an Address be presented to the Gov 'l'oowoomba in this case, because he had to ernor, praying that His Excellency will be pleased trust to the bene>·olence of the House and to cause provision to be made on the Supplemen the humor of honorable members. It was tary Estimates of 1876, for giving effect to the unfortunate for the widow and orphans that foregoing resolutions. they should have to depend on the benevolent Mr. PETTIGREW said he understood the humor of the House, and the whole matter Government were prepared to allow this to amounted to this : that one night the House go into committee, and before the motion might vote money in such cases, and the next was put he should like some expression of night refuse it. Last session, any amount of opinion from the House upon the question of money was voted for widows and judges, and railway acr·idents. He knew that certain it appeared that they were to have another men -iho had met with accidents were not so judge's wido':V bringing forward a claim this favorably situated as to get a member of session ; and he hoped whoever had got that Parliament to take up their case and bring paper in hand would burn it, because it would it before the House. ·rhe honorabie member only cause a vast amount of annoyance, for 'l'oowoomba, every session since he and if a case, such as this of the honorable (Mr. Pettigrew) had been in the House, member for Too"woomba, or silk worms, or had managed to rake up a great many anything of that kind came on when the accidents. but members from his (Mr. House was in had humor, he was certain Pettigrew's) own distri<.:t had never been justice would not be clone. The great object able to do very much in the way of providing was to establish some system which would for those parties who had been unfortunate make thorough provision for cases of this enough to lose their limbs, or were othenrise kind, and the simplest and easiest way was injured. He thought the GovernmPnt should to vote a lump sum as a sinking fund, or to adopt some general plan for providinf; means start an accident fund, and let every man for men engaged on the railway wlto hap according to the shillings a-day he received, pened to meet with accident~. For example, be required to contribute to that fund, so that one man whom he recollectPd seeing one day, every man would be provided for in the event while engaged in cutting out some soil on the of an accident. That was a ~uggestion for the -Brisbane and Ipswich line, met with an honorable the Colonial 'reasurer's considera Rccident by which b'Jth his legs were broken, tion ; and when this matter c~me before the and probably the hnnornhle member for House again, if they were going to pass the Hremer wm1ld remember that there was the motion, he believed he should vote for it ; but greatest trouble imaginable to get him any he gave no opinion, and would not pledge him thing to do. Another poor unfortunate man self to anything in that way. He thought, lost his leg, and was stumping about Ipswich whenever an accident occurred, whatever as a pauper, depending on the men working provision was necessary should come out of on the railway, and there was no provision such a fund as he had suggested, because made for him, although he would make a railway officers were generally well paid; very good gatekeeper, or s::nnething of the they were in }Jermanont work, and it would sort. He thought some definite arrangement not be charity. He thought the sooner they should be made by the Government to pro taught people to be independent of charity, vide for such cases. At present, it depended the better. He had no intention of opposing entirely upon those successful members who the motion, and he did not intend to say any were particularly good at working up cases, thing more on the subject. He merely as the honorable member for Toowoomba wished to offer the suggestion he had made invariably did. He put the rr:atter in the to the honorable the Treasurer, and he nicest language possible, and invariably thought the sooner it was done the better; drew down the sympathy of the House on and if it were done in the Railway Depart behalf of his friend, and he (Mr. Petti ment, he did not see why it should not be grew) had invariably voted with him on those done in every department in the public matters. He was rather surprised at the service. Ministry consenting to go into committee on The PREMIER said no doubt the suggestion the question, but if they had consented, he of the honorable member for Stanley, that an should not oppose it ; but he thought, when accident fund should be established, was a they went into committee, the Government correct one, and he had no doubt that before 612 Gowrie Railway Accirlent. [ASSEMBLY.] Gow~·ie Railway Accirlent. long that would be done. He was aware of thought that honorable member had estab several cases of accident in connection with lished what might be considered an equitable the railways of the colony. One was a case claim on behalf of his client. But he denied of death, two others were cases of broken that when people entered