that connected with the depot should be 100 acres of land on which the inmates might spend a few hours daily in raising vegetables. Three invalid depots were erected in subsequent years: at Freshwater Bay, North Fremantle, and the Knoll, Fremantle.
Anger was repeatedly aroused in the minds of settlers that more labour was not placed on the roads. The work on roads in 1850-3 was mostly of a temporary character. The worst patches on each road were macadamised; bush, trees, and stumps were cleared, and a little levelling was done. Here, as in other works, difficulty was experienced in obtaining sufficient men to form permanent roads. The road parties were necessarily small, and they were given the most urgent work to do. At one time, however, in 1853, there were about 250 men engaged on the road between Fremantle and Perth, but it was not until after years that main thoroughfares through the country districts were macadamised to any extent. In Perth, Fremantle, and country towns, streets were made, and other important improvements negotiated. In 1856-7 producers at York, Northam, Toodyay, and Bunbury announced, without cause, that their main roads were no better than in pre-convict days. It cost, they said, just as much to cart timber and wool to the seaboard. Governor Kennedy promised in 1856 to keep flying parties on the roads, so as to have them, at least, passable for teams at all seasons of the year. While addressing the Northam, Toodyay, and Victoria Plains Agricultural Society, at Toodyay, in October, 1856, he admitted that there was cause for complaint, but ironically remarked that for a population of 11,000 people, 11,000 miles of road were required to be constructed. Settlers were so scattered.
Several bridges were constructed from 1854-60, notably those at Guildford, Northam, King River, and Serpentine. A lake at the rear of Perth was drained in 1854 for £2,000, and rich garden land in its bed was immediately thrown open to purchase. In 1858 it was decided to build a more commodious residence for the Governor. It was previously stated in the Legislative Council that such a building would only cost about £5,000; this estimate was raised to £7,000, but the actual cost when the structure was finished in 1864 was £17,625. The foundation-stone of Government House was laid on the 17th of March, 1859, with slight demonstration. But settlers were not satisfied that the convicts were doing their best. This list (Blue Book) of public works will convey an idea of the estimated expenditure (the actual cost was sometimes more):—
| 1854.— | House for Colonial Surgeon | £900 |
| Colonial Prison | 1,722 | |
| Pilot's House, Albany | 150 | |
| Enclosing wall, Government House | 1,156 | |
| Guildford Bridge | 716 | |
| Pinjarra Bridge | 277 | |
| Draining Lake, Perth | 2,000 | |
| Roads | 980 | |
| 1855.— | New Prison, Court House, Perth | 3,220 |
| Court House and Gaol, Bunbury | 284 | |
| Clearing Swan River | 257 | |
| Northam Bridge | 180 | |
| King Bridge | 314 | |
| Kalgan Bridge | 200 | |
| Roads | 700 | |
| 1856.— | Police Stable, Perth | 171 |
| Jetty, Fremantle | 2,067 | |
| 1857.— | Jetty, Champion Bay | 260 |
| Lock-up, Busselton | 312 | |
| 1858.— | Police Station, Champion Bay | 1,500 |
| New Government House, Perth | 7,000 | |
| Mandurah Ferry | 150 | |
| 1859.— | Court House, York | 590 |
| Bridge, Serpentine | 256 | |
| 1860.— | Court House, Busselton | 500 |
A lighthouse was in course of construction at Albany. In April, 1860, there were thirty men employed on the Perth to Guildford road, seventy-eight on the Guildford, Green Mount, and York road, thirty-four on York, forty on Toodyay, and twenty on Bunbury roads.
Even among a community of Englishmen so small as that in Western Australia, dissatisfaction was bound to arise with a government in which it had no direct representation. One strong tenet in the political religion of the Englishman is that he is quite competent to govern himself. He objects to be governed by a body in which he has no practical vote. When he talks he likes his opinions to be listened to with respect. He cannot sit by quietly and be dependent on a cumbersome administration appointed by statesmen thousands of miles away, who have no personal, and little practical, knowledge of the conditions of his estate. It is quite in opposition to his training, and the traditions of his ancestry. Anything approaching autocratic government or an oligarchy is as wormwood to him. He agitates, and complains, and dogmatises. If no heed is paid to his views, he waits a little, as is but in unison with a phlegmatic nature, and agitates again.
Since their first trials after original mistake in settlement, the spirit of agitation and complaint had been constantly fomenting among Western Australians. Imperial monetary assistance, land laws, and more effective representation in the Legislative Council were the main burdens of their murmurings. From 1854 to 1860 they believed they had numerous subjects for demonstration, and their diatribes went forth with no uncertain sound. It is not necessary to add that they were not always just or well-advised in their requests and strictures. Dissatisfaction with certain branches of convict administration, ineffective political institutions, and alterations in land laws were the subjects of agitation during this period. We have already adverted to meetings regarding female convicts, supplying the establishment with provisions, and employment of convicts on public works.
In June, 1855, Captain Fitzgerald vacated office after nearly seven years' service. When he arrived in the colony his administration was anticipated with hope. He was deluged with addresses of welcome and memorials to redress grievances. He received the addresses with sailor-like equanimity; he treated the memorials with some degree of caution. Some he redressed; others he put to one side and quietly and sedulously spoke at every good opportunity of the benefits to be derived from convict labour. To Governor Fitzgerald was mainly due the introduction of convicts; at one bold stroke he hoped to dissipate stagnation and complaint and grievance. His duties as "chief gaoler" were not pleasant; his estimates of convict expenditure were repeatedly cut down by the Imperial Government. His administration was enthusiastically popular at first; but, as is not uncommon, after a few years there was a reflux in the tide. The Inquirer importantly informed its readers that Governor Fitzgerald was very nice as a Governor in 1849-50; but in 1852-53, when the colony had so grown, he was not competent to conduct public business. Demonstrations one way or other had little effect on Captain Fitzgerald; he may have fumed and spoken bluntly, but he did not swerve from the track he had marked out. Towards the end the tide flowed in again; his old popularity returned, and the Inquirer was sure that he was one of the most popular and active Governors the colony ever possessed; that if ever he returned he would be warmly welcomed. For nearly seven years Governor Fitzgerald ruled; on 22nd
