Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/91

 The Citizens ADELAIDE AND VICINITY. 65 had cause to be delighted in subsequent years when a healthier era set in. In such an inadvertent way, indeed, one or two of the wealthiest landowners and wool kings of South Australia became possessed of their properties. The legitimate investors introduced horses, catde, and sheep, which multiplifxl so that, in 1840, South Australia was almost in a position to sell to its neighbors. One return gives the stock in the Province in 1841-2 as 250,000 sheep, 16,000 cattle, and 1,000 horses. The largest sheepowners in 1 84 1 were the South Australian Company, Messrs. Gleeson, Lodwick (Onkaparinga), Reynell (Hurde Vale), Freeman, Duncan Macfarlane (Mount Barker), Phillips, Gemmell (Strathalbyn), Jones (Yankalilla), George Anstey (Para), Dutton & Bagot, Baker, John Hughes (Gilbert River), R. L. Leake, Hopkins & Green, Horrocks (Hutt River), and Peters. From this list it will be gathered that much of the most beautiful and fertile country in South Australia was being used for sheep stations at that period. In the midst of many of those old sheep-walks are now busy and prosperous towns. In 1839, and in the first month of 1840, the mania for land speculation was alarming. Land agents carried on lucrative businesses, and increased in number. Early writers say that auction sales were held day and night, and were attended by jostling crowds. Besides a humble theatre and the public-houses, the marts supplied the only rendezvous for the public at night ; and were the most popular, especially the one presided over by the witty J. Bentham Neales. At these sales " fenders and fireirons, spades and axes, or allotments of building land, could be purchased." Small sections were sought after with as much eagerness as large, and cut up into building lots. The boom, like modern episodes oi the kind, caused people to imagine that they would quickly become wealthy. Some pursued their occupations half-heartedly, as if they thought that such engagements were menial in comparison with their position as land speculators and land owners ; and .some were so optimistic that they considered it beneath them to work at all. Those were said to be foolish who were afraid to in'est, who prophesied that the boom was like soap bubbles suspended in the air. They were happy in their excitement ; and so they watched the elusive tints of the bubble, with the usual result. The special .surve'ys were the delight of those who had the most capital. Exploring parties continued to go out, and to hurry back with applications for land. Governor Gawler was very energetic, and, when his troubles in Adelaide allowed him, travelled extensively. On one occasion, with a visitor at Government House named Bryan, and a member of his staff he reached the north-west bend of the Murray, and thence some members of the party pursued a northerly course until they were compelled to turn back for want of water. One of the horses gave out, and Mr. Bryan was left with it while Governor Gawler returned to the Murray for water. The Governor and his attendant became so fatigued, that one of their remaining horses was killed in order that they might drink its blood. Help was procured, but no sign of Mr. Bryan could be found, and it was .soon apparent that he had peri.shed in the bush. Mount Bryan, near the locality where he was last seen, was named after him, and years afterwards the horse was found in the neighborhood alive, but of the rider there has never been any trace. Messrs. Strangways