t the
highest single catch of 155, whilst mine, the smallest number, was 79.
The sailors cleaned as many as they could on our return. When opposite
the South Passage we sent a boat to the Lighthouse to wire Brisbane for
any person wanting fish to meet the boat at the wharf, and to bring bags
with them. Many did so, but all could not be taken away, and a quantity
was dumped into the river. This was the record catch of the season, and
I have never heard of it being beaten.

At this time, and for a few years afterwards, I had as partner in a
small pastoral property, a Mr. Wm. Booth. He was said to have been mixed
up with some troubles connected with Irish affairs, and that the name he
went under was assumed. Whether this was so or not, I found him to be a
fine, straight-forward man, and was greatly affected when in 1894 his
charred remains were found on the run. The mystery of his death remains
undiscovered. On his death I wound up the pastoral partnership, and
placed the value of Booth's interest in the hands of the Curator of
Intestate Estates. Every effort was made to discover his relatives, but
so far, I believe, his estate remains unclaimed.

To those interested in constitutional law, the Kitt's case, which
occurred in 1888, may prove interesting. This incident happened in
connection with a pair of boots, but from it was obtained the decision
that the Governor should follow the advice of his ministers on matters
not affecting the authority of the Crown. It was laid down that they
were responsible for giving the advice, not he for accepting it. The
incident was a small matter to define a very important point.

I think it was about this time that the police were called upon to act
in opposition to the Naval Forces of the State, under the following
circumstances. The Naval Commandant of the time had a disagreement with
the Minister administering the Navy, and ordered the two war vessels,
the "Paluma" and "Gayundah" to put to sea, contending he was under the
control of the Admiral in charge of the station, and defied the
Minister. Steam was up on the vessels, when a rather large body of
police, fully armed, was marched down to the Botanic Gardens, and lined
the river banks ready to fire on the ships if they were moved.
Meanwhile, the wires were at work. The Admiral disclaimed control over
the vessels, as it was a time of peace, and the Commandant retreated
from the stand he had taken. The matter quietened down, but the