the public service limbs, and in another, limbs were lost, and in and happened to meet with an accident, even some of those cases provision had been made a fatal accident, their families had the slightest and in others none had been made. He thought claim on the State in the absence of any legis the cases of all persons who had been injured lation bearing on that point. He thought, on the railway lines should be considered, as strictly spe·aking, the widow and children of well as those mentioned in this motion. any man who met with an accidental death There was a precedent for this motion in the had an equal right to the protection of the case of Mr. Wade, who lost his life on the State, whether that man was in public or Northern line some years ago ; and if he private service. recollected rightly, £200 was voted for his An HoNORABLE MEMBER : No. widow and children. He might inform the Mr. MoRGAN said he thought so, and he honorable member for Toowoomba, that the thought it was right. He considered that Government proposed placing £150 on where there were deaths by accident, the the Supplementary Estimatas for the widows and orphans had just as much right widow of Gerhardt, and he thought that to claim the protection of the State, whether sum was ample in her case. With regard to those who met with the accident were in the Dellar, he was not aware that he was perma Railway Department, or any other detJart nently injured, but he should make inquiries ment, or in private service. He wished to with regard to that. He did not intend to assert that as his opinion as to what was offer any opposition to the motion, but he right, but at the same time he thought he might inform the honorable member for should vote for the motion of the honorable Toowoomba that the Government were member for Toowoomba. not pledged to the amounts mentioned Mr. GRooM said he did not state the facts in the motion; and when. the House went of the case at all in moving the motion, and he into committee, he should like to see them must take exception to the remarks of the considerably reduced, and he should also honorable member for Stanley, that he (Mr. like to see other cases taken into consideration Groom) had worked up this case, and that he as well as those. brought forward accident cases every session. Mr. DE SA.TGE said he did not think the He was not aware that he brought any acci honorable member for Toowoomba had at all dents before the House last session, and he worked up his case, but that he had used a should be sorry to suppose that they were great deal of forbearance in the matter. going to occur every day. When thi& case There was no doubt that the Govern came before the House in committee, he ment were bound by all legal right to pro should be able to show from legal authorities vide for the widow and orphans of this that the Government were legall_y responsible man. They all recollected the case of Mrs. to the widow and children of Gerhardt, Want, in Sydney, in connection with according to the decisions in the English the first railway accident in New South courts, which he had worked up. When the Wales. She claimed a large amount of honorable the Premier stated that the Gov damages, which she got legally ; and the ernment had placed £150 on the Estimates Government were legally bound to provide for the widow of this man, she, acting under for the widow and children of this man. He advice, went to consult her legal adviser, and thought it would be gross injustice to saddle he advised her not to take the money, but to the salaries of the men employed on the rail enter an action for damages. But he (Mr. way for the purpose of an insurance fund. Groom) advised her to do nothing of the kind, Those accidents were frequently the fault of but to trust to the House, because he knew the engineers and other officers, and not of that considerably more than he asked for the men they employed. The accident in would be thrown away in law expenses. In this case was owing to the piles of a culvert Mrs. Want's case, she entered an action being insufficient, and that was the fault of against the New South Wales Government, the Government engineer or the inspector and got £8,000 damages, and honorable of the railway. There could be no possible members knew well that when juries were doubt about that, and that this man lost his called upon to assess damages against the life through Government neglect. Why the Government they were not at all nice as to employees in the railway generally should be the amount they gave; and he was perfectly taxed for an insurance fund to provide satisfied that a jury would give considerably against the neglect of the Government, he more than he asked for in this motion. Acting could not imagine. 'lhe Government were under the advice of the Government, not to bound to provide for the widow and children state any of the facts of the case, but to of this man, but to what extent, it would be leave them until they went into committee, for the House to decide. he had purposely abstained from doing so; Mr. MoRGAN said he did not think he and when they did go into the merits of the • ~·,ld vote against the motion of the honor case, he should be able to show from un ,,.,ber for Toowoomba, because he doubted authority that the Government' were Adjou1·mnent. [31 AuausT.] Adjournment. 