Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/340

 314 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon sir w. Miine members of the Assembly. He was chosen for Onkaparinga on March 9, 1857, representing that constituency until 1868. In 1869 he was elected to the Legislative Council, and held a seat until 1881. In 1876 he had the dignity of Knight Bachelor conferred upon him in recognition of his splendid services to the Province and to responsible government. For a period aggregating five years and eight months Sir William Milne was a Minister of the Crown, principally in the Crown Lands Office. He held the Lands portfolio in the first Baker Administration from August 21 to September 1, 1857 ; in the Hanson Ministry from July 5, 1859, to May 9, i860; in the Ayers Ministry from July 22 to August 4, 1864; and in the Boucaut Ministry from March 28, 1866, to May 3, 1867. As Commissioner of Public Works he served in the reconstructed Cabinet of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse from February 19, 1862. to July 4, 1863, and in the Blyth Administration from August 4, 1864, to March 22, 1865. He was Chief Secretary in the Hart Government from May 30, 1870, to November 10, 1871, and in the succeeding Ministry of Sir Arthur Blyth from November 10, 1871, to January 22, 1872. He thus served the State in many important capacities, and was a member of more Cabinets than but few other South Australians. In his day he was in the forefront of politics, and was esteemed as an administrator whose assistance was invaluable, and whose departmental work was characterised by industry and thoroughness. He was a public speaker of considerable force, and his clear and concise language, with his sincere demeanor, gained general respect in debate. Indeed, he was a political warrior of tried and respected powers. He was one of the first Ministers of the Crown in South Australia. While Commissioner of Crown Lands he .sponsored several useful Bills, and inaugurated valuable reforms. He introduced the Scrub Lands Act, which enabled and encouraged settlers to take up lands which were previously practically unutilised. He introduced a Scab in Sheep Act, and initiated legislation which resulted in the transformation of many swamp and lagoon areas in the South-East into rich alluvial country. Through his instrumentality, agricultural settlement was given a great impetus. He was one of the most earnest supporters of Sir R. R. Torrens' famous Real Property Act. Railways, telegraphs, water supplies, and other public works received very substantial assistance from him. The Hill providing for the construction of the Overland Telegraph line through South Australia to Port Darwin, and connecting by cable with the chief electric systems of the world, was introduced by the Government of which he was a member. He rendered valuable a.ssistance in the passing of the Bill, and was Chief Secretary while the work was being carried out. He warmly advocated the establishment of water supplies at Port Augusta and at Port Adelaide, and took official part in their construction. But it is not possible to give full details of the many political services of Sir William Milne. His contemporaries considered that he thoroughly deserved knighthood, and he was sincerely complimented when he received that distinction. Upon the death of Sir John Morphett he was elected, on June 25, 1873, President of the Legislative Council, and he continued in that important office for .several years. Almost throughout his career he was prominent in public matters. He was for many years chairman of the Central Roads Board, and took an active part in the Volunteer movement. He was a member of both the Mounted and Foot Forces, and held a