CHAPTER III.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM.
Authorities.—Despatches, etc. (See Bibliography) in Record and Colonial Offices. Sydney Gazette. P.P., H.C., 1812, II.; 1816, XVIII.; 1819, VII.; 1822, XX.; 1823 X. Historical Records of New South Wales. Rusden, History of Australia.
As Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and its dependencies, Macquarie ruled over an extensive area. New South Wales alone, by the words of his commission, included the Eastern half of the continent, then known as New Holland, from Cape York in the north to South Cape, the southernmost point of Van Diemen's Land. Although Bass Straits, which separated Van Diemen's Land from the mainland, were discovered in 1798, no alteration had been made in the terms of the Governor's commission, which were identical with those of Phillip's, and described the whole as one continuous stretch of country.
But beyond New Holland and Van Diemen's Land, the Governor's rule reached over all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, and in the same latitude. At Norfolk Island[1] only had any settlement been made, and at the beginning of Macquarie's period of office its abandonment had been decided upon. Over the remaining islands the Governor's control was a mere shadow. A considerable trade was carried on by English and colonial vessels with New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, and several missionary stations also had been established.[2] Moved by the missionaries' accounts of the violence and lawlessness of the traders, Macquarie made attempts to control their conduct. In January, 1814, he issued regulations for the masters of colonial vessels trading thither, and appointed one of the missionaries at Otaheite on the Commission of the Peace. At
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