Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/500

governing body, which was to control the deposits of the poor. Half-crown deposits were received, and interest at the rate of seven and a-half per cent. was given. To inspire confidence in the management, Mr. Justice Field, the Lt.-Gov. (Colonel Erskine), Judge-Advocate Wylde, and Mr. Jamieson, were made the first trustees.

The circulating medium was scanty, and to increase its quantity and raise its purchasing power, in 1813, the centre of the Spanish dollar, then principally current, was struck out. The circular piece so taken out was called a "dump," and was taken as worth fifteen pence. The remainder, called a "holy dollar," was taken at the value of five shillings. Thus, in the colony, a part was made equal to the whole, and the mutilated coin was rendered worthless for exportation. Promissory notes were not to be issued for less than two shillings and sixpence.

Financial troubles were the subject of more than one proclamation. In 1813, "divers victuallers, publicans and others, irregularly and privately combined" to form themselves into a Commercial Society, and (Macquarie said) altered the then "subsisting rate of exchange between the bills drawn for the public service, and the promissory notes issued by different individuals, known by the name of currency," and introduced great confusion. There was reason to believe that they conspired not to take the notes of "persons however respectable other than themselves, or on their plan." It was necessary therefore to define how meetings might be held. There should be no meeting exceeding six persons without a requisition from at least seven householders, and convention by the Provost-Marshal. All other meetings of more than six persons would be unlawful assemblies. A magistrate might order the dispersion of such assemblies, and if they continued for one hour after such order, the offenders would be "deemed guilty of unlawful combination and conspiracy, and on conviction be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for the space of two years. The Provost-Marshal was to submit requisitions to the Governor, and not without his approval to convene meetings, at which he was to preside. The printer who inserted an advertisement without the Governor's authority was to be fined £50 for each offence. Licensed victuallers