JUBILEE MEMORIAL VOLUME

Our First Half-Century

A REVIEW OF QUEENSLAND PROGRESS

BASED UPON OFFICIAL INFORMATION

BY AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEENSLAND

BRISBANE

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ANTHONY J. CUMMING, GOVERNMENT PRINTER

1909.

PREFACE.

The object of this work, as the title implies, is to furnish the reader with a succinct review of the salient facts of Queensland progress, first as an autonomous British colony of the Australian group, and second as a State of the Commonwealth of Australia, retaining all constitutional rights unimpaired save in so far as they may be qualified by the provisions of "The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act of 1900." In treating of federation as thus accomplished the object has been to set forth dispassionately, yet clearly, the general results of the change upon the well-being of the State, and the reasonable anticipations of its future when the objects of federal union have been more completely attained.

This is not a volume of statistics, yet in a fifty-year review it would be impossible entirely to avoid the use of figures. These, however, have been availed of sparingly; and, to avoid encumbering the text, tables compiled by the Government Statistician contrasting the progress made, by presenting the figures for the first, middle, and last (available) years of the fifty-year period, have been included as appendices. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, and to embody in the volume all the information possible without overloading it with detail.

For the series of diagrams illustrative of the subdivision of Australia into separate colonies between 1787 and 1863 acknowledgment is due to the Under Secretary for Lands of New South Wales, under whose authority they were compiled from data in the Public Library, Sydney.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  PAGES Preface iii Table of Contents v-x List of Illustrations xi-xiv Introduction xv-xx The Subdivision of Australia xxii-xxiv Jubilee Ode—"Queen of the North" xxv-xxviii

PART I.—OUR NATAL YEAR.

CHAPTER I

THE BIRTH OF QUEENSLAND.

Issue of Letters Patent and Order in Council.—Appointment of Sir George Ferguson Bowen as First Governor.—Continuity of Colonial Office Policy. —Instructions to Governor.—Munificent Gift of all Waste Lands of the Crown.—Temporary Limitation of Electoral Suffrage.—Responsible Government Unqualified by Restrictions or Reservations.—Governor-General of New South Wales Initiates Elections 1-4

CHAPTER II.

INITIATION OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

Arrival of Sir George Bowen in Brisbane.—The First Responsible Ministry.—Injunctions to Governor by Secretary of State in regard to Choice of Ministers. —Ex-members of New South Wales Legislature take Umbrage. —The Governor on the Characteristics of Various Classes of Colonists.—The Governor a Dictator.—The Microscopic Treasury Balance.—Gladstone as Site of Capital. —Mr. Herbert as a Parliamentary Leader 5-7

CHAPTER III.

DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY ADMINISTRATIONS.

Meeting of First Parliament.—Amendment on Address in Reply defeated by Speaker's Casting Vote.—Adoption of Address in Reply.—Compromise between Parties Indispensable.—Successful Inauguration of Responsible Government.—The Governor's Egotism.—Mr. Herbert's Retirement.—Mr. Macalister Succeeds.—Financial and Political Crisis.—Proposed

Inconvertible Paper Money.—Governor Undeservedly Blamed 8-10

CHAPTER IV.

THE FIRST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.

Work of the First Session.—Four Land Acts Passed.—Summary of Land "Code."—Pastoral Leases. —Upset Price of Land £1 per acre.—Agricultural Reserves.—Land Orders to Immigrants.—Cotton Bonus. —Lands for Mining Purposes.—Renewal of Existing Leases. —Governor's Laudation of "Code."—Praises Parliament. —Abolition of State Aid to Religion.—Primary and Secondary Education.—Wool Liens.—First Estimates and Appropriation Act 11-14

CHAPTER V.

QUEENSLAND IN 1860.

Rush of Population.—High Prices for Stock for occupying New Country.—Sparse Population.—Rockhampton most Northerly Port of Entry.—Navigation inside Barrier Reef Unknown.—Tropical Queensland Unexplored.—Ignorance of Climate, Resources, and Conditions.—Primary Industries in 1860.—Primitive Means of Communication.—Public Revenue, Bank Deposits, and Institutions 15-18

PART II.—FROM NATAL YEAR TO JUBILEE.

CHAPTER I.

THE LEGISLATURE.

