Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/95

The Citizens ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 69 England, in a comparatively unknown country from which they had obtained substantially no productions, cooped up in a town three years old, were enjoying, after established methods at home, an immense land boom all among themselves ; and it was the second boom within three years! It appeared as if they had come that immense distance just to hold booms. The mounted colonists on the Glenelg road were indeed right - Colonel Gawler was "a fast Governor." The Colonising Commissioners were at first comj)lacent. They wrote in 1839 that so far as their information enabled them to judge, the steps taken by Governor Gawler were wise, and that he could rely on their co-operation in all measures calculated to promote the welfare of the Province. They again said that he was at liberty to deviate from the rules set down for his guidance under peculiar circumstances and on certain conditions, one of the most important being that all such deviations should without delay be placed before the Board. This was soon after the beginning of the expenditures, and it gave Governor Gawler the more reason to expect that his actions would be upheld. He drew bills upon the Commissioners in the first half of 1839 for ^8,560, and in the latter half for ^10,600. And .so he proceeded to stir up the Province during 1839 and 1840. The expenditure in the last quarter of the latter year was at the rate of ;^240,ooo per annum, and the public debt exceeded ^300,000. In 1840, the sum of ^277,000 was sent away for provisions, and it soon became evident that the longer he pursued this policy the higher the expenditure would rise. The Province was like a morphia patient ; a little stimulates at first, but presently the doses must be doubled and trebled. On the susceptible pulse of an infant settlement a little public money goes a long way. Governor Gawler's policy bolstered up the city of Adelaide, but most of the ])ublic works about the capital were in advance of the times, and were apt to retard rather than assist the development of the country. " The effect of his policy was that the settlers were induced to remain in Adelaide, instead of engaging in the cultivation of the rich soil all around them " — Stow. Laborers were occupied in the same unprofitable way, and were not available to settlers who wished to engage in agricultural operations. The price of food was abnormal. Flour cost from /8 to ^,'io per bag ; fresh meat, i.s. per lb. ; bread, 4i^d. per lb. ; yi lb. tea, 2s. ; butter, 3s. 6d. per lb. ; soap, 7d. per lb. ; loaf sugar, is. 3d. per lb. ; and water, 4s. per load. City land rose to absurd values, and one report announces that, in 1840, ^3,000 was paid for an acre at the corner of King William and Hindley .Streets. Important buildings were raised, and large stores were opened. In January, 1839, a branch of the Hank of Australasia was established in Adelaide by iMr. R. F. Newland. The importance given to the capital by the increase of population led to the establishment of a municipal institution earlier than would otherwise have been deemed necessary. As with the prosperity, this was of mushroom growth, and soon faded away. Hitherto the government of the Province had been wholly dependent on the Governor, assisted by a Council, usually consisting of the Colonial Secretary, the Advocate-General,