In the South Australian Public Library there is a curious record—­the minutes and proceedings of the South Australian Literary Society, in the years 1831-5.  As the province was non-existent at that time, this cultivation of literature seems premature, but the members, 40 in number, were its founders, and pending the passage of the Bill by the Imperial Parliament, they met fortnightly in London to discuss its prospects, and to read papers on exploration and on matters of future development and government.  The first paper was on education for the new land, and was read by Richard Davies Hanson.  The South Australian Company and Mr. George Fife Angas came to the rescue by buying a considerable area of land and making up the amount of capital which was required.  It is interesting to note that the casting vote in the House of Lords which decided that the province of South Australia should come into existence was given by the Duke of Wellington.  Adelaide was to have been called Wellington, but somehow the Queen Consort’s name carried the day.  The name of the conquerer of Waterloo is immortalized in the capital of the Dominion of New Zealand, in the North Island, which, like South Australia, was founded on the Wakefield principle of selling land for money to be applied for immigration.  The 40 signatures in the records of the South Australian Literary Society are most interesting to an old colonist like myself, and the names of many of them are perpetuated in those of our rivers and our streets:—­Torrens, Wright, Brown, Gilbert, Gouger, Hanson, Kingston, Wakefield, Morphett, Childers, Hill (Rowland), Stephens, Mawn, Furniss, Symonds.  The second issue of The Register was printed in Adelaide.  It was also The Government Gazette.  It gave the proclamation of the province, which was made under the historic gum tree near Holdfast Bay, now Glenelg.  It also records the sales of the town acres which had not been allotted to the purchasers of preliminary sections.  These were of 134 acres, and a town acre, at the price of 12/6 an acre.  This was a temptation to invest at the very first, because afterwards the price was 20/ an acre, without any city lot.  From this cheap investment came the frequent lamentation, “Why did not I buy Waterhouse’s corner for 12/6?” But there was more than 12/6 needed.  The investment was of 80 pounds, which secured the ownership of the corner block facing King William street and Rundle street, and besides 134 acres of valuable suburban land.

There were connected with The Register from the earliest days the enterprising head of the house.  Robert Thomas, who must have been well aided by his intelligent wife.  The sons and daughters took their place in colonial society.  Mr. George Stevenson left the staff of The Globe and Traveller, a good old London Paper, to try his fortunes in the new Province founded on the Wakefield principle, as Private Secretary to the first Governor (Capt.  John Hindmarsh, R.N.).  It is matter of history how the Governor and the Commissioner