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.
[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] |