613 legally bound to make restitution to this un intended to pursue after the defeat of that fortunate widow and family, because the evening? accident was not the result of carelessness on The PREMIER said he did not think there the part of the man himself, but of neglect on was any occasion for answering the horror the part of the Government officers. able member, as the Government had not The motion was then put and passed. been defeated ; the honorable member knew very well it was not a Government question, ADJOURXMENT. but one on which the Government supporters The PREMIER, m r1sing to move the ad were at liberty to vote as they pleased. He journment of the House, said the House had was quite satisfied that when the matter g"Ot 'been in a very liberal mood, and he had never into committee, honorable members would known so much money to be voted in one night not: agree to vote away such a large sum as at the instance of a few private members. They £75,00'1. What the Government intended to had had a very fair night of it, and he thought do on Tuesday next was what they han been they might now adjourn; but, if honorable doing all along, namely, to proceed with the members wished it, he was quite prepared to business of the country. go on. The COLONIAL TREASURER said he had HoNORABLE M EMBERS : Finish the paper; been very much surprised that the honor adjourn. able member for the Bremer, and other The PREMIER moved- honorable members who were well acquainted That this House do now adjourn until Tuesday with the forms of the House, should recom next. mend treating motions as formal which, on Mr. THoMPSON said they had just got to being called over by the honorable the the end of the paper, and another ten minutes Speaker, had been declared not formal. He would finish it, and they might as well do so. believed that in accordance with the forms of The honorable the Premier seemed to have the House, it was the practice to debate got into a muddle in thinking that, because motions asking for sums of money before the House had agreed to go into committee they went into committee, in order to satisfy on the motion that had been passed, that themselves that there was sufficient ground therefore the money had been voted. But to justi(y them in sending such motions to they had consented to go into coll!mittee be submitted to that careful and scrutinizing chiefly as a matter of courtesy, certamly so investigation which they could only be sub in the last case, because it advanced the mat jected to in committee. He deprecated very ter one stage. He thought it was perfect much the feeling which appeared to be waste of time to take the debate on those growing up in the House, that applications questions on the motion to go into committee, to go into committee should be treated as because they had again to be discussed in mere matters of form. committee, which was the proper place for Mr. DE SATGE said he thought the horror the discussion to take place. The Govern able Treasurer could not possibly gainsay ment had met a defeat to-night, and they the desire which had been expressed by a sought that defeat by not adopting the proper majority of that House, that the honorable parliamentary practice of taking the debate member for the Kennedy should get £75,000 in committee. for a bridge ; if the House said he should Mr. AMHURST said he thought that the get that amount, the honorable member Hou~e, as a matter of courtesy towards him, could not explain it away by any speech he would have allowed him to go on with his made. He wished to refer to the motion of motion in order to advance it one stage. He the Premier, that the House should adjourn would promise not to detain honorable mem until Tuesday. It appeared as if they were bers long in movmg 1t. not to sit on Fridays, and therefore he thought The PREMIER said he was willing to with that the sooner honorable members agreed to draw his motion for adjournment; the only give the Government another sitting day in reason he had proposed to adjourn was be the week the better it would be. Up to the cause he thought it was the wish of the House present time they had done nothing, whilst that he should do so. they were approaching the season of the Mr. vV ALSH said that befClre the motion year when a great many honorable members was withdrawn he wished to make a few must return to their homes. He would join remarks. The Government had sustained a any; honorable members in proposing that very serious defeat that evening, although another sitting day in each week be given to the Premier had tried to turn it into ridicule; the Government. he contended that when the Government of Mr. vV. ScoTT said he entirely concurred the country was defeated by a large majority, with the remarks of the honorable member it was a question, not whether they should for N