But the soup was just a little
cold.'
The soup often got cold at the Governor's board in Adelaide, the while he
was laying the foundations of the Colony. This implied study of the
problem, 'How are we to utilise the natives for the civilisation which
has begun to invade them in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa?'
Already, in Western Australia, Sir George had devoted earnest study to
the subject, and method ripened with him. He felt, perhaps, that he had
been given a unique work, in the sense of moulding raw human materials to
higher ends. He was a master craftsman, and as he contrived, so there
might be issues near and remote. The future dwelt with Sir George when to
others, lacking the seer's eye, it was still below the farthest horizon.
Call it the second-sight of statesmanship--something which is born with a
person rather than acquired. He had simple words for the ideas that
underlay his life's labour, in bringing barbarous races under the harrow
of cultivation.
'It is quite evident that man's great line of exertion, is towards
getting more food for himself and his family. This truth applies to him
in all his states; only the more he advances in material welfare, the
more he needs to satisfy him. With a savage, mere food is enough, but in
the centres of civilisation beautiful clothes, fine horses and carriages,
marble palaces, all form the prize.
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