TEN years all but four months elapsed between the swearing in of Sir F. D. Jervois and the crowning illustration of South Australian enterprise —the opening of the jubilee International Exhibition. In some respects, they were years of greater progress than any that had preceded them, though the latter part of the decade was involved in gloom. In 1877 a telegraph line was constructed to the Western Australian border, over nine hundred and seventy-nine miles of the most difficult country which Eyre traversed nearly forty years before. The next year the first sod of the transcontinental railway from Port Augusta to Port Darwin was turned by Governor Jervois, who opened two hundred miles of it four years afterwards. At present, the works on this line reach a point six hundred miles north of Adelaide, and a section of one hundred and fifty miles from Palmerston southward is in progress. Branches from the main line connect Adelaide with the Murray at Morgan, with Spencer’s Gulf at Wallaroo and Port Pirie, and with the New South Wales border near Silverton. The Mount Lofty range has been pierced, the Murray bridged, the desert crossed, and along a splendidly constructed line of one hundred and ninety-six miles to the Victorian border there is a daily communication between Melbourne and Adelaide. This line sends off a branch near Mount Barker, eighty-one miles in length, to Goolwa and Port Victor, with another branch to Milang, on Lake Alexandrina, and by the line from Bordertown to Mount Gambier, is connected with the southeastern system. These are all of recent construction, and they endorse to some extent the enthusiastic prediction of Governor Jervois that Adelaide is to be the Brindisi of Australia. The yield of gold and improving prospects of the Northern Territory seem to render probable the Dundreary allusion, with which he often convulsed an audience, that "the tail will yet waggle the dog." To recount the roads, bridges, jetties, public buildings, and other works of utility executed in the same space of time, would be impossible. Schemes for water conservation and irrigation, for improved postal facilities, for better sanitation, and for the encouragement of forestry, are undertaken and in progress. One fact may suffice to illustrate their extent —nine hundred thousand trees were planted under government auspices in 1887 alone. The corporations in towns, and district councils in rural districts have done wonders in improving and beautifying their several localities, and everywhere there are tokens of increased attention to comfort and social refinement.

Early in 1882, the Right Rev. R. Augustus Short, D.D., the first Bishop of Adelaide, feeling the pressure of advancing years, left the colony, having resigned the charge to which he had faithfully devoted his energies for thirty-five years. He had laboured with true missionary zeal in his extensive diocese, and maintained wonderful energy, till he was nearly, fourscore years of age. He had proved that his Church could flourish on the voluntary principle; he had taken an active part in many public movements, and by his example he had stimulated all the religious denominations. The tidings of his peaceful death, in October of the following year, were received with universal sorrow, and no one will regard as invidious this special mention of his name. He had taken intense interest in the erection of the Cathedral, a part of which was finished and opened in 1878, and it will, when completed, be his worthy memorial. A more tragic end awaited Dean Russell, the administrator of the diocese during the fourteen months that intervened before the arrival of Bishop Short’s successor. While conducting a festival in connection with his church, which was being held in the Adelaide Town Hall, he fell down a flight of steps, and never spoke again. The occurrence was a grievous shock to the entire community, for his large-heartedness and catholic spirit had endeared him to all.

During the governorship of Sir William F. D. Jervois, the national system of primary education was entirely revolutionised, and practically a new system brought into efficient operation. The most frequent complaint against it is that it is too elaborate, and that it attempts more than the State ought to undertake, but of its excellence there is no question. Secondary schools have been stimulated by healthy rivalry, and they are both numerous and flourishing. The University was established by princely donations of twenty thousand pounds each from Sir W. W. Hughes and Sir Thomas Elder and it has also received other exceedingly munificent donations; it was opened on April 7th, 1882, with Sir R. D. Hanson as chancellor and Bishop Short as vice-chancellor. Ever since his arrival in 1883, Sir William Robinson has taken a deep interest in this institution. By his own efforts he secured the establishment of a Chair of Music, which was the first in any Australian university, and he has striven to promote its interests in every possible way. The example of the governor has proved contagious, and all connected with the university have reaped the advantage. Of the general progress of the community during the greater part of this period, it is difficult to speak without appearing to indulge in exaggeration. The colonists of South Australia in general fully appreciate the blessings of civilisation, and strive to secure them. Their religious zeal and charitable disposition are proverbial. All public interests are well cared for, and it may be said that every institution which affords good promise of usefulness in promoting the social, material, or moral welfare of the community finds warm encouragement and vigorous support.

