and their functions extended, especially since the introduction of convicts in 1850. A mounted police fort, was enrolled, which has been also continued, and by its means the law enforced throughout the Colony. A Legislative Council was formed of the members of the Executive Council with two nominated members, the Governor presiding. The nominated members were afterwards increased to four, and ultimately to six, but, in 1870, the Legislative Council became elective and, since then, the official members have been the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Surveyor General. A Speaker was at the same time elected in the person of Mr. Luke S. Leake, now Sir L. S. Leake, who still holds that office.
The history of the Colony is at first principally that of the Land Regulations and their consequences. The Imperial Government, being anxious for the settlement of the country, to anticipate any such measure being taken by that of France, offered land in return for property introduced, at one shilling and sixpence for an acre, as well as allotments for every immigrant; and, on these terms, in the year 1832, 1,349,209 acres had been allotted, of which three lots exceeded 100,000; ten 20,000; eighteen 10,000; and fifty-two 5,000, acres each. Thomas Peel and others had 250,000 acres; Col. Latour 113,100, and Governor Stirling 100,000 in consideration of his not having any salary attached to his office, but his salary, afterwards fixed at £800 a year, was ultimately paid from the date of his appointment. The necessary consequence of this extravagant distribution of land was that the small population was widely scattered from Albany and Augusta to the Avon Valley. Much difficulty, contusion, and waste of time by the Surveyors, also resulted from the instructions under
