Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/333

 Hon. Sir], c. Bray ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 307 Sir John Bray was Premier from June 24, 1881, to June 16, 1884. In March, 1884, the Hon. J. L. Parsons was appointed Government Resident of the Northern Territory, and his portfolio was taken by Sir E. T. Smith. The Hon. L. Clyde was defeated in seeking re-election, and in the reconstruction in April, the late Mr. David Bower accepted the vacant portfolio. In the meantime Sir John Colton had been on a trij) to P^n^land. Upon his return he was .so dissatisfied with certain of the Premier's proposals that he moved and carried a no-confidence motion. Sir John Colton then took office, but in 1885 he in turn was defeated by Sir John Downer, while Sir John Bray was on a visit to Great Britain. W'hen the latter returned he accepted a portfolio under his former colleague. This combination was generally known as the "Downer-Bray administration." In 1886 .Sir John Downer proceeded to Hlngland to attend an Imperial conference, and Sir John Bray became Acting-Premier. Before the Chief's return, the Ministry, in June, 1887, was defeated by Mr. Thomas Playford. Dr. Cockburn succeeded Mr. Playford in June, 1889, but in August, 1890, the see-saw reversed, and he had to give way again to the latter. In the new combination Sir John Bray filled the office of Chief Secretary — under his old political enemy, be it noted. The Speaker of the House of Assembly (Sir R. D. Ross) having died during recess, upon the House re-assembling on May 31, 1888, .Sir J. C. Bray was elected as Speaker; but he only held the position till June 5, 1890, preferring the greater e.xcitement to be found on the Hoor of the House to the quiet dignity of the Speaker's chair. Whilst Speaker he received his knighthood, an honor which he had declined some years previously. In deference to the wish of Mr. Playford, in 1892 Sir John Bray resigned his portfolio in order to fill the position of Agent-General in London. Pearly in 1892 he proceeded to Flngland, and there he remained until 1894. The rigorous climate of the old country did not agree with his health, and he left P.ngland to return to South Australia. When nearing Colombo in the Oceana, the popular politician died on June 13, 1894. His death was .so sudden that the news was received with consternation throughout the Province, and innumerable expressions of sorrow were forwarded to the late knight's relatives. A chorus of lament mingled with eulogy arose on every side, and Sir John Bray's demise was looked upon in the light of a public calamity. It is certain that, had he survived, his position in the Province during recent years would have been important and useful. During his political career Sir John Bray materially affected the interests of South Australia. Being a son of the .soil, so to speak, he naturally held the country very close to his heart, and whatever he did was done with the earnest and enthusiastic desire to serve his native land. He sponsored numbers of measures which were calculated to stimulate development and good government, and he gave of his talents and his energy freely and conscientiously. In the less public but humane arenas of utility, he devoted his time and his purse to philanthropy. He was associated with numbers of charitable bodies, and was a patron of healthy sport. His presence in the Province was so indispensable that in Parliament and other spheres his want has been felt more than is generally recogni-sed. His friends cherish the memory of the kindly and sympathetic knight, while the people of South Australia generally mourn the loss of an exceptionally able, upright, open-handed, and open-hearted public man.