As the end of the first half-century drew near, proposals were freely made for the due celebration of the event. An international exhibition found most favour. The success of similar enterprises in Melbourne and Sydney was highly encouraging, parliamentary sanction was obtained, and preliminary steps were taken. Meanwhile, however, there came down a heavy cloud of financial depression. The market values of all staple commodities fell ruinously. Mines were closed because they became unprofitable; harvests failed for want of rain; and the same causes involved stock-owners in serious losses. A feverish period of land-speculation was followed by disastrous reaction. With folly came wholesale fraud. Hundreds of investors were rendered penniless through the failure of the Commercial Bank, and the collapse of other joint-stock companies. There was general panic. The public finances drifted to the bad, and heavier taxation had to be imposed. An outcry arose in the country against expending public money on mere display, and under strong pressure of that kind the Exhibition Bill was repealed. Then private enterprise, animated by public spirit, came to the rescue. Parliament was induced to revive the exhibition project on condition of a guarantee fund being subscribed. Mainly through the energy of Mr. E. T. Smith, the Mayor of Adelaide, this was promptly complied with, and the preparations went on. Events subsequently proved that the panic was as unreasonable as was the over-sanguine temper that preceded and greatly aggravated it. Metalliferous discoveries, as at former times, were made just when most wanted. The Teetulpa gold-diggings gave temporary employment to thousands. Rich deposits of silver and tin were opened in the Barrier Ranges, and the region, though geographically and politically belonging to New South Wales, is commercially connected with South Australia, which therefore reaps the greater advantage. Pastoral products began to increase in value, and to crown all the season of 1887 opened with an early and copious rainfall extending right through the settled districts, which in itself afforded sure promise of returning prosperity.

At the jubilee celebrations in December, 1886, which were of a varied and representative character, there were pioneers who remembered the first landing among the sand-hills, and Adelaide as a tree-clothed plateau. They had seen the population multiplied a thousand-fold, and furnished with all the appliances of a high civilisation; the first experimental sowing of wheat, and harvests reaped from nearly three millions of acres; the discovery of silver-lead at Glen Osmond, followed by the opening of hundreds of copper-mines, besides gold, silver, tin, lead, iron, bismuth, manganese, and other metals; the first introduction of cattle and sheep, and their increase to several millions; colonial produce exported to the value of more than one hundred million pounds sterling; the sand-track and bog-hole, bullock-dray and post-cart, replaced by nearly two thousand miles of well-built railways, and nearly ten thousand of electric wire. Their experience of early struggles, real hardships, and acute privations in the light of these contrasts, and regarded as the prelude to such a wonderful record, compelled them to discount the complaints of later arrivals, and they pointed to the past as a sure guarantee of a brilliant future.

The enthusiasm then displayed was far exceeded six months afterwards. The chronological coincidence between the Imperial and colonial jubilees attracted special attention to the local memorial and aided its popularity. There were loyal demonstrations everywhere on Sunday and Monday, June 20th and 21st, and on the following day, precisely at the hour (allowing for the difference in longitude) when Her Majesty the Queen proceeded in state to the jubilee service at Westminster Abbey, his Excellency Sir W. C. F. Robinson, in the presence of a large concourse, declared the Adelaide jubilee International Exhibition open. Of that commemorative enterprise it is sufficient to say that for extent, variety, and attractiveness, its success was far beyond the most sanguine expectations. As a tangible illustration of splendid progress in every department of national life, it worthily crowned the history of fifty years.

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