<hw>Black-Trevally</hw>. See <i>Trevally</i>.
<hw>Black-War</hw>, or <hw>Black-Line</hw>, a military operation planned in 1830 by Governor Arthur for the capture of the Tasmanian aborigines. A levy <i>en masse</i> of the colonists was ordered. About 5000 men formed the "black line," which advanced across the island from north to south-east, with the object of driving the tribes into Tasman's Peninsula. The operation proved a complete failure, two blacks only being captured at a cost to the Government of L 30,000.
1835. H. Melville, `History of Van Diemen's Land,' p. 103:
"The parties forming the `black line,' composed, as they were, of a curious melange of masters and servants, took their respective stations at the appointed time. As the several parties advanced, the individuals along the line came closer and closer together —the plan was to keep on advancing slowly towards a certain peninsula, and thus frighten the Aborigines before them, and hem them in."
1852. J. West, `History of Tasmania,' vol, ii. p. 54:
"Thus closed the Black War. This campaign of a month supplied many adventures and many an amusing tale, and, notwithstanding the gravity of his Excellency, much fun and folly . . . . Five thousand men had taken the field. Nearly L 30,000 had been expended, and probably not much less in time and outlay by the settlers, and two persons only were captured."
<hw>Black Wednesday</hw>, <i>n</i>. a political phrase for a day in Victoria (Jan. 9, 1878), when the Government without notice dismissed many Civil Servants, including heads of departments, County Court judges and police magistrates, on the ground that the Legislative Council had not voted the money for their salaries.
1878. `Melbourne Punch,' May 16, vol. xlvi. p. 195 [Title of Cartoon]:
"In Memoriam. Black Wednesday, 9th January 1878."
1896. `The Argus,' [Sydney telegram] Aug. 18, p. 6, col. 4: