Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/94

 68 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The citizens of ix«rsons hurried into South Australia, and they did very little when they got there. The iwpulation in 1838 was 5,374. of which Adelaide held the ridiculously large number of 4.000; in 1840 it was 14,630, with 8.480 in Adelaide: in 1841 the total was 16,000. Alr(ady had begun the centralisation which has been such a hindrance to the Province throughout its history. This crowding of idle jieople into the city gave Governor Gawler anxious concern. To all the infelicitous conditions confronting him when he arrived was added another, which accentuated and precipitated them all. The GovernmcMit was compelled to shelter and feed the immigrants until they obtained work, and sometimes there were above a thousiind de|>endent on such assistance. The finances could not bear the previous burdens. The records were badly kept ; the public service required re-organising ; the colonial finances were in a state of " thorough confusion and defalcation " ; and public buildings had to be erected. Capital was flowing out for food ; and capital was indispensable. The great intlu.x of immigration began a few months after (Governor Gawler's advent, and before he had got a firm hold of afifairs. He recognised more j^lainly than ever that the Province was at an acute stage in its history. The resources were good, but the conditions were decidedly bad. He summoned all his energies to overcome the difficulty, and kept before him the emergency clause in his instructions, which, he apprehended, would protect him in ciise he exceeded the financial allowance. The step which Governor Gawler took had an immense influence over the early struggles of South Australia, and not necessarily one that was permanently bad. By his own acknowledgment he entered upon his government hastily and without being able to make minute calculations ; but, after careful consideration of the conditions as he found them, he decided to take a bold course, so as to end at one stroke nearly all the troubles endangering the Province. He committed what might be termed the laudable fault which has characterised the policy of various Australian Governments, of believing that relief works solved the unemployed problem. He built a pretentious Government House, large offices for the various public departments, a Customs house, a gaol, a hospital. "He remodelled and extended the Survey Department ; enrolled a large police force, both foot and mounted ; formed roads, sent out exploring parties, and introduced bold and decisive mejLsures everywhere and in everything." He also raised, from January i, 1839, the sjilaries of public servants, and made them more nearly uniform with the incomes of the most successful capitalists ; of course, spending money right royally. The influence of such a policy was almost immediate ; and too many examples of it have been witnessed in Australia to require extended description. The exciting days of Boom had come once more ; prosperity had come ; work had come ; wealth and comfort had come. South Australia was a delightful land ; substantially there were no unemployed. Colonists were unintentionally induced to buy more land ; business men to build larger warehouses and shops. As money was expended freely by the Government, it was expended freely by the people. Wakefield's principles were glorious— no colon)- ever made such progress as this ! A few hundred people, many thousands of miles from