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Publications & Reports

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

05/10/1865

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. No title was subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing.

An original cutting of a Victorian article (no printed thematic title included in the cut out) by WHI Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, October 5th, 1865. Bleek's personal politcs both here, and elsewhere in his columns for Het Volksblad, appear critical of then Governor, Sir Philip Wodehouse (Sir George Grey's successor). Perhaps as a journalist manifesting, Bleek believes Responsible Government to be mere months away. It would only materialise under the Molteno Ministry in 1872. Ironically, Frederick Bourne is better remembered for his Simon's Bay Roman Rock Lighthouse than his work as a railwayman (George, 1966: 168; Tony Murray in Heritage Portal: 2013).