During Sir Hercules Robinson's term of office the first "through cable message was received from England; railway communication with Melbourne was carried on within the Victorian territory from the metropolis of that colony as far as Wodonga; the cable from La Perouse to Wakapuaka was opened, and direct telegraphic communication between New South Wales and New Zealand thereby established; the railway from Sydney to Bathurst was opened to traffic; the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Perth was completed, and the "Seven Colonies" were thus brought within sympathetic earshot.

But, perhaps, the most important event marking Sir Hercules Robinson's term of office was of political and not of material significance. This was the institution in New South Wales of Triennial Parliaments. The first Parliament elected under the Constitution Act met on the 22nd May, 1856; and the duration of Parliament, unless it should be previously prorogued, was originally fixed at five years; but in 1874 an Act was passed establishing Triennial Parliaments, and this Act has ever since remained in force.

On the day following the departure of Sir Hercules Robinson (the 20th March, 1879), Sir Alfred Stephen took up the duties of Administrator, and discharged them until the 3rd August, when Sir Augustus William Frederick Spencer Loftus, P.C., G.C.B. (commonly called Lord Loftus), entered on his term of office as Governor.

The holding of the first International Exhibition was a great event in Lord Loftus' régime. The previous Intercolonial Exhibition having proved so successful, it was determined that this one should partake of an international character. The management of the affair was originally in the hands of the Agricultural Society, but it assumed such large proportions that the Government determined to take it over, and entrusted the work to an honorary Commission. The Exhibition was held in a commodious building called the Garden Palace, and was in every respect a pronounced success. On the advantage to commerce resulting from it there is little need to dwell. Unfortunately the building was burnt to the ground in 1882, and many valuable documents were destroyed.

The colony gave further proof of its power and its resources in the despatch of a military contingent to the British Army which had been working its way up the Nile in an endeavour to rescue General Gordon. The prevailing uncertainty as to the fate of the gallant Governor of Khartoum caused profound anxiety in the colony, and the Acting Premier, the Hon. William Bede Dalley, with the sanction of the Ministry, offered the armed assistance of New South Wales. It was thought that an expedition from Suakim to the Nile was about to be undertaken, and under this impression the New South Wales Government suggested the despatch to Suakim of a force of infantry and artillery, together with the necessary supply of horses. The offer of the colony was accepted. On the 3rd March, 1885, the Australian Contingent, as it was called, although it was really the New South Wales Contingent, sailed from Sydney to Suakim in two large steamships, the "Iberia" and the

"Australasian," which left Port Jackson amid the wildest enthusiasm. This was the first military support ever tendered by any of these colonies to the mother country. The day of departure was proclaimed a public holiday, and no more brilliant and exciting spectacle had ever been seen in Sydney than was witnessed on the day of departure of the troops. The military plans for the Egyptian campaign were subsequently modified, and the little army returned in safety on the 24th June, nearly four months from the date of their setting forth, without having seen much service; but the impression produced in England by the spontaneous loyalty of the colonies was extraordinary, and this impression has been accentuated by the presence of Australian troops at the Jubilee Celebrations, the subsequent visit of a squadron of the New South Wales Lancers to England, and lastly, by the despatch of troops from the various Australasian colonies to assist the British forces in the Transvaal. The Soudan Contingent gave rise to a new estimate of the value of the Colonial Empire, and stimulated greatly the discussion of the whole question of Imperial Federation.

During Lord Loftus' term of office, a leading topic of conversation in social and political circles, and a source of Ministerial trouble and worry, was the celebrated Millburn Creek Copper-Mining Company scandal, which involved the reputation and probity of several persons occupying leading positions in the community. Among other events deserving of record; His Excellency's period of administration was marked by the successful sinking of the first artesian bore in Australia at Killara, New South Wales; and by the first issue of silver coin at the Sydney Mint. During this year the National Park, the largest of the metropolitan pleasure-grounds, was dedicated to the people of New South Wales, and it is intended that this locality shall, so far as possible, preserve for all time its distinctive scenery.

