Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/328

 302 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon sir e. t. smith the world, the one in Adelaide is considered by competent judges to have no superior. The crowning scene took place in August, 1894, when, in the presence of the Earl of Kintore and a gathering of representative citizens, the donor formally presented to the Mayor and Corporation the statue of the Sovereign which is to hold for all time so commanding a position in the square that bears her name in the city named after a former English Queen. A long chain of 'connections with various j)ublic institutions has not only tested Sir Edwin's co-operative tendencies, but heavily taxed his generosity also. To the deliberations of the controlling bodies he has brought an element of practical common-sense not always found allied to the benevolent mind ; and to enable these institutions to start or continue on a solid basis, he has often made handsome donations. His hearty and practical response to multifold demands on his generosity has often been worthily commented upon by the press, but scores of grateful people could tell a tale of deeds of kindness that have been known to none but the recipient. Sir Edwin is the present chairman of the Adelaide Savings Bank, having succeeded Sir Henry Ayers in that position after 26 years' service as an honorary trustee. He was and remains the first chairman of the National Park Commissioners, and has rendered great service in connection with this beautiful public resort. The Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association of South Australia enjoys his patronage, as does also the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia. Sir Edwin holds a prominent position on the Adelaide Board of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, as well as on the Board of Management of the Zoological Gardens. He is also a Director of the Botanic Gardens, and it can be truly said of him that he has given up a well-earned leisure in order to minister to public requirements in all directions. For directorships and other remunerative positions he has never striven, and his wide services to the public have been given, almost without exception, in an honorary capacity. It is surprising that Sir Edwin can find time to discharge the further functions which pertain to his close affinity with charitable institutions. For many years he had a seat on the Adelaide Hospital Board, and he is still a trustee and vice-president of the Blind and Deaf and Dumb Institution, the PLlder Workmen's Homes, as also of the Benevolent and .Strangers' p>iend Society. Sir Edwin is also chairman of the Old Colonists' Association, which confers, quietly but well, much benefit upon those who, having borne the heat and burden of the early days of the Province, find themselves lacking of the good things of this world in their old age. .Such a list of official and largely honorary duties is formidable enough to excite curiosity as to how their requirements are all grappled with, and the fact that each receives cordial, active, and generous attention cannot but redound to the credit of the ready and untiring capacity of Sir PLdwin Smith. No other man in South Australia — nay, in Australia — has done more than he has in the interests of athletics. When the mere fact of his being in some capacity or other connected with over 100 clubs, associations, and other athletic fraternities is mentioned, this estimate of his relationship to the sporting world can best be judged. Not that Sir Edwin personally indulges to any great extent in these pastimes (though he was at one