Our First Half-Century Part 3

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 7 (1851).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 8 (1855).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 9 (1859).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 10 (1862).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 11 (1861-3).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Map 12 (1863).]

QUEENSLAND (MAP 9).

In 1859 Queensland was severed from New South Wales by Letters Patent issued to Sir George Bowen, the boundaries being given as follows:--"So much of the said colony of New South Wales as lies northward of a line commencing on the sea coast at Point Danger, in lat.i.tude about 28 degrees 8 minutes south, and following the range thence which divides the waters of the Tweed, Richmond, and Clarence Rivers from those of the Logan and Brisbane Rivers, westerly, to the Great Dividing Range between the waters falling to the east coast and those of the River Murray; following the Great Dividing Range southerly to the range dividing the waters of Tenterfield Creek from those of the main head of the Dumaresq River; following that range westerly to the Dumaresq River; and following that river (which is locally known as the Severn) downward to its confluence with the Macintyre River; thence following the Macintyre River (which lower down becomes the Barwan) downward to the 29th parallel of south lat.i.tude; and following that parallel westerly to the 141st meridian of east longitude, which is the eastern boundary of South Australia; together with all and every the adjacent islands, their members and appurtenances, in the Pacific Ocean; and do by these presents separate from our said colony of New South Wales and erect the said territory so described into a separate colony to be called the 'Colony of Queensland.'"

ANNEXATION TO QUEENSLAND, 1862 (MAP 10).

On 12th April, 1862, the Duke of Newcastle advised Governor Bowen that Letters Patent, of which a copy was enclosed, had been issued annexing to Queensland the following territory--namely, "so much of our colony of New South Wales as lies to the northward of the 21st parallel of south lat.i.tude, and between the 141st and 138th meridians of east longitude, together with all and every the adjacent islands, their members and appurtenances in the Gulf of Carpentaria." The area thus annexed added to Queensland about 120,000 square miles of territory, which now comprises such centres as Birdsville, Boulia, Cloncurry, Camooweal, and Burketown.

ANNEXATION TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA (MAP 11).

An Imperial Act of 1861 enacted that "so much of the colony of New South Wales, being to the south of the 26th degree of south lat.i.tude, as lies between the western boundary of South Australia and 129 degrees east longitude, shall be and the same is hereby detached from the colony of New South Wales and annexed to the colony of South Australia, and shall for all purposes whatever be deemed to be part of the last-mentioned colony from the day in which the Act of Parliament is proclaimed."

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY ANNEXED TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA (MAP 12).

There still remained, nominally belonging to New South Wales though detached from that colony, the country now known as the Northern Territory and forming part of South Australia, lying northward of the 26th parallel of south lat.i.tude, and between 129 degrees and 138 degrees east longitude. That area was by Letters Patent, dated 6th July, 1863, issued under the Imperial Act of 1861, annexed to South Australia until it was "the Royal pleasure to make other disposition thereof."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

GOVERNORS OF QUEENSLAND.

(1) SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.: Dec. 1859--Jan. 1868.

(2) COLONEL SAMUEL WENSLEY BLACKALL: Aug. 1868--Jan. 1871.

(3) MARQUIS OF NORMANBY: Aug. 1871--Nov. 1874.

(4) WILLIAM WELLINGTON CAIRNS, C.M.G.: Jan. 1875--Mar. 1877.

(5) SIR ARTHUR EDWARD KENNEDY, G.C.M.G., C.B.: April 1877--May 1883.

(6) SIR ANTHONY MUSGRAVE, G.C.M.G.: Nov. 1883--Oct. 1888.

(7) SIR HENRY WYLIE NORMAN, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., C.I.E.: May 1889--Dec. 1895.

(8) LORD LAMINGTON, G.C.M.G.: April 1896--Dec. 1901.

(9) SIR HERBERT CHARLES CHERMSIDE, G.C.M.G., C.B.: Mar. 1902--Oct.

1904.

(10) LORD CHELMSFORD, K.C.M.G.: Nov. 1905--May 1909.

(11) SIR WILLIAM MACGREGOR, G.C.M.G., C.B.: Dec. 1909--

QUEEN OF THE NORTH.

ESs.e.x EVANS.

Stand forth, O Daughter of the Sun, Of all thy kin the fairest one, It is thine hour of Jubilee.

Behold, the work our hands have done Our hearts now offer unto thee.

Thy children call thee; O come forth, Queen of the North!

Brow-bound with pearls and burnished gold The East hath Queens of royal mould, Sultanas, peerless in their pride, Who rule wide realms of wealth untold, But they wax wan and weary-eyed: Thine eyes, O Northern Queen, are bright With morning light.

Fear not thy Youth: It is thy crown-- The careless years before Renown Shall load its tines with jewelled deeds And press thy golden circlet down With vaster toils and greater needs.

Fear not thy Youth: its splendid power Awaits the hour.

Stand forth, O Daughter of the Sun, Whose fires through all thine arteries run, Whose kiss hath touched thy gleaming hair-- Come like a G.o.ddess, Radiant One, Reign in our hearts who crown thee there, With laughter like thy seas, and eyes Blue as thy skies.

Ah, not in vain, O Pioneers, The toil that breaks, the grief that sears, The hands that forced back Nature's bars To prove the blood of ancient years And make a home 'neath alien stars!

O Victors over stress and pain 'Twas not in vain!

Jungle and plain and pathless wood-- Depths of primeval solitude-- Gaunt wilderness and mountain stern-- Their secrets lay all unsubdued.

Life was the price: who dared might learn.

Ye read them all, Bold Pioneers, In fifty years.

O True Romance, whose splendour gleams Across the shadowy realm of dreams, Whose starry wings can touch with light The dull grey paths, the common themes: Hast thou not thrilled with sovereign might Our story, until Duty's name Is one with Fame!

Queen of the North, thy heroes sleep On sun-burnt plain and rocky steep.

Their work is done: their high emprise Hath crowned thee, and the great stars keep The secrets of their histories.

We reap the harvest they have sown Who died unknown.

The seed they sowed with weary hands Now bursts in bloom through all thy lands; Dark hills their glittering secrets yield; And for the camps of wand'ring bands-- The snowy flock, the fertile field.

Back, ever back new conquests press The wilderness.

Below thy coast line's rugged height Wide canefields glisten in the light, And towns arise on hill and lea, And one fair city where the bright Broad winding river sweeps to sea.