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year 1834 opened well for Mr. Gouger; the Provisional Committee had got into working order, the prospectus had been successfully launched, and the Press had favourably reviewed it. But there were prophets in those days, and some of them saw rocks ahead! The Spectator which had been faithful throughout to Mr. Gouger and his schemes, wrote:—

"A body of gentlemen, surpassed by none in sagacity, business-like habits, or weight of character, have undertaken to plant a colony on the South Coast of Australia. The project may be considered a revival of that which, more than a year since, occupied the South Australian Company, with Mr. Wolryche Whitmore at their head, and was defeated by Mr. Hay, the Tory Under-Secretary for the Colonies. In the present case it appears that the committee are in direct communication with the Principal Secretary, Mr. Stanley, who, besides never having been a Tory, has visited Canada and the United States, and is just the sort of man not to let an underling decide for him. Mr. Hay is the Tory bum-bureau-