228 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Right Hon sir S. J. Way Secretaries of State for the Colonies and of his fellow-colonists. Some years ago it was proposed that in the interests of economy Mr. Way should continue to fill both the viceregal and judicial offices liermanently, or at least for a long and indefmite term. This proposal was stronglv disapproved by him as both unconstitutional and as tending to weaken the connection between the Proince and the Mother Country, and it was at length quietly abandoned. The Chief justice has always been ready to emjjloy his time and his energies for the benefit of the public without limiting himself strictly to his judicial and occasional gubernatorial duties. From A])rii, 1881, until June, 1883, he performed the duties of Commissioner of the Court of Insolvenc. This task, which added at least one working day a week to his other occupations, was undertaken voluntarily and without salary, after it had been declined by his colleagues, in order to enable the Ciovernment of the day to give effect to its policy of transferring the business of the Court of Insolvency to the Supreme Court, and he only relinquished it when he found that it occasioned a strain upon his energies which was injuring his health. In 1877 he presided over and drafted the report of a Royal Commission on Tribunals of Commerce, the sittings of which lasted over six months. In 1883 he accepted the Presidency of a Commission to enquire into the administration of the Destitute Acts and Regulations, which was appointed chiefly because of the constantly reiterated complaints, in the Press, and at e.xcited public meetings of Roman Catholics, with respect to the management by the Destitute Department of the Industrial and Reformatory Schools and of the Boarding-out system. This ap[)ointment was p;essed upon Mr. Way by the Government, the Roman Catholic Bishop, and the members of the Destitute Board, and reluctantly accepted by him, because no other chairiiian could be obtained who would command the confidence alike of the Catholics and of the general public. The sittings of the Commission lasted two years and a half. In the prosecution of his enquiries the Chief Justice visited New South W^ales and Victoria at his own expense, frequently worked 12 and 14 hours a day, and for more than six months relincjuished all social engagements and recreation of every kind. The final report which he drafted is one of the most elaborate State papers ever presented to the local Parliament, and, besides finally settling the controversy between the Department and the Roman Catholics to the satisfaction of both disputants, was acknowledged both in t!ie colonies and in England as a valuable and permanent contribution to the literature of the subjects with which it dealt. But the Chief Justice in his zeal tor the public good has gone far beyond these quasi-official .service.s. " PLver since His Honor's promotion to his present high position," wrote the South ^litsfra/iaii Rcs^islcr in 1897, "he has occupied a unique position. While bringing to the di.scharge of his judicial responsibilities the best (|ualities of the most capable judges that have adorned the Bench in this or any other British community, he has laid himself out with untiring assiduity to fulfil such of the duties of citizenship as were not incompatible with his obligations as Chief Justice. He has been foremost in all matters affecting the intellectual, the a;sthetic, and the social interests of the Province. He has taken the lead in all charitable movements, and the princely way in which he has dispen.sed his hospitalities, particularly to visiting strangers, has been inlluential in giving .South Australia a good name in ])laces far beyond its- boundaries." The Chief justice was elected President of the Acclimatisation .Societv at its first meeting on July 25, 1878, and he continued to hold that office for four years. He then vacated the |)residency in fiivor of the late .Sir Thomas Elder, though he has continue<l to be a Vice-President. He was chiefly instrumental, in spite of the opposition ol the Pjfjtanic Board, in securing for the society the admirable site now occupied by the beautiful Zoological Gardens.
