Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/203

 CHAPTER X THE JUBILEE 1S77-.S9 Forrtiative^'period ended— Prosperity— Statistics— Land Boom in Adelaide— Re-action and Re-adjustment — Fiftieth Anniversary — Jubilation — An Exhibition — A Silver Boom — A poor Harvest— Centralisation in Adelaide— Assessments and Land Values-The Mayors— E. T. Smith, M. P.— Aldermen and Mayoral Chain— Deep Drainage and Sewage Farm — Tramways — Torrens Lake and Rotunda — New Municipalities — Political — Sir W. W. Cairns — Sir W. F. D. Jervois -A Privilege Question — The Boucaut Government — Crown Lands Consolidation Bill — Loans— Boucaut a Judge— William Morgan, Premier — Taxation Bill rejected — Railways and Loans — The Bray Ministry — Reform of Council and new Electoral Act— General legislation — Sir W. C. F. Robinson — Colton Government — Taxation — Pastoral legislation — John Downer, Premier — New Bills — Playford Ministry — Departure of Governor Robinson — Exploration HE remainder of this history may be told vvitli less fulness of detail. The period of general formation was com- pleted, public works construction, first made a dominant policy by Mr. Boucaut, was the coping stone to the structure reared by the foundation builders, and the husbaiuliiK-n. The projection of railways throtigh the rich(r jireducing districts enhanced the value of their lands, and the advantages of Adelaide. Production was cheapened, communication was rendered comparatively easy, and South Australia was the possessor of the chief concomitants of civilisation, and of a self-reliant people comprehensively embarked in the management of their own affairs. The building of railways quickly told on the agricultural returns. Each year, for several years, the area imder cultivation and the; number of farmers increased, and South Australia reached in this period her highest point of prosperity. To some extent the additional area brought under cultivation has not been an advantage, for much of the increase was in the pof)rer country, where the rainfall is unreliable. b^or one good year there are several discouraging ones, and the average returns suffer. The farmer took 177 ^i