Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/335

 Hon. Sir John coiton ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 309 the wishes of his colleagues, though the Bill was anything but favorably viewed in his electorate. The result was that Sir John lost his seat at the; next general elections ; but after the lapse of one Parliament he was again elected for his old con.stituency. His capabilities and untiring energy in regard to municipal affairs had not meanwhile been allowed to pass unnoticed, and he was elected to the position of Mayor of Adelaide in 1874. The Chief Magistrate's chair had few such able occupants, and his tenure ot office was characterised by assiduous attention to promotive; matters in municipal legislation, as well as tactful generalship in directing the deliberations of the civic fathers. Contemporaneous with this official dignity was his accession to the Boucaut Ministry as Treasurer. In this capacity he took a leading part in formulating " th(great and comprehensive policy " which marked th(! Ministry's occupancy of the Treasury benches. In June, 1876, Sir John Coiton formed a Government of his own, and for 16 months held the Premiership of the Province. But with the kaleidoscopic changes in Ministries that were the usual feature of those days of political unrest, the Boucaut Government again came into power in October, 1877. wSir John Colton's health was now- failing, and so critical did it become that in August of the following year he resigned his seat and made a lengthened tour of the world for recuperation, after his many years of incessant and wearying work. (3n his return to South Australia he re-entered the Assembly in the new Parliament of 188 1. In June of that year the late Sir William Morgan retired from the Premiership, and with his resignation came that of his Ministers. One of these, the late Hon. G. C. Hawker, having declined to form a new Cabinet, Sir John Coiton was sent for by the Governor ; but on account of ill-health he had to reluctantly decline the task with which it was sought to entrust him. He, however, suggested a former colleague in the person of Sir J. C. Bray, with the result that a new Ministry was formed by that gentleman. Sir John, seeing that his health was again beginning to wane, took another trip to Europe. The change had a salutary effect, and he returned to the arena of political discussion to take his seat on the Opposition benches. The reason for this change of position in the House was attributable to Sir John Colton's strenuous resistance to a Property Tax Bill which Sir John Bray desired to adopt. He succeeded in carrying a motion of want of confidence in his political god-child, and was not long in office before jhe induced Parliament to inaugurate what he deemed a more equitable land and income ^tax In 1885, Sir John Colton's Ministry retired from office, and was succeeded by the i Downer Government. In 1887 he retired finally from the noisy arena of politics. Peelings of unfeigned regret were expressed far and wide at this withdrawal of his public services. [Appreciation of his political conduct found unanimous acclaim, when in the new year of 1892 Sir John Coiton received the distinguished order of K.C.M.G. His connection with religious, social, and charitable movements cannot be effaced ^from the memories of those for whom he so generously and disinterestedly labored. He [has ever been a prominent member of the VVesleyan Methodist Church, as well as a Sunday-school teacher and superintendent. His philanthropic disposition is reflected in his many benefactions. His life, both in jjublic and private, has been genuinely sincere; his private business, lucrative as it undoubtedly was, has ever been sacrificed on the altar of public devotion ; and round his name are gathered deep feelings of venerable regard.