mongst the islands for some minutes
afterwards. It is considered that although Cid Harbour has not the
extent of Sydney Harbour, it is quite its equal in beauty.

During the session, the plans and specifications of a line of railway
from Hughenden towards Winton were laid on the table of the House. This
gave rise to a bitter discussion dealing with interests of Rockhampton
and Townsville, which were in conflict. Those of the western country and
residents were not considered. Nelson consented to the request of Mr.
Archer, member for Rockhampton, for a select committee, to take evidence
as to the desirableness of constructing the line. The Central members on
the committee were Mr. Archer, chairman; Messrs. Murray and Callan,
MM.L.A. This committee was the first to take evidence on a railway
proposed in the Assembly, and formed a precedent afterwards availed of.
The committee sat for a week, and in the evidence adduced the majority
report to the House was in favour of the line.

The Central members, who sent in a minority report, stated that the
Winton district belonged to Rockhampton, and asserted that the settled
policy of the country was that the lines should be extended due west
from the coastal ports. They were apparently oblivious to the fact that
the coast line north from Brisbane trended in a north-westerly
direction, and owing to this trend Winton was 185 miles nearer
Townsville than Rockhampton. The Minister for Railways accepted the
majority report, proposed the building of this section, and then
followed an acrimonious debate, which resulted in an all-night sitting.
I acted as Whip during the night, and allowed my supporters to camp in
the Legislative Council Chambers, whence as they were required for a
division, I brought them in, to the amazement of our opponents, who
thought they had left and gone home.

The proposal was carried at 7.30 the following morning.

CHAPTER XV.

At the end of this year I returned to Winton to prepare for the
elections to be held in May, 1896. I addressed a meeting at that town,
and received a vote of confidence. I commenced a tour of the district.
The season was very dry, and I had to send feed for my horses by Cobb's
coach to Boulia. I went over some of the same ground as in 1890, and
when travelling between Boulia and Springvale I saw the tracks made by
my buggy in the wet of that year. This shows the scarcity of travellers
in that country. At the election I was in