D1.8.43: [Untitled]

D1.8.43: [Untitled]

Newspaper Clippings

Bleek suggests the House of Assembly's third vote of no confidence in the present government indicates disharmony between executive and legislative government. The general distrust informing the resolution on railways stems from Governor Wodehouse and his colonial administration's (i.e., executive government) disaffecting unpopularity. This friction makes Responsible Government inevitable. Disregarding public opinion has made Wodehouse ineffective, and the subsequent abandoning of railway works amounts to wasteful expenditure. Despite mitigative rhetoric calling this a delay, Frederick Bourne (the Colonial Railway Engineer) lacks public and parliamentary support. His wasteful expenditure amid the Wellington line's construction (1864) struck the contractor, whose engineer, Marcus Smith, is lauded for his execution quality. Bourne, unendeared to the public, may suffer professionally as the Governor's friend. The House of Assembly's halting of railway works shrinks the job market with no immediate remedy, which may prompt immigration. Private sector work is also scarce, making public works a vital employer. Water harvesting for agricultural irrigation could generate employment and was previously raised by Hon. TH Vigne.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

05 October 1865

One cut-out column of printed newsprint mounted on foolscap folio (warped).

Vigne (the Honourable Mr Thomas Henry Vigne)

Pressed clippings of Victorian current affairs opinion pieces by Wilhelm Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, October 5th, 1865.

Van de Sandt de Villiers & Co.