DEATH OF ONE OK THE FOUNDERS OF VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 99, 11 January 1866, Page 3

DEATH OF ONE OK THE FOUNDERS OF VICTORIA.

Dr, Alexander Thomson, an old colonist, who was closely identified with the early public life of Victoria, died on New Year's Day, at Geelong, in his sixty -sixth year, At the time of his death, Dr Thomson held the appointment of medical officer to the Sun bury Industrial Schools.

At a p\iblic dinner given to Dr. Thoivson, at Geelong, in July last, the deceased gentleman submitted tho following account of his career : —

" The part that I have played in the history of the colony (said he) is not an inconsiderable one. I have seen the colony pass from its childhood to youth, and I rejoice to see it in tho prime of its manhood. I remember when the colony was only inhabited by blacks and kangaroos ; at least, the settlers were few in number in those days. I can bear testimony that the first settlers were just the men to found a colpny. 'Their liberality extended to everybody. Theirs was a simple nnd profuse hospitality, and if there were an exception, it was in tha profusencss of that quality, towards clergymen. The first clergyman who arrived was the Rev.' Mr. Iluio ; tho second, the Rev. Mr. Tuckwell. In Melbourne, the Rev, Mr. Clowes and family arrived first, and, secondly, the Rev Mr Forbes ; then tho Rev Mr Grills and the Rev Mr Waterhouse, and I may say that I had the honor of introducing them. The first notable ecclesiastical building was on tho site of the Church of St. James, Melbourne. I will now turn to Geelong, where the first clergyman was tho Rev Mr Love, followed by tho Rev Mr Collins, of the Church of England, and the Rev Mr Stevens, of tho Catholic Church, whom I remember to have offended, deeply, when in a conversation I remarked that Sj;. Patrick was a Scotchman. (Laughter.) At this time Captain Fyans was chief magistrate ; but beforo that time every dispute in tho tow/iship of Geelong was submitted to, and decided by, arbitration ; and I can bear testimony that the results were as satisfactory as those now got by the administration of tho law. From this timo— seeing how the colony was drained of its resources — my aim and object was to obtain responsible government. I, and all who acted with me, when we fii\st talked of separation from Sydney, were told that we were visionaries ; but we continued to agitate until wo got, not only separation, but responsible government to this colony. Twenty years ago, after travelling with Dr Lang, I showed to his Honor Mr Latrobe, then superintendent of the colony, the adaptibility of tho colony for the construction of railways, which I submitted could be constructed without expense to the state — not private, but state railways— and I recommended that lines of country should be reserved from sale, and the adjacent land sold after the railways were constructed. I failed in my representations to Mr Latrobe. Times changed, and goldfields were discovered, and I joined with Hobson, Ebden, and other**' to start, tho Mount Alexander lino, nnc i instituted a scheme for a Goelong railway to the westward, but on referring this to the piiblic it did not meet their favor, and thoy elected that tho railway should bo m(\de to, MolbouvnOf m\d. in (ieferonoo to

Railway was established. I was tlu« first to introduce cattle into the colony ; »and. the first use made of them was to cart timber to build a church in Melbourne, which, being built, I brought them overland lo my sheep run on tho liarrahools. Xot a man would leave Melbourne to conic with me. My servants would not budge, sol determined to do tho journey by myself, and accomplished what all now will laugh at, and got to tho Moorabool, wheic a man named George Weaver, still living, helped me to cross tho river. Tho natives wero numerous at this time. I was surrounded by them and alarmed, so I took >v piece of paper, placed it on a free, aimed'at it in their presence, and put a ball through it, upon which the blacks, first examining it, to the number of 200, disappeared ; and the next morning we made a canoe, and took the provisions, &c, over the river. , When in London I was afforded access "to Lord John Russell, through the medium of an old colonial friend, well known to most as ' Bob Lowe' ; nnd I found that his lordship was disposed to act with us on tho subject of separation. At tho time there wero thousands of pounds lying ready to bo grabbed by Sydney. Business, and v desire to see my poor old mother took me to Scotland. On my return to London, Lord John Russell had gone on a political mission to Vienna, and Sii George Grey, I found, was unfavorable to our new Constitution. Russell was gone, and Grey refused to originate tho bill required. I resolved to follow Russell to Vienna. I crossed tho Alps, the Simplon, and wont through tho snow of those regions, and saw Lord John Russell at Vienna. His Lordship, after patiently hearing my representations, apologised that ho had not left instructions, which his lordship promised should bo at onco attended to. I waited three clays and got thousand they were printed and laid before the Parliament. I was the first to bring to the colony tho information that our Constitution was agreed to by the British Parliament. A change of Ministry might have delayed the passing of that Constitution for years. In my hand I hold tho diaiy of John Batman, in his own manuscript, tho founder of this colony. I should lilw to- road it, but must content myself with bearing tosti • mony to his charecter. I shared difficulties with him, and in the vicissitudes of a new colony found in him a friend."

Dr Thomson represented Geelong in tho old Legislative Council from June, 1852, to August, 1854. lie was also one of the members for East Geelong in the Legislative Assembly during tho second Parliament under the Constitution.