Our First Half-Century Part 33

The subjoined map shows the curves of equal mean annual rainfall for every 100 inches for Australia, compiled from the most recent information:--

[Ill.u.s.tration: DISTRIBUTION OF THE RAINFALL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA]

The following table shows the relative rainfalls at the six Australian capital cities for the periods set severally against them; also for the ten-year period subsequent to 1896, during which the average precipitation was much below that of the total number of years over which the records extend:--

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ten Years'

Total Average Ten Years' Difference Difference Percentage Place. Number Rainfall Average between for per Annum of for all Rainfall. the Two. Ten Years. above or Years. Years. below True Mean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches.

Brisbane 57 4747 3916 -831 8310 -18 Sydney 67 4880 4428 -452 4520 -9 Melbourne 63 2635 2550 -085 850 -3 Perth 31 3303 3254 -049 490 -1 Hobart 66 2338 2298 -040 400 -2 Adelaide 67 2089 2053 -036 360 -2 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

The following table supplies similar information with respect to seventeen representative Queensland stations, from which it will be seen that the mean annual rainfall at Geraldton for twenty-one years was 14527 inches, and for the ten years subsequent to 1896 13581 inches. Thus Geraldton is by far the wettest place in the State.

The lightest mean rainfall for the same period was at Boulia, which recorded 1145 inches; and for the ten years, 872 inches. The last column of the table shows that the fall for the ten years was under the average at every station mentioned, the shortage at Cooktown having been 28 per cent. each year of the ten. The number of wet days is not supplied, except for the capital cities. The driest part of Australia--that which receives a rainfall of 100 inches and under--comprises an area equalling nearly one-third of the Commonwealth, and includes the central Territory of South Australia, the extreme western parts of New South Wales, the south-western parts of Queensland, and the south-eastern, central, and part of the north-western portions of Western Australia. The limits of this dry area are shown by the 100-inch isohyetal line:--

------------+------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Ten Years'

Total Average Ten Years' Difference Difference Percentage Number Rainfall Average between for per Annum Place. of for Rainfall. the Two. Ten Years. above or Years. all Years. below True Mean.

------------+------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. Cooktown 29 6896 4991 -1905 19050 -28 Geraldton 21 14527 13581 -946 9460 -7 Brisbane 57 4747 3916 -831 8310 -18 Mackay 36 6942 6173 -769 7690 -11 Maryborough 36 4658 3949 -709 7090 -15 Goondiwindi 28 2927 2299 -628 6280 -21 Tambo 21 2287 1808 -479 4790 -21 Bowen 36 4040 3562 -478 4780 -12 Blackall 27 2259 1792 -467 4670 -21 Charleville 34 1971 1530 -441 4410 -22 Hughenden 22 1912 1492 -420 4200 -22 Thursday Island 16 6811 6399 -412 4120 -6 Springsure 30 2625 2254 -371 3710 -14 Boulia 21 1145 872 -273 2730 -24 Thargomindah 25 1253 1003 -250 2500 -20 Cloncurry 23 1935 1702 -233 2330 -12 Normanton 35 3711 3526 -185 1850 -5 ------------+------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------

The following table shows the distribution of the average rainfall from 100 inches and under to over 400 inches:--

-----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ Average Annual Rainfall. N.S.W. Victoria. Queensland. South Australia. -----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ sqr. mls. sqr. mls. sqr. mls. sqr. mls. Under 10 inches 81,144 nil 135,600 306,663 10-20 " 116,363 36,300 255,300 57,935 20-30 " 77,910 27,900 173,400 13,908 30-40 " 20,414 18,770 58,700 1,198 Over 40 " 14,541 4,914 47,500 366 +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ Total Area 310,372 87,884 670,500 380,070 -----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+

[cont.]

-----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- Average Annual Rainfall. Northern Western Tasmania. Commonwealth.

Territory. Australia. -----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- sqr. mls. sqr. mls. sqr. mls. sqr. mls.

