Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/168

 "May 14th.—The Board met, to-day. Angas thinks that enough bonus is not allowed to the first settlers, and he therefore wishes to have the whole of the £35,000 worth, purchased by the first body, selected before any other person can tender for land. This occupied at least an hour in the discussion. I was strenuously opposed to it on the ground of its obliging any person who had emigrated in the first body, though unfortunate enough to come in after the £35,000 had been subscribed, going so far from the town for land He must necessarily, go at least fifteen or twenty miles. After all, the point is not determined.

"May 10th.—At a meeting of the sub-committee on land, I proposed, to obviate the objections of Angas and Lefevre, that the town should be divided into 3,000 lots of one acre each, the subscribers to the £35,000 to have the privilege of selection among this number of lots. This was finally agreed to, and another meeting was fixed for to-morrow to arrange the wording of the terms.

"May 20th.— Saw Napier. He tells me that he has made his acceptance of the office of governor dependent upon Government assenting to his having under his command a body of troops, and leave to draw on the Government here for £100,000 in case of distress! Lord Glenelg entertained the idea, says Napier, and will speak to his colleagues about it! Napier tells me that his appointment is safe.

"In the afternoon I again saw Napier. He says that Lord Glenelg cannot agree to the proposition he made relative to the troops, and leave to draw on Government, but recommended Napier to go and call on the commissioners and hear their opinion. Consequently Napier went, and found them all sitting in council on the terms for selling land. He there restated his terms, and he says was answered by 'absurd generalisations.'