Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/274

 248 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. sir Jenkln Coles Sir jenkiii Coles conies of an old family which took up its residence in the north of Ireland over 300 years ago, and whose nieml)ers were the descendants of Sir William Cole of the County of I<"ermanagh. His ancestral lineage extends far back into Irish History, and is connected in its genealogical chain by links of meritorious prestige. The mort! immediate ancestors of Sir Jenkin were for many years resident in I^ngland previous to their departure for Sydney in 1839. Sir Jenkin himself was born in New South Wales on January, 19, 1S42. At the early age of seven years hi; left with his parents for England, and was educated in the old " Blue-Coat " school known as Christ's Hospital, which has reared not a f(w of Australia's prominent men. .After his studies were completed, he returned to the colonies with his parents, who for a time took u]) their residence in South Australia. This Province was then only slightly developed, and there was much untamed bush and unfilled land. It was useful at this comparatively infantile stage of the Province's growth for a settler to become thoroughly acquainted with the rather precarious conditions of bush life. Sir Jenkin enlisted in the Mounted Police Corps of the Province, in which .service he remained for three years, being stationed at the Overland Corner, River Murray ; he thus became an expert bushman, and acquired the capacity for navigating his way through untrodden country. On retiring from the service. Sir Jenkin started in business as an auctioneer and stock and station agent at Kapunda, having for his partner the late Mr. W. G. Goodchild. F"rom modest beginnings the business assumed very large proportions, and in 1875 Sir Jenkin relinquished the active control of it. His career now turned to a more disinterested direction, and, in response to a re^quisition from the electors of Light, he became a candidate for and was elected to the House of Assembly by a large majority. For a term his political services were severed from the electorate of Light, but with that brief e.ce])tion he has unbrokenly represented its interests in the House up to the present day. In politics, as in specific sciences, adherents and devotees .specialise, and that which seemed to possess most fascination and interest for the member for Light was the important question tif land settlement. In an agricultural community the close study of this utilitarian question is absolutely imperative. The active interest which Sir Jenkin evinced in the prosecution of enquiries on various points connected with the agricultural and pastoral industries was rewarded by his ap])ointment to the Ministerial office of Commissioner of Crown Lands, under the administration of Sir John Colton in 1884. In 1885 .Sir John Colton's Government was defeated, and Sir Jenkin remained in Opposition until 1887. On the downfall of the Downer Government in that year, the Hon. Thomas Playford was called upon to form an administration, and Sir Jenkin accepted his former portff)lio, holding it until the overthrow of the Government in 1889. His tenureship of the important office of Commissioner of Crown Lands gave general .satisfaction, and the zealous enthusiasm evinced by him was well spoken of on both sides of the Hou.se. In 1890, when the responsible office of .Speaker of the House of Assemi)ly fell vacant, .Sir Jenkin Coles was unanimously elected to the position. The duties of this high