One of the most important measures passed in the colony since the introduction of Responsible Government, was the "Bill to make more adequate provision for Public Education," introduced by Sir Henry Parkes in 1879, and assented to in 1880. This Bill, known as the "Public Instruction Act of 1880," repealed the Public Schools Act of 1866, and dissolved the Council of Education, the powers of which were entrusted to the Minister of Public Instruction. The Bill abolished State aid to denominational schools and established a secular and compulsory system with free education for the children of those who were not in a position to pay the small fee imposed by law.

Another important enactment in 1879 was the Electoral Bill. This Bill, assented to in 1880, repealed the Electoral Act of 1858, divided New South Wales into 68 electoral districts, and increased the number of members to serve in the Assembly to 103.

Allusion has been made to the vexed question of Church and School Lands. This was finally disposed of by a measure called the Church and School Lands Dedication Act, which was assented to in 1880, and vested the control of the Church and School Lands in the Legislature

of New South Wales, and applied the income arising therefrom to the purposes of public instruction. An Intercolonial Conference commenced its sitting in Melbourne on 26th November, 1880, the colonies represented being New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia Various matters of intercolonial concern were discussed, such as concerted action with respect to the influx of Chinese, the appointment of a Federal Council to deal with questions affecting the colonies in common, Border duties, &c.

On the 7th July, 1881, Sir Henry Parkes introduced his Chinese Restriction Act, and it received the Royal Assent on the 6th December. Provision was made for the payment of £10 by every Chinese entering the colony by sea or land, and restrictions were placed on the number which could be introduced by any one vessel. Severe penalties were provided for any infringement of the law.

The year 1883 witnessed the completion of the railway from Sydney to Melbourne. The line from the Southern capital to Wodonga had been opened in 1875, but it was not till eight years afterwards that the Southern line from Sydney reached this part of the border. Two years later the massive railway bridge crossing the Murray at Albury was completed, thus joining the colonies by an iron link. An important

feature of the year 1883 was the discovery of the rich silver deposits at Broken Hill. In 1885 the Broken Hill Proprietary began operations, and during the period extending from that year to the 31st May, 1902, silver and lead to the value of £24,440,000 were produced.

Amongst the remaining events of importance during the administration of Lord Loftus were the establishment of the Board of Technical Education, and the completion of the railway line to Bourke, on the river Darling. Lord Loftus' term of office came to a close on the 9th November, 1885, and his successor, the Right Hon. Baron Carrington, did not arrive in the colony till the 12th December following. In the meantime Sir Alfred Stephen discharged the duties of Lieutenant-Governor.

On the 23rd March, 1887, a terrible disaster occurred at the Bulli Colliery, when 83.miners lost their lives through an explosion of gas in the workings of the mine. As a result of the inquiry following on the catastrophe, the Legislature took steps towards minimising the possibility of such accidents occurring in the future.

The close of the year 1887 witnessed the completion of the present scheme of waterworks for the metropolitan district. In the early days of settlement the colonists had to be content with the waters of the "Tank Stream." At a later date a supply was obtained from the natural reservoir at Botany, but as this proved inadequate for the ever-increasing population, the present scheme, which is among the most perfect in the world, was initiated. The sources of supply are the waters of the Nepean, Cataract, and Cordeaux Rivers, draining an area of 354 square miles, the catchment area enjoying a copious and regular rainfall. The off-take works are built at a height of 437 feet above sea-level, and the water flows through a series of conduits,

partly tunnel, partly open canal, and in places wrought-iron aqueducts, to Prospect reservoir, a distance of 40 miles from the farthest source of supply. Here a storage reservoir has been constructed, capable of holding 11,000 million gallons, of which nearly 7,000 millions are available for supply by gravitation. From Prospect the water flows into various distributing and pumping reservoirs. During the year ended 31st December, 1901, the total amount of water supplied was 10,000,000,000 gallons, but this quantity by no means adequately represents the capacity of the available supply. Recent events, however, have proved that large as is the supply and the storage they are not likely to meet, for any lengthened period, the needs of the growing population of Sydney.