The Governor.—His Functions: Political and Social. —His Emoluments.—Administrations that have held Office.—Number of Members of Council and Assembly. —Emoluments of Assembly Members.—Good Results of Responsible Government in Queensland 19-32

CHAPTER II.

PUBLIC FINANCE (1859-1884).

Importance of Sound Finance.—A Great Colony Starts upon a Bank Overdraft.—First Year's Revenue.—Land Sales as Revenue.—Deficits in First Decade.—Transfer of Loan Moneys to Revenue to Balance Accounts.—Heavy Public Works Expenditure.—Crisis of 1866.—Inconvertible Paper Currency Proposals.—Flotation of Treasury Bills. —Higher Customs Duties.—Wiping Out a Deficit by Issue of Debentures.—Transfer of Surplus to Surplus Revenue Account to Recoup Loan Fund.—Incidental Protection. —Railway Land Reserves.—Proceeds Used as Ordinary Revenue.—Three-million Loan.—Condition of Affairs at Close of First Quarter-Century.—Phenomenal Progress; Prospects Bright 33-38

CHAPTER III.

PUBLIC FINANCE (1884-1893).

The Ten-million Loan.—Ministers Practically Granted Control of Five Years' Loan Money.—Vigorous Railway Policy.—Effect of Over-spending.—Inflation of Values.—Increased Taxation.—Succession of Deficits. —Second McIlwraith Ministry.—A Protectionist Tariff. —Temporary Increase of Revenue.—Heavy Contraction in 1890.—Another Big Loan; Failure of Flotation. —The First Underwritten Australian Loan.—Amended Audit Act Limiting Spending Power of Government 39-42

CHAPTER IV.

PUBLIC FINANCE (1893-1898).

Sir Hugh Nelson at the Treasury.—Credit of Colony Restored.—Assistance to Financial Institutions and Primary Industries.—Savings Bank Stock Act.—Public Debt Reduction Fund.—Treasurer's Cautious and Prudent Administration.—Money Obtained in London at a Record Price 43-45

CHAPTER V.

PUBLIC FINANCE (1898-1903).

The Philp Ministry.—Large Surplus.—Loan Acts for Seven and a-half Millions Sterling.—Drought Disasters and Sacrifices for Federation.—Accumulated Revenue Deficits of over £1,000,000.—Rebuff on London Stock Exchange.—Resignation of Philp Ministry 46-48

CHAPTER VI.

PUBLIC FINANCE (1903-1909).

The Morgan-Kidston Ministry.—Economy in Revenue Expenditure.—Great Reduction in Loan Outlay.—Equilibrium Established at the Treasury.—Retrenchment and Taxation.—Improvement of Finances.—A Record Surplus for Queensland.—Land Sales Proceeds Act.—Abstention from Borrowing.—First Loan Floated since 1903.—Sound Position of Queensland. —Value of State Securities.—Reproductiveness of Railways Built out of Loan Money.—Public Estate Improvement Fund.—How Recourse to Money Market has

been Avoided 49-53

CHAPTER VII.

THE BOOM DECADE (1880-1890).

A Great Boom Decade.—Causes of Inflation of Values.—Excessive Rating Valuations.—False Basis of Assessing Capital Value.—Prodigality Succeeded by Financial Stringency and Collapse of Boom.—Difficulty in Determining Real Values.—Sir Hugh Nelson's Legislation.—Sound Finance.—Stability of State.—Prospects Good To-day 54-56

CHAPTER VIII.

CROWN LANDS LEGISLATION.

The Code of 1860.—Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1868.—Pastoral Leases Act of 1869.—Homestead Areas Act of 1872.—Crown Lands Alienation Act and Settled Districts Pastoral Leases Act of 1876.—The Griffith-Dutton Land Act of 1884.—Co-operative Communities Land Settlement Act.—Land Act of 1897—Forms of Selection.—Act to Assist Persons to Settle on Land by Advances from the Treasury.—Extension of Pastoral Leases.—Closer Settlement Act.—Land Orders 57-65

CHAPTER IX.

APPROPRIATION OF LAND REVENUE.

Land Sales Receipts; not Consolidated Revenue. —Arguments used in favour of Treating Proceeds as Ordinary Revenue.—Auction Sales have now Practically Ceased.—Certain Proceeds Payable into Loan Fund. —Special Sales of Land Act; Appropriation of Receipts 66-68

CHAPTER X.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN QUEENSLAND.

