Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/97

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IN SUSPENSE.
91


one time he said the company was to assure it, and at another time he said it was to form a part of the produce of the sales of land.

"In answer to a question put by Pottinger, he said that 'he would not allow the land tax to be security for the Government expenses—he expected nothing to arise from this source.' Here he was prompted by Earle, who whispered the word 'customs,' and he then said that the colony 'would have the tax of customs.'

"On Parkea asking 'if he could fix a minimum, sum to be raised for the maintenance of the Government establishment?' he replied, that 'that had better be raised by the trustees'; and in reply to a question put by Matthew Hill, he said, 'that there was no objection to fix a time in the charter when the colony should be entitled to a legislative assembly, that should be made to depend upon the number of male adults in the colony, the quantity of land brought into cultivation, and the fulfilment of certain other conditions. He would not say that the colony should have but one assembly. It should have at a certain time an elective assembly.'

"In answer to a question put by Parkes, he said that 'there should be no exclusive church, but that a fund must be raised for the purposes of religion and education, to be shared equally among all sects, as at present in Upper Canada.'

"He thought it right to mention that 'a clause in the Australian Company's charter might throw some hindrance in the way; he would not say that it would do so, but he thought it right to mention it. This was a clause preventing the establishment of another company in Australia for purposes similar to its own.'

"Gouger replied to this, that 'the Australian Company was founded for the purpose of growing wool, and that the proposed charter was for the purpose of founding a colony.'

"Gouger then mentioned 'the boundaries of New