Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/230

 204 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Conclusions total imports were ^9,956,542, while only ^^4. 129,806 was retained for local consumption. The ratio is preserved in other years, which shows that the merchant, the agent, and the railways gain enormously from neighboring colonies. This is particularly the case in regard to Hroken Hill. At Port Pirie immense smelting works have been erected by the leading silver mining company of the Barrier, and employ above 1,000 men. There is now a thriving community at that port. It is pleasing to record that in the years of depression the public finances were so carefuUv managed by the Kingston Government, with the Hon. F. W. Holder as Treasurer, that, with the exception of one year, there has been no deficit. Retrenchment was vigorously pursued to bring the expenditure below the revenue, and public works construction brought almost to a standstill. The Parliament and the Government presented an example to the people in these respects. There was very little needless Institutk and two views of Ellkn Sikekt, Pokt Pirie lamentation or impotent repining ; but a spirit of sturdy confidence in local resources generally prevailed. In the first year or two of depression there was a considerable number of unemployed, but the Government, by advanced legislation, aided by what might be termed adventitious circumstances, greatly relieved this class of distress. In the latter case, the phenomenal discoveries on the desert wilderness of Western Australia, traversed under such difficult circumstances by Forrest, Giles, and another explorer named Hunt, attracted thousands of persons from .South Australia. Gold was found in quartz reefs in such unusual quantities, that Western Australia doubled its population in a few months, receiving its first voluntary accession of people in any considerable numbers since 1829-30, or immediately after the foundation of the colony. From one point of view the migration of people from this Province was a distinct loss; from another it was a most fortunate circumstance. The glut in the labor market was quickly relieved, and men