Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/361

 Hon. J. J. Duncan ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 335 Mr. Duncan in the "seventies" had an experience of a unique and alarming character during a trip to inspect country in the interior. Caught at the Macumba Creek in heavy- floods which surrounded them, he and his two companions, the late Mr. Treloar and his son, Mr. A. Treloar, were compelled to take refuge in a tree. They were forced to remain, almost destitute of food, in its branches for four days and four nights before the water fell sufficiently to enable them to reach dry land. Hughes Park, Mr. Duncan's country home, is situated among the hills to the west of Watervale ; and a fine site has been improved by building and planting. As a sheep-breeder, Mr. Duncan is well known, the wool from his flocks being among the finest produced in South Australia. Mr. Duncan early became identified with public matters. He first entered Parliament when 26 years of age, in 1871, for Port Adelaide, which was in those days a huge electorate embracing Yorke Peninsula. Before the next general election a redistribution of seats had taken place, and in 1875 ^^^- Duncan was returned for the Wallaroo division of his former district. After six years in Parliament he withdrew from public life in order to visit the old country ; and when on the Continent in 1878 he acted as a Commissioner for South Australia at the Paris P^xhibition. On returning to South Australia, he was elected to the Assembly in 1884 for Wooroora, his home constituency, which he represented until 1890. In the following year he was elected to the Upper House as a member for the North-PIastern District, and retained this .seat until 1896, when he retired to again visit the old country, having thus served in Parliament for 18 years. He is now once more a member of the Legislative Council, having been again returned without opposition in 1900 for the same district. Mr. Duncan believes in absolute freedom as a member of Parliament, and has never accepted office, although offers of portfolios have been made to him by at least three Premiers. During the existence of the Neutral Party in the Assembly, Mr. Duncan was its chairman, a position in strict consonance with his refusal to ally himself with any Government. He has always carefully guarded the interests of those whom he represented, and on pastoral and agricultural subjects in particular his utterances have ever been of intelligent interest. Mr. Duncan has been associated with several Royal Commissions ; amongst others the Railway Commission in 1885, and the Defence Select Committee in 1887. He was a trustee of the Savings Bank for several years ; also a Director of the Wallaroo Mining and Smelting Company. Mr. Duncan held the rank of Captain of the Watervale Rifle Company of Volunteers, and .served as Councillor in the Upper Wakefield District Council — as chairman for a time. He was associated with the formation of the National Defence League, now incorporated with the Australasian National, League, and had the honor of being appointed to the presidency of that body. Mr. Duncan has done more for South Australia than most men. His work has been enduring, and his principles unquestioned. He takes rank as a representative man in the public and private spheres of life, and his name is held in genuine esteem.