14 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART IV 
ever, now are subject to appeal to the High Court instead of 
to the Supreme Court of Queensland, as provided in an Order 
in Council of 1888. The power of pardon is granted to the 
Lieutenant-Governor subject to the usual proviso against 
banishment except in the case of purely political crimes 
unaccompanied by any other grave crime. The revenues of 
the possession are to be devoted to its administration, and 
the Commonwealth makes grants from time to time in aid of 
its revenues. A sum of 10 per cent. of the lease rents is to 
be retained for the relief of the natives who are infirm or 
destitute, and vested in three trustees appointed by the 
Governor-General, who are required to present annual 
reports to Parliament. There is reserved a salary of £1,250 
for the Lieutenant-Governor, and £1.000 for the Chief 
Judicial Officer. 
The central administration, in the shape of the Minister 
for External Affairs, carefully controls the government of the 
island, and bills for creating a species of enforced labour have 
been refused acceptance. As a result of a commission of 
inquiry the Lieutenant-Governor who held office at the time 
of transfer took long leave and was appointed to a position 
of importance in the Imperial service, and after a long 
interregnum the Chief Judicial Officer was appointed 
Lieutenant-Governor, while to fill his place when he was 
away for any cause an Administrator has been created, who 
bears that title even when he is not acting, a curious device, 
and due to personal causes. The territory is still little 
administered, as the Commonwealth Parliament has not yet 
seen its way to vote the very large sums which would be 
necessary before it could be adequately developed, and of 
which some idea can be got by considering the large expendi- 
ture on the East African protectorates and on Uganda by 
the Imperial Government! Very valuable reports on the 
territorv are issued annuallv. 
' Lord Howe Island is under the administration of New South Wales, 
since 1882 under a visiting magistrate from Sydney. Norfolk Island is 
administered by the Governor of New South Wales in virtue of an Order 
in Council under the Act 18 & 19 Vict. ¢. 56, 8. 4. Originally he was