First Municipality Established.—Brisbane Bridge Lands.—Grant for Town Hall.—Consolidating Municipalities Act.—Provincial Councils Act.—Government Buildings not Rateable.—Brisbane Bridge Debentures and Waterway Acts.—Municipal Endowment.—Local Government Act of 1878.—Divisional Boards Act of 1879; Success of the Act.—Local Works Loans Act.—Two Pounds for One Pound Endowment Repealed.—Rating Powers Extended by Local Authorities Act of 1902.—Cessation of Endowment. —Valuation and Rating Act.—Decline in Land Values. —Unequal Incidence of Rates Levied.—Efficiency of Local Authorities 69-77

CHAPTER XI.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Primary Education: Board of National Education; Education Act of 1860; Board of General Education; Education Act of 1875; Department of Public Instruction; Higher Education in Primary Schools; Itinerant Teachers; Status of Teachers; Statistics.—Private Schools.—Secondary Education: Grammar Schools Act; Endowments, Scholarships, and Bursaries; Success of Grammar Schools; Exhibitions to Universities; Expenditure.—Technical Education: Beginning of System; Board of Technical Instruction; Transfer of Control to Department of Public Instruction; Statistics; Technical Instruction Act; Continuation Classes; Schools of Arts and Reading Rooms.—University: Royal Commissions; University Bill; Standardised System of Education 78-85

PART III.—OUR JUBILEE YEAR.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL REVIEW.

Good Seasons and General Prosperity.—Land Settlement and Immigration.—The Sugar Crop.—Gold and Other Minerals.—Reduction in Cost of Mining and Treatment of Ores.—Vigorous Railway Extension.—Mileage Open for Traffic.—Efficiency of 3 ft. 6 in. Gauge.—Our Railway Investment.—The National Association Jubilee Show.—The General Election.—The Mandate of the Constituencies.—Government Majority.—Practical Extinction of Third Party.—Labour a Constitutional Opposition.—Federal Agreement with States.—Federal Union Vindicated 86-91

CHAPTER II.

THE FEDERAL OUTLOOK.

Proclamation of the Commonwealth.—The Referendum Vote.—Queensland's Small Majority in the Affirmative.—Representation in Federal Parliament.—The White Australia Policy.—Temporary Effect on Queensland.—An Embarrassed State Treasury.—Assistance to Sugar Industry.—Continued Protection Necessary.—Unequal Distribution of Federal Surplus Revenue.—The Transferred Properties.—Effect of Uniform Tariff.—Good Times Lessen Federal Burden on State.—The Agreement between Prime Minister and Premiers.—Better Feeling Towards Federation.—National Measures of Deakin Government 92-96

PART IV.—THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

pginternal" href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@39495@[email protected]#page97" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">CHAPTER I.

THE PASTORAL INDUSTRY.

Importance of Industry.—Small Beginnings in New South Wales.—Extension of Industry.—Stocking of Darling Downs and Western Queensland.—Rush for Pastoral Lands. —Difficulties of Early Squatters.—Influx of Victorian Capital.—Changes in Method of Working Stations.—Boom in Pastoral Properties.—Checks from Drought.—Discovery of Artesian Water.—Conservation of Surface Water. —Introduction of Grazing Farm System.—Closer Settlement of Darling Downs.—Cattle-Rearing.—Meat-Freezing Works. —Over-stocking.—Dairying.—Station Routine.—Charm of Pastoral Life.—Shearing.—Hospitality of Squatters. —Attraction of Industry as Investment and Occupation 97-112

CHAPTER II.

AGRICULTURE IN QUEENSLAND.

Tripartite Division of Queensland.—Climate.—Development of Agriculture in Queensland.—Wide Range of Products.—Early History.—Exclusion of Farmers from Richest Lands.—Origin of Mixed Farming.—Extension of Industry Westward.—Inexperience of Early Settlers. —Cotton-growing.—Chief Crops.—Dairying. —Cereal-growing.—Farming in the Tropics.—Farming on the Downs.—Farming in the West.—Irrigation. —Conservation of Water.—Timber Industry.—Land Selection.—Assistance Given by the Government. —Immigration.—Attractions of Queensland. —Defenders of Hearth and Home 113-131

CHAPTER III.