Under 10 inches 6,300 408,300 nil 938,007 10-20 " 213,430 400,720 nil 1,080,048 20-30 " 96,790 113,700 11,395 515,003 30-40 " 120,600 39,100 5,396 264,178 Over 40 " 86,500 14,100 9,424 177,345 +-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- Total Area 523,620 975,920 26,215 2,974,581 -----------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------------

The comparative rainfalls and temperatures at the respective State capitals, and at Canberra, the embryo Federal capital, are shown in the following table:--

------------+-------+--------------------------------+ ANNUAL RAINFALL. Place. Height+----------+----------+----------+ above M.S.L. Average. Highest. Lowest. ------------+-------+----------+----------+----------+ Ft. Ins. Ins. Ins. Perth 197 3305 4673 2048 Adelaide 141 2038 3087 1343 Brisbane 137 5000 8823 2411 Sydney 144 4935 8281 2301 Melbourne 91 2562 4425 1561 Hobart 160 2340 4067 1343 Canberra { 2,000 } (District) { to } 2300 5069 1656 { 2,900 } ------------+-------+----------+----------+----------+

[cont.]

------------+-------+----------------------------------------------------- TEMPERATURE.

Place. Height+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- above Mean Mean Highest Lowest Average Average M.S.L. Summer. Winter. on on Hottest Coldest Record. Record. Month. Month.

------------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- Ft. Fahr. Fahr. Fahr. Fahr. Fahr. Fahr.

Perth 197 739 556 1120 336 751 546 Adelaide 141 723 520 1163 322 733 525 Brisbane 137 760 600 1089 361 773 580 Sydney 144 708 539 1085 359 715 523 Melbourne 91 649 492 1112 270 663 477 Hobart 160 614 470 1050 277 621 457 Canberra { 2,000 } (District) { to } 697 450 1090 160 720 420 { 2,900 } ------------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------

The mean humidity at the several capitals is as follows:--Brisbane mean averages, 681; highest, 85; lowest, 47. Sydney mean averages, 73, 90, 55. Melbourne mean averages, 72, 76, 67. Adelaide mean averages, 56, 84, 33. Perth mean averages, 63, 83, 45. Hobart mean averages, 72, 76, 67.

APPENDIX K.--EDUCATION STATISTICS.

I.--STATE PRIMARY EDUCATION (1907).

----------------------------+------------+-----------------+-----------+ Queensland. New South Wales. Victoria. ----------------------------+------------+-----------------+-----------+ s. d. s. d. s. d. Amount per head of estimated population 0 10 11 0 10 6 0 9 6 Amount per district scholar 3 3 2 3 9 2 2 18 7 ----------------------------+------------+-----------------+-----------+

II.--PRIVATE SCHOOLS (1908).

------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------+ Undenomi- Church of Roman Lutheran. Total. national. England. Catholic. ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------+ Number of schools 86 8 61 2 157 Teachers--Male 26 6 57 2 91 Female 170 32 372 574 Gross enrolment--Male 786 236 4,883 29 5,934 Female 1,386 344 6,400 34 8,164 Average daily attendance --Male 654 216 4,220 24 5,114 Female 1,289 297 5,200 28 6,814 ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------+

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS (1909).[a]

-------------------------+------------+--------------+----------------+ Schools. On Roll. Average Teachers. Attendance. -------------------------+------------+--------------+----------------+ St. John's Day School, 44 boys, 33 boys, 6, and 1 music Brisbane 134 girls 107 girls and 1 drawing Holy Trinity Day School, 33 boys, 30 boys, 3 Woolloongabba 42 girls 376 girls St. Paul's Day School, 35 29 2 Maryborough High School for Boys, 112 112 9 Southport Glennie Memorial School 50 Very good 6 for Girls, Toowoomba Eton High School for 50 97 per cent. 9 Girls, Toorak, Hamilton St. Paul's Day School, 35 boys, 253 boys, 4 Ipswich 62 girls 47 girls Theological College, 14 students ... 3 Nundah Tufnell Orphanage, 70 children ... 5 workers Nundah Industrial Home, 21 inmates ... 2 instructors Clayfield High School for Girls, ... ... ... Stanthorpe -------------------------+------------+--------------+----------------+

[Footnote a: Furnished by Mr. A. A. Orme, Diocesan Registry, Brisbane.]

