Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/148

 I 22 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The Legislators eastward towards the hills. Beyond Kent Town two suburbs had attained particular importance, and derived names from London suburbs — Kensington and Norwood. It is not possible to give reliable data concerning the foimders of these towns, but for several years the number of residents in them had been increasing. Glenelg and Port Adelaide had also grown in dimensions, population, and wealth. Kensington and Norwood were the first suburbs to obtain a separate municipal institution. They were incorporated under one Municipal Council in 1853. Two years later Port Adelaide and Glenelg were granted local government; and Gawler in 1857. In November, 1852, a District Councils Act passed the Legislative Council, and under it power was given to various districts to tax themselves lor the making and management of roads, bridges, and public buildings. The notice proclaiming the constitution of a Municipal Corporation for " the villages of Kensington, Norwood, and Marryatville '' appeared in the Govenuitcnt Gazette of July 7, 1853, Mr. B. T. Finniss, The "villages' three wards — East Norwood, — each of which to return three there were to be a Aldermen. The the Council was Diggers' Arms Hotel), at which Messrs. Charles chair), J. Y. Norwood Town Hall, 1859 above the name of Colonial Secretary, were divided into West Norwood, and Kensington was empowered Councillors, and Mayor and three first meeting of held at the Gold (now the Norwood were present B o n n e y (in the Ashton, George Aldridge, Henry Whittle, A. G. Baddily, G. E. Hamilton, George Birrell, and J. R. Smith. Messrs. Bonney, .Soward, and Ashton were elected Aldermen. At the second meeting, held at the Robin Hood Inn, Alderman Bonney was elected Mayor, and this position he filled until 1858, when he was succeeded by Mr. F. B. Carlin. In 1856 Kent Town was proclaimed a ward, to be called Kent Ward, and its first representatives were Alderman I*". B. Carlin and Councillors J. Skelton and T. Haldane. Mr. J. P). Moulden was the first Town Clerk of Kensington and Norwood. In 1859 the first Town Hall erected in .South Australia was opened by the Corporation at the soijth-east corner of the Parade. Ujjon the demolition of the building in 1898, a piece of parchment was found under the corner-stone, with the following engrossed on it : — " The corner-stone of this Town Hall of Kensington and Norwood was laid on the 30th day of July, in the twenty-third year of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and in the year of our Lord 1850, in the presence of Fredick Benjamin Carlin, Mayor ; Aldermen Greenway, Perry, and