Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/546

thousand acres to Mr. Potter Macqueen, with a reservation of an additional quantity of like extent to be given on the occupation of the block first granted.

Brisbane made himself unpopular with some persons by abruptly discontinuing the practice of receiving into the public stores wheat and maize at fixed prices. His predecessors had adhered to it in order to encourage the growth of grain, and to enable them to meet the exigencies of a settlement once reduced almost to the point of starvation, and frequently to low diet.

Maugre the practice, prices fluctuated alarmingly. After the great flood of 1806 it is recorded that seven pounds sterling were paid for a bushel of seed wheat.

Macquarie, in 1813, ordered that the shameful waste of grain m the previous year should not be repeated, and that no wheat should "be applied to the feeding of dogs, pigs, or cattle of any description." "Man only should use it in time of scarcity."

Though the harvest was reaped within six months of the date of this Order, Macquarie again (Feb. 1814) upbraided the settlers for not supplying the King s stores "in the present alarming season of scarcity." He would show no lenity to any debtors who held back. Brisbane announced that be would receive (not all that might be brought but) the quantity absolutely required by the government. To supply troops, gangs of convicts, and various establishments, much was needed; but the settlers had more on hand, and the Governor was blamed by many who were incapable of reflecting whether he was in fault.

Brisbane arrived in the colony before the English Government had received any report from Commissioner Bigge. The Act 4 Geo. IV. cap. 96, which was passed in July 1823, to provide for the Government of New South Wales and Van Dieraen's Land, has been described already. Its operation was equivalent to a revolution. Lord Bathurst wrote long despatches to explain the Act and Bigge's Reports on which it was founded. Colonel George Arthur was to succeed Sorell in Van Diemen's Land. The Chief Justice of New South Wales was to be Francis Forbes, who had filled similar office in Newfoundland, Barron Field, who was superseded by the new order of things, sailed to England