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS (1909).[b]

-------------------------------------------------------+---------+ SCHOOLS TAUGHT BY SISTERS-- On Roll. _Archdiocese of Brisbane_-- Brisbane (High School), All Hallows; (Primary) --Elizabeth street, Ivory street, South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, Red Hill, Wooloowin, Toowong, Rosalie; Sandgate; Ipswich; Helidon; Toowoomba (2); Dalby; Roma; Warwick; Stanthorpe; Gympie (2); Maryborough; Bundaberg; Beaudesert; Southport; (Orphanage), Nudgee 6,226 _Diocese of Rockhampton_-- (High School), Rockhampton; Townsville; Charters Towers; (Primary), Rockhampton; Townsville; Charters Towers; Mount Morgan; Hughenden; Gladstone; Longreach; Winton; Mackay; Ravenswood; Clermont; Emerald; (Orphanage), Neerkol 4,228 _Diocese of Cooktown_-- (High School), Cooktown; (Primary), Cooktown; Cairns; Geraldton; Mareeba 572 SCHOOLS TAUGHT BY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS-- _Archdiocese of Brisbane_-- (College), Nudgee; (High School and Primary), Brisbane; Ipswich; Toowoomba; Gympie; Maryborough 1,880 _Diocese of Rockhampton_-- (High School and Primary), Rockhampton; Charters Towers 740 -------- Total 13,646 -------------------------------------------------------+---------+

[Footnote b: Supplied by the Church authorities.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOVERNMENT HOUSE, NOW DEDICATED TO UNIVERSITY PURPOSES]

APPENDIX L.

INAUGURATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND.

In older lands Time seems to move with so deliberate a step that his march is scarcely noticed, and the pa.s.sing of fifty years is but a small matter, though within the past half-century discovery after discovery, advance after advance, has been made. Still these things have come gradually, and, like all the great triumphs of peace, have been achieved calmly, orderly, and almost imperceptibly. It has been different in these new countries, whose practical history comprehends scarcely more than the span of one man's life. Queensland has grown out of nothing (from the point of view of civilisation) to a fair stature of importance. Fifty years is the sum of its existence as a self-governing State, but within that brief period the country has been reclaimed from the wilderness, and made the home of a happy, progressive, and enlightened people. Bearing in mind what Queensland was fifty years ago, and what it is to-day, it will be admitted that its jubilee was eminently worth celebrating, not in a mere spirit of festivity, but in the spirit of a people conscious of what has been done, and full of enthusiasm for continued development. No better evidence of that could have been afforded than by the particular method of celebration decided upon--the dedication of the most historic building in Queensland to the purposes of a University.

It would have been easy to have devised a more showy plan, to have arranged for festivities that would have given greater immediate pleasure, but it would not have been possible to have marked the jubilee day with anything so admirably calculated to promote the best interests of the people, or so likely to abide in the public memory.

