Various new towns were declared in the pastoral and agricultural districts of the colony. The ports of Albany, Bunbury, and Geraldton gained considerably in population, trade, and shipping. Albany and Bunbury became favourite seaside resorts during the summer months. The latter district is now especially thriving, what with excellent horticultural and agricultural land, hundreds of square miles of hardwood forests, and the coal deposits on the Collie River. On 8th September, 1893, Governor Robinson opened the railway between Perth and Bunbury; the railway from Boyanup to Minninup was opened to traffic on 14th November, and the line from Boyanup to Busselton on 21st November, 1894. Other railways are projected in this territory to foster the agricultural and horticultural industries, especially one from Donnybrook to Bridgetown. Extensive railway improvements were carried out on the old trunk lines. On 25th March, 1891, a new railway station for Perth was completed. A deviation on the eastern system at Mahogany Creek was opened on 2nd February, 1896, and on the previous 26th December a short branch line was opened to the Canning Racecourse. The line from Fremantle to Midland Junction was duplicated in 1896-7. The Midland Railway was practically completed in November, 1894. The land grant railway from Beverley to Albany was purchased by the Government for £1,100,000 in December, 1896, and was formally taken over on 8th January, 1897, by the Premier, accompanied by a large number of leading persons. Telegraph lines were erected to serve all the centres of population of any dimensions, and it might be said that the huge territory is buckled with the electric current. Stock routes were made and valuable public buildings were built, such as gaols, hospitals, public schools, agricultural halls, an observatory, a public library, a museum, and other Government structures in Perth and elsewhere. Large sums of money have been spent for all these purposes, and on roads and bridges.
The Fremantle Harbour Works gradually drew towards completion, and on 4th May, 1897, the steamer Sultan, drawing 1 ft. of water, steamed into the inner harbour between the moles, and anchored at a new jetty. The value of this important work is inestimable. The Government and Parliament, alive to the value of assisting the maritime trade, authorised extensive improvements at all the ports of the colony. Fremantle, Bunbury, Vasse, Albany, Esperance, Geraldton, Onslow, Carnarvon, Cossack, Fortescue River, Ashburton, Derby, Broome, Wyndham, and other smaller ports were vastly advantaged by improved wharves, landing facilities, or by dredging. A new lighthouse was erected on Rottnest Island, another on Babbage Island, and another at Cape Leeuwin. The harbour at Bunbury is being improved by the construction of moles. Dredging operations have been carried out in the Swan and Canning Rivers. In the hot summer months of 1896-7, the health of Perth was not good, and it has been decided to conduct large sanitation works there, so that the capital might be one of the healthiest cities in Australia. The water-supply of Perth, Fremantle, and other places has been or is being improved.
There is little more to add. The churches have greatly extended their sphere of influence, and on the goldfields and in remote pastoral districts religious buildings have been founded. There were a few instances of native depredations. Among deaths are those of the Right Rev. H. Parry, Anglican Bishop of Perth, on 15th November, 1895; L. De Hamel, ex-M.L.C. and M.L.A., on the 26th November, 1891; G. W. Leake, on 3rd October, 1895; and Anthony O'Grady Lefroy, C.M.G., F.R.G.S., on 1st January, 1897. The Right Rev. H. Parry was succeeded by Bishop Reilly. The careers of Mr. Leake, and Mr. Lefroy were distinguished; each had occupied high crucial appointments, and had conferred lasting benefits on the colony.
The various prospectors for gold carried on useful exploration work, and threw new light on the dark interior. Pastoralists and surveyors in the north country extended the known lands of the colony, and numerous private persons traversed long areas of unexplored lands. In 1896, Mr. Arthur Mason discovered well-grassed lands north-west of Eucla. In June, 1896, Mr. S. G. Hübbe arrived at Menzies, after passing over an immense area of unknown country from Oodnadatta, in South Australia. Mr. Calvert sent out two expeditions into the Western Australian deserts, one in 1893, and one in 1896-7. Of the latter expedition, led by Mr. Wells, two of the explorers were lost under exceedingly melancholy circumstances. Five parties went out to search for them at different times, and finally their bodies were found in the north-west desert. The story is one of the most pathetic in the annals of Australian exploration.
