Throughout South Australia the deficiency of running water is remarkable; in fact, for nearly 1200 m., following the indentations of the coast from the western boundary of the colony to the estuary of the Toriens, in gulf St. Vincent, not even a brook of pci;manent fresh water finds its way into the sea. To time eastward this deficiency is to some extent compensated, partly by the streams which take their rise in the Mount Lofty range, the principal of which are the Torrens, the Onkaparinga, the Gawler, and the Sturt, but mainly by the Great Murray. See AUSTRALIA; V1Cfoltli. Unfortunately for the complete utilization of this magnificent stream, its embouchere in long. 139° e. is exposed to the full force of the southern ocean, which meeting the current, throws up a shifting bar, rendering the entrance from seaward dangerous, and practicable only for steamers drawing under 7 feet. To counteract this drawback, a tramway has been con structed from Goolwa, connecting the river with Victor harbor, a small but well-shel tered haven situated in Encounter bay. Another railway to connect North-West Bend, 150 m. up the river, with Port Adelaide, is contemplated, and has been completed as far as Kapunda, 57 m.; a northern extension Tuns to Burro, 100 m.
Divisions, Towns, colony naturally falls into three sections—South Australia proper, Central Australia, and the Northern Territory. The 35 counties serve for electoral purposes; the most important division is into districts, of which there were over 100 in 1879. Besides Adelaide, the capital, with its 32,000 inhabitants, there are six townships with over 2,000 and other seven with more than 1000. Port Adelaide, 74 m. from the capital, is the chief harbor; but there are several excellent minor ports.
Mineral Wealth, mineral wealth of South Australia is great, the principal metals being copper, lead, and iron; the last is of the finest quality, hut. in the absence of coal, cannot be profitably worked. The principal copper-mines are the Burra-Burra and the Kapunda, to the n.e. of St. Vincent gulf; the Wallaroo and Moonta, on 'York's peninsula, which intervenes between St. Vincent and Spencer gulf.
country, the conformation and physical conditions of which we hav9 above described, was selected in 187 as the site on which to test what was thed new principle in colonization, known as the Wakefield theory, from the name of its author, Edward Gibbon 'Wakefield. The principle may be expressed in a single sentence thus:, "Time waste lands of the crown, though entirely valueless prior to the application of labor and capital, acquire value according as these elements of wealth are applied to •heta in d,.e proportions or otherwise; and the proceeds of the sale of these lands, if properly administered, will suffice to defray the • cost of transporting the labor required for their cultivation, at the same time relieving the mother-country from the pressure of able-bodied pauperism." A second and scarcely less important problem in economic science was put to the test on the same occasion, viz.. "The future revenues of a new colony, supplemented, if necessary, by a lien upon the lands, afford a basis of credit available for raising funds adequate to defray the cost of outfit and first settlement, and therefore the appropriation of the taxes of this countr for such purpose is unnecessary and inexpedient.. Owing partly to an unfortunate ( ay in putting the first settlers In
possession of the lands which they had paid for, mainly to a monopoly by the government of the labor imported by the purchase-money of those lands, production was retarded during the first three years of the settlement; and the necessaries of life, which, but for this mistaken policy, might have been produced on the spot in profuse abundance, had to be imported at enormous cost, and paid for out of capital, by which means the colony was reduced to the verge of bankruptcy. In 1841 the sound principles to illus trate which the colony was founded, were, for the first lime, allowed to come into play. Government interference with the labor-market ceased; and within three years from this change of policy, breadstuffs and other agricultural products were exported from South Australia in such quantities as to glut the markets which previously supplied her necessities. From that date the progress of the colony, notwithstanding the attractions of the adjacent gold-fields. has been remarkable. The traveler may drive for ninny hundreds of miles over excellent roads, amidst corn fields and vineyards cultivated by yeomen proprietors. South Australia has become the granary of the eastern settlements; and the subjoined statements, compiled from statistics published by government, exhibit a degree of prosperity probably unsurpassed in any country or in any age.
The waste lands are disposed of in fee-simple by public auction at the upset price of 20s. per acre, and lands, once passed the hammer, may be purchased at that price with out further competition. For pastoral purposes lands are granted to the first applicant for a lease of 14 years at an almost nominal rent. The system of free selection Certain surveyed districts now obtains in South Australia, whereby land to the amount of 640 acres can be purchased on credit, at the ordinary upset price, on a written appli cation to the land office, and on the signing, of an agreement, of which the main con ditions are—the immediate payment of 10 per cent. of the purchase-money, and its pay ment in full- in six years, or optionally, of half, on further interest on the remaining half, and the full payment in ten years; personal occupancy of the land; and the executing of improvements to the value of 7s. 6d. per acre before the end of the third year, amid of 10s. before the end of the fourth. Land, open to the public for five years without being:sold, may be leased in blocks of 3,000 acres for ten years, with the right of purchase at the upset price during the lease. Under an act known as the Torrens net the difficulties, delays, and expenses attendant on the English system of convey ancing are removed, and land is rendered as easy of transfer, mortgage, and settlement as property in shipping, The great advantages secured by South Australia under this act have caused it to a adopted throughout the Australian colonies.