Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/183

 The Railway-Builders ADELAIDE AND VICINITY I57 only to re-assemble a month later. The respite had a good effect ; members were in a more agreeable mood. The deficiency in the year's accounts was estimated at ;^g4,ooo, and the Government introduced a Bill to empower it to issue ^100,000 worth of Treasury bills. Although the Government remained in office throughout the session, which closed on November 30, little practical legislation was effected. Twenty-five Bills were rejected or were not proceeded with. The session closed in storm. A scene took place on a question of privilege, in which the Governor and the Speaker were concerned. The doors were locked, but one or two members broke them in. The Governor, who had come to prorogue the House, was kept waiting during these proceedings. This was the last session in the administration of Governor Fergus.son. Matters important to the welfare of the Province had been determined, and a national undertaking — the construction of the overland telegraph line (referred to on a subsequent page)— had been completed. Though the financial situation was strained, enterprise, so far from being at a standstill, was uncommonly active ; settlement was spreading over new lands ; new institutions were founded, and building operations in the city were particularly brisk ; and these, notwithstanding the impotency and ceaseless squabbling of Parliament. On December 6, Sir James Pergusson left South Australia, and shortly afterwards became Governor of New Zealand. In 1871, Lady P^ergusson died in Adelaide, and her obsequies were attended with unusual demonstrations of grief. Two years later, Sir James married a South Australian lady, the daughter of the late Mr. John Henry Richman, of Wambauga. His subsequent career has been important. Retiring from the colonial service, he became, in 1886, Under-Secretary of State for P^oreign Affairs and, in 1891, Postmaster- General. Sir Richard Hanson, the Chief Justice, was Acting Governor of South Australia until the arrival on June 8, 1874, of Mr. Anthony Musgrave — afterwards Sir Anthony Musgrave — whose colonial career had already been long and useful. This gentleman, the son of Dr. Anthony Musgrave, of Antigua, became private secretary to the Governor-in- Chief of the Leeward Islands in 1850, although in the following year he entered as student at the Inner Temple. In 1852 he was Treasury Accountant at Antigua, and Colonial Secretary in 1854. He was promoted in i860 as Administrator of the colony of Nevis, whence he was transferred to St. Vincent in 1861. Then, in 1864, he became Governor of Newfoundland; in 1869, Governor of British Columbia; and in 1872, Lieutenant- Governor of Natal. On June 9, 1873, Mr. Musgrave was sworn in as Governor of South Australia. The year was a progressive one : an abundant output of grain, principally due to the new country opened up in the Northern Areas, had produced general prosperity. On July 25 the second session of the seventh Parliament was opened. The Ayers Ministry was succeeded by a Government formed by the previous Premier, Mr. Blyth ; and for about two years this gentleman continued at the head of affairs. The land reform question had practically been settled. Debate in the 1873 session centred chiefly on the administration