Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/127

 The Husbandmen ADELAIDE AND VICINITY lOI Being unfortunate in dealing with controversial questions, Governor Robe was soon further embroiled. The divisions in the Council had on two or three occasions been even, and the Governor always exercised his casting vote in favor of the official party. In 1846 he introduced a measure providing for a grant in aid of religion from the public funds. This was in opposition to the principles upon which the Province was founded, and aroused a vast amount of religious controversy. Public meetings, deputations, and memorials were frequent, but the Bill was passed " in opposition to the will of an overwhelming majority of the people as expressed by petitions and public meetings." A grant was made, and the system lasted until 1851. The action of the Governor and Legislative Council in this matter produced a condemnatory memorial to Her Majesty, signed by 2,530 persons ; and also originated a general desire for representative government. The finances in 1847 were so satisfactory that a large sum was available for immigration purposes, and for public works and buildings. An Education Bill was passed fixing the rate of payment of teachers and constituting a Board of Education. A subsidy of ;^3,ooo was agreed to in aid of mail communication with England by steam. In 1846 Governor Robe appealed to the h(^me Government to be relieved from his duties, but though his request was acceded to, he was not able to leave the Province until August, 1848. His valedictory speech to the Legislative Council concluded with the characteristic words, "In relinquishing the duties which have devolved upon me under the appointment of Her Majesty, I look to my Sovereign alone for any expression of approbation." " With all his official faults," says Hodder, " he was a man of stern inflexibility of character, and of a high sense of duty ; a master in official routine, and a prince in hospitality." Only a brief reference is possible in these pages to the travels of explorers and the social condition of the community. Overlanders, during these years, had traversed large tracts of country previously unknown, and pastoralists and explorers were successful in penetrating a considerable portion of the territory which is now occupied. Pastoralists, indeed, chiefly explored the land between the tracks of explorers, but, though their journeys were frequently interesting, few records of them have been preserved. In 1842-3, Captain F"rome, with a party including Mr. Burr, went north to explore more thoroughly the country traversed by Eyre, as far as Lake Torrens. On the way they observed excellent lands, but the sterility of the furthermost point of their journey discouraged a more extended tour. The interior had ugly and deathlike borders. In April, 1844, Governor Grey, Mr. C. Bonney (Commissioner of Crown Lands), Mr. Burr (Deputy Surveyor-General), Mr. George French Angas (son of the founder of the Province) and Mr. Gisborne travelled the south-east country, and discovered rich tracts between the Rivers Murray and Glenelg. In August of the same year, Mr. Darke and Mr. Theakstone set forth from Port Lincoln towards I'owler Bay, to explore good country which rumor said existed in that direction. The explorers travelled about 300 miles, and found promising areas ; on the return journey Mr. Darke was killed by the natives.