That was the view of Mr. Kidston and his Government, to whom belong the honour of having given effect to the long-cherished aspirations of that numerous body who desire to see Queenslanders an educated as well as a prosperous people. For many years there had been a movement afoot for the establishment of a University. As far back as 1891, a Royal Commission, under the presidency of the late Sir Charles Lilley, had inquired into the matter and reported strongly in favour of the project. Premiers who were themselves graduates of universities and cultured, far-seeing men had recognised the need for a University, but the matter obstinately remained in the air. For some sixteen years, largely supported by the Sydney University, a Council had carried on University Extension Lectures, educating not only the students, but the public. Finally, the present Premier, realising that the time was ripe for a definite forward move, placed educational reform in the forefront of his policy, and succeeded in getting legislation pa.s.sed for the establishment of the inst.i.tution and in securing a liberal provision for maintaining it. This much achieved, everything was sufficiently far advanced for an impressive dedicatory ceremony on the day chosen for celebrating the jubilee of Queensland--Friday, 10th December, 1909. It was not possible, of course, for the University to be actually in operation by that date, but it was possible to take the first step by solemnly setting apart for its uses the building in which it is proposed to conduct it. That was precisely what was done on this occasion, and with a simple dignity and an earnestness of purpose that could not well have been surpa.s.sed. Everything combined to make the day and the event memorable, to lift it out of the commonplace of public occasions, in a word to make it historic--the most historic event since the promulgation of Queensland's free Const.i.tution. The building itself had been the honoured home of every Governor since 1861. As was happily phrased in one of the speeches, it had been the centre of social and political life. What more appropriate than that it should be invested with a new function--be given, as it were, a new lease of life in the great cause of citizen-making? What more interesting than that the chief figure in the ceremonial should be Sir William MacGregor, himself a great witness to the value of university training, a distinguished servant of the Empire, one of the select band of Empire builders who have united ripe scholarship with tireless energy and firm grasp of national business and the ways of the world? It was a singularly happy circ.u.mstance that this was his first important public act as Governor of Queensland. But a few days before he had taken over the reins of government from the hands of the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Arthur Morgan. As befitted the occasion and the interest which they had taken in the matter of the University, Sir Arthur and Mr. Kidston also took a prominent part in the ceremony. The presence of Professor David, of the Sydney University, who was a prominent member of the Shackleton Expedition to the Antarctic regions, and of Professor Stirling, of the Adelaide University, lent additional distinction to the event, visibly representing, as it did, the cordiality with which those important inst.i.tutions regarded the advent of Queensland into the sisterhood of Australian University-States.

Never before in its history had Government House been the scene of a gathering so unique. The Premier struck the keynote of the whole proceedings, when he said that they were met "to erect this white stone, as it were, to mark this point in our national progress." He was alluding to the marble tablet, which had been affixed to the wall near the main entrance, recording the dedication of the building to its new purposes. Also, he declared the democratic foundation of the inst.i.tution in the significant sentence: "In very truth it may be said that the Queensland University is of the people, and I trust that the Senate, when they start to manage this inst.i.tution, will remember that it is also to be for the people."

To the ceremony were bidden all who could lend to it distinction and interest. It was no mere official or exclusive gathering, but one which represented in full measure the democratic character of the Queensland people. Those high in place were there; those who in university life had won honour; those who had laboured to lay the foundations of the educational system of which this was the culmination; the people for whose children this was to be in a real and practical sense the great training school and character-building inst.i.tution; the children from whose ranks were to be drawn the earliest students. The scene was one which will live in memory long after the University has begun its work, and will be recalled when in their gladsome, perhaps boisterous, fashion the students hold their commemoration days, or when in more thoughtful times the men and women who have gone forth from it girded for the battle of life revisit its shady walks and studious halls. The building and its charming environments lent themselves to an impressive spectacle. In the bright summer day, the well-kept grounds and the rich foliage of the neighbouring gardens presented a picture of rare colour and beauty.

Beyond lay the broad river glistening in the sunlight. Above arched the ineffable azure scarcely flecked by clouds. In the distance lay the far spreading city, with its pulsating life and varied activities.

Under the shadow of the graceful building and in a sweeping semi-circle were ma.s.sed the spectators, with eyes concentrated on the main portico, which had been converted into a stage for the interesting drama of the afternoon. A curved structure had been thrown out from the masonry, and decorated and canopied with maroon and white. Grouped around this were arranged the chairs provided for the seven hundred invited guests. Among these were many wearing their university costumes, which vied in colour and variety with the dresses of the ladies. Beyond this enclosure were drawn up, rank behind rank, 250 boys and 550 girls chosen from the fifth and sixth cla.s.ses of the metropolitan schools, each wearing Queensland's colours, maroon and white, and 200 State school cadets in uniform. All had been a.s.sembled in Alice street, and marched in procession to the s.p.a.ce allotted to them. They were there for the double purpose of supplying a choir and adding to the representative character of the a.s.sembly. Beyond their lines were gathered the members of the general public. The arrangements entailed a good deal of planning and forethought, but every part of the ordered and dignified ceremony was smoothly carried out. The military element, drawn from the 9th Australian Infantry Regiment, was lined up along the whole front of Government House, the scarlet coats and white helmets supplying a fringe of colour to that part of the picture.