Early in 1888 the public mind was much exercised by the large influx of Chinese immigrants, who, in spite of the "Chinese Restriction Act of 1881," had been arriving in rather alarming numbers. In the preceding twelve months no fewer than 4,436 Chinese subjects had arrived in the country. Early in May two vessels arrived in Port Jackson bringing a large number of the aliens, but they were not allowed by the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes, to land. However, this action on the part of the Premier was contrary to law, and the matter was brought before the Supreme Court, with the result that he had to give way. Feeling still ran high in the colony, and at length, on the 11th July, 1888, Parliament voiced the sentiments of the people by passing a drastic "Chinese Restriction Act." Under the provisions of this measure,. which is still in force, no vessel is allowed to carry more than oneChinese passenger to the colony to every 300 tons; such Chinese as land are required to pay a poll-tax of £100; they are not permitted toengage in mining without authority from the Minister of Mines; nor are they permitted to take advantage of the Naturalisation Act. An exception is made in the case of Chinese who, by birth, are British subjects. Provision is made for a penalty of £500 for a breach of the Act. This measure has, of course, tended greatly to reduce the number of Chinese immigrants, but it is believed that not a few manage to elude the vigilance of the police, and enter the colony by the landward borders. In 1887 the number of Chinese immigrants into New South Wales was 4,436; in 1888 it had fallen to 1,848, and in 1889 to 7. During 1901 the number recorded was 71, of whom 62 were British subjects. From the year 1885 the colony began to suffer from a stoppage in the tide of prosperity, which people had fondly accustomed themselves to regard as permanent. In 1886 employment became difficult to obtain, and wages consequently fell. In the years 1886-7 work was suspended in some of the Southern collieries by strikes and disputes. On the 24th August, 1888, 6,000 coal-miners in the Northern district collieries laid down their tools. Ill-feeling between the owners and men ran high, and was further accentuated by the arrest of several miners on a charge of rioting. However, the sentences passed on these men were afterwards remitted by the Governor. This strike ended in November, but, after a short intermission, was renewed. In the years 1888-9 the

completion of various large public works, and the depletion of the Treasury of loan money, threw out of employment some 12,000 men, no inconsiderable portion of the unskilled labour of the colony. In September, 1890, the Broken Hill silver-mines closed down through a renewal of the strike. Soon after this a conference of employers issued their manifesto. The Intercolonial Labour Conference held its first meeting on the same day (12th September), and on the next issued a manifesto in reply to that of the employers. Fully 40,000 men left off work in response to the demands of the Conference, and on the 16th these were joined by various trolly and dray men. This was in the height of the wool season, and the carriage of wool through the city had to be undertaken by volunteer drivers. Shortly afterwards a shearers' strike took place, involving some 20,000 men. Again, in 1892, the miners at Broken Hill turned out on strike, and the silver-mines had to lie idle for over four months. On the 4th July, 1893, a general strike of seamen on the intercolonial steamers began, and ultimately ended in the defeat of the workers.

From 1872 to 1886 the Government of the colony had pursued what was popularly termed a spirited policy of public works. The completion of the works undertaken in pursuance of this policy threw large numbers of men on the labour market, and thus tended to reduce the wages of those who remained in employment. This cessation of public works also brought about the practical discontinuance of State-aided immigration, which had been the policy of the country for over fifty years. In 1883 the number of immigrants assisted to the colony by the State was 8,369; in 1886 it had fallen to 4,081, in 1887 to 1,362, and in 1888 it was only 528.

Lord Carrington's term of office was marked not alone by strikes and industrial disturbances, but by droughts, bush-fires, and floods. Early in March, 1888, immense loss was caused by the raging of bush-fires in many parts of the country, and further devastation was wrought by fires in the month of October, 1890. In May, 1889, the greater portion of the low-lying suburbs of Sydney was under water through excessive rains, while the Hawkesbury River was in flood. In September following heavy floods occurred on the Murray. In January, 1890, the Clarence and Richmond Rivers overflowed their banks, working great havoc in the lower portions of their courses. February and March, 1890, were noted for excessive rains, causing disastrous floods on most of the Northern coastal rivers. In April the towns of Bourke and Louth, in the far west, were inundated. Shortly afterwards the basins of the Darling and Murrumbidgee were the scenes of devastating floods.

From the 6th to the 14th February, 1890, the Federation Conference sat in Melbourne, and determined the preliminary details for the holding of a National Convention, such as was advocated by Sir Henry Parkes in the month of October preceding; and on the 7th May Sir Henry Parkes moved the Federal Convention resolutions in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Later on, the National Convention

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