for Immigration once more. On Oct. 14th, 1877, the Atkinson Ministry retired, and was succeeded by the Grey Cabinet, which, however, was defeated on Oct. 8th, 1879, when Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Hall came into office, Major Atkinson becoming Colonial Treasurer. On April 21st, 1882, Sir John Hall retired from the Premiership owing to ill-health, and was succeeded by Sir Frederick Whitaker, Major Atkinson continuing to hold the office of Colonial Treasurer, as well as those of Commissioner of Stamp Duties and Customs and Minister of Marine. On Sept. 25th, 1883, he became Premier; but retired on Aug. 18th, 1884, when Sir Julius Vogel formed a Ministry. The Vogel Cabinet only lasted ten days, and on Aug. 28th Major Atkinson again came in; but the party led by Sir George Grey once more overthrew the balance, and the Ministry resigned on Aug. 30th, giving place to a combination of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr. (now Sir) Robert Stout. This lasted until Oct. 11th, 1887, when Major Atkinson once more came into office as Premier and Colonial Treasurer. In 1890 Major Atkinson, who had been in exceedingly bad health, retired from active work, though still holding together his colleagues as nominal Premier. The result of the general election in December of that year being adverse, Sir Harry Atkinson, who was created K.C.M.G. in 1888, advised his own nomination to the post of President of the Legislative Council in succession to the late Sir William Fitzherbert. His acceptance of this position, broke up the Ministry, and made way for the accession to office of Mr. Ballance and his colleagues in Jan. 1891. Sir Harry Atkinson died on June 28th, 1892.
Austin, Thomas, a well-known Victorian squatter, came out with his parents from Great Britain to Tasmania about the year 1835. The former, however, soon returned to the old country, leaving their family to test the advantages of colonial life. Mr. Thomas Austin, accompanied by his brother, James (now of Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset), left Tasmania in 1839, for the then little known settlement of Port Phillip, taking with them a number of sheep which they ultimately depastured on country to the west ward of Geelong, on the east bank of the Barwon River, near what is now the town of Winchelsea. To this property they gave the name of Barwon Park—a name now historic in the annals of stock raising and wool growing, Mr. Austin being the first to introduce Lincoln sheep into Australia, besides which he acclimatised various kinds of game on his extensive property, which still remains in the possession of the family. Mr. Austin married, on August 14th, 1845, Elizabeth Phillip Harding, daughter of Robert Harding, of Middle Chinnock, Somerset, and granddaughter of James Harding, of Hurly Grove, in that county, the munificent founder of the Hospital for Incurables at Heidelberg, near Melbourne, and a lady whose acts of charity have rendered her name a household word throughout the colony of Victoria. Mr. Thomas Austin died on Dec. 15th, 1871.
Ayers, Hon. Sir Henry, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., son of Mr. Ayers of Portsmouth Dockyard, was born at Portsea, England, on May 1st, 1821, and emigrated to South Australia in 1840, where he engaged in legal pursuits until 1845, when he took the management of the Burra Burra Mines, as Secretary to the Company formed to work them. In March 1857 he was elected a member of the Legislative Council, and has ever since retained a seat in that body. He was a member of the Dutton Ministry, without office for a few days in July 1863, and then formed an Administration, of which he was Chief Secretary and Premier. This Government lasted till August 1864, Mr. Ayers retaining the Chief Secretaryship under his two successors in the Premiership, and in his own subsequent Administration till Oct. 1865. He was Premier and Chief Secretary on four subsequent occasions—viz. from May 1867 to Sept. 1868, Oct. to Nov. 1868, Jan. to March 1872, and March 1872 to July 1873. Mr. Ayers was also Chief Secretary in the Colton Government from June 1876 to Oct. 1877. In Feb. 1870 he was created C.M.G, and K.C.M.G. in Dec. 1872, owing to the fact of his being Premier of South Australia at the time when the overland telegraph line was opened for traffic. In June 1881 Sir Henry was elected President of the Legislative Council, and has since been re-elected to the position, which he still holds.
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