Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/208

 i82 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The jubilee copper market ; but what South Australia temporarily lost in this part of the Province, it g-aiiied in the splendid returns from Broken Hill. Adelaide was brought into great prominence by these exhibitions, and also by the accession of population. Unfortunately, an undue proportion of the increase of people settled in the metropolitan area, and the evils of centralisation were intensified. The e.xhibitions, the land boom in 1 88 1-2, the silver boom in 1888-9, and the general attractions of the citv, were all, to some extent, detrimental to the true interests of the Province in that they drew too many people to reside in the capital. The formative period of Adelaide may also be said to have ended in these years. During the land boom the population of the metropolitan area increased rapidly, and hundreds of new houses were erected. There was such a plethora of residences, offices, and business sites, that for some years after the re-action the number of vacant houses was depressing, and men who anticipated a large rent-roll went insolvent. Complaint was general. But the boom in city and suburban property served to enhance the aspect of the city, notwithstanding empty dwellings. Owing to the peculiar system adopted, the annual assessments are not representative of the true value of city property. At the time of payment of rates the residents are quite willing to agree that the assessments are good, but afterwards they loudly assert that they are absurdly low. The assessment in 1878 was ^289,030; in 1883, ^485,065; in 1886, jC455>373 ' ''n<J '" 1889, .;6390,374 15s. In a Land and Income Tax Bill proposed by the Government in 1884 the estimated value of Adelaide was ^14,000,000 out of ^65,000,000 for all the land in the Province not in the hands of the Government. Frontages in King William Street were valued at ^325 a foot; in Hindley Street, at ^125; in Grenfell, Currie, and Waymouth Streets, at ^100; in Gouger Street, at ^50; and in Gilles and Gilbert Streets, at .i^i5. In 1889 the population of the city proper was estimated at 43,750, with three times that number in the metropolitan district, and 315,281 in the .Province. In keeping with the dignity of Adelaide, the citizens had almost from the foundation of the Corporation been very discreet in their choice of Mayors, and particularly since the election was entrusted to the ratepayers. The present period was no exception to the rule. The successive Mayors were men whose careers were distinguished throughout the Province. Of them Mr. E. T. Smith, M.P., was probably the most public spirited and able. Both in natural talents and wealth he was singularly adapted to occupy the highest position in an important municipality. Born at Walsall, England, in 1831, he came to South Australia in 1853, and was .soon the pro[)rietor of a large brewing business. His first experience of municipal government was obtained in the Kensington and Norwood Corporation, of which he was Mayor in 1868-9-70-72-73. He was Mayor of Adelaide in 1880-1-2-7-8, and was at the same time a member of the House of Assembly for