Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/193

 The Railway-Builders ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 167 The city again demands attention. As previously, with the country's progress there was corresponding development in the metropolitan area. At no stage during her history, except perhaps that in the early part of Governor Gawler's administration, did Adelaide so completely improve the standard of her buildings. The activity of the limbs brought the heart into more healthy action. The period started with depression. Droughts and poor returns to the farmers were prejudicially affecting the whole community ; but when the northern agricultural areas were opened up, all this was changed. The effect in Adelaide was evident in the foundation of new institutions as much as in commercial prosperity and building development. The city revenue expanded, and the City Council itself was enlarged. New public comforts were extended to citizens, and the full expenditure of money went towards making the reserves and surroundings as beautiful as those of any city in the Southern Hemisphere. In effecting these improvements, the authorities took full advantage of the opportunities afforded by Colonel Light's original survey. From ^185,494 in 1868, the annual assessment gradually increased until, in 1877, it reached the total of ^263,632. From a revenue of ^35.570 in 1868, the figures mounted to .^48,335 in 1877 ; and from a population in the city proper of 23,229 in 1866, the number rose to 31,573 in 1876, with upwards of double the number in the whole metropolitan area. In 1868 serious defalcations were discovered in the administration by a prominent official of the Corporation funds, the amount involved between 1859 and 1867 being ^4,068 15s. 6d. ; and the culprit was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. In 1866 Mr. Thomas Worsnop was appointed Town Clerk, and Mr. H. R. Fuller was re-elected Mayor. The successive Mayors to 1877-8 were : — J. M. Solomon, 1 869-70-1 ; A. H. F. Bartels, 1871-2-3; W. D. Allott, 1873-4; J- Colton, 1874-5; Caleb Peacock, 1875-6-7; and Henry Scott, 1877-8. In 1873 a Municipal Corporations Amendment Act was passed, and increased the number of wards to six, and the number of councilmen from eight to twelve. Grey and Robe Wards were each divided, the extra wards being given the names of Young and MacDonnell respectively. The 1873 Act added to the powers of the Council, and gave greater facilities for appeals against assessments, extended the borrowing powers of the Corporation, and increased its power to make by-laws. From the beginning of its history the Council had some difficulty with its markets. In 1854-5 the Corporation erected a building to serve as a market-place on the Corporation Acre fronting Pirie Street, but the site was unpopular, and the place was closed. In 1861, Mr. Vaughan provided accommodation for market gardeners from the hills at the east end of the city, between Rundle Street and North Terrace. The site was convenient, and was soon generally used, Mr. Vaughan being its proprietor. The Corporation, desiring a market of its own, in 1869 purchased land in the centre of the city, and laid it out as a market-place under the name of the City Market. Vaughan's market was the more popular, and, notwithstanding attempts to have it closed by Parliamentary action, it maintained its right to existence. The cattle, sheep, and other markets were much improved.