Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/585

 LEGISLATION IK VAN DIKMEN'8 LAND. I I General^ J. T. Gellilinind, fur nlleged malpractice in draw- iiig pleas for a plaintiff, and acting officially against him afterwards* Chief JuBtice Pedder dismissed the application. The Governor appointed a hoard of inquiry, and after appearing hefore it, GelhhraiRl, offended at the condnet of the commissioners, refused to go hefore them again. The result was that Gellihrand, complaining that he was unfairly dealt with, was suspended by Arthur, and removed by an order from England from the office of Attorney-General, and shortly afterwards xAi-thur informed him with regard to an application for land — '*His Excellency does not consider himself at liberty to make a grant of land to an individual whose conduct His Majesty has disapproved," Mr. Serjeant Talfourd, consulted by Gellibrand*s friends, gave an opinion that Gellihrand had been " ill-treated by the commissioners, that the charges against him were grounded in malice or mistake,*' that those imputing un- professional conduct to him were '* too absurd to stand for a moment,'' that it was to be regretted that he did not "remain and conduct his own defence" before the com- missioners; but that ** against the exercise of the undoubted prerogative of the Crown to dismiss its own officers*' there could not be *' any appeal as matter of right." High-handed acts were charged against the Governor. Displeased (1833) with a magistrate, he refused to receive his resignation, removed him from the commission, and took from him all his assigned servants at a time when their labour was of peculiar importance. The legislation of Van Diemen*s Land shows the pressure of the same wants as in New" South Wales. In the same year (1826) both colonies passed Acts to regulate the cur- rency and promote the sterling money of Great Britahi* The control of the convicts, their transportation, their con- finement at Macquarie Harbour and Maria Island ; the administration of justice generally ; the registration of wills afiecting real jiroperty ; imjjounding of cattle ; the regulation of slaughtering of sheep and cattle ; the regula- tion of the printing and publishing of newspapers ; the selling of spirits and wines ; the licensing of dealers in epii'its ; the statutes of usury; an Act (20th Jan. 1B30) ta remove doubts as to the validity of ordiii'i*Q.<iVi y^%%^^s^ "^^ I