Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/577

 JOHN MAllARTHUR. 549 Both Macarthur and Wakefield bad a certain share of honour, but neither saw his scheme promoted to the full. Macartbur's advice to Brisbane concluded with a reference to the growth of wool, " Should His Majesty's Govemiueot consider it advisable to direct any portion of its foi^lertng care towards this hitherto neglected mine of wealth and future proaperitv* it would not be difficult to devise methods by which the mo8t respectable class of proprietors might l>e excited to more strenuous exertioua to increase their Books, and to improve the wool to the utmof9t ilegroc of Bnencss ; and even aonie of the moat uninformed audi care- U^88 might «lowly be led into the adoption of arrangements calculated to ^^ promote their own and the public welfare." B Though Macarthur eventually succeeded, he had a contest during Brisbane's government to secure the contingent advantages originally pledged to him by Lord Camden. His son John, ia England, reminded the Colonial Office of the promises of former time with regard to land. Brisbane, under the influence of those about him, had made overtures ■ to Macarthnr in defeasance of those promises. Lord Bathurst at last wrote (17th Aug, 1824) ; offer has been made hy you t^ Mr. ^lacarthur respecting his grant differ most essentially from those which were directed in my letter, I have to direct you that Mr. Macarthnr be put into immediate po»nes*wn of the lands described in that letter,, aniountincf to lOjT'.K) aeres^ on the payment of £2S"iO (being at the nite of ten shillings per acre for 5700 acres), or on the payment of au anunal quit-rent of £142 10a., redeemable at twenty years' purchase, which is equivalent to a ready-money payment of £2850. ' Conditions with regard to such sites for church and school as Archdeacon Scott might deem desirable, and to valua- tion of any property of the Crown on the land, were ^attached. ^H Thus at last the man who urged that others should be ^■encouraged in founding family estates, was permitted to create his own in compliance with promises of former years. Brisbane saw rapid growth of commerce, and a large increase of agriGultural and pastoral industry, during his term of office. The population of New South Wales in 1825 was 33,675. There were 237,622 sheep and 134,519 cattle. Of wool 411,600 lbs. were exported, and 45,514 acres were under cultivation. Nearly thirty ships were engaged in whaling and in procuring sandal-wood, beche-de-mer, and other articles among the islands of thti racliie,. Ttt^^i x^n<sjcs:sx^
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