Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 7 August 1865, page 4


ADDRESS TO THE 8IS011UTARY 1'Ott'tivSW

as ,..-.

'I'm: following address to the Secretary for Lanüt froth (lil free selectors in the district of Wingecarribee, hubby! handed to us for publication :

Wingecarribee. 23rd Juñc>.IS6t. To the Honorable John Robertson. M.V., Minister for Lands,

am-The survey of the proposed township at WingcdE-rlbee being now completed, are the undersigned free selectors of that district, (team It a fit occasion for urging upon you our respectful request that you will name that township " Robertson." We assure you that your compliance with our desire will be most gratifying to us, as it will, we are sure, be acceptable to the community at large. We feel that the name of the author of Um Land Act may be very appropriately identified with one of the most nourishing of the numerous agricultural settlement which Hint Act has called into existence, but for the passing V ta* Land Act our splendid district, concealed from knowledge by the rugged and barren character of a great portion of the adjacent country, the denseness of the forest, and in distance" from any high road would, in all probability, have remained for years the wilderness it was when free selection threw it open to the hands of industry. The enterprise which the liberal conditions of the Land Act called forth Is converting the rich soil of Yarrawa, hitherto a Jungle, into fertile fields and pastures, and the smiling homes of thousands. For this we are mainly indebted to you and as residents of a district which, in a peculiar degree, owes everything to your exert ons in throwing open the lands of the colony, we shall consider ourselves especially favoured if our chief town be honoured by bearing your name. "

(Here. follow the signatures.) t .- -. <

Department of Lands, Sydney, 2nd August 1868.

Sirs-I am limited to acknowledge the receipt of the memorial dated 23rd June last, signed by yourself and two hundred and four other conditional purchasers in the district of Wingecarribee, in which, while recording the extraordinary success, that has attended the opening up of that district under the provisions of the Land Alienation Act of 1861. you prefer a request that the township which has now been laid out Uirrr, and which was proposed to call by the local name " Yarrawa," may be started " Robertson." ? ' . , , ',

5. The account given in the memorial of the very flourishing state of the agricultural settlement at Wingecarribee need scarcely inform you, was in the highest degree gratifying to Uti Secretary for Lands. But as the request of the selectors was somewhat embarrassing to him on personal grounds, hoped the matter unreservedly in the hands of his colleague the Hon. the Chief Secretary. And I am directed by Mr. Cowper to inform you that instructions have been given for a compliance with the

request of the memorialists.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,'

(Signed) Mror..'l'iTarM-aioi. Mr. John Hanrahan, Wingecarribee, , ¡, "