Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/68

 42 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The Founders of these preliminary land orders were issued, and the possessors of them had the first right of selection. In order to prevent dissatisfaction and accusations of favoritism, it was decided that priority of choice should be determined by drawing lots. A plan of the town was exhibited for public inspection. In the drawing, acre i was obtained by N. A. Knox ; the names of the other holders of the first six acres with Mr. Knox were, respectively, Charles Edmonds. W. H. Gray. M. D. Hill, Wm. Bunce, and Lord Stuart de Rothsay. The South Australian Company obtained over one hundred lots, while Governor Hindmarsh and other officials each obtained several acres. Some of the owners of these preliminary land orders did not claim their town acres until 30 or 40 years after Adelaide was established. When this distribution was completed, the remaining acres were sold by auction. They were bought up with some avidity, and the sum of ^3,594 4s. was realised, the prices ranging from £2 2s. to £ 14s., an average of about £'] per acre. Even though no developmental work worthy of the name was done in the Province during 1837, there was a land boom before the end of the year. In view of the forlorn condition of all except the investors, this is remarkable. Town acres, which cost 12s. per acre, were sold for ^80, and the sum of .;^i8o was offered and refused for one of them. There was considerable disagreement among the officials concerning the naming of the streets. Governor Hindmarsh and Resident Commissioner Fisher, with their separate powers tending to a common end, were like a husband and wife afflicted with incompatability of temper. Each claimed from Colonel Light the privilege of naming several thoroughfares. After much .squabbling, a sort of compromise was arranged ; on May 23 the following gentlemen combined to setde the nomenclature: — His Excellency the (iovernor. His Honor the Judge, the Colonial Secretary, the Resident Commissioner, Colonel Light, J. Barton Hack, John Morphett, Edward Stephens, Thomas Bewes .Strangways, Thoma.s Gilbert, John Brown, and Osmond Gilles. As was appropriate, the names of those who were associated with the early history of the Province were thus immortalised. The main street was called after King William the IV. ; the names conferred on other streets were Rundle, Hindley, Grenfell, Currie, Pirie, Waymouth, Flinders. Franklin, Wakefield, Grote, Angas, Gouger, Carrington, Wright, Halifax, Sturt, Gilles, Gilbert, Brown. Morphett, Hanson, Pulteney, and Hutt. The thoroughfares on the outskirts of the main city area, and dividing it from the Park Lands, were named North, South. E;ist, and West Terraces, and the four squares Hindmarsh, Light, Hurtle, and Whitmore. The principal square in the centre of the city was named Victoria, after Her Majesty the Queen, and the square in the Northern Division Wellington, after the victor of Waterloo.