Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/492

466 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. J. C. F. Johnson early identified himself in writing descriptions of scenes and adventures of life in Australia. Gradually he drifted into regular literary work, and, after contributing many stories and sketches to intercolonial journals, he returned to his native Province in 1868, and joined the staff of the Sou/h Australian Register. In connection with this journal he was not long in making his mark His special articles on many subjects attracted much attention, especially those on mining, which were read with a large degree of interest. Mr. Johnson also acted as the Registers dramatic critic from 1873 to 1880. In 1880 he purchased Adelaide Piiiic/i, which he conducted for several years, during which he sought to elevate the tone of the satirical Press. Adelaide Punch is still remembered as a crisp weekly, sparkling with smart satire and choice epigram. In 1880, Mr. Johnson rode over the now famous Barrier Range country to the Mount Brown Diggings, and published his experiences in the Press, and afterwards in a racy little work, " Moses and Me," which met with a large sale. " Moses," or " Barrier Moses, ' was the name of the pony which Mr. Johnson rode, and the droll adventures of the two were told in a vein of graphic humor. Some time after his return to Adelaide, Mr. ft)hnson relinquished journalism as a profession ; and having purchased the Mount Cultaga Gold Mine, Boolcoomatta, commenced a career of gold mining in South Australia. In 1881, Mr. Andrew Mitchell discovered gold near Woodside. and Mr. Johnson, forming a company, opened what was called the " Woodside Mine," on the Craigdarroch P^state. He then, in various parts of the district, employed prospectors, including Captains Pleitner and McCracken, the latter of whom discovered the " Bird-in-Hand Mine" on the land of Mr. James Shepherd. This led to the finding of several other promising mining properties, and nearly ^100,000 worth of gold has since been raised in the neighborhood. In 1884, in response to a requisition from a number of prominent gentlemen of the district of Onkaparinga, Mr. Johnson became a candidate for Parliament, and was returned as a member of the Assembly for that constituency. He felt his way in the House cautiously at first, and spoke only when he had matter of special knowledge and import to impart. He soon, however, began to take a prominent part in debates, and became one of the leaders of the Protectionist movement, the advocates of which were termed by him the " Productionist Party," but, as his speeches of that date and previous days show, his ]>olicy was to make protection the first step towards intercolonial freetrade, and thence to a federated Australia. Shortly afterwards he was elected by a majority of the House a member of what was known as " The Triumvirate," whose special mission was to reduce the expen.se of the Government. Their joint labors resulted in a saving in the estimates of ^70,000, and for the time being they were really the controlling power in the country, the Government being to some extent powerless in their hands. On June 3, 1887, Mr. John.son initiated what was known as the Australian National Union. A crowded and enthusiastic meeting was held at White's Rooms, Adelaide, with the late Sir John Cox Bray in the chair. In a rousing patriotic speech Mr. Johnson declared that the prime object of the Union was to induce greater interest in political affairs, p.irticularly among young men, and, primarily and above all, to ])romote the federation of Australia. The National Union afterwards amalgamated with the Australian Natives' Association to prevent duplication of work, as the objects of the two societies were found to be virtually identical. Mr. Johnson afterwards became president, and being ai)pointed on the South