S. Wekey. with the Author's Complime THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS! (OF MORE VITAL IMPORTANCE THAN GOLD, OR THAN THE SHOWING HOW TO MAKE FOOD PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP, AND THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST PROSPEROUS; AND AT THE SAME TIME TO RENDER THE COLONY INDEPENDENT "THE LAND (AND WATER) QUESTION" IN VICTORIA, FORMERLY "PORT PHILLIP," BUT STILL, AND EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE SEPARATION FROM DEDICATED TO THE MANLY "SONS OF THE SOIL," AND TO HIS FELLOW-COLONISTS IN GENERAL, BUT TO THE OWNERS AND N. L. KENTISH, An Australian (and Tasmanian) Colonist and Government Officer of twenty-five years' standing; MELBOURNE: J. J. BLUNDELL & CO., COLLINS-STREET. 1855. 2261.539. PREFACE. THE date of this, the last printed page of this Book, in its passage through the Press, viz., the 20th of August, shows that two months have been added to the three months which the manuscript was detained in the Argus office. During this period, and especially within the last fortnight, the subject matter of this Publication, viz., "a radical Reform of the Regulations for the alienation of Crown Lands," has been brought prominently before the Public, at the monster Meeting at Astley's Amphitheatre, on the 10th instant, and by the reception of the Deputation from that Meeting by His Excellency Sir Charles Hotham; which proceedings generally, have been promulgated by the three Daily Newspapers: but as one circumstance of material importance in its bearing on this "Question of Questions," has been passed over wholly unnoticed by the Reporters for the Press-the Author feels it to be a duty to himself, and to the great majority of his fellowcolonists, who are thoroughly loyal subjects, and not only attached to our gracious Queen, but to the British Throne, and to our Mother Country, and as desirous of continuing, as a certain self-constituted body, calling itself the "People's League," is agitating to snap asunder, that connection-to put that circumstance on record, as part and parcel of this Pamphlet. As Whigs and Tories have frequently united for some great purpose, not incompatible with the political principles of either for instance, "to promote the Abolition of Capital Punishment"-so, it is obvious, may Democrats and Republicans, as well as sound Church-and-State men (being alike sensible of the advantage to the Colonists of bringing the Land into cultivation), conjointly petition the Legislature "to alienate the Crown Lands on that condition only." Now it does unfortunately happen that this great and glorious movement, for really "Unlocking the Lands," was originated at the same house where this Constitution-mongering clique has held its meetings, viz., the "National Hotel," and that the Landlord and some other persons, who have been the chief concocters of what they are pleased to call "The People's League," have also taken a prominent part in this "Land League:" and further, that the Theatre itself, which has been gratuitously lent to the Public for the purpose of holding their Meetings on the Land Question, is, as well as the National Hotel, in the hands of Mr. Mooney as Lessee. It is therefore much less surprising, than it is gratifying to the "People's League" men, and disgusting to the majority of the Committee delegated by the monster Land Meeting to carry out their intentions; to find that these two very distinct and widely different Leagues, are by too many understood as identical. It needed no Wizard, to assure the Author of this Publication, that such would inevitably be the case; and it is no slight satisfaction to him, that he actually pointed this out publicly, and protested against the artful dodge, at the right moment, viz., at the monster Meeting assembled ⚫ in the Theatre to receive the Delegates' report of their interview with His Excellency the Governor; when, as will be in the recollection of the two or three thousand persons then present, in consequence of an attempt made by the very person known as Secretary to the "People's League," to thrust into the Second Resolution, appointing the Delegates who had waited on His Excellency, of whom he, the Author, had the honour to be one, in conjunction with some other names [of persons pitchforked into a body (which was not consulted!) in the most irregular, and some think unjustifiable, as well as unprecedented manner-to the exclusion, also, of Gentlemen of honour, influence, and status in society, who had by their zeal and ability as energetic leaders in the movement, become entitled to public confidence and acknowledgment of services] a Committee to press their Petition for altering the Land Regulations on the new Legislature-after it had been moved, seconded, and passed-some words to the extraordinary effect, "that such Committee [including in it sundry "People's League" agitators!] should watch iv over the Public interest (generally), and adopt whatever measures might [i. e., in their estimation] be calculated to promote the same!!!" The Author of this Pamphlet emphatically implored the Meeting, which unmistakeably rejected the insidious proposition intended to be forced on them, to define more precisely, and especially to limit "the duty of their Committee," strictly to their legitimate object, viz., the support of the same Petition to the Legislature, which they had just presented to the Governor; which limits to their functions were, as he stated, the more necessary, in consequence of certain Members of the Committee holding extreme political opinions in connection with a movement of a very different kind, having for its object severance from England-known as the "People's League." The soundness of this suggestion is already beginning to be felt and acknowledged pretty generally! The Author has nothing whatever to do with, and disclaims any knowledge whatever of, the sentiments religious (or irreligious) or political, of the Gentlemen associated with him in this great and holy object of the Committee, which has adopted the title of the "Land League," with some of whom he deems it an honour and a