Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/194

 1 68 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The Railway-Builders The Ciiv Briugk, Kini; W'iii.iam Road, l.ooKiNci Wksi The improvement of the Torrens, and the systematic planting of the park and reserves in ornamental trees, was slowly gone on with. In 1869, by Act of Parliament, the Corporation was empowered to raise, by bonds, a sum not exceeding ^15,000, which was to be expended in beautifying the city. The dam, carried away by the llood of 1867, had given so much pleasure, that it was desired to construct another and stronger one. The actual construction of a dam or weir was held in abeyance for some years, but small improvements were effected. In 1875, some 4.CXX) trees were planted in the streets, and the bare places in the reserves were adorned in the same way. In 1873 Mr. Worsnop, the Town Clerk, prepared an elaborate scheme for the improvement of Victoria Square and its environs. He proposed that the authority of Parliament should be obtained for the purchase of four acres of land fronting the west side of the Square, that a road 132 feet wide should be made through the centre, and that the Parliament Houses and University Buildings should be erected on the eastern side of the road. The City Council regarded the project with favor, the House of Assembly passed an empowering Bill, but the Legislative Council would have none of it. Had the'propo.sal been carried out, the stately api)ear- ance of King William Street would have been greatly augmented. I'or many years there had lx;en considerable disagreement between the Corporation and Parliament concerning the Mor- phett Street railway crossing the City Bridge, King William Road, Looking East