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Sugar-cane in the Northern Hemisphere.—The Rise of the Beet Industry.—Abolition of Slave Labour in West Indies.—Reorganisation of Industry on Scientific Basis.—Establishment of Industry in Queensland. —Difficulties of Early Planters.—Stoppage of Pacific Island Labour.—Evolution of Small Holdings and Erection of Central Mills.—Reintroduction of Pacific Islanders. —Stoppage of Pacific Island Labour by Commonwealth Legislation.—Bonus on White-grown Sugar.—Benefits Arising from Separating Cultivation and Manufacture. —Contrast between Past and Present Methods.—Scientific Cultivation.—Recent Statistics.—The Future of the Industry.—Queensland Leading the Van in Establishing White Agriculturists in Tropics 132-143

CHAPTER IV.

A HALF-CENTURY OF MINING.

The Quest for Gold a Colonising Agency.—Earliest Discoveries of the Precious Metal in Queensland.—Port Curtis.—Rockhampton District.—Peak Downs.—Gympie. —Ravenswood.—Charters Towers.—Palmer.—Mount Morgan. —Croydon.—Later Discoveries.—Yield at Charters Towers and Mount Morgan.—Copper Mining.—Tin.—Silver. —Queensland the Home of All Kinds of Minerals and Precious Stones.—Mineral Wealth in Cairns Hinterland. —Copper Deposits in Cloncurry District.—The Etheridge. —Anakie Gem Field.—Opal Fields.—Extensive Coal Measures.—Railway Communication with Mining Fields. —Value of Queensland Mineral Output.—Prospects of Industry 144-152

CHAPTER V.

OUR ASSET IN ARTESIAN WATER.

Erroneous Judgment of Western Queensland.—Scarcity of Surface Water.—Water Supply Department.—Discovery of Artesian Water in New South Wales.—Prospecting in Queensland.—Difficulties Experienced by Early Borers.—First Artesian Flowing Bore.—Dr. Jack's First Estimate of Artesian Area.—Revised Figures.—Number of Bores and Estimated Flow.—Area Capable of being Irrigated with Artesian Water.—Cost of Boring.—Value of Artesian Water.—Extent of Intake Beds.—Waste of Water. —Necessity for Government Control of Wells.—Value of Water for Irrigation, Consumption, and Motive Power. —Artesian Water a Great National Asset 153-161

APPENDICES.

Appendix A—Readjustment of Western Boundary 162-163 Appendix B—The First Parliament 164 Appendix C—The Eighteenth Parliament 165-166 Appendix D—Fifty Years of Legislation 167-183

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">Appendix E—Land Selection in Queensland 184-195 Appendix F—Immigration to Queensland 196-197 Appendix G—Some Statistics and Their Story 198-209 Appendix H—Digest of Hydraulic Engineer's Reports 210-230 Appendix J—Climatic Contrasts 231-237 Appendix K—Education Statistics 238 Appendix L—Inauguration of the University of Queensland 239-257

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.

Government House (C. E. S. Fryer) Frontispiece     Facing Page First Gazette, 10th December, 1859   xiv Writ of Summons for First Election   xx Governors of Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) xxiv Premiers of Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) xxviii Houses of Parliament, Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 4 View from River Terrace, Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 8 Barron Falls, Cairns Railway, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 12 Treasury Buildings, Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 16 Coal Wharves, South Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 20 Executive Buildings, Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 24 Views of Rockhampton, Central Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 28

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@39495@[email protected]#page32" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">Townsville: Flinders Street, looking West (C. E. S. Fryer) 32 Hinchinbrook Channel, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 36 The Narrows and Mount Larcombe, near Gladstone (C. E. S. Fryer) 36 Barron Gorge below the Falls, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 40 On the Road to Market, Central Queensland (W. E. Perroux) 44 Fat Cattle, Central Queensland (W. E. Perroux) 44 Maroochy River and Ninderry Mountain, N.C. Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 48 Scene on Barcaldine Downs, Central Queensland (W. E. Perroux) 52 Barcaldine Downs Homestead, Central Queensland (W. E. Perroux) 52 Swan Creek Valley, near Yangan, Warwick District (C. E. S. Fryer) 56 Surprise Creek Falls, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 60 Forest Scene near Woombye, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 64 Hauling Timber, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 68 Stony Creek Bridge and Falls, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 68 Timber Getting, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 72 Cairns Range and Robb's Monument, N. Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 76 View of Gympie from Nashville Railway Station (C. E. S. Fryer) 80 Coke Ovens, Ipswich District (C. E. S. Fryer) 80 Gulf Cattle Ready for Market (H. J. Walton) 84

