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188 a breach of privilege, and demanded the deposition of the Chief Secretary, Sir Henry Ayers. the leader of their Chamber. The Colton Government refused to sacrifice their colleague, whereupon the Council declined to transact any business. Affairs were practically at a standstill, and the Council addressed the new Governor on the subject. But before Sir William had replied, the Assembly ended the dispute by censuring the Colton Government, on the casting vote of the Speaker. Mr. Houcaut returned to office as Premier, and notwithstanding the narrow vote on which Mr. Colton was deposed, the new .Ministry was long-lived. Persistent crisis-mongering has never been repeated to such e.xcess as in former times, and Parliamentary government has been pursued with much more dignity.

During the 1877 session of Parliament a useful Crown Lands Consolidation Bill was carried, which repealed all the statutes (31 in number) relating to the Crown lands of South Australia liberalised the laws governing agricultural, pastoral, and mineral tenants. Amendments were made in following years. A loan of 1,036,600 was authorised for water supply and railway construction, and for a breakwater at Victor Harbor. The railways provided for were to run from Hamley Bridge to Balaklava, Kadina to Wallaroo, and the Barunga Extension. The projection of these new public works demanded more taxation, and the Boucaut Government proposed by resolution a property tax and an income tax. The Assembly assented to the former, but declined to have anything to do with the latter. Before the necessary Bill was introduced, a change of Premiership took place. Upon the death of Mr. Justice Stow, the Premier, Mr. Boucaut, was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench, and Mr. W. Morgan, in September, 1878, became Premier, with Messrs. C. Mann, G. C. Hawker, W. II. Bundey, T. Playford, and R. Rees Railway Viaducts between .Mitcham and Blackwood