privilege, as well as pleasure, to co-operate for the attainment of a measure of just, wise, and liberal policy, calculated beyond any other human means, to benefit our adopted country-to confer wealth on the industrious and deserving cultivators of the soil-to give healthful employment to thousands-to create a substantial yeomanry, and honest and contented peasantry, to become "Victoria's pride"-and to enable the worthy struggling Immigrants from the mother country, to realize those hopes of " prosperity, on Farms of their own," which induced them to come ronnd the World in search of Land; and to enable our Citizens and Towns-folk, and Gold-diggers also, to obtain all the productions of the earth, and most of the comforts of life, plentiful and cheap. Recognizing the sound maxim, "better late than never"-happy indeed will the Author be, as a lover of the land of his adoption, to see carried out in 1855, the very object which he has advocated, even from the first sales of Crown land in Australia, in 1831. It cannot, therefore, be surprising that he, the Colonist who, of all other persons in Australia, has the longest and most strenuously contended for the change now so clamorously demanded by the public, should-being at liberty to do so, at this tlme-become a willing and gratified participator in the movement, which, he confidently anticipates, will soon be triumphantly successful; for this Publication-which is admitted, by persons of all parties, to be a fair exposition of their sentiments on "the Question of Questions"-being so remarkably opportune; it would be strange indeed, and inconsistent, to shrink from an effort, which has almost become a duty, at the very time that the object is about to be realized, by a sort of coup de main; and it is well known that the Author is not deficient of courage, either moral or physical, to do his duty. The events of the last few weeks, render it incumbent on the Author, to enunciate in the most unequivocal terms, that he is no less desirous to repudiate any connection whatever with an association of the most objectionable kind—which he deems seditious, and of course, if so, illegal-viz. that of a knot of brawlers, consisting, in no small degree, of ignorant demagogues, presuming to form a "new Constitution!" than he is willing and anxious to render his best services, in every legitimate manner, as a loyal subject (much more of a Tory than Democrat!) in support of the one object of THE LAND LEAGUE, which is identical with that advocated, however feebly, in this Book; the gist of which, is expressed in pp. 15, 16. The "old hands," and the Author's friends and acquaintances in all the Colonies, and all fair and candid readers who approve his sentiments, are respectfully requested to circulate this copy, for perusal, amongst the intellectual and thinking classes; and, referring to our friend, John Bull, Esq., page 97, to put themselves in communication with the Publisher, whose address will be found on the cover. *** In support of THE OBJECT of the "Land League," see" The disappointed Land-seeker's" Letter, in the Argus of this day, signed "JOHN LANDLESS;" also Mr J. P. Fawkner's homethrust at the Squattocracy in the adjoining column. August 20, 1855. TO his esteemed Friend and Fellow Colonist-of whom this, his Native-land, is justly proud-HORATIO SPENCER WILLS, of POINT HENRY, GEELONG (formerly of LEXINGTON, MOUNT WILLIAM), ESQUIRE THE HONORABLE MEMBER FOR GRANT, whose enviable distinction it is, to have originated in the Legislative Council, two of the most important measures by which it is possible to legislate for the great and general good of the Inhabitants of this peculiar Colony, consisting of fertile soil, in an arid climate a wealthy, yet suffering community :-viz, "for affording facilities to the 'bona fide Cultivator' to obtain farming LAND on terms advantageous to himself, and on conditions beneficial to the Government, and especially to the Public:" and "for causing WATER to be procured and husbanded for the use of Man and Beast, by artificial means, throughout Victoria, in situations adapted to the formation of tanks and reservoirs, but naturally destitute of rivers, brooks, or fresh-water ponds;" and to the Honorable the Speaker and all other Members of the Legislative Council of Victoria. GENTLEMEN, Trusting that the end I have in view, will be found to justify my ambitious desire to draw for half-an-hour on your valuable time; and conscious of being influenced by no unworthy motive, in submitting my humble ideas-for what they are worth-to my fellow-colonists, as well as, with all deference, to their enlightened Representatives and to the Executive Government; namely, the hope of contributing by my quota of intelligence (which, however small, is based on local experience somewhat large, acquired by twenty-five years' residence in the Australian colonies), to the benefit of this community (which I hold to be, not only the proud privilege of Englishmen, whose boast is "freedom of the Press," but the pleasing duty to his fellow-men of every good subject): I venture to adopt this means of throwing out certain suggestions, which, as "one of the People," I employed the anniversary of my arrival in this continent, recently passed in a state of involuntary leisure, in addressing to the local press. But the favour of giving currency to my humble opinions in the journal of largest circulation, not having been accorded to me, consequence of the length of my communication; I have ventured to place the M.S.-which has been returned to me this day-in the hands of a highly respectable publisher, on the strength of his assurance, that the importance of the subjects treated of-worthy of being designated, as they undoubtedly are, "The Questions of Questions which now occupy the public mind-will rescue my EFFORT TO BE USEFUL, from oblivion; and that even one scintilla of success, will absolve the author from the obloquy of presumption. Under these circumstances, I have resolved to cast my bread upon the waters," in the shape of the brochure which I now have the honour to submit to your candid and impartial consideration. in 66 |