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@39495@[email protected]#page84" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">Brigalow Country, Warra, Darling Downs   84 Hereford Cows, Darling Downs   84 Above Stony Creek Falls, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 88 Mount Morgan: Open Cut and Dumps (Mount Morgan G.M. Co.) 92 Mount Morgan: Mundic and Copper Works (Mount Morgan G.M. Co.) 92 Cattle Country, West Moreton   100 Fat Cattle, Central Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 100 Horses at Gowrie, Darling Downs   104 Sheep at Gowrie, Darling Downs   104 Horses, Western Queensland (H. J. Walton) 104 Fat Cattle, Burrandilla, Charleville (H. J. Walton) 104 Wool Teams, Wyandra, Warrego District (C. E. S. Fryer) 108 Hauling Cedar, Atherton, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 108 Dairy Cattle on Darling Downs   112 Sheep, Jimbour, Darling Downs   112 Horses, Ivanhoe Station, Warrego   112 Harvesting Wheat, Emu Vale, near Warwick (C. E. S. Fryer) 116 Surprise Creek Cascade, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 120 Pineapple Farm, Woombye, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 124 Sugar-Mill, Huxley, Isis Railway (C. E. S. Fryer)

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">124 Field of Maize, Eel Creek, Gympie (C. E. S. Fryer) 124 Threshing Wheat, Emu Vale, Killarney Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 128 Coffee Plantation, Kuranda, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 128 Sugar-Mill, Childers, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 132 Sisal Hemp and Cane Fields, South Isis (C. E. S. Fryer) 136 Canefields, Isis Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 136 Sugar Cane and Mill, Huxley, Isis Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 136 Cambanora Gap, Head of Condamine, Killarney (C. E. S. Fryer) 140 Minto Crag, Dugandan, Fassifern District (C. E. S. Fryer) 140 Mount Morgan: Copper Works, looking North (Mt. Morgan G.M. Co.) 144 Mount Morgan: General View of Works (Mt. Morgan G.M. Co.) 144 Charters Towers: Plant's Day Dawn (C. E. S. Fryer) 148 Gympie: Scottish Gympie Gold Mine (C. E. S. Fryer) 152 Gympie: No. 1 North Oriental and Glanmire (C. E. S. Fryer) 152 Flowing Artesian Wells, Western Queensland:     1. Beel's Bore, Cunnamulla (Kerry) 156 2. Bore on Thurulgoona Station (Kerry) 156 3. Charleville Bore (C. E. S. Fryer) 156 Aberdare Colliery, Ipswich District (C. E. S. Fryer) 160 Cocoa-Nut Palms, Johnstone River, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer)

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@39495@[email protected]#page164" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">164 Custom House and Petrie Bight, Brisbane (C. E. S. Fryer) 164 In the Scrub Country, Kin Kin, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 168 On the Blackall Range, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 168 Barron Gorge, Cairns Railway, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 176 Farm Scene, Blackall Range (C. E. S. Fryer) 184 Sisal Hemp, Childers, North Coast Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 184 Wool Teams, Longreach, Central Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 184 View on Barron River, Cairns Railway (C. E. S. Fryer) 192 Hauling Timber, Barron River, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 200 Falls near Killarney (C. E. S. Fryer) 208 Aboriginal Tree Climbers (C. E. S. Fryer) 208 Scene on Logan River, South Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 216 Cooktown and Endeavour River, North Queensland (C. E. S. Fryer) 224 Pearling Fleets off Badu Island, Torres Strait   224 Government House, now Dedicated to University purposes (C. E. S. Fryer) 238 View of Dedication Ceremony (H. W. Mobsby) 242 The Premier (Hon. W. Kidston) Opening the Proceedings (H. W. Mobsby) 244 His Excellency Sir W. MacGregor Addressing the Audience (H. W. Mobsby) 248 His Excellency Unveiling the Dedication Tablet (H. W. Mobsby)

250 Lady MacGregor Planting the University Tree (H. W. Mobsby) 256