ormanby. He believed that the Minis refuse to go on "~>ith any more business, but ters should get on with the business of the whether they should not immediately adjourn country as rapidly as possible instead of for the purpose of deciding how they should adjourning over a day for the purpose of meet the House on a future day. He was going to a pic-nic. himself indifferent to the adjournment, but Mr. J OHNSTON, in regard to what had he wished to ask the Premier what co1.1rse he falle!l from the honorab!e member for t4e 2Y 614 Rai1~vay Sun•ey from [ASSEMBLY.] Bo~t'en to Bo~t'en Rive1•. Bremer, said that in the case of the motion The Premier had agreed to take the pre for a grant of money to Dr. Lang, the House sent motion as a formal one, with the under had refused to allow it to go into committee, standing that it would be discussed in com although had it gone into committee many of mittee, ancl then, up got the honorable the accusations made against that reverend Minister for Lands and objected to such a gentleman would have been refuted. He course. The Premier had agreed to discuss should Yote for the motion so as to allow the the motion in committee, vvhere honorable matter to go into committee. members could speak over and over again. Mr. GnooM pointed out, that notwithstanc1- It was perfectly useless to discuss money ing what had been said by the honorable the matters in the whole House, and the only Premier as to the libera:ity of the House that obj,ct of the preliminary motion for going evening, the mere fact of honorable members into committee was, in order to give honor voting for a motion to go into committee did able members an opportunity of previously not bind them, when in committee, to support. c nsidering the matter. the amount mentionPd in a resolution; it might Mr. A:~munsr said that the country re be, as in fact it often was, made very consid ferred to in his motion TI"as so little knoTI"n erably smaller. In regard to the remarh of to the majority of honorable members that the honorable Treasurer, he might say that he should have to enter into explanations of there was no hard-and-fast line on the subject; some length ; that was his reason for not at the same time he quite agreed with the addressing the House when he moved the honorable gentleman that it was advisable in resolution. many cases that there should be a discussion The PREMIER said he had told the honor before allowing a resolution to go into com able member for Bowen that he would allow mittee. In the case of the proposed vote for the motion to go as a matter of form, and that Dr. Lang, for instance, when there was a the discussion on it could be taken in com strong party against it, if it had got into mittee. At the same time, he agreed with his committee it would not have got out honorable colleague that they were proceed again. ing in the most extravagant manner; if they Motion for adjournment, by leave, with went on in the same way, he could see nothing drawn. but fresh taxation. and he knew very well the class which would have to bear it. He RAILWAY SURVEY FROM BO\YEN TO hoped the House would never again be in BOWEN RI\~ER. the same liberal humor it had been in that Mr. AMHURST moved, pursuant to notice- evening. That this House will, at its next sitting, resolve Mr. Tno:uPSON said that not one penny itself into a Committee of the Whole, to consider had been Yoled. of an Address to the GovPrnor, praying that His The PREMIER !'.aid that if that was the case, Excellency will be pleased to cause to be placGct wl1y was it that the House had not allowed upon the Supplementary Estimates a sum not Dr. Lung's vote to go into committee; they exceeding £2,000, for the expenses of H prelimi might then have reduced the sum from £1,000 nary suney for a line of railway from Bowcn to to £500. He knew one honorable member the Bowen River. who was a well-known friend of Dr. Lang, The SEcHllTARY FOR PuBLIC LA.NDs said he and who would haYe supported the Yote should not detain the House for long, but he to that gentleman as he had promised, rose to express his fear that the House vms had he not been prevented from doing so by getting into a very loose way of doing busi a feeling of loyalty to his leader. ness, namely, in allowing resolutions to go HoNOHABLE MK\IBEHS: Name, name. into committee without previou,;ly discussing Mr. W A LSH said he thought the Premier them at all. He must confess thHt he did was bound to mention the name of the honor not think the Government was right in sub able member who had broken his word, for mitting to such a practice. As to the motion he had as much right to suppose that the of the honorable member for the Kennedy, honorable gentleman referred to the Minister he did not think the Government intended to for L~nds as to anybody else; and it was vote that money, nor did he think the honor very likely that the l'remier reflected upon a able member was altogether sincere in asking member of his own Government. The hon for it. If they were to pass motions in that orable member for Bowen had been invited wholesale way, the Government might just by the Premier to go on with his motion, as well give up all control over the public when up rose the honorable gentleman's money, for, as to saying that honorable mem colleague and protested against what he bers were not bound to vote the money when termed a wholesale way of committing them in committee, it was all nonsense. For his selves to expenditure; was there any con own part, he had voted for the motion of the sistency in that? It was done at the insti honorable member for the Logan that even gation of the Premier, and now honorable ing, believing firmly that the money would members were to be castigated by the honor be well spent, as it was most advisable to able gentleman's colleague. For his part, he have a survey. considered that the Government should not J\fr. THOC~l:PSON said, that the honorable humbug members on either side of the gentleman was indulging in his old role again. House by allowing a motion to go into corn- Railway Su1•t•e:y from Bowen, Etc. [5 SEPTEMBER.] Navigation Bill. 615 mittee if they did not intend to support it to receive them as possessing some bona fide whrn there. claim for further consideration, or to reject Mr. AMHURST: There has been an arrange them altogether. ment made. Mr. IvoRY looked upon the division as a Mr. W.usn contended that there should very seriom defeat for the Government, and be no arrangement made between the Gov thought the honorable member for Warrego ernment and any private member as to how the was quite warranted in asking the Premier House was to be hum bugged; the Government what he intended to do. should be candid, and say at once that they Question put and carried. would not allow the expenditure, instead of leading honorable members to believe that QUEEXSL.AND NATIONAL BANK BILL. they intended to support them. Mr. TnoMPSON, in moving the second read Mr. PETTIGREW said he thought that after ing of this Bill, said he was anxious that the having passed n motion for £75,000 for a motion should pass; the corporation interested bridge over the Burdekin, it was UReless to in it \l·ere anxious that it 8houlcl be clone at waste time in discussing a sum of £2,000 for a once, because they wanted to advise their con railway survey. stituents by the next mail to that effect. It An BoNORAcBLE MEMBER : The money is was a formal Bill. According to the Companies not voted yet. Act there had to be registry offices, and certain Mr. PETTIGREW said the majority of the books kept in them with certain times allowed House were pledged to it, and from the divi for makir;g up certain returns. A good many sion which had taken place, he was almost sure people out of the colony took an in the money would be voted. He believed that terest in the bank, and it would be there had been an arrangement made by which advantageous for its interests as a colo certain Brisbane members were to support nial institution that they should have all that motion in order to obtain the consent of facilities for openingregisten. in other colonies. the northern members to making the Brisbane Therefore, he moved the second reading of bridge free. The Government had after all the Bill. induced the applications for money for rail The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Bill was way surveys because they had put down submitted to him, and as it was free from all money on the :Estimates for five railways, objections, and would entirely carry out the without having any information about them, purposes for which it was intended, there was. but merely to take the wind out of the no opposition on the part of the Govern· sails of the Opposition; they would, how ment. ever, defeat themselves in the matter. Mr. GRooM took exception to these remarks; Motion put and passed. the House had not voted the £75,000, but had merely consented to send the question into committee; and he denied that there had been any compact entered into in regard to th~> Brisbane bridge. Both the Brisbane and Burdekin bridges would be considered on their own merits. The CoLONIAL TREAcSURER said that al though the Government w<'uld not call for a division, he must say the House was depart ing from the correct principle. He entered his protest against dealing with these resolu tions except as formal questions. It was a matter they ought to treat with most serious consi deration. '\Vhere would they draw the line? Unless the correct principle were adopted, resolutions to provide sums of money for all kinds of work might be proposed, and the most ridiculous claims introduced. It was derogatory to the dignity of the Chamber as a deliberative assembly to consent to the further consideration of questions which, possibly, it was not seriously intended to dis cuss. As a member of the Government, he intended to oppose this question in com mittee, and he hoped the honorable member for Boweu would not expect any support from him unless he could ~how very good reasons for his demand. These resolutions had been passed through as a convenient way of getting rid of them for the present, but the honest, straightforward course was