Governor Hampton gave great attention to public works, and to economizing the cost of Government; by the former he obtained a lasting reputation, and by the latter he secured an excess of income. Among other important works he commenced, what Governor Weld completed, the bushing the sand hills to the South of Geraldton, which threatened, in their Northward progress, to overwhelm the houses; in 1867 he was able to report that during the past year 371 miles of road had been repaired, 132 cleared, and 32 made; 33 bridges built, seven repaired, and three in course of erection; five jetties constructed, two extended, and two repaired; besides the works on the Government House, Perth, Residency at Champion Bay, Lunatic Asylum, Post and Police Offices, Schools, &c., in many places. At this time a step was made towards the representation of the people by permitting the selection by vote of persons for nomination by the Governor to be members of the Legislative Council, and accordingly Messrs. J. G. C. Carr, J. G. Lee Steere, W. Bateman, S. Phillips, and J. W. Hardey were so nominated. In 1868 the desire that the unofficial members should be elected by the people was strongly expressed, and this was followed by a report on the division of the Colony into electoral districts, and by a petition for a Representative Constitution under 13th and 14th Vic, c, 59. In that year also, the last convict vessel arrived, having on board some Fenians, which raised fears, subsequently proved to be just, by the escape of several so assisted in 1876, that the "Yankee brotherhood" would endeavour to rescue them.
1869 was marked by efforts to ascertain the existence of gold and coal; borings were made near Perth to the depth of 200 feet, as subsequently in 1874, but without
