north and north east by a straight line drawn from Cape Howe to the nearest source of the River Murray, and thence by the course of that river to the eastern boundary of the colony of South Australia," was separated from New South Wales and erected into a separate colony, "to be known and designated as the Colony of Victoria." It was to be governed by a Legislative Council, two-thirds of whose thirty members were to be elective, and the other third to be appointed by Her Majesty; but the elective number, and their appointment through the several electoral districts, the boundaries of which districts and other matters of detail were to be determined by a local Act, to be passed by the New South Wales Legislature. The qualifications of voters were: Every man twenty-one years of age, a natural born or naturalized subject of the Queen, or legally made a d denizen of New South Wales, having a freehold estate in possession in the district for which his vote was to be given, of the clear value of £100, above all charges and encumbrances, and of or to which he had been seised or entitled at law or in equity for six months prior to the date of the writ of election, or being a six months' resident occupier of a dwelling-house in the district, of the annual value of £10, or the holder at the date of the writ of a Government license to depasture lands in the district, or having a leasehold estate in possession in the district, valued £10 per annum, the lease of which had not less than three years to run, subject to the usual disabilities attending a conviction for treason, felony, or other infamous offence in any part of Her Majesty's dominions, etc.; and the non-payment of rates, taxes, and license charges, except such as had become due within the preceding three months, etc.
The qualification of members remained unaltered, viz., 21 years of age, a natural born or naturalized subject, and possessed of lands and tenements in New South Wales of the annual value of £100, or worth £2,000 unencumbered. Every candidate before capable of being elected, should, if required by any other candidate or elector, or Returning officer, make a declaration of qualification; but this requirement was not insisted on, and deferred until the taking of the seat. A false declaration involved the punishment of perjury. There are other provisions relative to the creation of an Executive, a Supreme Court, grants for Civil and Judicial services, Appropriations, Customs, etc., which it would only embarrass my narrative to particularize. It was also enacted that upon the issuing of the first writs for the first election of members of the colony of Victoria, such colony shall be deemed to be established, and the legislative authority of the Governor and Council of New South Wales, and the powers of such Governor over the new colony and its revenues should cease. The local Act fixed the 1st July as the period for doing so, and thus all further impediments were at length and for ever removed.
The Superintendent returned from Sydney on the 10th May by the steamer "Shamrock." About a thousand persons had assembled to give him an enthusiastic greeting, but as he had not yet obtained his Commission, he desired there should be no open demonstration, and the welcome home therefore consisted simply of a respectful silence. Despatches from the office of the Secretary of State were shortly after received, forwarding His Excellency's Commission of Lieutenant-Governor, and authorizing him to appoint his Executive Councillors and other officials necessary to administer the infant Government.
The Inauguration Ceremonies.
Though the Writs of Election which were to constitute the nativity of the new colony were issued on the 1st July, the official initiation did not take place until the 15th, which may therefore be deemed the veritable beginning of the system by which Port Phillip became a thing of the past. It was arranged that the installation of the Governor should be a public ceremony in the area fronting the Government Offices in William Street, since removed to make way for the New Law Courts. Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed, and the day was observed as a holiday. From an early hour of the morning the principal marts of business in the chief streets were closed. The people promenaded in groups, and there seemed to reign everywhere a feeling of deep satisfaction that the good time, so long coming, had at length come, mingled with a fervent hope that a fair share of the
