Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/143

 The Legislators ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 117 to improving its streets, and also to give ear to the desire of residents for a municipal institution. On February 7, 1849, a public meeting proposed to establish a corporation, with the title of "The Chairman, Councillors, and Citizens of Adelaide," and presented a memorial to that effect to Governor Young. Not immediately complying with its prayer, the Administrator, with the consent of the Legislative Council, transferred the affairs of the city to a commission of five persons, called the "City Commission." The Governor appointed Captain Freeling, R.E. — afterwards Sir Arthur Freeling, Bart. — and Messrs. S. Davenport, F. S. Dutton, W. Blyth, and R. F. Newland as Commissioners, and in September these gentlemen began their duties. Mr. E. S. Webber was appointed clerk. They were empowered to levy rates, and were required to keep streets and bridges in proper order, to construct sewers, and establish waterworks. The sum of ;/i^4,ooo was voted from the general revenue in 1849 for the construction and maintenance of the streets of Adelaide, and .;^6,ooo for the erection of bridges over the Torrens within the city bounds. The Commissioners remained in office until June, 1852, and effected extensive improvements. In 1850-1 the Legislative Council voted .^7,500; and rates, dues, and fees brought in .;^6,40i 13s. 4d. more. Up to December, 1850, the expenditure in the city amounted to ^13,817 14s. Altogether they expended ^33,104 is. id. during their administration, which terminated on May 31, 1852. F"or three years an Act had been on the Statute-books authorising the constitution of a municipal corporation. However efficient the City Commissioners might be, they were not likely to give such satisfaction as a representative institution, especially when residents were required to pay rates. Governor Young, consistently with his general policy, introduced into the Legislative Council a Bill to incorporate the citizens of Adelaide under the style of "The Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors, and Citizens of Adelaide." This was a revised copy of a measure drawn up by Governor Robe and his officers in 1847, and was passed in August, 1849. The corporation was to be composed of four Aldermen and twelve Councillors ; the Mayor was to be elected from among them by themselves. The city was divided into four wards, named after previous Governors — Hindmarsh, Gawler, Grey, and Robe ; and every male householder who had property in the city, and who lived within it or within seven miles of it, was entitled to vote at the municipal elections. Owing to an omission, the occupiers of stables, slaughter-houses, and breweries, although compelled to pay rates, did not receive a vote by right of their premises. To prevent difficulties such as beset the first Corporation, the Act provided that " any councillor who should resign after accepting office, or who should refuse to act after being elected, should pay a fine of not less than £2^ nor more than ^50." The same rule applied to aldermen, assessors, and auditors, but the Mayor was made liable to a fine of not less than ^50 nor more than ^100. The Act, however, could only become operative when proclaimed by the Governor on the petition of not less than 400 of the ratepayers, representing property to the value of ^15,000.
 * ^I5,449 14s. 5d., and from January to September, 1851, the amount laid out was