Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/375

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 349 Mr. W. P. Cummins, M.P. Parliament AS is very right and proper in a Province such as South Australia, the contains a fair proportion of men who have had a somewhat extended experience in agricultural affairs. The Province depends so largely on this industry, with that of pastoral pursuits, that such representation is but natural and necessary. Of this class of representatives, Mr. W. P. Cummins may be taken as a specimen of the Middle North farmer.s — the Stanley district, which includes some of the finest agricultural lands and most prosperous farmers in South Australia. William Patrick Cummins was born at Virginia, South Australia, on April 12, 1855. He was educated in his native town, and when old enough assisted his parents on i.u ir farm at Peachy Belt. In 187 I his father, the late Richard Cummins, removed to Collinsfield, and Mr. W. P. Cummins continued his association with him until 1885, when, in partnership with his brother, Mr. J. J. Cummins, he started grazing and farming operations at " Fairview," Hope's Gap, near Collinsfield. Notwithstanding the droughts that have been so frecjuent since that year, their Hammer & Co., Photo cfforts have been successful. For many years Mr. Cummins has been prominently associated with public affairs in the district of his residence. He was for several years a member of the Snowtown District Council, and is a Justice of the Peace. He has been an active member of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, having been chosen first President of the Redhill branch of that society. In these ways he became well and favorably known throughout the district, and when in October, 1 896, he offered himself to the suffragists of the Stanley District for a seat in the House of Assembly, he was elected. Mr. Cummins is the successor of the late Hon. P. P. Gillen, and follows his predecessor in the liberality of his political views.