Item #116417 The Law of the Constitution of South Australia. A Collection of Imperial Statutes, Local Acts, and Instruments relating to the Constitution and Government of the Province, with Notes, Historical and Constitutional. Edwin Gordon BLACKMORE.
The Law of the Constitution of South Australia. A Collection of Imperial Statutes, Local Acts, and Instruments relating to the Constitution and Government of the Province, with Notes, Historical and Constitutional
The Law of the Constitution of South Australia. A Collection of Imperial Statutes, Local Acts, and Instruments relating to the Constitution and Government of the Province, with Notes, Historical and Constitutional

The Law of the Constitution of South Australia. A Collection of Imperial Statutes, Local Acts, and Instruments relating to the Constitution and Government of the Province, with Notes, Historical and Constitutional

Adelaide, C.E. Bristow, Government Printer, 1894.

Quarto, xii, 164 pages.

Quarter cloth and printed papered boards lightly worn at the extremities and a little marked and sunned; manuscript title-labels mounted on the spine and the head of the front cover; minimal signs of age; overall a very good copy.

Mounted on the front pastedown is an autograph letter signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, J.C. Morphett (one page octavo, 25 April 1911, on South Australian Parliament letterhead). 'Dear Sir, I have just heard that His Excellency is desirous of obtaining a copy of "The Law of the Constitution of South Australia". I therefore forward herewith a copy to be placed in the official library at Government House'. Previous ownership details ('The Clerk | House of Assembly | Oct. 1894') at the head of the title page has been neatly crossed out. John Cummins Morphett (1844-1936), Clerk of the House of Assembly from 1900 to 1918, was a son of Sir John Morphett, who arrived in South Australia in the 'Cygnet' in 1836. 'From the early days of the State, the late Mr Morphett's family have held responsible positions in the Legislature. Sir James Hurtle Fisher, the first Resident Commissioner of the Province, and later first Mayor of Adelaide, was Mr Morphett's maternal grandfather. Sir James Hurtle Fisher was Speaker of the Legislative Council which passed the Constitution Act in 1856, and President of the first Legislative Council under responsible government. Mr Morphett's father, who assisted Colonel light in laying out the City of Adelaide and was present at the leading of the Proclamation, was appointed a non-official member of the Legislative Council in 1843, and was Speaker of the first partly elective and partly nominated Chamber. He succeeded Sir James Hurtle Fisher as President of the Legislative Council in 1865' ('People Australia' online). It would appear from the absence of signs of use internally that subsequent Governors were not as desirous of retaining this artefact as the incumbent in 1911, Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet GCVO KCB.

Item #116417

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