Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/207

 The Jubilee ADELAIDE AND VICINITY i8i on June 7, 1888, over three-quarters of a million persons had visited it. Some 18^ acres of ground were occupied, and the permanent building had a floor space of 85,600 feet, attached to which were annexes. In these were displayed the handiwork of an ingenious people, and the fruits of the soil, produced in a country which 51 years before was wholly inhabited by blacks. A more stirring and impressive object lesson could not have been su|)plied ; all this was the wealth of a peaceful people. The chief credit for the success of the PL.xhibition must be awarded to Mr. E. T. Smith and' Sir .Samuel Davenport. In 1888-9 there was excitement in Adelaide owing to the phenomenal developments on the Broken Hill (Barrier Ranges) silver fields. A huge silver boom took place ; a vast Southern portion of Broken Hill number of people became shareholders in silver stocks, some of which were not worth the paper they were printed on. The Stock Exchange became the centre of attraction in the city, and numerous fortunes were made and lost in speculation. One useful result of the prevailing mining excitement was the formation of a .School of Mines. The wheat and wool returns were good in 1888, and poor in 1889. In the north, in the risky country, where the farmers had too hurriedly settled, there was distress in the latter year, and vain attempts were made to induce the Government of the day to make advances of seed 'wheat to the sufferers. Private funds were raised, relief was given, and fortunately the succeeding harve.st was abundant. The copper industry, by this time almost exclusively .centred on the Peninsula, was al.so greatly depressed in 1889, owing to a collapse in the