The time fixed for the ceremony was half-past 3 o'clock. The reserved enclosure was then filled, the intermediate s.p.a.ce was thronged with school children and cadets, and the outer circle was made up of those whom interest or curiosity had drawn to the spot. It was no small evidence of the genuineness of that interest that, though hundreds were too far away to hear the speeches, they remained during the whole proceedings. They took their cue from those who were nearer, and when they saw or heard them applauding they joined in and swelled the volume of enthusiasm. One of the first to take his place on the dais was Mr. W. H. Barnes, to whom it had fallen, as Secretary for Public Instruction, to pilot the University Bill through the Legislative a.s.sembly. Not long afterwards there came Mr. A. H. Barlow, M.L.C., the veteran Minister, who had had much to do with the preparation of the measure, and who had charge of it during its progress through the Upper House. Among early arrivals were Miss MacGregor, His Excellency's daughter, and Mrs. Kidston. Punctually at half-past 3 His Excellency the Governor, Sir William MacGregor, arrived, dressed in his Windsor uniform and wearing the long flowing blue silk cloak and decorations of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, accompanied by Lady MacGregor and Mr. Kidston, Premier of Queensland.

Mrs. Kidston presented Lady MacGregor with a beautiful bouquet, and almost at the same time the band of the 9th Regiment struck up "The National Anthem," the whole a.s.semblage rising as the patriotic strains were heard. The duties usually devolving upon a chairman fell to the Premier, who occupied a chair on one side of a small flag-draped table, while His Excellency sat on the other side. Near by were the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Arthur Morgan, wearing his robes of office, the Chief Justice (Sir Pope A. Cooper) in court dress, the Speaker of the Legislative a.s.sembly (Mr. J. T. Bell) in his flowing robes, Professor David (representative of the Sydney University) in his official robe, Professor Stirling (the representative of the University of Adelaide) wearing the scarlet robe of an M.D. of Cambridge, and His Grace Archbishop Donaldson in the scarlet and ermine of a D.D. Central Queensland had a venerable representative in the person of the Right Rev. Dr. Hay, Moderator of the Presbyterian General a.s.sembly. The Roman Catholic Archbishop, the Right Rev. Dr.

Dunne, had as his representative Rev. Father Byrne, the Administrator of his diocese. The distinguished company included also Mr. Justice Real and Mrs. Real, Mr. Justice Chubb and Mrs. Chubb, Mr. Justice Shand, Mr. D. F. Denham (Minister for Lands) and Mrs. Denham, Mr. T.

O'Sullivan, M.L.C. (Attorney-General) and Mrs. O'Sullivan, Mr. W. T.

Paget (Minister for Agriculture and Railways) and Miss Paget, Mr. J.

G. Appel (Home Secretary) and Miss Appel, Mrs. Barnes, Mr. A. G. C.

Hawthorn (Treasurer) and Mrs. Hawthorn, Mr. W. Lennon, M.L.A. (Acting Leader of the Opposition) and Mrs. Lennon, Miss Celia Cooper, Mr.

C. W. Costin (Clerk of Parliaments), Mr. Anthony Musgrave, (Private Secretary to His Excellency), Captain Scarlett, A.D.C., and Captains Newton and Claude Foxton, honorary AA.D.C. Members of both Houses of Parliament, prominent public servants, the mayors and aldermen of Brisbane and South Brisbane, representatives of other metropolitan civic bodies, leading citizens, and consular representatives had their seats in the enclosure fronting the official dais.

By a happy arrangement the ceremony was inaugurated by the a.s.sembled children singing "The National Anthem," to which were added three of the patriotic verses of "The Australian Anthem" composed by Queensland's sweet singer, the late J. Brunton Stephens. The fresh musical voices rang out true and clear, carrying far through the still, scented air the simple words of devotion and patriotism--