Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/135

 The Legislators ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 109 the chief questions agitated were State aid to religion and the advisability of establishing responsible government. Governor Robe's Act making a grant out of public funds to religious bodies had aroused considerable religious rancor, which seemed to intensify now that representative government was established. A league for the " maintenance of religious freedom " devoted all its energies to secure the return of members opposed to the grant, and the expression of opinion of the country was undoubted — only four members in favor of State aid were chosen. The honor of being the first elected members of the Legislative Council fell to Messrs. F". S. Dutton, A. L. Elder, J. B. Neales, R. D. Hanson, G. M. Waterhouse, C. S. Hare, J. Baker, S. Davenport, W. Peacock, G. F. Angas, W. Younghusband, G. S. Kingston, and J. Ellis, and Captains Hall, John Hart, and C. H. Bagot. The non-official nominees were Messrs. John Morphett, J. Grainger, E. C. Gwynne, and Major Norman Campbell ; and the officials were Captain Charles Sturt, Colonial Secretary ; B. T. Finniss, Registrar-General ; R. I). Hanson, Advocate-General ; and R. R. Torrens, Collector of Customs. The Council was a gathering of highly competent men, some of whom had already distinguished themselves in South Australian history, and most of whom were destined to vitally influence the fortunes of the Province. No finer band of legislators could have been desired. During the elections Mr. Hanson was appointed Advocate-General in succession to Mr. Smillie, and Mr. William Giles was elected in his stead. The vexed question of State aid to religion was brought to a final issue, and a Bill to provide for the continuance of the grant was defeated by 13 votes to 10. An Education Act was carried, and it was decided to grant Captain Sturt, who retired from his official position, an annuity of ^600. .Since his last expedition the intrepid old explorer had been almost totally blind. He now removed to England, and died at Cheltenham, on June 16, 1869. While on his deathbed the honor of knighthood, .so long withheld and so well earned, was conferred upon him, but he did not live to assume the title. By this time the Province had arrived at a stage of advancement contrasting brightly with its position 10 years before. The population had risen to 63,700, the exports were valued at half a million sterling, local industries such as mining, agriculture, and wool growing were flourishing, and the financial situation was satisfactory. Governor Young had strong views on a public works policy, but before he could carry it out a crisis was reached, which ultimately proved of permanent advantage. It was occasioned by the discoveries of gold in New South Wales and Victoria, which so powerfully affected the whole of Australia. .Several hundred men left the Province for the Californian diggings in 1849-50, and some concern was felt by settlers because of the exodus. Early in 1851 a few parties proceeded to New South Wales, but when the Victorian fields were discovered in the latter part of that year, what at first seemed a disastrous migration took place. A report of the Chamber of Commerce announced that between 15,000 and 20,000 people left for the eastern colony in 1851. The copper mines were almost deserted, wheat fields were left untended, and flocks were abandoned by the shepherds.