and in July, 1850, the first instalment of 219 persons arrived in the Sophia, and a detachment of sappers and miners the next year, some of whom remained in the Colony and proved valuable members of society. In this year also juvenile immigrants, 51 in number, were first introduced, some of whom afterwards proved adepts in crime, though many became useful members of society, and 125 more were sent, but at the request of the colonists that plan for immigration was abandoned; some Chinese were also introduced, who proved, as usual, thrifty and industrious. The depressed state of affairs in the Colony had not been less felt by those in the employ of the Government than by the settlers, and many had supplemented their insufficient salaries by trading.
Notwithstanding all drawbacks, the Colony had gradually increased in population and production. The white inhabitants numbered 6661 persons; the area of land under cultivation in cereals was 4,123 acres, there were 141,123 sheep, 10,919 head of cattle, 2,095 horses, some 3,000 pigs, and 1,431 goats; the imports had reached the sum of £45,411 6s., and the exports of £29,598 9s. The labours of the colonists had been most successful in horticulture by the production of most of the valuable fruits, vegetables, and flowers, now under cultivation, most of which had been introduced by the Government and by the first settlers.
The introduction of convicts forms so important an era in the history of the Colony that the effects produced by it require separate consideration, but, pursuing the course of general history, the most important event during Governor Fitzgerald's term of office was the opening up of the Victoria District now so largely occupied by sheep stations and so productive in
